Bible in a Year.

On day 297, 1 Maccabees 16 recounts the final challenges faced by the Jewish leaders. Sirach 38-39 warns against excess and addiction, promoting prudence and self-control, while Proverbs 23:29-35 reinforces the dangers of alcohol and indulgence, guiding us to a balanced and wise life.

1. Then John came up from Gazara, and told Simon his father what Cendebeus had done against their people.

2. And Simon called his two eldest sons, Judas and John, and said to them: I and my brethren, and my father's house, have fought against the enemies of Israel from our youth even to this day: and things have prospered so well in our hands that we have delivered Israel oftentimes.

3. And now I am old, but be you instead of me, and my brethren, and go out, and fight for our nation: and the help from heaven be with you.

4. Then he chose out of the country twenty thousand fighting men, and horsemen, and they went forth against Cendebeus: and they rested in Modin.

5. And they arose in the morning, and went into the plain: and behold a very great army of footmen and horsemen came against them, and there was a running river between them.

6. And he and his people pitched their camp over against them, and he saw that the people were afraid to go over the river, so he went over first: then the men seeing him, passed over after him.

7. And he divided the people, and set the horsemen in the midst of the footmen: but the horsemen of the enemies were very numerous.

8. And they sounded the holy trumpets: and Cendebeus and his army were put to flight: and there fell many of them wounded, and the rest fled into the strong hold.

9. At that time Judas John's brother was wounded: but John pursued after them, till he came to Cedron, which he had built:

10. And they fled even to the towers that were in the fields of Azotus, and he burnt them with fire. And there fell of them two thousand men, and he returned into Judea in peace.

11. Now Ptolemee the son of Abobus was appointed captain in the plain of Jericho, and he had abundance of silver and gold,

12. For he was son in law of the high priest.

13. And his heart was lifted up, and he designed to make himself master of the country, and he purposed treachery against Simon, and his sons, to destroy them.

14. Now Simon, as he was going through the cities that were in the country of Judea, and taking care for the good ordering of them, went down to Jericho, he and Mathathias and Judas his sons, in the year one hundred and seventy-seven, the eleventh month: the same is the month Sabath.

15. And the son of Abobus received them deceitfully into a little fortress, that is called Doch which he had built: and he made them a great feast, and hid men there.

16. And when Simon and his sons had drunk plentifully, Ptolemee and his men rose up and took their weapons, and entered into the banqueting place, and slew him, and his two sons, and some of his servants.

17. And he committed a great treachery in Israel, and rendered evil for good.

18. And Ptolemee wrote these things and sent to the king that he should send him an army to aid him, and he would deliver him the country, and their cities, and tributes.

19. And he sent others to Gazara to kill John: and to the tribunes he sent letters to come to him, and that he would give them silver, and gold, and gifts.

20. And he sent others to take Jerusalem, and the mountain of the temple.

21. Now one running before, told John in Gazara, that his father and his brethren were slain, and that he hath sent men to kill thee also.

22. But when he heard it he was exceedingly afraid: and he apprehended the men that came to kill him, and he put them to death: for he knew that they sought to make him away.

23. And as concerning the rest of the acts of John, and his wars, and the worthy deeds, which he bravely achieved, and the building of the walls, which he made, and the things that he did:

24. Behold these are written in the book of the days of his priesthood, from the time he was made high priest after his father.

Chapter 38

1. Honour the physician for the need thou hast of him: for the most High hath created him.

2. For all healing is from God, and he shall receive gifts of the king.

3. The skill of the physician shall lift up his head, and in the sight of great men he shall be praised.

4. The most High hath created medicines out of the earth, and a wise man will not abhor them.

5. Was not bitter water made sweet with wood?

6. The virtue of these things is come to the knowledge of men, and the meet High hath given knowledge to men, that he may be honoured in his wonders.

7. By these he shall cure and shall allay their pains, and of these the apothecary shall make sweet confections, and shall make up ointments of health, and of his works there shall be no end.

8. For the peace of God is over all the face of the earth.

9. My son, in thy sickness neglect not thyself, but pray to the Lord, and he shall heal thee.

10. Turn away from sin and order thy hands aright, and cleanse thy heart from all offence.

11. Give a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour, and make a fat offering, and then give place to the physician.

12. For the Lord created him: and let him not depart from thee, for his works are necessary.

13. For there is a time when thou must fall into their hands:

14. And they shall beseech the Lord, that he would prosper what they give for ease and remedy, for their conversation.

15. He that sinneth in the sight of his Maker, shall fall into the hands of the physician.

16. My son, shed tears over the dead, and begin to lament as if thou hadst suffered some great harm, and according to judgment cover his body, and neglect not his burial.

17. And for fear of being ill spoken of weep bitterly for a, day, and then comfort thyself in thy sadness.

18. And make mourning for him according to his merit for a day, or two, for fear of detraction.

19. For of sadness cometh death, and it overwhelmeth the strength, and the sorrow of the heart boweth down the neck.

20. In withdrawing aside sorrow remaineth: and the substance of the poor is according to his heart.

21. Give not up thy heart to sadness, but drive it from thee: and remember the latter end.

22. Forget it not: for there is no returning, and thou shalt do him no good, and shalt hurt thyself.

23. Remember my judgment: for also shall be so: yesterday for me, and to day for thee.

24. When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest, and comfort him in the departing of his spirit.

25. The wisdom of a scribe cometh by his time of leisure: and he that is less in action, shall receive wisdom.

26. With what wisdom shall he be furnished that holdeth the plough, and that glorieth in the goad, that driveth the oxen therewith, and is occupied in their labours, and his whole talk is about the offspring of bulls?

27. He shall give his mind to turn up furrows, and his care is to give the kine fodder.

28. So every craftsman and workmaster that laboureth night and day, he who maketh graven seals, and by his continual diligence varieth the figure: he shall give his mind to the resemblance of the picture, and by his watching shall finish the work.

29. So doth the smith sitting by the anvil and considering the iron work. The vapour of the fire wasteth his flesh, and he fighteth with the heat of the furnace.

30. The noise of the hammer is always in his ears, and his eye is upon the pat tern of the vessel he maketh.

31. He setteth his mind to finish his work, and his watching to polish them, to perfection.

32. So doth the potter sitting at his work, turning the wheel about with his feet, who is always carefully set to his work, and maketh all his work by number:

33. He fashioneth the clay with his arm, and boweth down his strength before his feet:

34. He shall give his mind to finish the glazing, and his watching to make clean the furnace.

35. All these trust to their hands, and every one is wise in his own art.

36. Without these a city is not built.

37. And they shall not dwell, nor walk about therein, and they shall not go up into the assembly.

38. Upon the judges' seat they shall not sit, and the ordinance of judgment they shall not understand, neither shall they declare discipline and judgment, and they shall not be found where parables are spoken:

39. But they shall strengthen the state of the world, and their prayer shall be in the work of their craft, applying their soul, and searching in the law of the most High.

Chapter 39

1. The wise men will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients, and will be occupied in the prophets.

2. He will keep the sayings of renowned men, and will enter withal into the subtilties of parables.

3. He will search out the hidden meanings of proverbs, and will be conversant in the secrets of parables.

4. He shall serve among great men, and: appear before the governor.

5. He shall pass into strange countries: for he shall try good and evil among men.

6. He will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made him, and he will pray in the sight of the most High.

7. He will open his mouth in prayer, and will make supplication for his sins.

8. For if it shall please the great Lord, he will fill him with the spirit of understanding:

9. And he will pour forth the words of his wisdom as showers, and in his prayer he will confess to the Lord.

10. And he shall direct his counsel, and his knowledge, and in his secrets shall he meditate.

11. He shall shew forth the discipline he hath learned, and shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.

12. Many shall praise his wisdom, and it shall never be forgotten.

13. The memory of him shall not depart away, and his name shall be in request from generation to generation.

14. Nations shall declare his wisdom, and the church shall shew forth his praise.

15. If he continue, he shall leave a name above a thousand: and if he rest, it shall be to his advantage.

16. I will yet meditate that I may declare: for I am filled as with a holy transport.

17. By a voice he saith: Hear me, ye divine offspring, and bud forth as the rose planted by the brooks of waters.

18. Give ye a sweet odour as frankincense.

19. Send forth flowers, as the lily, and yield a smell, and bring forth leaves in grace, and praise with canticles, and bless the Lord in his works.

20. Magnify his name, and give glory to him with the voice of your lips, and with the canticles of your mouths, and with harps, and in praising him, you shall say in this manner:

21. All the works of the Lord are exceeding good.

22. At his word the waters stood as a heap: and at the words of his mouth the receptacles of waters:

23. For at his commandment favour is shewn, and there is no diminishing of his salvation.

24. The works of all flesh are before him, and there is nothing hid from his eyes.

25. He seeth from eternity to eternity, and there is nothing wonderful before him.

26. There is no saying: What is this, or what is that? for all things shall be sought in their time.

27. His blessing hath overflowed like a river.

28. And as a flood hath watered the earth; so shall his wrath inherit the nations, that have not sought after him:

29. Even as he turned the waters into a dry land, and the earth was made dry: and his ways were made plain for their journey: so to sinners they are stumblingblocks in his wrath.

30. Good things were created for the good from the beginning, so for the wicked, good and evil things.

31. The principal things necessary for the life of men, are water, fire, and iron, salt, milk, and bread of flour, and honey, and the cluster of the grape, and oil, and clothing.

32. All these things shall be for good to the holy, so to the sinners and the ungodly they shall be turned into evil.

33. There are spirits that are created for vengeance, and in their fury they lay on grievous torments.

34. In the time of destruction they shall pour out their force: and they shall appease the wrath of him that made them.

35. Fire, hail, famine, and death, all these were created for vengeance.

36. The teeth of beasts, and scorpions, and serpents, and the sword taking vengeance upon the ungodly unto destruction.

37. In his commandments they shall feast, and they shall be ready upon earth when need is, and when their time is come they shall not transgress his word.

38. Therefore from the beginning I was resolved, and I have meditated, and thought on these things and left them in writing.

39. All the works of the Lord are good, and he will furnish every work in due time.

40. It is not to be said: This is worse than that: for all shall be well approved in their time.

41. Now therefore with the whole heart and mouth praise ye him, and bless the name of the Lord.

29. Who hath woe? whose father hath woe? who hath contentions? who falls into pits? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

30. Surely they that pass their time in wine, and study to drink of their cups.

31. Look not upon the wine when it is yellow, when the colour thereof shineth in the glass: it goeth in pleasantly,

32. But in the end, it will bite like a snake, and will spread abroad poison like a basilisk.

33. Thy eyes shall behold strange women, and thy heart shall utter perverse things.

34. And thou shalt be as one sleeping in the midst of the sea, and as a pilot fast asleep, when the stern is lost.

35. And thou shalt say: They have beaten me, but I was not sensible of pain: they drew me, and I felt not: when shall I awake, and find wine again?