1 Maccabees 6
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
The Last Days of Antiochus Epiphanes
6 King Anti′ochus was going through the upper provinces when he heard that Elyma′is in Persia was a city famed for its wealth in silver and gold. 2 Its temple was very rich, containing golden shields, breastplates, and weapons left there by Alexander, the son of Philip, the Macedonian king who first reigned over the Greeks. 3 So he came and tried to take the city and plunder it, but he could not, because his plan became known to the men of the city 4 and they withstood him in battle. So he fled and in great grief departed from there to return to Babylon.
5 Then some one came to him in Persia and reported that the armies which had gone into the land of Judah had been routed; 6 that Lys′ias had gone first with a strong force, but had turned and fled before the Jews;[a] that the Jews[b] had grown strong from the arms, supplies, and abundant spoils which they had taken from the armies they had cut down; 7 that they had torn down the abomination which he had erected upon the altar in Jerusalem; and that they had surrounded the sanctuary with high walls as before, and also Beth-zur, his city.
8 When the king heard this news, he was astounded and badly shaken. He took to his bed and became sick from grief, because things had not turned out for him as he had planned. 9 He lay there for many days, because deep grief continually gripped him, and he concluded that he was dying. 10 So he called all his friends and said to them, “Sleep departs from my eyes and I am downhearted with worry. 11 I said to myself, ‘To what distress I have come! And into what a great flood I now am plunged! For I was kind and beloved in my power.’ 12 But now I remember the evils I did in Jerusalem. I seized all her vessels of silver and gold; and I sent to destroy the inhabitants of Judah without good reason. 13 I know that it is because of this that these evils have come upon me; and behold, I am perishing of deep grief in a strange land.”
14 Then he called for Philip, one of his friends, and made him ruler over all his kingdom. 15 He gave him the crown and his robe and the signet, that he might guide Anti′ochus his son and bring him up to be king. 16 Thus Anti′ochus the king died there in the one hundred and forty-ninth year.[c] 17 And when Lys′ias learned that the king was dead, he set up Anti′ochus the king’s[d] son to reign. Lys′ias[e] had brought him up as a boy, and he named him Eu′pator.
Renewed Attacks from Syria
18 Now the men in the citadel kept hemming Israel in around the sanctuary. They were trying in every way to harm them and strengthen the Gentiles. 19 So Judas decided to destroy them, and assembled all the people to besiege them. 20 They gathered together and besieged the citadel[f] in the one hundred and fiftieth year;[g] and he built siege towers and other engines of war. 21 But some of the garrison escaped from the siege and some of the ungodly Israelites joined them. 22 They went to the king and said, “How long will you fail to do justice and to avenge our brethren? 23 We were happy to serve your father, to live by what he said and to follow his commands. 24 For this reason the sons of our people besieged the citadel[h] and became hostile to us; moreover, they have put to death as many of us as they have caught, and they have seized our inheritances. 25 And not against us alone have they stretched out their hands, but also against all the lands on their borders. 26 And behold, today they have encamped against the citadel in Jerusalem to take it; they have fortified both the sanctuary and Beth-zur; 27 and unless you quickly prevent them, they will do still greater things, and you will not be able to stop them.”
28 The king was enraged when he heard this. He assembled all his friends, the commanders of his forces and those in authority.[i] 29 And mercenary forces came to him from other kingdoms and from islands of the seas. 30 The number of his forces was a hundred thousand foot soldiers, twenty thousand horsemen, and thirty-two elephants accustomed to war. 31 They came through Idume′a and encamped against Beth-zur, and for many days they fought and built engines of war; but the Jews[j] sallied out and burned these with fire, and fought manfully.
The Battle at Beth-zechariah
32 Then Judas marched away from the citadel and encamped at Beth-zechari′ah, opposite the camp of the king. 33 Early in the morning the king rose and took his army by a forced march along the road to Beth-zechari′ah, and his troops made ready for battle and sounded their trumpets. 34 They showed the elephants the juice of grapes and mulberries, to arouse them for battle. 35 And they distributed the beasts among the phalanxes; with each elephant they stationed a thousand men armed with coats of mail, and with brass helmets on their heads; and five hundred picked horsemen were assigned to each beast. 36 These took their position beforehand wherever the beast was; wherever it went they went with it, and they never left it. 37 And upon the elephants[k] were wooden towers, strong and covered; they were fastened upon each beast by special harness, and upon each were four[l] armed men who fought from there, and also its Indian driver. 38 The rest of the horsemen were stationed on either side, on the two flanks of the army, to harass the enemy while being themselves protected by the phalanxes. 39 When the sun shone upon the shields of gold and brass, the hills were ablaze with them and gleamed like flaming torches.
40 Now a part of the king’s army was spread out on the high hills, and some troops were on the plain, and they advanced steadily and in good order. 41 All who heard the noise made by their multitude, by the marching of the multitude and the clanking of their arms, trembled, for the army was very large and strong. 42 But Judas and his army advanced to the battle, and six hundred men of the king’s army fell. 43 And Elea′zar, called Av′aran, saw that one of the beasts was equipped with royal armor. It was taller than all the others, and he supposed that the king was upon it. 44 So he gave his life to save his people and to win for himself an everlasting name. 45 He courageously ran into the midst of the phalanx to reach it; he killed men right and left, and they parted before him on both sides. 46 He got under the elephant, stabbed it from beneath, and killed it; but it fell to the ground upon him and there he died. 47 And when the Jews[m] saw the royal might and the fierce attack of the forces, they turned away in flight.
The Siege of the Temple
48 The soldiers of the king’s army went up to Jerusalem against them, and the king encamped in Judea and at Mount Zion. 49 He made peace with the men of Beth-zur, and they evacuated the city, because they had no provisions there to withstand a siege, since it was a sabbatical year for the land. 50 So the king took Beth-zur and stationed a guard there to hold it. 51 Then he encamped before the sanctuary for many days. He set up siege towers, engines of war to throw fire and stones, machines to shoot arrows, and catapults. 52 The Jews[n] also made engines of war to match theirs, and fought for many days. 53 But they had no food in storage,[o] because it was the seventh year; those who found safety in Judea from the Gentiles had consumed the last of the stores. 54 Few men were left in the sanctuary, because famine had prevailed over the rest and they had been scattered, each to his own place.
Syria Offers Terms
55 Then Lys′ias heard that Philip, whom King Anti′ochus while still living had appointed to bring up Anti′ochus his son to be king, 56 had returned from Persia and Media with the forces that had gone with the king, and that he was trying to seize control of the government. 57 So he quickly gave orders to depart, and said to the king, to the commanders of the forces, and to the men, “We daily grow weaker, our food supply is scant, the place against which we are fighting is strong, and the affairs of the kingdom press urgently upon us. 58 Now then let us come to terms with these men, and make peace with them and with all their nation, 59 and agree to let them live by their laws as they did before; for it was on account of their laws which we abolished that they became angry and did all these things.”
60 The speech pleased the king and the commanders, and he sent to the Jews[p] an offer of peace, and they accepted it. 61 So the king and the commanders gave them their oath. On these conditions the Jews[q] evacuated the stronghold. 62 But when the king entered Mount Zion and saw what a strong fortress the place was, he broke the oath he had sworn and gave orders to tear down the wall all around. 63 Then he departed with haste and returned to Antioch. He found Philip in control of the city, but he fought against him, and took the city by force.
Footnotes
- 1 Maccabees 6:6 Gk them
- 1 Maccabees 6:6 Gk they
- 1 Maccabees 6:16 163 b.c.
- 1 Maccabees 6:17 Gk his
- 1 Maccabees 6:17 Gk he
- 1 Maccabees 6:20 Gk it
- 1 Maccabees 6:20 162 b.c.
- 1 Maccabees 6:24 The Greek text underlying the sons . . . the citadel is uncertain
- 1 Maccabees 6:28 Gk those over the reins
- 1 Maccabees 6:31 Gk they
- 1 Maccabees 6:37 Gk them
- 1 Maccabees 6:37 Cn: Some authorities read thirty; others thirty-two
- 1 Maccabees 6:47 Gk they
- 1 Maccabees 6:52 Gk they
- 1 Maccabees 6:53 Other authorities read in the sanctuary
- 1 Maccabees 6:60 Gk them
- 1 Maccabees 6:61 Gk they
Sirach 16-18
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
God’s Punishment of Sinners
16 Do not desire a multitude of useless children,
nor rejoice in ungodly sons.
2 If they multiply, do not rejoice in them,
unless the fear of the Lord is in them.
3 Do not trust in their survival,
and do not rely on their multitude;
for one is better than a thousand,[a]
and to die childless is better than to have ungodly children.
4 For through one man of understanding a city will be filled with people,
but through a tribe of lawless men it will be made desolate.
5 Many such things my eye has seen,
and my ear has heard things more striking than these.
6 In an assembly of sinners a fire will be kindled,
and in a disobedient nation wrath was kindled.
7 He was not propitiated for the ancient giants
who revolted in their might.
8 He did not spare the neighbors of Lot,
whom he loathed on account of their insolence.
9 He showed no pity for a nation devoted to destruction,
for those destroyed in their sins;
10 nor for the six hundred thousand men on foot,
who rebelliously assembled in their stubbornness.
11 Even if there is only one stiff-necked person,
it will be a wonder if he remains unpunished.
For mercy and wrath are with the Lord;[b]
he is mighty to forgive, and he pours out wrath.
12 As great as his mercy, so great is also his reproof;
he judges a man according to his deeds.
13 The sinner will not escape with his plunder,
and the patience of the godly will not be frustrated.
14 He will make room for every act of mercy;
every one will receive in accordance with his deeds.[c]
17 Do not say, “I shall be hidden from the Lord,
and who from on high will remember me?
Among so many people I shall not be known,
for what is my soul in the boundless creation?
18 Behold, heaven and the highest heaven,
the abyss and the earth, will tremble at his visitation.
19 The mountains also and the foundations of the earth
shake with trembling when he looks upon them.
20 And no mind will reflect on this.
Who will ponder his ways?
21 Like a tempest which no man can see,
so most of his works are concealed.
22 Who will announce his acts of justice?
Or who will await them? For the covenant is far off.”
23 This is what one devoid of understanding thinks;
a senseless and misguided man thinks foolishly.
God’s Wisdom Seen in Creation
24 Listen to me, my son, and acquire knowledge,
and pay close attention to my words.
25 I will impart instruction by weight,
and declare knowledge accurately.
26 The works of the Lord have existed from the beginning by his creation,[d]
and when he made them, he determined their divisions.
27 He arranged his works in an eternal order,
and their dominion[e] for all[f] generations;
they neither hunger nor grow weary,
and they do not cease from their labors.
28 They do not crowd one another aside,
and they will never disobey his word.
29 After this the Lord looked upon the earth,
and filled it with his good things;
30 with all kinds of living beings he covered its surface,
and to it they return.
17 The Lord created man out of earth,
and turned him back to it again.
2 He gave to men[g] few days, a limited time,
but granted them authority over the things upon the earth.[h]
3 He endowed them with strength like his own,[i]
and made them in his own image.
4 He placed the fear of them[j] in all living beings,
and granted them dominion over beasts and birds.[k]
6 He made for them[l] tongue and eyes;
he gave them ears and a mind for thinking.
7 He filled them with knowledge and understanding,
and showed them good and evil.
8 He set his eye upon their hearts
to show them the majesty of his works.[m]
10 And they will praise his holy name,
to proclaim the grandeur of his works.
11 He bestowed knowledge upon them,
and allotted to them the law of life.
12 He established with them an eternal covenant,
and showed them his judgments.
13 Their eyes saw his glorious majesty,
and their ears heard the glory of his voice.
14 And he said to them, “Beware of all unrighteousness.”[n]
And he gave commandment to each of them concerning his neighbor.
15 Their ways are always before him,
they will not be hid from his eyes.[o]
17 He appointed a ruler for every nation,
but Israel is the Lord’s own portion.[p]
19 All their works are as the sun before him,
and his eyes are continually upon their ways.
20 Their iniquities are not hidden from him,
and all their sins are before the Lord.[q]
22 A man’s almsgiving is like a signet with the Lord,[r]
and he will keep a person’s kindness like the apple of his eye.
23 Afterward he will arise and requite them,
and he will bring their recompense on their heads.
24 Yet to those who repent he grants a return,
and he encourages those whose endurance is failing.
A Call to Repentance
25 Turn to the Lord and forsake your sins;
pray in his presence and lessen your offenses.
26 Return to the Most High and turn away from iniquity,[s]
and hate abominations intensely.
27 Who will sing praises to the Most High in Hades,
as do those who are alive and give thanks?
28 From the dead, as from one who does not exist, thanksgiving has ceased;
he who is alive and well sings the Lord’s praises.
29 How great is the mercy of the Lord,
and his forgiveness for those who turn to him!
30 For all things cannot be in men,[t]
since a son of man is not immortal.
31 What is brighter than the sun? Yet its light fails.[u]
So flesh and blood devise evil.
32 He marshals the host of the height of heaven;
but all men are dust and ashes.
The Majesty of God
18 He who lives for ever created the whole universe;
2 the Lord alone will be declared righteous.[v]
4 To none has he given power to proclaim his works;
and who can search out his mighty deeds?
5 Who can measure his majestic power?
And who can fully recount his mercies?
6 It is not possible to diminish or increase them,
nor is it possible to trace the wonders of the Lord.
7 When a man has finished, he is just beginning,
and when he stops, he will be at a loss.
8 What is man, and of what use is he?
What is his good and what is his evil?
9 The number of a man’s days is great if he reaches a hundred years.
10 Like a drop of water from the sea and a grain[w] of sand
so are a few years in the day of eternity.
11 Therefore the Lord is patient with them
and pours out his mercy upon them.
12 He sees and recognizes that their end will be evil;
therefore he grants them forgiveness in abundance.
13 The compassion of man is for his neighbor,
but the compassion of the Lord is for all living beings.
He rebukes and trains and teaches them,
and turns them back, as a shepherd his flock.
14 He has compassion on those who accept his discipline
and who are eager for his judgments.
The Right Spirit in Giving Alms
15 My son, do not mix reproach with your good deeds,
nor cause grief by your words when you present a gift.
16 Does not the dew assuage the scorching heat?
So a word is better than a gift.
17 Indeed, does not a word surpass a good gift?
Both are to be found in a gracious man.
18 A fool is ungracious and abusive,
and the gift of a grudging man makes the eyes dim.
The Need of Reflection and Self-control
19 Before you speak, learn,
and before you fall ill, take care of your health.
20 Before judgment, examine yourself,
and in the hour of visitation you will find forgiveness.
21 Before falling ill, humble yourself,
and when you are on the point of sinning, turn back.
22 Let nothing hinder you from paying a vow promptly,
and do not wait until death to be released from it.
23 Before making a vow,[x] prepare yourself;
and do not be like a man who tempts the Lord.
24 Think of his wrath on the day of death,
and of the moment of vengeance when he turns away his face.
25 In the time of plenty think of the time of hunger;
in the days of wealth think of poverty and need.
26 From morning to evening conditions change,
and all things move swiftly before the Lord.
27 A wise man is cautious in everything,
and in days of sin he guards against wrongdoing.
28 Every intelligent man knows wisdom,
and he praises the one who finds her.
29 Those who understand sayings become skilled themselves,
and pour forth apt proverbs.
30 Do not follow your base desires,
but restrain your appetites.
31 If you allow your soul to take pleasure in base desire,
it will make you the laughingstock of your enemies.
32 Do not revel in great luxury,
lest you become impoverished by its expense.
33 Do not become a beggar by feasting with borrowed money,
when you have nothing in your purse.
Footnotes
- Sirach 16:3 The text of this line is uncertain
- Sirach 16:11 Gk him
- Sirach 16:14 Other authorities add 15 The Lord hardened Pharaoh up so that he did not know him; in order that his works might be known under heaven. 16 His mercy is manifest to the whole of creation, and he divided his light and darkness with a plumb line.
- Sirach 16:26 Heb: Gk judgment
- Sirach 16:27 Or elements
- Sirach 16:27 Gk their
- Sirach 17:2 Gk them
- Sirach 17:2 Gk it
- Sirach 17:3 Cn: Gk proper to them
- Sirach 17:4 Syr: Gk him
- Sirach 17:4 Other authorities add 5 They obtained the use of the five operations of the Lord; as sixth he distributed to them the gift of mind, and as seventh reason, the interpreter of his operations.
- Sirach 17:6 Syr: Gk Inclination and
- Sirach 17:8 Other authorities add 9 and he gave them to boast of his marvels for ever
- Sirach 17:14 Or every unrighteous man
- Sirach 17:15 Other authorities add 16 Their ways from youth tend toward evil, and they are unable to make for themselves hearts of flesh in place of their stony hearts. 17 For in the division of the nations of the whole earth
- Sirach 17:17 Other authorities add 18 whom, being his first-born, he brings up with discipline, and allotting to him the light of his love, he does not neglect him.
- Sirach 17:20 Other authorities add 21 But the Lord, who is gracious and knows his creatures, has neither left nor abandoned them, but spared them.
- Sirach 17:22 Gk him
- Sirach 17:26 Other authorities add for he will lead you out of darkness to the light of health
- Sirach 17:30 The Greek text of this line is uncertain
- Sirach 17:31 Or suffers eclipse
- Sirach 18:2 Other authorities add and there is no other beside him; 3 he steers the world with the span of his hand, and all things obey his will; for he is king of all things, by his power separating among them the holy things from the profane.
- Sirach 18:10 Gk pebble
- Sirach 18:23 Or offering a prayer
Proverbs 22:17-21
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Sayings of the Wise
17 Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise,
and apply your mind to my knowledge;
18 for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
if all of them are ready on your lips.
19 That your trust may be in the Lord,
I have made them known to you today, even to you.
20 Have I not written for you thirty sayings
of admonition and knowledge,
21 to show you what is right and true,
that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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