Bible in a Year.

On day 305, 2 Maccabees 8 recounts the wise and strategic leadership of the Maccabees in times of conflict. Wisdom 5-6 inspires us to seek justice and understanding, while Proverbs 24:30-34 warns of the importance of diligence and care in our daily responsibilities.

1. But Judas Machabeus, and they that were with him, went privately into the towns: and calling together their kinsmen and friends, and taking unto them such as continued in the Jews' religion, they assembled six thousand men.

2. And they called upon the Lord that he would look upon his people that was trodden down by all, and would have pity on the temple, that was defiled by the wicked:

3. That he would have pity also upon the city that was destroyed, that was ready to be made even with the ground, and would hear the voice of the blood that cried to him:

4. That he would remember also the most unjust deaths of innocent children, and the blasphemies offered to his name, and would shew his indignation on this occasion.

5. Now when Machabeus had gathered a multitude, he could not be withstood by the heathens: for the wrath of the Lord was turned into mercy.

6. So coming unawares upon the towns and cities, he set them on fire, and taking possession of the most commodious places, he made no small slaughter of the enemies ·

7. And especially in the nights he went upon these expeditions, and the fame of his valour was spread abroad every where.

8. Then Philip, seeing that the man gained ground by little and little, and that things for the most part succeeded prosperously with him, wrote to Ptolemee the governor of Celesyria and Phenicia, to send aid to the king's affairs.

9. And he with all speed sent Nicanor the son of Patroclus, one of his special friends, giving him no fewer than twenty thousand armed men of different nations, to root out the whole race of the Jews, joining also with him Gorgias, a good soldier, and of great experience in matters of war.

10. And Nicanor purposed to raise for the king the tribute of two thousand talents, that was to be given to the Romans, by making so much money of the captive Jews:

11. Wherefore he sent immediately to the cities upon the sea coast, to invite men together to buy up the Jewish slaves, promising that they should have ninety slaves for one talent, not reflecting on the vengeance, which was to follow him from the Almighty.

12. Now when Judas found that Nicanor was coming, he imparted to the Jews that were with him, that the enemy was at hand.

13. And some of them being afraid, and distrusting the justice of God, fled away:

14. Others sold all that they had left, and withal besought the Lord, that he would deliver them from the wicked Nicanor, who had sold them before he came near them:

15. And if not for their sakes, yet for the covenant that he had made with their fathers, and for the sake of his holy and glorious name that was invoked upon them.

16. But Machabeus calling together seven thousand that were with him, exhorted them not to be reconciled to the enemies, nor to fear the multitude of the enemies who came wrongfully against them, but to fight manfully:

17. Setting before their eyes the injury they had unjustly done the holy place, and also the injury they had done to the city, which had been shamefully abused, besides their destroying the ordinances of the fathers.

18. For, said he, they trust in their weapons, and in their boldness: but we trust in the Almighty Lord, who at a beck can utterly destroy both them that come against us, and the whole world.

19. Moreover he put them in mind also of the helps their fathers had received from God: and how under Sennacherib a hundred and eighty-five thousand had been destroyed.

20. And of the battle that they had fought against the Galatians in Babylonia, how they, being in all but six thousand, when it came to the point, and Macedonians their companions were a stand, slew a hundred and twenty thousand, because of the help they had from heaven, and for this they received many favours.

21. With these words they were greatly encouraged, and disposed even to die for the laws and their country.

22. So he appointed his brethren cap over each division of his army, Simon, and Joseph, and Jonathan, giving to one fifteen hundred men.

23. And after the holy Book had been read to them by Esdras, and he had given them for a watchword, The help of God: himself leading the first band, he joined battle with Nicanor:

24. And the Almighty being their helper, they slew above nine thousand men: and having wounded and disabled the greater part of Nicanor's army, they obliged them to fly.

25. And they took the money of them that came to buy them, and they pursued them on every side.

26. But they came back for want of time: for it was the day before the sabbath: and therefore they did not continue the pursuit.

27. But when they had gathered together their arms and their spoils, they kept the sabbath: blessing the Lord who had delivered them that day, distilling the beginning of mercy upon them.

28. Then after the sabbath they divided the spoils to the feeble and the orphans, and the widows: and the rest they took for themselves and their servants.

29. When this was done, and they had all made a common supplication, they besought the merciful Lord to be reconciled to his servants unto the end.

30. Moreover they slew above twenty thousand of them that were with Timotheus and Bacchides who fought them, and they made themselves masters of the high strong holds: and they divided amongst them many spoils, giving equal portions to the feeble, the fatherless and the widows, yea and the aged also.

31. And when they had carefully gathered together their arms, they laid them all up in convenient places, and the residue of their spoils they carried to Jerusalem :

32. They slew also Philarches who was with Timotheus, a wicked man, who had many ways afflicted the Jews.

33. And when they kept the feast of the victory at Jerusalem, they burnt Callisthenes, that had set fire to the holy gates, who had taken refuge in a certain house, rendering to him a worthy reward for his impieties:

34. But as for that most wicked man Nicanor, who had brought a thousand merchants to the sale of the Jews,

35. Being through the help of the Lord brought down by them, of whom he had made no account, laying; aside his garment of glory, fleeing through the midland country, he came alone to Antioch, being rendered very unhappy by the destruction of his army.

36. And he that had promised to levy the tribute for the Romans by the means of the captives of Jerusalem, now professed that the Jews had God for their protector, and therefore they could not be hurt, because they followed the laws appointed by him.

Chapter 5

1. Then shall the just stand with great constancy against those that have afflicted them, and taken away their labours.

2. These seeing it, shall be troubled with terrible fear, and shall be amazed at the suddenness of their unexpected salvation.

3. Saying within themselves, repenting, and groaning for anguish of spirit: These are they, whom we had some time in derision, and for a parable of reproach.

4. We fools esteemed their life madness, and their end without honour.

5. Behold how they are numbered among the children of God, and their lot is among the saints.

6. Therefore we have erred from the way of truth, and the light of justice hath not shined unto us, and the sun of understanding hath not risen upon us.

7. We wearied ourselves in the way of iniquity and destruction, and have walked through hard ways, but the way of the Lord we have not known.

8. What hath pride profited us? or what advantage hath the boasting of riches brought us?

9. All those things are passed away like a shadow, and like a post that runneth on,

10. And as a ship that passeth through the waves: whereof when it is gone by, the trace cannot be found, nor the path of its keel in the waters:

11. Or as when a bird flieth through the air, of the passage of which no mark can be found, but only the sound of the wings beating the light air, and parting it by the force of her flight; she moved her wings, and hath flown through, and there is no mark found afterwards of her way:

12. Or as when an arrow is shot at a mark, the divided air presently cometh together again, so that the passage thereof is not known:

13. So we also being born, forthwith ceased to be: and have been able to shew no mark of virtue: but are consumed in our wickedness.

14. Such things as these the sinners said in hell:

15. For the hope of the wicked is as dust, which is blown away with the wind, and as a thin froth which is dispersed by the storm: and a smoke that is scattered abroad by the wind: and as the remembrance of a guest of one day that passeth by.

16. But the just shall live for evermore: and their reward is with the Lord, and the care of them with the most High.

17. Therefore shall they receive a kingdom of glory, and a crown of beauty at the hand of the Lord: for with his right hand he will cover them, and with his holy arm he will defend them.

18. And his zeal will take armour, and he will arm the creature for the revenge of his enemies.

19. He will put on justice as a breastplate, and will take true judgment instead of a helmet.

20. He will take equity for an invincible shield:

21. And he will sharpen his severe wrath for a spear, and the whole world shall fight with him against the unwise.

22. Then shafts of lightning shall go directly from the clouds, as from a bow well bent, they shall be shot out, and shall fly to the mark.

23. And thick hail shall be cast upon them from the stone casting wrath: the water of the sea shall rage against them, and the rivers shall run together in a terrible manner.

24. A mighty wind shall stand up against them, and as a whirlwind shall divide them: and their iniquity shall bring all the earth to a desert, and wickedness shall overthrow the thrones of the mighty.

Chapter 6

1. Wisdom is better than strength, and a wise man is better than a strong man.

2. Hear therefore, ye kings, and understand: learn, ye that are judges of the ends of the earth.

3. Give ear, you that rule the people, and that please yourselves in multitudes of nations:

4. For power is given you by the Lord, and strength by the most High, who will examine your works, and search out your thoughts:

5. Because being ministers of his kingdom, you have not judged rightly, nor kept the law of justice, nor walked according to the will of God.

6. Horribly and speedily will he appear to you: for a most severe judgment shall be for them that bear rule.

7. For to him that is little, mercy is granted: but the mighty shall be mightily tormented.

8. For God will not except any man's person, neither will he stand in awe of any man's greatness: for he made the little and the great, and he hath equally care of all.

9. But a greater punishment is ready for the more mighty.

10. To you, therefore, O kings, are these my words, that you may learn wisdom, and not fall from it.

11. For they that have kept just things justly, shall be justified: and they that have learned these things, shall find what to answer.

12. Covet ye therefore my words, and love them, and you shall have instruction.

13. Wisdom is glorious, and never fadeth away, and is easily seen by them that love her, and is found by them that seek her.

14. She preventeth them that covet her, so that she first sheweth herself unto them.

15. He that awaketh early to seek her, shall not labour: for he shall find her sitting at his door.

16. To think therefore upon her, is perfect understanding: and he that watcheth for her, shall quickly be secure.

17. For she goeth about seeking such as are worthy of her, and she sheweth herself to them cheerfully in the ways, and meeteth them with all providence.

18. For the beginning of her is the most true desire of discipline.

19. And the care of discipline is love: and love is the keeping of her laws: and the keeping of her laws is the firm foundation of incorruption:

20. And incorruption bringeth near to God.

21. Therefore the desire of wisdom bringeth to the everlasting kingdom.

22. If then your delight be in thrones, and sceptres, O ye kings of the people, love wisdom, that you may reign for ever.

23. Love the light of wisdom, all ye that bear rule over peoples.

24. Now what wisdom is, and what was her origin, I will declare: and I will not hide from you the mysteries of God, but will seek her out from the beginning of her birth, and bring the knowledge of her to light, and will not pass over the truth:

25. Neither will I go with consuming envy: for such a man shall not be partaker of wisdom.

26. Now the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the whole world: and a wise king is the upholding of the people.

27. Receive therefore instruction by my words, and it shall be profitable to you.

30. I passed by the field of the slothful man, and by the vineyard of the foolish man:

31. And behold it was all filled with nettles, and thorns had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall was broken down.

32. Which when I had seen, I laid it up in my heart, and by the example I received instruction.

33. Thou wilt sleep a little, said I, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy hands a little to rest:

34. And poverty shall come to thee as a runner, and beggary as an armed man.