Bible in a Year.

On day 299, 2 Maccabees 2 shows the courage and devotion of the heroes of faith. Sirach 42-44 offers advice on virtue, friendship, and prudence, while Proverbs 24:8-9 warns us about pitfalls and how to avoid them wisely, strengthening character and discernment.

1. Now it is found in the descriptions of Jeremias the prophet, that he commanded them that went into captivity, to take the fire, as it hath been signified, and how he gave charge to them that were carried away into captivity.

2. And how he gave them the law that they should not forget the commandments of the Lord, and that they should not err in their minds, seeing the idols of gold, and silver, and the ornaments of them.

3. And with other such like speeches, he exhorted them that they would not remove the law from their heart.

4. It was also contained in the same writing, how the prophet, being warned by God, commanded that the tabernacle and the ark should accompany him, till he came forth to the mountain " where Moses went up, and saw the inheritance of God.

5. And when Jeremias came thither he found a hollow cave: and he carried in thither the tabernacle, and the ark, and the altar of incense, and so stopped the door.

6. Then some of them that followed him, came up to mark the place: but they could not And it.

7. And when Jeremias perceived it, he blamed them, saying: The place shall be unknown, till God gather together the congregation of the people, and receive them to mercy.

8. And then the Lord will shew these things, and the majesty of the Lord shall appear, and there shall be a cloud as it was also shewed to Moses, "and he shewed it when Solomon prayed that the place might be sanctified to the great God.

9. For he treated wisdom in a magnificent manner: and like a wise man, he offered the sacrifice of the dedication, and of the finishing of the temple.

10. And as Moses prayed to the Lord and fire came down from heaven, and consumed the holocaust: so Solomon also prayed, and fire came down from heaven and consumed the holocaust.

11. And Moses said: Because the sin offering was not eaten, it was consumed.

12. So Solomon also celebrated the dedication eight days.

13. And these same things were set down in the memoirs and commentaries of Nehemias: and how he made a library, and gathered together out of the countries, the books both of the prophets, and of David, and the epistles of the kings. and concerning the holy gifts.

14. And in like manner Judas also gathered together all such things as were lost by the war we had, and they are in our possession.

15. Wherefore if you want these things, send some that may fetch them to you.

16. As we are then about to celebrate the purification, we have written unto you: and you shall do well, if you keep the same days.

17. And we hope that God who hath delivered his people, and hath rendered to all the inheritance, and the kingdom, and the priesthood, and the sanctuary,

18. As he promised in the law, will shortly have mercy upon us, and will gather us together from every land under heaven into the holy place.

19. For he hath delivered us out of great perils, and hath cleansed the place.

20. Now as concerning Judas Machabeus. and his brethren, and the purification of the great temple, and the dedication o the altar:

21. As also the wars against Antioch the Illustrious, and his son Eupator:

22. And the manifestations that from heaven to them, that behaved themselves manfully on the behalf of the Jews, so that, being but a few, they made themselves masters of the whole country, and put to flight; the barbarous multitude :

23. And recovered again the most renowned temple in all the world, and delivered the city, and restored the laws that were abolished, the Lord with all clemency shewing mercy to them.

24. And all such things as have been comprised in five books by Jason of Cyrene, we have attempted to abridge in one book.

25. For considering the multitude of books, and the difficulty that they find that desire to undertake the narrations of histories, because of the multitude of the matter,

26. We have taken care for those indeed that are willing to read, that it might be a pleasure of mind: and for the studious, that they may more easily commit to memory: and that all that read might receive profit.

27. And as to ourselves indeed, in under- taking this work of abridging, we have taken in hand no easy task, yea rather a business full of watching and sweat.

28. But as they that prepare a feast, and seek to satisfy the will of others: for the sake of many, we willingly undergo the labour.

29. Leaving to the authors the exact handling of every particular, and as for ourselves, according to the plan pro- posed, studying to be brief.

30. For as the master builder of a new house must have care of the whole building: but he that taketh care to paint it, must seek out fit things for the adorning of it: so must it be judged for us.

31. For to collect all that is to be known, to put the discourse in order, and curiously to discuss every particular point, is the duty of the author of a history:

32. But to pursue brevity of speech, and to avoid nice declarations of things, is to be granted to him that maketh an abridgment.

33. Here then we will begin the narration: let this be enough by way of a preface: for it is a foolish thing to make a long prologue, and to be short in the story itself.

Chapter 42

1. Repeat not the word which thou hast heard, and disclose not the thing that is secret; so shalt thou be truly without confusion, and shah find favour before all men: be not ashamed of any of these things, and accept no person to sin thereby:

2. Of the law of the most High, and of his covenant, and of judgment to justify the ungodly:

3. Of the affair of companions and travellers, and of the gift of the inheritance of friends:

4. Of exactness of balance and weights, of getting much or little:

5. Of the corruption of buying, and of merchants, and of much correction of children, and to make the side of a wicked slave to bleed.

6. Sure keeping is good over a wicked wife.

7. Where there are many hands, shut up, and deliver all things in number, and weight: and put all in writing that thou givest out or receivest in.

8. Be not ashamed to inform the unwise and foolish, and the aged, that are judged I by young men: and thou shalt be well instructed in all things, and well approved in the sight of all men living.

9. The father waketh for the daughter when no man knoweth, and the care for her taketh away his sleep, when she is young, lest she pass away the flower of her age, and when she is married, lest she should be hateful:

10. In her virginity, lest she should be corrupted, and be found with child in her father's house: and having a husband, lest she should misbehave herself, or at the least become barren.

11. Keep a sure watch over a shameless daughter: lest at any time she make thee become a laughingstock to thy enemies, and a byword in the city, and a reproach among the people, and she make thee ashamed before all the multitude.

12. Behold not everybody's beauty: and tarry not among women.

13. For from garments cometh a moth, end from a woman the iniquity of a man.

14. For better is the iniquity of a man, than a woman doing a good turn, and a woman bringing shame and reproach.

15. I will now remember the works of the Lord, and I will declare the things I have seen. By the words of the Lord are his works.

16. The sun giving light hath looked upon all things, and full of the glory of the Lord is his work.

17. Hath not the Lord made the saints to declare all his wonderful works, which the Lord Almighty hath firmly settled to be established for his glory?

18. He hath searched out the deep, and the heart of men: and considered their crafty devices.

19. For the Lord knoweth all knowledge, and hath beheld the signs of the world, he declareth the things that are past, and the things that are to come, and revealeth the traces of hidden things.

20. No thought escapeth him, and no word can hide itself from him.

21. He hath beautified the glorious works of his wisdom: and he Is from eternity to eternity, and to him nothing may be added,

22. Nor can he be diminished, and he hath no need of any counsellor.

23. O how desirable are all his works, and what we can know is but as a spark!

24. All these things live, and remain for ever, and for every use all things obey him.

25. All things are double, one against another, and he hath made nothing defective.

26. He hath established the good things of every one. And who shall be filled with beholding his glory?

Chapter 43

1. The firmament on high is his beauty, the beauty of heaven with its glorious shew.

2. The sun when he appeareth shewing forth at his rising, an admirable instrument, the work of the most High.

3. At noon he burneth the earth, and who can abide his burning heat? As one keeping a furnace in the works of heat:

4. The sun three times as much, burneth the mountains, breathing out fiery vapours, and shining with his beams, he blindeth the eyes.

5. Great is the Lord that made him, and at his words he hath hastened his course.

6. And the moon in all in her season, is for a declaration of times and a sign of the world.

7. From the moon is the sign of the festival day, a light that decreaseth in her perfection.

8. The month is called after her name, increasing wonderfully in her perfection

9. Being an instrument of the armies on high, shining gloriously in the Armament of heaven.

10. The glory of the stars is the beauty of heaven; the Lord enlighteneth the world on high.

11. By the words of the holy one they shall stand in judgment, and shall never fail in their watches.

12. Look upon the rainbow, and bless him that made it: it is very beautiful in its brightness.

13. It encompasseth the heaven about with the circle of its glory, the hands of the most High have displayed it.

14. By his commandment he maketh the snow to fall apace, and sendeth forth swiftly the lightnings of his judgment.

15. Through this are the treasures opened, and the clouds fly out like birds.

16. By his greatness he hath fixed the clouds, and the hailstones are broken.

17. At his sight shall the mountains be shaken, and at his will the south wind shall blow.

18. The noise of his thunder shall strike the earth, so doth the northern storm, and the whirlwind:

19. And as the birds lighting upon the earth, he scattereth snow, and the falling thereof, is as the coming down of locusts.

20. The eye admireth at the beauty of the whiteness thereof, and the heart is astonished at the shower thereof.

21. He shall pour frost as salt upon the earth: and when it freezeth, it shall become like the tops of thistles.

22. The cold north wind bloweth, and the water is congealed into crystal; upon every gathering together of waters it shall rest, and shall clothe the waters as a breastplate.

23. And it shall devour the mountains, and burn the wilderness, and consume all that is green as with fire.

24. A present remedy of all is the speedy coming of a cloud, and a dew that meeteth it, by the heat that cometh, shall overpower it.

25. At his word the wind is still, and with his thought he appeaseth the deep, and the Lord hath planted islands therein.

26. Let them that sail on the sea, tell the dangers thereof: and when we hear with our ears, we shall admire.

27. There are great and wonderful works: a variety of beasts, and of all living things, and the monstrous creatures of whales.

28. Through him is established the end of their journey, and by his word all things are regulated.

29. We shall say much, and yet shall want words: but the sum of our words is, He is all.

30. What shall we be able to do to glorify him? for the Almighty himself is above all his works.

31. 31The Lord is terrible, and exceeding great, and his power is admirable.

32. Glorify the Lord as much as ever you can, for he will yet far exceed, and his magnificence is wonderful.

33. Blessing the Lord, exalt him as much as you can: for he is above all praise.

34. When you exalt him put forth all your strength, and be not weary: for you can never go far enough.

35. Who shall see him, and declare him? and who shall magnify him as he is from the beginning?

36. There are many things hidden from us that are greater than these: for we have seen but a few of his works.

37. But the Lord hath made all things, and to the godly he hath given wisdom.

Chapter 44

1. Let us now praise men of renown, and our fathers in their generation.

2. The Lord hath wrought great glory through his magnificence from the beginning.

3. Such as have borne rule in their dominions, men of great power, and endued with their wisdom, shewing forth in the prophets the dignity of prophets,

4. And ruling over the present people, and by the strength of wisdom instructing the people in most holy words.

5. Such as by their skill sought out musical tunes, and published canticles of the scriptures.

6. Rich men in virtue, studying beautifulness: living at peace in their houses.

7. All these have gained glory in their generations, and were praised in their days.

8. They that were born of them have left a name behind them, that their praises might be related:

9. And there are some, of whom there is no memorial: who are perished, as if they had never been: and are become as if they had never been born, and their children with them.

10. But these were men of mercy, whose godly deeds have not failed:

11. Good things continue with their seed,

12. Their posterity are a holy inheritance, and their seed hath stood in the covenants.

13. And their children for their sakes remain for ever: their seed and their glory shall not be forsaken.

14. Their bodies are buried in peace, and their name liveth unto generation and generation.

15. Let the people shew forth their wisdom, and the church declare their praise.

16. Henoch pleased God, and was translated into paradise, that he may give repentance to the nations.

17. Noe was found perfect, just, and in the time of wrath he was made a reconciliation.

18. Therefore was there a remnant left to the earth, when the flood came.

19. The covenants of the world were made with him, that all flesh should no more be destroyed with the hood.

20. Abraham was the great father of a multitude of nations, and there was not found the like to him in glory, who kept the law of the most High, and was in covenant with him.

21. In his flesh he established the covenant, and in temptation he was found faithful.

22. Therefore by an oath he gave him glory in his posterity, that he should increase as the dust of the earth,

23. And that he would exalt his seed as the stars, and they should inherit from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth.

24. And he did in like manner with Isaac for the sake of Abraham his father.

25. The Lord gave him the blessing of all nations, and confirmed his covenant upon the head of Jacob.

26. He acknowledged him in his blessings, and gave him an inheritance, and divided him his portion in twelve tribes.

27. And he preserved for him men of mercy, that found grace in the eyes of all flesh.

8. He that deviseth to do evils, shall be called a fool.

9. The thought of a fool is sin: and the detracter is the abomination of men.