Bible in a Year.

On day 307, 2 Maccabees 10 shows the importance of righteous leadership and faithfulness to God in times of conflict. Wisdom 9-10 teaches us about discernment and humility, while Proverbs 25:4-7 advises us to eliminate what is worthless and maintain integrity in our actions.

1. But Machabeus, and they that were with him, by the protection of the Lord, recovered the temple and the city again.

2. But he threw down the altars, which the heathens had set up in the streets, as also the temples of the idols.

3. And having purified the temple, they made another altar: and taking fire out of the fiery stones, they offered sacrifices after two years, and set forth incense, and lamps, and the leaves of proposition.

4. And when they had done these things, they besought the Lord, lying prostrate on the ground, that they might no more fall into such evils; but if they should at any time sin, that they might be chastised by him more gently, and not be delivered up to barbarians and blasphemous men.

5. Now upon the same day that the temple had been polluted by the strangers, on the very same day it was cleansed again, to wit, on the five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu.

6. And they kept eight days with joy, after the manner of the feast of the tabernacles, remembering that not long before they had kept the feast of the tabernacles when they were in the mountains, and in dens like wild beasts.

7. Therefore they now, carried boughs, and green branches, and palms for Him that had given them good success in cleansing his place.

8. And they ordained by a common statute, and decree, that all the nation of the Jews should keep those days every year.

9. And this was the end of Antiochus that was called the Illustrious.

10. But now we will relate the acts of Eupator the son of that wicked Antiochus, abridging the account of the evils that happened in the wars.

11. For when he was come to the crown. he appointed over the affairs of his realm one Lysias, general of the army of Phenicia and Syria.

12. For Ptolemee that was called Macer, was determined to be strictly just to the Jews, and especially by reason of the wrong that had been done them, and to deal peaceably with them.

13. But being accused for this to Eupator by his friends, and being oftentimes called traitor, because he had left Cyprus which Philometor had committed to him, and coming over to Antiochus the Illustrious, had revolted also from him, he put an end to his life by poison.

14. But Gorgias, who was governor of the holds, taking with him the strangers, often fought against the Jews.

15. And the Jews that occupied the most commodious hold, received those that were driven out of Jerusalem, and at- tempted to make war.

16. Then they that were with Machabeus, beseeching the Lord by prayers to be their helper, made a strong attack upon the strong holds of the Idumeans:

17. And assaulting them with great force, won the holds, killed them that came in the way, and slew altogether no fewer than twenty thousand.

18. And whereas some were fled into very strong towers, having all manner of provision to sustain a siege,

19. Machabeus left Simon and Joseph, and Zacheus, and them that were with them in sufficient number to besiege them, and departed to those expeditions which urged more.

20. Now they that were with Simon, being led with covetousness, were persuaded For the sake of money by some that were in the towers: and taking seventy thousand didrachmas, let some of them escape.

21. But when it was told Machabeus what was done, he assembled the rulers of the people, and accused those men that they had sold their brethren for money, having let their adversaries escape.

22. So he put these traitors to death, and forthwith took the two towers.

23. And having good success in arms and in all things he took in hand, he slew more than twenty thousand in the two holds.

24. But Timotheus who before had been overcome by the Jews, having called together a multitude of foreign troops, and assembled horsemen out of Asia, came as though he would take Judea by force of arms.

25. But Machabeus and they that were with him, when he drew near, prayed to the Lord, sprinkling earth upon their heads and girding their loins with hair- cloth,

26. And lying prostrate at the foot of the altar, besought him to be merciful to them, and to be an enemy to their enemies, and an adversary to their adversaries, as the law saith.

27. And so after prayer taking their arms, they went forth further from the city, and when they were come very near the enemies they rested.

28. But as soon as the sun was risen both sides joined battle: the one part having with their valour the Lord for a surety o victory and success: but the other side making their rage their leader in battle.

29. But when they were in the heat of the engagement there appeared to the enemies from heaven five men upon horses, comely with golden bridles, con- ducting the Jews:

30. Two of whom took Machabeus between them, and covered him on every side with their arms, and kept him safe: but cast darts and fireballs against the enemy, so that they fell down, being both confounded with blindness, and filled with trouble.

31. And there were slain twenty thousand five hundred, and six hundred horsemen.

32. But Timotheus fled into Gazara a strong hold, where Chereas was governor.

33. Then Machabeus, and they that were with him, cheerfully laid siege to the fortress four days.

34. But they that were within, trusting to the strength of the place, blasphemed exceedingly, and cast forth abominable words.

35. But when the fifth day appeared, twenty young men of them that were with Machabeus, inflamed in their minds because of the blasphemy, approached manfully to the wall, and pushing forward with fierce courage got up upon it.

36. Moreover others also getting up after them, went to set Are to the towers and the gates, and to burn the blasphemers alive.

37. And having for two days together pillaged and sacked the fortress, they killed Timotheus, who was found hid in a certain place: they slew also his brother Chereas, and Apollophanes.

38. And when this was done, they blessed the Lord with hymns and thanksgiving, who had done great things in Israel, and given them the victory.

Chapter 9

1. God of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, who hast made all things with thy word,

2. And by thy wisdom hast appointed man, that he should have dominion over the creature that was made by thee,

3. That he should order the world according to equity and justice, and execute justice with an upright heart:

4. Give me wisdom, that sitteth by thy throne, and cast me not off from among thy children:

5. For I am thy servant, and the son of thy handmaid, a weak man, and of short time, and falling short of the understanding of judgment and laws.

6. For if one be perfect among the children of men, yet if thy wisdom be not with him, he shall be nothing regarded.

7. Thou hast chosen me to be king of thy people, and a judge of thy sons and daughters.

8. And hast commanded me to build a temple on thy holy mount, and an altar in the city of thy dwelling place, a resemblance of thy holy tabernacle, which thou hast prepared from the beginning:

9. And thy wisdom with thee, which knoweth thy works, which then also was present when thou madest the world, and knew what was agreeable to thy eyes, and what was right in thy commandments.

10. Send her out of thy holy heaven, and from the throne of thy majesty, that she may be with me, and may labour with me, that I may know what is acceptable with thee:

11. For she knoweth and understandeth all things, and shall lead me soberly in my works, and shall preserve me by her power.

12. So shall my works be acceptable, and I shall govern thy people justly, and shall be worthy of the throne of my father.

13. For who among men is he that can know the counsel of God? or who can think what the will of God is?

14. For the thoughts of mortal men are fearful, and our counsels uncertain.

15. For the corruptible body is a load upon the soul, and the earthly habitation presseth down the mind that museth upon many things.

16. And hardly do we guess aright at things that are upon earth: and with labour do we find the things that are before us. But the things that are in heaven, who shall search out?

17. And who shall know thy thought, except thou give wisdom, and send thy Holy Spirit from above:

18. And so the ways of them that are upon earth may be corrected, and men may learn the things that please thee?

19. For by wisdom they were healed, whosoever have pleased thee, O Lord, from the beginning.

Chapter 10

1. She preseved him, that was first formed by God the father of the world, when he was created alone,

2. And she brought him out of his sin, and gave him power to govern all things.

3. But when the unjust went away from her in his anger, he perished by the fury wherewith he murdered his brother.

4. For whose cause, when water destroyed the earth, wisdom healed it again, directing the course of the just by contemptible wood.

5. Moreover when the nations had conspired together to consent to wickedness, she knew the just, and preserved him without blame to God, and kept him strong against the compassion for his son.

6. She delivered the just man who fled from the wicked that were perishing, when the fire came down upon Pentapolis:

7. Whose land for a testimony of their wickedness is desolate, and smoketh to this day, and the trees bear fruits that ripen not, and a standing pillar of salt is a monument of an incredulous soul.

8. For regarding not wisdom, they did not only slip in this, that they were ignorant of good things, but they left also unto men a memorial of their folly, so that in the things in which they sinned, they could not so much as lie hid.

9. But wisdom hath delivered from sorrow them that attend upon her.

10. She conducted the just, when he fled from his brother's wrath, through the right ways, and shewed him the kingdom of God, and gave him the knowledge of the holy things, made him honourable in his labours, and accomplished his labours.

11. In the deceit of them that overreached him, she stood by him, and made him honourable.

12. She kept him safe from his enemies, and she defended him from seducers, and gave him a strong conflict, that he might overcome, and know that wisdom is mightier than all.

13. She forsook not the just when he was sold, but delivered him from sinners: she went down with him into the pit.

14. And in bands she left him not, till she brought him the sceptre of the kingdom, and power against those that oppressed him: and shewed them to be liars that had accused him, and gave him everlasting glory.

15. She delivered the just people, and blameless seed from the nations that oppressed them.

16. She entered into the soul of the servant of God, and stood against dreadful kings in wonders and signs.

17. And she rendered to the just the wages of their labours, and conducted them in a wonderful way: and she was to them for a covert by day, and for the light of stars by night:

18. And she brought them through the Red Sea, and carried them over through a great water.

19. But their enemies she drowned in the sea, and from the depth of hell she brought them out. Therefore the just took the spoils of the wicked.

20. And they sung to thy holy name, O Lord, and they praised with one accord thy victorious hand.

21. For wisdom opened the mouth of the dumb, and made the tongues of infants eloquent.

4. Take away the rust from silver, and there shall come forth a most pure vessel:

5. Take away wickedness from the face of the king, and his throne shall be established with justice.

6. Appear not glorious before the king, and stand not in the place of great men.

7. For it is better that it should be said to thee: Come up hither; than that thou shouldst be humbled before the prince.