2 Maccabees 2
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Jeremiah Hides the Tent, Ark, and Altar
2 One finds in the records that Jeremiah the prophet ordered those who were being deported to take some of the fire, as has been told, 2 and that the prophet after giving them the law instructed those who were being deported not to forget the commandments of the Lord, nor to be led astray in their thoughts upon seeing the gold and silver statues and their adornment. 3 And with other similar words he exhorted them that the law should not depart from their hearts.
4 It was also in the writing that the prophet, having received an oracle, ordered that the tent and the ark should follow with him, and that he went out to the mountain where Moses had gone up and had seen the inheritance of God. 5 And Jeremiah came and found a cave, and he brought there the tent and the ark and the altar of incense, and he sealed up the entrance. 6 Some of those who followed him came up to mark the way, but could not find it. 7 When Jeremiah learned of it, he rebuked them and declared: “The place shall be unknown until God gathers his people together again and shows his mercy. 8 And then the Lord will disclose these things, and the glory of the Lord and the cloud will appear, as they were shown in the case of Moses, and as Solomon asked that the place should be specially consecrated.”
9 It was also made clear that being possessed of wisdom Solomon[a] offered sacrifice for the dedication and completion of the temple. 10 Just as Moses prayed to the Lord, and fire came down from heaven and devoured the sacrifices, so also Solomon prayed, and the fire came down and consumed the whole burnt offerings. 11 And Moses said, “They were consumed because the sin offering had not been eaten.” 12 Likewise Solomon also kept the eight days.
13 The same things are reported in the records and in the memoirs of Nehemi′ah, and also that he founded a library and collected the books about the kings and prophets, and the writings of David, and letters of kings about votive offerings. 14 In the same way Judas also collected all the books that had been lost on account of the war which had come upon us, and they are in our possession. 15 So if you have need of them, send people to get them for you.
16 Since, therefore, we are about to celebrate the purification, we write to you. Will you therefore please keep the days? 17 It is God who has saved all his people, and has returned the inheritance to all, and the kingship and priesthood and consecration, 18 as he promised through the law. For we have hope in God that he will soon have mercy upon us and will gather us from everywhere under heaven into his holy place, for he has rescued us from great evils and has purified the place.
The Compiler’s Preface
19 The story of Judas Maccabe′us and his brothers, and the purification of the great temple, and the dedication of the altar, 20 and further the wars against Anti′ochus Epiph′anes and his son Eu′pator, 21 and the appearances which came from heaven to those who strove zealously on behalf of Judaism, so that though few in number they seized the whole land and pursued the barbarian hordes, 22 and recovered the temple famous throughout the world and freed the city and restored the laws that were about to be abolished, while the Lord with great kindness became gracious to them— 23 all this, which has been set forth by Jason of Cyre′ne in five volumes, we shall attempt to condense into a single book. 24 For considering the flood of numbers involved and the difficulty there is for those who wish to enter upon the narratives of history because of the mass of material, 25 we have aimed to please those who wish to read, to make it easy for those who are inclined to memorize, and to profit all readers. 26 For us who have undertaken the toil of abbreviating, it is no light matter but calls for sweat and loss of sleep, 27 just as it is not easy for one who prepares a banquet and seeks the benefit of others. However, to secure the gratitude of many we will gladly endure the uncomfortable toil, 28 leaving the responsibility for exact details to the compiler, while devoting our effort to arriving at the outlines of the condensation. 29 For as the master builder of a new house must be concerned with the whole construction, while the one who undertakes its painting and decoration has to consider only what is suitable for its adornment, such in my judgment is the case with us. 30 It is the duty of the original historian to occupy the ground and to discuss matters from every side and to take trouble with details, 31 but the one who recasts the narrative should be allowed to strive for brevity of expression and to forego exhaustive treatment. 32 At this point therefore let us begin our narrative, adding only so much to what has already been said; for it is foolish to lengthen the preface while cutting short the history itself.
Footnotes
- 2 Maccabees 2:9 Gk he
Sirach 42-44
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
42 Of the following things do not be ashamed,
and do not let partiality lead you to sin:
2 of the law of the Most High and his covenant,
and of rendering judgment to acquit the ungodly;
3 of keeping accounts with a partner or with traveling companions,
and of dividing the inheritance of friends;
4 of accuracy with scales and weights,
and of acquiring much or little;
5 of profit from dealing with merchants,
and of much discipline of children,
and of whipping a wicked servant severely.[a]
6 Where there is an evil wife, a seal is a good thing;
and where there are many hands, lock things up.
7 Whatever you deal out, let it be by number and weight,
and make a record of all that you give out or take in.
8 Do not be ashamed to instruct the stupid or foolish
or the aged man who quarrels with the young.
Then you will be truly instructed,
and will be approved before all men.
Daughters and Fathers
9 A daughter keeps her father secretly wakeful,
and worry over her robs him of sleep;
when she is young, lest she do not marry,
or if married, lest she be hated;
10 while a virgin, lest she be defiled
or become pregnant in her father’s house;
or having a husband, lest she prove unfaithful,
or, though married, lest she be barren.
11 Keep strict watch over a headstrong daughter,
lest she make you a laughingstock to your enemies,
a byword in the city and notorious[b] among the people,
and put you to shame before the great multitude.
12 Do not look upon any one for beauty,
and do not sit in the midst of women;
13 for from garments comes the moth,
and from a woman comes woman’s wickedness.
14 Better is the wickedness of a man than a woman who does good;
and it is a woman who brings shame and disgrace.
The Works of God in Nature
15 I will now call to mind the works of the Lord,
and will declare what I have seen.
By the words of the Lord his works are done.
16 The sun looks down on everything with its light,
and the work of the Lord is full of his glory.
17 The Lord has not enabled his holy ones
to recount all his marvelous works,
which the Lord the Almighty has established
that the universe may stand firm in his glory.
18 He searches out the abyss, and the hearts of men,[c]
and considers their crafty devices.
For the Most High knows all that may be known,
and he looks into the signs[d] of the age.
19 He declares what has been and what is to be,
and he reveals the tracks of hidden things.
20 No thought escapes him,
and not one word is hidden from him.
21 He has ordained the splendors of his wisdom,
and he is from everlasting and to everlasting.
Nothing can be added or taken away,
and he needs no one to be his counselor.
22 How greatly to be desired are all his works,
and how sparkling they are to see![e]
23 All these things live and remain for ever
for every need, and are all obedient.
24 All things are twofold, one opposite the other,
and he has made nothing incomplete.
25 One confirms the good things of the other,
and who can have enough of beholding his glory?
The Splendor of the Sun
43 The pride of the heavenly heights is the clear firmament,
the appearance of heaven in a spectacle of glory.
2 The sun, when it appears, making proclamation as it goes forth,
is a marvelous instrument, the work of the Most High.
3 At noon it parches the land;
and who can withstand its burning heat?
4 A man tending[f] a furnace works in burning heat,
but the sun burns the mountains three times as much;
it breathes out fiery vapors,
and with bright beams it blinds the eyes.
5 Great is the Lord who made it;
and at his command it hastens on its course.
The Splendor of the Moon
6 He made the moon also, to serve in its season[g]
to mark the times and to be an everlasting sign.
7 From the moon comes the sign for feast days,
a light that wanes when it has reached the full.
8 The month is named for the moon,
increasing marvelously in its phases,
an instrument of the hosts on high
shining forth in the firmament of heaven.
The Glory of the Stars and the Rainbow
9 The glory of the stars is the beauty of heaven,
a gleaming array in the heights of the Lord.
10 At the command of the Holy One they stand as ordered,
they never relax in their watches.
11 Look upon the rainbow, and praise him who made it,
exceedingly beautiful in its brightness.
12 It encircles the heaven with its glorious arc;
the hands of the Most High have stretched it out.
The Marvels of Nature
13 By his command he sends the driving snow
and speeds the lightnings of his judgment.
14 Therefore the storehouses are opened,
and the clouds fly forth like birds.
15 In his majesty he amasses the clouds,
and the hailstones are broken in pieces.
16 At his appearing the mountains are shaken;
at his will the south wind blows.
17 The voice of his thunder rebukes the earth;
so do the tempest from the north and the whirlwind.
He scatters the snow like birds flying down,
and its descent is like locusts alighting.
18 The eye marvels at the beauty of its whiteness,
and the mind is amazed at its falling.
19 He pours the hoarfrost upon the earth like salt,
and when it freezes, it becomes pointed thorns.
20 The cold north wind blows,
and ice freezes over the water;
it rests upon every pool of water,
and the water puts it on like a breastplate.
21 He consumes the mountains and burns up the wilderness,
and withers the tender grass like fire.
22 A mist quickly heals all things;
when the dew appears, it refreshes from the heat.
23 By his counsel he stilled the great deep
and planted islands in it.
24 Those who sail the sea tell of its dangers,
and we marvel at what we hear.
25 for in it are strange and marvelous works,
all kinds of living things, and huge creatures of the sea.
26 Because of him his messenger finds the way,
and by his word all things hold together.
27 Though we speak much we cannot reach the end,
and the sum of our words is: “He is the all.”
28 Where shall we find strength to praise him?
For he is greater than all his works.
29 Terrible is the Lord and very great,
and marvelous is his power.
30 When you praise the Lord, exalt him as much as you can;
for he will surpass even that.
When you exalt him, put forth all your strength,
and do not grow weary, for you cannot praise him enough.
31 Who has seen him and can describe him?
Or who can extol him as he is?
32 Many things greater than these lie hidden,
for we have seen but few of his works.
33 For the Lord has made all things,
and to the godly he has granted wisdom.
44 Let us now praise famous men,
and our fathers in their generations.
2 The Lord apportioned to them[h] great glory,
his majesty from the beginning.
3 There were those who ruled in their kingdoms,
and were men renowned for their power,
giving counsel by their understanding,
and proclaiming prophecies;
4 leaders of the people in their deliberations
and in understanding of learning for the people,
wise in their words of instruction;
5 those who composed musical tunes,
and set forth verses in writing;
6 rich men furnished with resources,
living peaceably in their habitations—
7 all these were honored in their generations,
and were the glory of their times.
8 There are some of them who have left a name,
so that men declare their praise.
9 And there are some who have no memorial,
who have perished as though they had not lived;
they have become as though they had not been born,
and so have their children after them.
10 But these were men of mercy,
whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten;
11 their prosperity will remain with their descendants,
and their inheritance to their children’s children.[i]
12 Their descendants stand by the covenants;
their children also, for their sake.
13 Their posterity will continue for ever,
and their glory will not be blotted out.
14 Their bodies were buried in peace,
and their name lives to all generations.
15 Peoples will declare their wisdom,
and the congregation proclaims their praise.
Enoch
16 Enoch pleased the Lord, and was taken up;
he was an example of repentance to all generations.
Noah
17 Noah was found perfect and righteous;
in the time of wrath he was taken in exchange;
therefore a remnant was left to the earth
when the flood came.
18 Everlasting covenants were made with him
that all flesh should not be blotted out by a flood.
Abraham
19 Abraham was the great father of a multitude of nations,
and no one has been found like him in glory;
20 he kept the law of the Most High,
and was taken into covenant with him;
he established the covenant in his flesh,
and when he was tested he was found faithful.
21 Therefore the Lord[j] assured him by an oath
that the nations would be blessed through his posterity;
that he would multiply him like the dust of the earth,
and exalt his posterity like the stars,
and cause them to inherit from sea to sea
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Isaac and Jacob
22 To Isaac also he gave the same assurance
for the sake of Abraham his father.
23 The blessing of all men and the covenant
he made to rest upon the head of Jacob;
he acknowledged him with his blessings,
and gave him his inheritance;[k]
he determined his portions,
and distributed them among twelve tribes.
Footnotes
- Sirach 42:5 Gk making the side of a wicked servant bleed
- Sirach 42:11 Gk called out
- Sirach 42:18 Gk and the heart
- Sirach 42:18 Gk sign
- Sirach 42:22 The Greek of this line is uncertain
- Sirach 43:4 Other authorities read blowing
- Sirach 43:6 The Greek text of this line is uncertain
- Sirach 44:2 Heb: Gk created
- Sirach 44:11 Heb Compare Vg Syr: The Greek of this verse is uncertain
- Sirach 44:21 Gk he
- Sirach 44:23 Heb: Gk by inheritance
Proverbs 24:8-9
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
8 He who plans to do evil
will be called a mischief-maker.
9 The devising of folly is sin,
and the scoffer is an abomination to men.
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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