2 Maccabees 8:3-5

Good News Translation

³ and to have mercy on Jerusalem, now destroyed and almost leveled to the ground. ⁴ They also asked the Lord to show his hatred of evil by taking revenge on those who were murdering his people, mercilessly slaughtering innocent children, and saying evil things against the Lord.

⁵ When Judas had finally organized his forces, the Gentiles were unable to stand against him, because the Lord's anger against Israel had now turned to mercy.