Bible in a Year.

On day 291, we explore the Maccabean endurance in 1 Maccabees 10, the practical wisdom about family and relationships in Sirach 26-27, and the reflection on wealth and values ​​in Proverbs 23:5-8. This day inspires us to courage, discernment, and faithfulness to God's will.

1. Now in the hundred and sixtieth year Alexander the son of Antiochus, surnamed the Illustrious, came up and took Ptolemais, and they received him, and he reigned there.

2. And king Demetrius heard of it, and gathered together an exceeding great army, and went forth against him to fight.

3. And Demetrius sent a letter to Jonathan with peaceable words, to magnify him.

4. For he said: Let us first make a peace with him, before he make one with Alexander against us.

5. For he will remember all the evils that we have done against him, and against his brother, and against his nation.

6. And he gave him authority to gather together an army, and to make arms, and that he should be his confederate: and the hostages that were in the castle, he commanded to be delivered to him.

7. And Jonathan came to Jerusalem, and read the letters in the hearing of all the people, and of them that were in the castle.

8. And they were struck with great fear, because they heard that the king had given him authority to gather together an army.

9. And the hostages were delivered to Jonathan, and he restored them to their parents.

10. And Jonathan dwelt in Jerusalem, and began to build, and to repair the city.

11. And he ordered workmen to build the walls, and mount Sion round about with square stones for fortification: and so they did.

12. And the strangers that were in the strong holds, which Bacchides had built, fled away.

13. And every man left his place, and departed into his own country:

14. Only in Bethsura there remained some of them, that had forsaken the law, and the commandments of God: for this was a place of refuge for them.

15. And king Alexander heard of the promises that Demetrius had made Jonathan: and they told him of the battles, and the worthy acts that he, and his brethren had done, and the labours that they had endured.

16. And he said: Shall we find such another man? now therefore we will make him our friend and our confederate.

17. So he wrote a letter, and sent it to him according to these words, saying:

18. King Alexander to his brother Jonathan, greeting.

19. We have heard of thee, that thou art a man of great power, and fit to be our friend:

20. Now therefore we make thee this day high priest of thy nation, and that thou be called the king's friend, (and he sent him a purple robe, and a crown of gold,) and that thou be of one mind with us in our affairs, and keep friendship with us.

21. Then Jonathan put on the holy vestment in the seventh month, in the year one hundred and threescore, at the feast day of the tabernacles: and he gathered together an army, and made a great number of arms.

22. And Demetrius heard these words, and was exceeding sorry, and said:

23. What is this that we have done, that Alexander hath prevented us to gain the friendship of the Jews to strengthen himself?

24. I also will write to them words of request, and offer dignities, and gifts: that they may be with me to aid me.

25. And he wrote to them in these words: King Demetrius to the nation of the Jews, greeting.

26. Whereas you have kept covenant with us, and have continued in our friendship, and have not joined with our enemies, we have heard of it, and are glad.

27. Wherefore now continue still to keep fidelity towards us, and we will reward you with good things, for what you have done in our behalf.

28. And we will remit to you many charges, and will give you gifts.

29. And now I free you, and all the Jews from tributes, and I release you from the customs of salt, and remit the crowns, and the thirds of the seed:

30. And the half of the fruit of trees, which is my share, I leave to you from this day forward, so that it shall not be taken of the land of Juda, and of the three cities that are added thereto out of Samaria and Galilee, from this day forth and for ever:

31. And let Jerusalem be holy and free, with the borders thereof: and let the tenths, and tributes be for itself.

32. I yield up also the power of the castle that is in Jerusalem, and I give it to the high priest, to place therein such men as he shall choose to keep it.

33. And every soul of the Jews that hath been carried captive from the land of Juda in all my kingdom, I set at liberty freely, that all be discharged from tributes even of their cattle.

34. And I will that all the feasts, and the sabbaths, and the new moons, and the days appointed, and three days before the solemn day, and three days after the solemn day, be all days of immunity and freedom, for all the Jews that are in my kingdom:

35. And no man shall have power to do any thing against them, or to molest any of them, in any cause.

36. And let there be enrolled in the king's army to the number of thirty thousand of the Jews: and allowance shall be made them as is due to all the king's forces, and certain of them shall be appointed to be in the fortresses of the great king:

37. And some of them shall be set over the affairs of the kingdom, that are of trust, and let the governors be taken from among themselves, and let them walk in their own laws, as the king hath commanded in the land of Juda.

38. And the three cities that are added to Judea, out of the country of Samaria, let them be accounted with Judea: that they may be under one, and obey no other authority but that of the high priest:

39. Ptolemais, and the confines thereof, I give as a free gift to the holy places, that are in Jerusalem, for the necessary charges of the holy things.

40. And I give every year fifteen thousand sicles of silver out of the king's accounts, of what belongs to me:

41. And all that is above, which they that were over the affairs the years before, had not paid, from this time they shall give it to the works of the house.

42. Moreover the five thousand sicles of silver which they received from the account of the holy places, every year, shall also belong to the priests that execute the ministry.

43. And whosoever shall flee into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and in all the borders thereof, being indebted to the king for any matter, let them be set at liberty, and all that they have in my kingdom, let them have it free.

44. For the building also, or repairing the works of the holy places, the charges shall be given out of the king's revenues:

45. For the building also of the walls of Jerusalem, and the fortifying thereof round about, the charges shall be given out of the king's account, as also for the building of the walls in Judea.

46. Now when Jonathan, and the people heard these words, they gave no credit to them nor received them: because they remembered the great evil that he had done in Israel, for he had afflicted them exceedingly.

47. And their inclinations were towards Alexander, because he had been the chief promoter of peace in their regard, and him they always helped.

48. And king Alexander gathered together a great army, and moved his camp near to Demetrius.

49. And the two kings joined battle, and the army of Demetrius fled away, and Alexander pursued after him, and pressed them close.

50. And the battle was hard fought till the sun went down: and Demetrius was slain that day.

51. And Alexander sent ambassadors to Ptolemee king of Egypt, with words to this effect, saying:

52. Forasmuch as I am returned into my kingdom, and am set in the throne of my ancestors and have gotten the dominion, and have overthrown Demetrius, and possessed our country,

53. And have joined battle with him, and both he and his army have been destroyed by us, and we are placed in the throne of his kingdom:

54. Now therefore let us make friendship one with another: and give me now thy daughter to wife, and I will be thy son in law, and I will give both thee and her gifts worthy of thee.

55. And king Ptolemee answered, saying: Happy is the day wherein thou didst return to the land of thy fathers, and sattest in the throne of their kingdom.

56. And now I will do to thee as thou hast written: but meet me at Ptolemais, that we may see one another, and I may give her to thee as thou hast said.

57. So Ptolemee went out of Egypt, with Cleopatra his daughter, and he came to Ptolemais in the hundred and sixty-second year.

58. And king Alexander met him, and he gave him his daughter Cleopatra: and he celebrated her marriage at Ptolemais, with great glory, after the manner of kings.

59. And king Alexander wrote to Jonathan, that he should come and meet him.

60. And he went honourably to Ptolemais, and he met there the two kings, and he gave them much silver, and gold, and presents: and he found favour in their sight.

61. And some pestilent men of Israel, men of a wicked life, assembled themselves against him to accuse him: and the king gave no heed to them.

62. And he commanded that Jonathan's garments should be taken off, and that he should be clothed with purple: and they did so. And the king made him sit by himself.

63. And he said to his princes: Go out with him into the midst of the city, and make proclamation, that no man complain against him of any matter, and that no man trouble him for any manner of cause.

64. So when his accusers saw his glory proclaimed, and him clothed with purple, they all fled away.

65. And the king magnified him, and enrolled him amongst his chief friends, and made him governor and partaker of his dominion.

66. And Jonathan returned into Jerusalem with peace and joy.

67. In the year one hundred and sixty-five Demetrius the son of Demetrius came from Crete into the land of his fathers.

68. And king Alexander heard of it, and was much troubled, and returned to Antioch.

69. And king Demetrius made Apollonius his general, who was governor of Celesyria: and he gathered together a great army, and came to Jamnia: and he sent to Jonathan the high priest,

70. Saying: Thou alone standest against us, and I am laughed at, and reproached, because thou shewest thy power against us in the mountains.

71. Now therefore if thou trustest in thy forces, come down to us into the plain, and there let us try one another: for with me is the strength of war.

72. Ask, and learn who I am, and the rest that help me, who also say that your foot cannot stand before our face, for thy fathers have twice been put to flight in their own land:

73. And now how wilt thou be able to abide the horsemen, and so great an army in the plain, where there is no stone, nor rock, nor place to flee to?

74. Now when Jonathan heard the words of Apollonius, he was moved in his mind: and he chose ten thousand men, and went out of Jerusalem, and Simon his brother met him to help him.

75. And they pitched their tents near Joppe, but they shut him out of the city: because a garrison of Apollonius was in Joppe, and he laid siege to it.

76. And they that were in the city being affrighted, opened the gates to him: so Jonathan took Joppe.

77. And Apollonius heard of it, and he took three thousand horsemen, and a great army.

78. And he went to Azotus as one that was making a journey, and immediately he went forth into the plain: because he had a great number of horsemen, and he trusted in them. And Jonathan followed after him to Azotus, and they joined battle.

79. And Apollonius left privately in the camp a thousand horsemen behind them.

80. And Jonathan knew that there was an ambush behind him, and they surrounded his army, and cast darts at the people from morning till evening.

81. But the people stood still, as Jonathan had commanded them: and so their horses were fatigued.

82. Then Simon drew forth his army, and attacked the legion: for the horsemen were wearied: and they were discomfited by him, and fled.

83. And they that were scattered about the plain, fled into Azotus, and went into Bethdagon their idol's temple, there to save themselves.

84. But Jonathan set fire to Azotus, and the cities that were around it, and took the spoils of them, and the temple of Dagon: and all them that were fled into it, he burnt with fire.

85. So they that were slain by the sword, with them that were burnt, were almost eight thousand men.

86. And Jonathan removed his army from thence, and camped against Ascalon: and they went out of the city to meet him with great honour.

87. And Jonathan returned into Jerusalem with his people, having many spoils.

88. And it came to pass: When Alexander the king heard these words, that he honoured Jonathan yet more.

89. And he sent him a buckle of gold, as the custom is, to be given to such as are of the royal blood. And he gave him Accaron and all the borders thereof in possession.

Chapter 26

1. Happy is the husband of a good wife: for the number of his years is double.

2. A virtuous woman rejoiceth her husband: and shall fulfil the years of his life in peace.

3. A good wife is a good portion, she shall be given in the portion of them that fear God, to a man for his good deeds.

4. Rich or poor, if his heart is good, his countenance shall be cheerful at all times.

5. Of three things my heart hath been afraid, and at the fourth my face hath trembled:

6. The accusation of a city, and the gathering together of the people:

7. And a false calumny, all are more grievous than death.

8. A jealous woman is the grief and mourning of the heart.

9. With a jealous woman is a scourge of the tongue which communicateth with all.

10. As a yoke of oxen that is moved to and fro, so also is a wicked woman: he that hath hold of her, is as he that taketh hold of a scorpion.

11. A drunken woman is a great wrath: and her reproach and shame shall not be hid.

12. The fornication of a woman shall be known by the haughtiness of her eyes, and by her eyelids.

13. On a daughter that turneth not away herself, set a strict watch: lest finding an opportunity she abuse herself.

14. Take heed of the impudence of her eyes, and wonder not if she slight thee.

15. She will open her mouth as a thirsty traveller to the fountain, and will drink of every water near her, and will sit down by every hedge, and open her quiver against every arrow, until she fail.

16. The grace of a diligent woman shall delight her husband, and shall fat his bones.

17. Her discipline is the gift of God.

18. Such is a wise and silent woman, and there is nothing so much worth as a well instructed soul.

19. A holy and shamefaced woman is grace upon grace.

20. And no price is worthy of a continent soul.

21. As the sun when it riseth to the world in the high places of God, so is the beauty of a good wife for the ornament of her house.

22. As the lamp shining upon the holy candlestick, so is the beauty of the face in a ripe age.

23. As golden pillars upon bases of silver, so are the firm feet upon the soles of a steady woman.

24. As everlasting foundations upon a solid rock, so the commandments of God In the heart of a holy woman.

25. At two things my heart is grieved, and the third bringeth anger upon me:

26. A man of was fainting through poverty: and a man of sense despised:

27. And he that passeth over from justice to sin, God hath prepared such an one for the sword.

28. Two sorts of callings have appeared to me hard and dangerous: a merchant is hardly free from negligence: and a huckster shall not be justified from the sins of the lips.

Chapter 27

1. Through poverty many have sinned: and he that seeketh to be enriched, turneth away his eye.

2. As a stake sticketh fast in the midst of the joining of stones, so also in the midst of selling and buying, sin shall stick fast.

3. Sin shall be destroyed with the sinner.

4. Unless thou hold thyself diligently in the fear of the Lord, thy house shall quickly be overthrown.

5. As when one sifteth with a sieve, the dust will remain: so will the perplexity of a man in his thoughts.

6. The furnace trieth the potter's vessels, and the trial of affliction just men.

7. Be the dressing of a tree sheweth the fruit thereof, so a word out of the thought of the heart of man.

8. Praise not a man before he speaketh, for this is the trial of men.

9. If thou followest justice, thou shalt obtain her: and shalt put her on as a long robe of honour, and thou shalt dwell with her: and she shall protect thee for ever, and in the day of acknowledgment thou shalt find a strong foundation.

10. Birds resort unto their like: so truth will return to them that practise her.

11. The lion always lieth in wait for prey: so do sine for them that work iniquities.

12. A holy man continueth in wisdom as the sun: but a fool is changed as the moon.

13. In the midst of the unwise keep in the word till its time: but be continually among men that think.

14. The discourse of sinners is hateful, and their laughter is at the pleasures of sin.

15. The speech that sweareth much shall make the hair of the head stand upright: and its irreverence shall make one stop his ears.

16. Is the quarrels of the proud is the shedding of blood: and their cursing is a grievous hearing.

17. He that discloseth the secret of a friend loseth his credit, and shall never find a friend to his mind.

18. Love thy neighbour, and be joined to him with fidelity.

19. But if thou discover his secrets, follow no more after him.

20. For as a man that destroyeth his friend, so also is he that destroyeth the friendship of his neighbour.

21. And as one that letteth a bird go out of his hand, so hast thou let thy neighbour go, and thou shalt not get him again.

22. Follow after him no more, for he is gone afar off, he is fled, as a roe escaped out of the snare: because his soul is wounded.

23. Thou canst no more bind him up. And of a curse there is reconciliation:

24. But to disclose the secrets of a friend, leaveth no hope to an unhappy soul.

25. He that winketh with the eye forgeth wicked things, and no man will cast him off:

26. In the sight of thy eyes he will sweeten his mouth, and will admire thy words: but at the last he will writhe his mouth, and on thy words he will lay a stumblingblock.

27. I have hated many things, but not like him, and the Lord will hate him.

28. If one cast a stone on high, it will fall upon his own head: and the deceitful stroke will wound the deceitful.

29. He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that setteth a stone for his neighbour, shall stumble upon it: and he that layeth a snare for another, shall perish in it.

30. A mischievous counsel shall be rolled back upon the author, and he shall not know from whence it cometh to him.

31. Mockery and reproach are of the proud, and vengeance as a lion shall lie in wait for him.

32. They shall perish in a snare that are delighted with the fall of the just: and sorrow shall consume them before they die.

33. Anger and fury are both of them abominable, and the sinful man shall be subject to them.

5. Lift not up thy eyes to riches which thou canst not have: because they shall make themselves wings like those of an eagle, and shall fly towards heaven.

6. Eat not with an envious man, and desire not his meats:

7. Because like a soothsayer, and diviner, he thinketh that which he knoweth not. Eat and drink, will he say to thee: and his mind is not with thee.

8. The meats which thou hadst eaten, thou shalt vomit up: and shalt loose thy beautiful words.