2 Maccabees 15:25-40

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

²⁵ But Nicanor, and they that were with him came forward, with trumpets and songs.

²⁶ But Judas, and they that were with him, encountered them, calling upon God by prayers:

²⁷ So fighting with their hands, but praying to the Lord with their hearts, they slew no less than five and thirty thousand, being greatly cheered with the presence of God.

²⁸ And when the battle was over, and they were returning with joy, they understood that Nicanor was slain in his armour.

²⁹ Then making a shout, and a great noise, they blessed the Almighty Lord in their own language.

³⁰ And Judas, who was altogether ready, in body and mind, to die for his countrymen, commanded that Nicanor's head, and his hand with the shoulder should be cut off, and carried to Jerusalem.

³¹ And when he was come thither, having called together his countrymen, and the priests to the altar, he sent also for them that were in the castle,

³² And shewing them the head of Nicanor, and the wicked hand, which he had stretched out, with proud boasts, against the holy house of the Almighty God,

³³ He commanded also, that the tongue of the wicked Nicanor, should be cut out and given by pieces to birds, and the hand of the furious man to be hanged up over against the temple.

³⁴ Then all blessed the Lord of heaven, saying: Blessed be he that hath kept his own place undefiled.

³⁵ And he hung up Nicanor's head in the top of the castle, that it might be an evident and manifest sign of the help of God.

³⁶ And they all ordained by a common decree, by no means to let this day pass without solemnity:

³⁷ But to celebrate the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, called, in the Syrian language, the day before Mardochias' day.

³⁸ So these things being done with relation to Nicanor, and from that time the city being possessed by the Hebrews, I also will here make an end of my narration.

³⁹ Which if I have done well, and as it becometh the history, it is what I desired: but if not so perfectly, it must be pardoned me.

⁴⁰ For as it is hurtful to drink always wine, or always water, but pleasant to use sometimes the one, and sometimes the other: so if the speech be always nicely framed, it will not be grateful to the readers. But here it shall be ended.