Bible in a Year.

On day 286, we reflect on perseverance and leadership in the Maccabean struggle. Sirach 13:15 offers warnings and moral instruction. Proverbs 22:13-16 warns us about laziness, diligence, and responsibility, helping to shape our character according to divine wisdom.

1. Now it came to pass, when the nations round about heard that the altar and the sanctuary were built up as before, that they were exceeding angry.

2. And they thought to destroy the generation of Jacob that were among them, and they began to kill some of the people, and to persecute them.

3. Then Judas fought against the children of Esau in Idumea, and them that were in Acrabathane: because they beset the Israelites around about, and he made a great slaughter of them.

4. And he remembered the malice of the children of Bean: who were a snare and a stumblingblock to the people, by lying in wait for them in the way.

5. And they were shut up by him in towers, and he set upon them, and devoted them to utter destruction, and burnt their towers with fire, and all that were in them.

6. Then he passed over to the children of Ammon, where he found a mighty power, and much people, and Timotheus was their captain:

7. And he fought many battles with them, and they were discomfited in their sight, and he smote them:

8. And he took the city of Gazer and her towns, and returned into Judea.

9. And the Gentiles that were in Galaad, assembled themselves together against the Israelites that were in their quarters to destroy them: and they fled into the fortress of Datheman.

10. And they sent letters to Judas and his brethren, saying, The heathens that are round about are gathered together against us, to destroy us:

11. And they are preparing to come, and to take the fortress into which we are fled: and Timotheus is the captain of their host.

12. Now therefore come, and deliver us out of their hands, for many of us are slain.

13. And all our brethren that were in the places of Tubin, are killed: and they have carried away their wives, and their children, captives, and taken their spoils, and they have slain there almost a thousand men.

14. And while they were yet reading these letters, behold there came other messengers out Galilee with their garments rent, who related according to these words:

15. Saying, that they of Ptolemais, and of Tyre, and of Sidon, were assembled against them, and all Galilee is filled with strangers, in order to consume us.

16. Now when Judas and all the people heard these words, a great assembly met together to consider what they should do for their brethren that were in trouble, and were assaulted by them.

17. And Judas said to Simon his brother: Choose thee men, and go, and deliver they brethren in Galilee: and I, and my brother Jonathan will go into the country of Galaad.

18. And he left Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias captains of the people with the remnant of the army in Judea to keep it:

19. And he commanded them, saying: Take ye the charge of this people: but make no war against the heathens, till we return.

20. Now three thousand men were alloted to Simon, to go into Gallilee: and eight thousand to Judas to go into the land of Galaad.

21. And Simon went into Galilee, and fought many battles with the heathens: and the heathens were discomfited before his face, and he pursued them even to the gate of Ptolemais.

22. And there fell of the heathens almost three thousand men, and he took the spoils of them,

23. And he took with him those that were in Galilee and in Arbatis with their wives, and children, and all that they had, and he brought them into Judea with great joy.

24. And Judas Machabeus, and Jonathan his brother passed over the Jordan, and went three days' journey through the desert.

25. And the Nabutheans met them, and received them in a peaceable manner, and told them all that happened to their brethren in the land of Galaad,

26. And that many of them were shut up in Barasa, and in Bosor, and in Alima, and in Casphor, and in Mageth, and in Carnaim: all these strong and great cities.

27. Yea, and that they were kept shut up in the rest of the cities of Galaad, and that they had appointed to bring their army on the morrow near to these cities, and to take them and to destroy them all in one day.

28. Then Judas and his army suddenly turned their march into the desert, to Bosor, and took the city: and he slew every male by the edge of the sword, and took all their spoils, and burnt it with fire.

29. And they removed from thence by night, and went till they came to the fortress.

30. And it came to pass that early in the morning, when they lifted up their eyes, behold there were people without number, carrying ladders and engines to take the fortress, and assault them.

31. And Judas saw that the fight was begun, and the cry of the battle went up to heaven like a trumpet, and a great cry out of the city:

32. And he said to his host: Fight ye to day for your brethren.

33. And he came with three companies behind them, and they sounded their trumpets, and cried out in prayer.

34. And the host of Timotheus understood that it was Machabeus, and they fled away before his face: and they made a great slaughter of them: and there fell of them in that day almost eight thousand men.

35. And Judas turned aside to Maspha, and assaulted, and took it, and he slew every male thereof, and took the spoils thereof, and burnt it with fire.

36. From thence he marched, and took Casbon, and Mageth, and Bosor, and the rest of the cities of Galaad.

37. But after this Timotheus gathered another army, and camped over against Raphon beyond the torrent.

38. And Judas sent men to view the army: and they brought him word, saying: All the nations, that are round about us, are assembled unto him an army exceeding great:

39. And they have hired the Arabians to help them, and they have pitched their tents beyond the torrent, ready to come to fight against thee. And Judas went to meet them.

40. And Timotheus said to the captains of his army: When Judas and his army come near the torrent of water, if he pass over unto us first, we shall not be able to withstand him: for he will certainly prevail over us.

41. But if he be afraid to pass over, and camp on the other side of the river, we will pass over to them and shall prevail against him.

42. Now when Judas came near the torrent of water, he set the scribes of the people by the torrent, and commanded them, saying: Suffer no man to stay behind: but let all come to the battle.

43. And he passed over to them first, and all the people after him, and all the heathens were discomfited before them, and they threw away their weapons, and fled to the temple that was in Carnaim.

44. And he took that city, and the temple he burnt with fire, with all things that were therein: and Carnaim was subdued, and could not stand against the face of Judas.

45. And Judas gathered together all the Israelites that were in the land of Galaad, from the least even to the greatest, and their wives, and children, and an army exceeding great, to come into the land of Juda.

46. And they came as far as Ephron: now this was a great city situate in the way, strongly fortified, and there was no means to turn from it on the right hand or on the left, but the way was through the midst of it.

47. And they that were in the city, shut themselves in, and stopped up the gates with stones: and Judas sent to them with peaceable words,

48. Saying: Let us pass through your land, to go into our country: and no man shall hurt you: we will only pass through on foot. But they would not open to them.

49. Then Judas commanded proclamation to be made in the camp, that they should make an assault every man in the place where he was.

50. And the men of the army drew near, and he assaulted that city all the day, and all the night, and the city was delivered into his hands:

51. And they slew every male with the edge of the sword, and he razed the city, and took the spoils thereof, and passed through all the city over them that were slain.

52. Then they passed over the Jordan to the great plain that is over against Bethsan.

53. And Judas gathered together the hindmost, and he exhorted the people all the way through, till they came into the land of Juda.

54. And they went up to mount Sion with joy and gladness, and offered holocausts, because not one of them was slain, till they had returned in peace.

55. Now in the days that Judas and Jonathan were in the land of Galaad, and Simon his brother in Galilee before Ptolemais,

56. Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias captain of the soldiers, heard of the good success, and the battles that were fought.

57. And he said: Let us also get us a name, and let us go fight against the Gentiles that are round about us.

58. And he gave charge to them that were in his army, and they went towards Jamnia.

59. And Gorgias and his men went out of the city, to give them battle.

60. And Joseph and Azarias were put to flight, and were pursued unto the borders of Judea: and there fell, on that day, of the people of Israel about two thousand men, and there was a great overthrow of the people:

61. Because they did not hearken to Judas, and his brethren, thinking that they should do manfully.

62. But they were not of the seed of those men by whom salvation was brought to Israel.

63. And the men of Juda were magnified exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and of all the nations where their name was heard.

64. And people assembled to them with joyful acclamations.

65. Then Judas and his brethren went forth and attacked the children of Esau, in the land toward the south, and he took Chebron, and her towns: and he burnt the walls thereof and the towers all round it.

66. And he removed his camp to go into the land of the aliens, and he went through Samaria.

67. In that day some priests fell in battle, while desiring to do manfully they went out unadvisedly to fight.

68. And Judas turned to Azotus into the land of the strangers, and he threw down their altars, and he burnt the statues of their gods with fire: and he took the spoils of the cities, and returned into the land of Juda.

Chapter 13

1. He that toucheth pitch, shall be defiled with it: and he that hath fellowship with the proud, shall put on pride.

2. He shall take a burden upon him that hath fellowship with one more honour- able than himself. And have no fellow- ship with one that is richer than thyself.

3. What agreement shall the earthen pot have with the kettle? for if they knock one against the other, it shall be broken.

4. The rich man hath done wrong, and yet he will fume: but the poor is wronged and must hold his peace.

5. If thou give, he will make use of thee: and if thou have nothing, he will forsake thee.

6. If thou have any thing, he will live with thee, and will make thee bare, and he will not be sorry for thee.

7. If he have need of thee he will deceive thee, and smiling upon thee will put thee in hope; he will speak thee fair, and will say: What wantest thou?

8. And he will shame thee by his meats, till he have drawn thee dry twice or thrice, and at last he will laugh at thee: and afterward when he seeth thee, he will forsake thee, and shake his head at thee.

9. Humble thyself to God, and wait for his hands.

10. Beware that thou be not deceived Into folly, and be humbled.

11. Be not lowly in thy wisdom, lest being humbled thou be deceived into folly.

12. If thou be invited by one that is mightier, withdraw thyself: for so he will invite thee the more.

13. Be not troublesome to him, lest thou be put back: and keep not far from him, lest thou be forgotten.

14. Affect not to speak with him as an equal: and believe not his many words: for by much talk he will sift thee, and smiling will examine thee concerning thy secrets.

15. His cruel mind will lay up thy words: and he will not spare to do thee hurt, and to cast thee into prison.

16. Take heed to thyself, and attend diligently to what thou hearest: for thou walkest in danger of thy ruin.

17. When thou hearest those things, see as it were in sleep, and thou shalt awake.

18. Love God all thy life, and call upon him for thy salvation.

19. Every beast loveth its like: so also every man him that is nearest to himself.

20. All flesh shall consort with the like to itself, and every man shall associate himself to his like.

21. If the wolf shall at any time have fellowship with the lamb, so the sinner with the just.

22. What fellowship hath a holy man with a dog, or what part hath the rich with the poor?

23. The wild ass is the lion's prey in the desert: so also the poor are devoured by the rich.

24. And as humility is an abomination to the proud: so also the rich man abhorreth the poor.

25. When a rich man is shaken, he is kept up by his friends: but when a poor man is fallen down, he is thrust away even by his acquaintance.

26. When a rich man hath been deceived, he hath many helpers: he hath spoken proud things, and they have justified him.

27. The poor man was deceived, and he is rebuked also: he hath spoken wisely, and could have no place.

28. The rich man spoke, and all held their peace, and what he said they extol even to the clouds.

29. The poor man spoke, and they say: Who is this? and if he stumble, they will overthrow him.

30. Riches are good to him that hath no sin in his conscience: and poverty is very wicked in the mouth of the ungodly.

31. The heart of a man changeth his countenance, either for good, or for evil.

32. The token of a good heart, and a good countenance thou shalt hardly find, and with labour.

Chapter 14

1. Blessed is the man that hath not slipped by a word out of his mouth, and is not pricked with the remorse of sin.

2. Happy is he that hath had no sadness of his mind, and who is not fallen from his hope.

3. Riches are not comely for a covetous man and a niggard, and what should an envious man do with gold?

4. He that gathereth together by wronging his own soul, gathereth for others, and another will squander away his goods in rioting.

5. He that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good? and he shall not take pleasure in his goods.

6. There is none worse than he that envieth himself, and this is the reward of his wickedness:

7. And if he do good, he doth it ignorantly, and unwillingly: and at the last he discovereth his wickedness.

8. The eye of the envious is wicked: and he turneth away his face, and despiseth his own soul.

9. The eye of the covetous man is insatiable in his portion of iniquity: he will not be satisfied till he consume his own soul, drying it up.

10. An evil eye is towards evil things: and he shall not have his fill of bread, but shall be needy and pensive at his own table.

11. My son, if thou have any thing, do good to thyself, and offer to God worthy offerings.

12. Remember that death is not slow, and that the covenant of hell hath been shewn to thee: for the covenant of this world shall surely die.

13. Do good to thy friend before thou die, and according to thy ability, stretching out thy hand give to the poor.

14. Defraud not thyself of the good day, and let not the part of a good gift over- pass thee.

15. Shalt thou not leave to others to divide by lot thy sorrows and labours?

16. Give and take, and justify thy soul.

17. Before thy death work justice: for in hell there is no finding food.

18. All flesh shall fade as grass, and as the leaf that springeth out on a green tree.

19. Some grow, and some fall off: so is the generation of flesh and blood, one cometh to an end, and another is born.

20. Every work that is corruptible shall fail in the end: and the worker thereof shall go with it.

21. And every excellent work shall be justified: and the worker thereof shall be honoured therein.

22. Blessed is the man that shall continue in wisdom, and that shall meditate in his justice, and in his mind shall think of the all seeing eye of God.

23. He that considereth her ways in his heart, and hath understanding in her secrets, who goeth after her as one that traceth, and stayeth in her ways:

24. He who looketh in at her windows, and hearkeneth at her door:

25. He that lodgeth near her house, and fastening a pin in her walls shall set up his tent nigh unto her, where good things shall rest in his lodging for ever.

26. He shall set his children under her shelter, and shall lodge under her branches:

27. He shall be protected under her covering from the heat, and shall rest in her glory.

Chapter 15

1. He that feareth God, will do good: and he that possesseth justice, shall lay hold on her,

2. And she will meet him as an honourable mother, and will receive him as a wife married of a virgin.

3. With the bread of life and understanding, she shall feed him, and give him the water of wholesome wisdom to drink: and she shall be made strong in him, and he shall not be moved:

4. And she shall hold him fast, and he shall not be confounded: and she shall exalt him among his neighbours.

5. And in the midst of the church she shall open his mouth, and shall fill him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and shall clothe him with a robe of glory.

6. She shall heap upon him a treasure of joy and gladness, and shall cause him to inherit an everlasting name.

7. But foolish men shall not obtain her, and wise men shall meet her, foolish men shall not see her: for she is far from pride and deceit.

8. Lying men shall not be mindful of her: but men that speak truth shall be found with her, and shall advance, even till they come to the sight of God.

9. Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner:

10. For wisdom came forth from God: for praise shall be with the wisdom of God, and shall abound in a faithful mouth, and the sovereign Lord will give praise unto it.

11. Say not: It is through God, that she is not with me: for do not thou the things that he hateth.

12. Say not: He hath caused me to err: for he hath no need of wicked men.

13. The Lord hateth all abomination of error, and they that fear him shall not love it.

14. God made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his own counsel.

15. He added his commandments and precepts.

16. If thou wilt keep the commandments and perform acceptable fidelity for ever, they shall preserve thee.

17. He hath set water and fire before thee: stretch forth thy hand to which thou wilt.

18. Before man is life and death, good and evil, that which he shall choose shall be given him:

19. For the wisdom of God is great, and he is strong in power, seeing all men without ceasing.

20. The eyes of the Lord are towards them that fear him, and he knoweth all the work of man.

21. He hath commanded no man to do wickedly, and he hath given no man license to sin:

22. For he desireth not a multitude of faithless and unprofitable children.

13. The slothful man saith: There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the midst of the streets.

14. The mouth of a strange woman is a deep pit: he whom the Lord is angry with, shall fall into it.

15. Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, and the rod of correction shall drive it away.

16. He that oppresseth the poor, to in- crease his own riches, shall himself give to one that is richer, and shall be in need.