2 Maccabees 14:32-34

Common English Bible

³² When they asserted with solemn pledges that they didn’t know where he was, ³³ he stretched out his strong hand against the temple and made the following pronouncement: “If you don’t turn Judas over to me as a prisoner, I will level the sacred area of God, tear down the altar to the ground, and build here a great temple to Dionysus.” ³⁴ With these words, he left. But the priests, stretching out their hands to heaven, called on the one who always fights in defense of our nation, saying,