Bible in a Year.

On day 306, 2 Maccabees 9 presents us with victories and challenges faced by the Maccabees, exemplifying courage and faith. Wisdom 7-8 teaches prudence and spiritual discernment, while Proverbs 25:1-3 reminds us that wisdom and justice are deep principles, often hidden and to be sought carefully.

1. At that time Antiochus returned with dishonour out of Persia.

2. For he had entered into the city called Persepolis, and attempted to rob the temple, and to oppress the city: but the multitude running together to arms, put them to flight: and so it fell out that Antiochus being put to flight returned with disgrace.

3. Now when he was come about Ecbatana, he received the news of what had happened to Nicanor and Timotheus.

4. And swelling with anger he thought to revenge upon the Jews the injury done by them that had put him to flight. And therefore he commanded his chariot to be driven, without stopping in his journey, the judgment of heaven urging him forward, because he had spoken so proudly, that he would come to Jerusalem, and make it a common burying place of the Jews.

5. But the Lord the God of Israel, that seeth all things, struck him with an in- curable and an invisible plague. For as soon as he had ended these words, a dreadful pain in his bowels came upon him, and bitter torments of the inner parts.

6. And indeed very justly, seeing he had tormented the bowels of others with many and new torments, albeit he by no means ceased from his malice.

7. Moreover being filled with pride, breathing out fire in his rage against the Jews, and commanding the matter to be hastened, it happened as he was going with violence that he fell from the chariot, so that his limbs were much pained by a grievous bruising of the body.

8. Thus he that seemed to himself to command even the waves of the sea, being proud above the condition of man, and to weigh the heights of the mountains in a balance, now being cast down to the ground, was carried in a litter, bearing witness to the manifest power of God in himself:

9. So that worms swarmed out of the body of this man, and whilst he lived in sorrow and pain, his flesh fell off, and the filthiness of his smell was noisome to the army.

10. And the man that thought a little to before he could reach the stars of heaven, no man could endure to carry, for the intolerable stench.

11. And by this means, being brought from his great pride, he began to come to the knowledge of himself, being admonished by the scourge of God, his pains increasing every moment

12. And when he himself could not now abide his own stench, he spoke thus: It is just to be subject to God, and that a mortal man should not equal himself to God.

13. Then this wicked man prayed to the Lord, of whom he was not like to obtain mercy.

14. And the city to which he was going in haste to lay it even with the ground, and to make it a, common buryingplace, he now desireth to make free.

15. And the Jews whom he said he would not account worthy to be so much as buried, but would give them up to be devoured by the birds and wild beasts, and would utterly destroy them with their children, he now promiseth to make equal with the Athenians.

16. The holy temple also which before he had spoiled, he promiseth to adorn with goodly gifts, and to multiply the holy vessels, and to allow out of his revenues the charges pertaining to the sacrifices.

17. Yea also, that he would become a Jew himself, and would go through every place of the earth, and declare the power of God.

18. But his pains not ceasing (for the just judgment of God was come upon him) despairing of life he wrote to the Jews in the manner of a supplication, a letter in these words:

19. To his very good subjects the Jews, Antiochus king and ruler wisheth much health and welfare, and happiness.

20. If you and your children are well, and if all matters go with you to your mind, we give very great thanks.

21. As for me, being infirm, but yet kindly remembering you, returning out of the places of Persia, and being taken with a grievous disease, I thought it necessary to take care for the common good:

22. Not distrusting my life, but having great hope to escape the sickness.

23. But considering that my father also, at what time she led an army into the higher countries, appointed who should reign after him:

24. To the end that if any thing contrary to expectation should fall out, or ally bad tidings should be brought, they that were in the countries, knowing to whom the whole government was left, might not be troubled.

25. Moreover, considering that neighbouring princes and borderers wait for opportunities, and expect what shall be the event, I have appointed my son Antiochus king, whom I often recommended to many of you, when I went into the higher provinces: and I have written to him what I have joined here below.

26. I pray you therefore, and request of you, that remembering favours both public and private, you will every man of you continue to be faithful to me and to my son.

27. For I trust that he will behave with I moderation and humanity, and following my intentions, will be gracious unto you.

28. Thus the murderer and blasphemer, being grievously struck, as himself had treated others, died a miserable death in a strange country among the mountains.

29. But Philip that was brought up with him, carried away his body: and out of fear of the son of Antiochus, went into Egypt to Ptolemee Philometor.

Chapter 7

1. I myself also am a mortal man, like all others, and of the race of him, that was first made of the earth, and in the womb of my mother I was fashioned to be flesh.

2. In the time of ten months I was compacted in blood, of the seed of man, and the pleasure of sleep concurring.

3. And being born I drew in the common air, and fell upon the earth, that is made alike, and the first voice which I uttered was crying, as all others do.

4. I was nursed in swaddling clothes, and with great cares.

5. For none of the kings had any other beginning of birth.

6. For all men have one entrance into life, and the like going out.

7. Wherefore I wished, and understanding was given me: and I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came upon me:

8. And I preferred her before kingdoms and thrones, and esteemed riches nothing in comparison of her.

9. Neither did I compare unto her any precious stone: for all gold in comparison of her, is as a little sand, and silver in respect to her shall be counted as clay.

10. I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her instead of light: for her light cannot be put out.

11. Now all good things came to me together with her, and innumerable riches through her hands,

12. And I rejoiced in all these: for this wisdom went before me, and I knew not that she was the mother of them all.

13. Which I have learned without guile, and communicate without envy, and her riches I hide not.

14. For she is an infinite treasure to men! which they that use, become the friends of God, being commended for the gift of discipline.

15. And God hath given to me to speak as I would, and to conceive thoughts worthy of those things that are given me: because he is the guide of wisdom, and the director of the wise:

16. For in his hand are both we, and our words, and all wisdom, and the knowledge and skill of works.

17. For he hath given me the true knowledge of the things that are: to know the disposition of the whole world, and the virtues of the elements,

18. The beginning, and ending, and midst of the times, the alterations of their courses, and the changes of seasons,

19. The revolutions of the year, and the dispositions of the stars,

20. The natures of living creatures, and rage of wild beasts, the force of winds, and reasonings of men, the diversities of plants, and the virtues of roots,

21. And all such things as are hid and not foreseen, I have learned: for wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me.

22. For in her is the spirit of understanding: holy, one, manifold, subtile, eloquent, active, undefiled, sure, sweet, loving that which is good, quick, which nothing hindereth, beneficent,

23. Gentle, kind, steadfast, assured, secure, having all power, overseeing all things, and containing all spirits, intelligible, pure, subtile.

24. For wisdom is more active than all active things: and reacheth everywhere by reason of her purity.

25. For she is a vapour of the power of God, and a certain pure emanation of the glory of the almighty God: and therefore no defiled thing cometh into her.

26. For she is the brightness of eternal light, and the unspotted mirror of God's majesty, and the image of his goodness.

27. And being but one, she can do all things: and remaining in herself the same, she reneweth all things, and through nations conveyeth herself into holy souls, she maketh the friends of God and prophets.

28. For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with wisdom.

29. For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of the stars: being compared with the light, she is found before it.

30. For after this cometh night, but no evil can overcome wisdom.

Chapter 8

1. She reacheth therefore from end to end mightily, and ordereth all things sweetly.

2. Her have I loved, and have sought her out from my youth, and have desired to take her for my spouse, and I became a lover of her beauty.

3. She glorifieth her nobility by being conversant with God: yea and the Lord of all things hath loved her.

4. For it is she that teacheth the knowledge of God, and is the chooser of his works.

5. And if riches be desired in life, what is richer than wisdom, which maketh all things?

6. And if sense do work: who is a more artful worker than she of those things that are?

7. And if a man love justice: her labours have great virtues; for she teacheth temperance, and prudence, anad justice, and fortitude, which are such things as men can have nothing more profitable in life.

8. And if a man desire much knowledge: she knoweth things past, and judgeth of things to come: she knoweth the subtilties of speeches, and the solutions of arguments: she knoweth signs and wonders before they be done, and the events of times and ages.

9. I purposed therefore to take her to me to live with me: knowing that she will communicate to me of her good things, and will be a comfort in my cares and grief.

10. For her sake I shall have glory among the multitude, and honour with the ancients, though I be young:

11. And I shall be found of a quick conceit in judgment, and shall be admired in the sight of the mighty, and the faces of princes shall wonder at me.

12. They shall wait for me when I hold my peace, and they shall look upon me when I speak, and if I talk much they shall lay their hands on their mouths.

13. Moreover by the means of her I shall have immortality: and shall leave behind me an everlasting memory to them that come after me.

14. I shall set the people in order: and nations shall be subject to me.

15. Terrible kings hearing shall be afraid of me: among the multitude I shall be found good, and valiant in war.

16. When I go into my house, I shall repose myself with her: for her conversation hath no bitterness, nor her company any tediousness, but joy and gladness.

17. Thinking these things with myself, and pondering them in my heart, that to be allied to wisdom is immortality,

18. And that there is great delight in her friendship, and inexhaustible riches in the works of her hands, and in the exercise of conference with her, wisdom, and glory in the communication of her words: I went about seeking, that I might take her to myself.

19. And I was a witty child and had received a good soul.

20. And whereas I was more good, I came to a body undefiled.

21. And as I knew that I could not otherwise be continent, except God gave it, and this also was a point of wisdom, to know whose gift it was: I went to the Lord, and besought him, and said with my whole heart:

1. These are also parables of Solomon, which the men of Ezechias king of Juda copied out.

2. It is the glory of God to conceal the word, and the glory of kings to search out the speech.

3. The heaven above, and the earth beneath, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.