Bible in a Year.

On day 303, we reflect on courage and faithfulness in the face of adversity in 2 Maccabees 6. Wisdom 1-2 presents the importance of seeking divine knowledge and discernment, while Proverbs 24:21-26 alerts us to integrity and prudence in our actions.

1. But not long after the king sent a certain old man of Antioch, to compel the Jews to depart from the laws of their fathers and of God:

2. And to defile the temple that was in Jerusalem, and to call it the temple of Jupiter Olympius: and that in Gazarim of Jupiter Hospitalis, according as they were that inhabited the place.

3. And very bad was this invasion of evils and grievous to all.

4. For the temple was full of the riot and revellings of the Gentiles: and of men lying with lewd women. And women thrust themselves of their accord into the holy places, and brought in things that were not lawful.

5. The altar also was filled with unlawful things, which were forbidden by the laws.

6. And neither were the sabbaths kept, nor the solemn days of the fathers observed, neither did any man plainly profess himself to be a Jew.

7. But they were led by bitter constraint on the king's birthday to the sacrifices: and when the feast of Bacchus was kept, they wore compelled to go about crowned with ivy in honour of Bacchus.

8. And there went out a decree into the neighbouring cities of the Gentiles, by the suggestion of the Ptolemeans, that they also should act in like manner against the Jews, to oblige them to sacrifice:

9. And whosoever would not conform themselves to the ways of the Gentiles, should be put to death: then was misery to be seen.

10. For two women were accused to have circumcised their children: whom, when they had openly led about through the city with the infants hanging at their breasts, they threw down headlong from the walls.

11. And others that had met together in caves that were near, and were keeping the sabbath day privately, being discovered by Philip, were burnt with fire, because they made a conscience to help themselves with their hands, by reason of the religious observance of the day.

12. Now I beseech those that shall read this book, that they be not shocked at these calamities, but that they consider the things that happened, not as being for the destruction, but for the correction of our nation.

13. For it is a token of great goodness when sinners are not suffered to go on in their ways for a long time, but are presently punished.

14. For, not as with other nations (whom the Lord patiently expecteth, that when the day of judgment shall come, he may punish them in the fulness of their sins:)

15. Doth he also deal with us, so as to suffer our sins to come to their height, and then take vengeance on us.

16. And therefore he never withdraweth his mercy from us: but though he chastise his people with adversity, he forsaketh them not.

17. But let this suffice in a few words for a warning to the readers. And now we must come to the narration.

18. Eleazar one of the chief of the scribes, a man advanced in years, and of a comely countenance, was pressed to open his mouth to eat swine's flesh.

19. But he, choosing rather a most glorious death than a hateful life, went forward voluntarily to the torment.

20. And considering in what manner he was come to ii;, patiently bearing, he determined not to do any unlawful things for the love of life.

21. But they that stood by, being moved with wicked pity, for the old friendship they had with the man, taking him aside, desired that flesh might be brought, which it was lawful for him to eat, that he might make as if he had eaten, as the king had commanded of the flesh of the sacrifice:

22. That by so doing he might be delivered from death: and for the sake of their old friendship with the man they did him this courtesy.

23. But he began to consider the dignity of his age, and his ancient years, and the inbred honour of his grey head, and his good life and conversation from a child: and he answered without delay, according to the ordinances of the holy law made by God, saying, that he would rather be sent into the other world.

24. For it doth not become our age, said he, to dissemble: whereby many young persons might think that Eleazar, at the age of fourscore and ten years, was gone over to the life of the heathens:

25. And so they, through my dissimulation, and for a little time of a corruptible life, should be deceived, end hereby I should bring a stain and a curse upon my old age.

26. For though, for the present time, I should be delivered from the punishments of men, yet should I not escape the hand of the Almighty neither alive nor dead.

27. Wherefore by departing manfully out of this life, I shall shew myself worthy of my old age:

28. And I shall leave an example of fortitude to young men, if with a ready mind and constancy I suffer an honourable death, for the most venerable and most holy laws. And having spoken thus, he was forthwith carried to execution.

29. And they that led him, and had been a little before more mild, were changed to wrath for the words he had spoken, which they thought were uttered out of arrogancy.

30. But when he was now ready to die with the stripes, he groaned, and said: O Lord, who hast the holy knowledge, thou knowest manifestly that whereas I might be delivered from death, I suffer grevious pains in body: but in soul am well content to suffer these things be- cause I fear thee.

31. Thus did this man die, leaving not only to young men, but also to the whole nation, the memory of his death for an example of virtue and fortitude.

Chapter 1

1. Love justice, you that are the judges of the earth. Think of the Lord in goodness, and seek him in simplicity of heart.

2. For he is found by them that tempt him not: and he sheweth himself to them that have faith in him.

3. For perverse thoughts seperate from God: and his power, when it is tried, reproveth the unwise:

4. For wisdom will not enter into a malicious soul, nor dwell in a body subject to sins.

5. For the Holy Spirit of discipline will flee from the deceitful, and will withdraw himself from thoughts that are without understanding, and he shall not abide when iniquity cometh in.

6. For the spirit of wisdom is benevolent, and will not acquit the evil speaker from his lips: for God is witness of his reins, and he is a true searcher of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue.

7. For the spirit of the Lord hath filled the whole world: and that, which containeth all things, hath knowledge of the voice.

8. Therefore he that speaketh unjust things cannot be hid, neither shall the chastising judgment pass him by.

9. For inquisition shall be made into the thoughts of the ungodly: and the hearing of his words shall come to God, to the chastising of his iniquities.

10. For the ear of jealousy heareth all things, and the tumult of murmuring shall not be hid.

11. Keep yourselves therefore from murmuring, which profiteth nothing, and refrain your tongue from detraction, for an obscure speech shall not go for nought: and the mouth that belieth, killeth the soul.

12. Seek not death in the error of your life, neither procure ye destruction by the works of your hands.

13. For God made not death, neither hath he pleasure in the destruction of the living.

14. For he created all things that they might be: and he made the nations of the earth for health: and there is no poison of destruction in them, nor kingdom of hell upon the earth.

15. For justice is perpetual and immortal.

16. But the wicked with works and words have called it to them: and esteeming it a friend have fallen away, and have made a covenant with it: because they are worthy to be of the part thereof.

Chapter 2

1. For they have said, reasoning with themselves, but not right: The time of our life is short and tedious, and in the end of a man there is no remedy, and no man hath been known to have returned from hell:

2. For we are born of nothing, and after this we shall be as if we had not been: for the breath in our nostrils is smoke: and speech a spark to move our heart,

3. Which being put out, our body shall be ashes, and our spirit shall be poured abroad as soft air, and our life shall pass away as the trace of a cloud, and shall be dispersed as a mist, which is driven away by the beams of the sun, and overpowered with the heat thereof:

4. And our name in time shall be forgotten, and no man shall have any remembrance of our works.

5. For our time is as the passing of a shadow, and there is no going back of our end: for it is fast sealed, and no man returneth.

6. Come therefore, and let us enjoy the good things that are present, and let us speedily use the creatures as in youth.

7. Let us fill ourselves with costly wine, and ointments: and let not the flower of the time pass by us.

8. Let us crown ourselves with roses, before they be withered: let no meadow escape our riot.

9. Let none of us go without his part in luxury: let us everywhere leave tokens of joy: for this is our portion, and this our lot.

10. Let us oppress the poor just man, and not spare the widow, nor honour the ancient grey hairs of the aged.

11. But let our strength be the law of justice: for that which is feeble, is found to be nothing worth.

12. Let us therefore lie in wait for the just, because he is not for our turn, and he is contrary to our doings, and upbraideth us with transgressions of the law, and divulgeth against us the sins of our way of life.

13. He boasteth that he hath the knowledge of God, and calleth himself the son of God.

14. He is become a censurer of our thoughts.

15. He is grievous unto us, even to behold: for his life is not like other men's, and his ways are very different.

16. We are esteemed by him as triflers, and he abstaineth from our ways as from filthiness, and he preferreth the latter end of the just, and glorieth that he hath God for his father.

17. Let us see then if his words be true, and let us prove what shall happen to him, and we shall know what his end shall be.

18. For if he be the true son of God, he will defend him, and will deliver him from the hands of his enemies.

19. Let us examine him by outrages and tortures, that we may know his meekness and try his patience.

20. Let us condemn him to a most shameful death: for there shall be respect had unto him by his words.

21. These things they thought, and were deceived: for their own malice blinded them.

22. And they knew not the secrets of God, nor hoped for the wages of justice, nor esteemed the honour of holy souls.

23. For God created man incorruptible, and to the image of his own likeness he made him.

24. But by the envy of the devil, death came into the world:

25. And they follow him that are of his side.

21. My son, fear the Lord and the king: and have nothing to do with detracters.

22. For their destruction shall rise suddenly: and who knoweth the ruin of both?

23. These things also to the wise: It is not good to have respect to persons in judgment.

24. They that say to the wicked man: Thou art just: shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall abhor them.

25. They that rebuke him, shall be praised: and a blessing shall come upon them.

26. He shall kiss the lips, who answereth right words.