Bible in a Year.

On day 288, we continue to follow the bravery and dedication of the Maccabees. Sirach 19:21 reinforces principles of justice, generosity, and ethical behavior. Proverbs 22:22-25 warns us against injustice and teaches us to protect the vulnerable, strengthening our practice of godly living.

1. In the hundred and fifty-first year Demetrius the son of Seleucus departed from the city of Rome, and came up with a few men into a city of the sea coast, and reigned there.

2. And it came to pass, as he entered into the house of the kingdom of his fathers, that the army seized upon Antiochus, and Lysias, to bring them unto him.

3. And when he knew it, he said: Let me not see their face.

4. So the army slew them. And Demetrius sat upon the throne of his kingdom:

5. And there came to him the wicked and ungodly men of Israel: And Alcimus was at the head of them, who desired to be made high priest.

6. And they accused the people to the king, saying: Judas and his brethren have destroyed all thy friends, and he hath driven us out of our land.

7. Now therefore send some man whom thou trustest, and let him go, and see all the havock he hath made amongst us, and in the king's lands: and let him punish all his friends and their helpers.

8. Then the king chose Bacchides, one of his friends that ruled beyond the great river in the kingdom, and was faithful to the king: and he sent him,

9. To see the havock that Judas had made: and the wicked Alcimus he made high priest, and commanded him to take revenge upon the children of Israel.

10. And they arose, and came with a great army into the land of Juda: and they sent messengers, and spoke to Judas and his brethren with peaceable words deceitfully.

11. But they gave no heed to their words: for they saw that they were come with a great army.

12. Then there assembled to Alcimus and Bacchides a company of the scribes to require things that are just:

13. And first the Assideans that were among the children of Israel, and they sought peace of them.

14. For they said: One that is a priest of the seed of Aaron is come, he will not deceive us.

15. And he spoke to them peaceably: and he swore to them, saying: We will do you no harm nor your friends.

16. And they believed him. And he took threescore of them, and slew them in one day, according to the word that is written:

17. The flesh of thy saints, and the blood of them they have shed round about Jerusalem, and there was none to bury them.

18. Then fear and trembling fell upon all the people: for they said: There is no truth, nor justice among them: for they have broken the covenant, and the oath which they made.

19. And Bacchides removed the camp from Jerusalem, and pitched in Bethzecha: and he sent, and took many of them that were fled away from him, and some of the people he killed, and threw them into a great pit.

20. Then he committed the country to Alcimus, and left with him troops to help him. So Bacchides went away to the king:

21. But Alcimus did what he could to maintain his chief priesthood.

22. And they that disturbed the people resorted to him, and they got the land of Juda into their power, and did much hurt in Israel.

23. And Judas saw all the evils that Alcimus, and they that were with him, did to the children of Israel, much more than the Gentiles.

24. And he went out into all the coasts of Juda round about, and took vengeance upon the men that had revolted, and they ceased to go forth any more into the country.

25. And Alcimus saw that Judas, and they that were with him prevailed: and he knew that he could not stand against them, and he went back to the king, and accused them of many crimes.

26. And the king sent Nicanor one of his principal lords, who was a great enemy to Israel: and he commanded him to destroy the people.

27. And Nicanor came to Jerusalem with a great army, and he sent to Judas and to his brethren deceitfully with friendly words,

28. Saying: Let there be no fighting between me and you: I will come with a few men to see your faces with peace.

29. And he came to Judas, and they saluted one another peaceably: and the enemies were prepared to take away Judas by force.

30. And the thing was known to Judas that he was come to him with deceit: and he was much afraid of him, and would not see his face any more.

31. And Nicanor knew that his counsel was discovered: and he went out to fight against Judas near Capharsalama.

32. And there fell of Nicanor's army almost five thousand men, and they fled into the city of David.

33. And after this Nicanor went up into mount Sion: and some of the priests and the people came out to salute him peaceably, and to shew him the holocausts that were offered for the king.

34. But he mocked them and despised them, and abused them: and he spoke proudly,

35. And swore in anger, saying: Unless Judas and his army be delivered into my hands, as soon as ever I return in peace, I will burn this house. And he went out in a great rage.

36. And the priests went in, and stood before the face of the altar and the temple: and weeping, they said:

37. Thou, O Lord, hast chosen this house for thy name to be called upon therein, that it might be a house of prayer and supplication for thy people.

38. Be avenged of this man, and his army, and let them fall by the sword: remember their blasphemies, and suffer them not to continue any longer.

39. Then Nicanor went out from Jerusalem, and encamped near to Bethoron: and an army of Syria joined him.

40. But Judas pitched in Adarsa with three thousand men: and Judas prayed, and said:

41. O Lord, when they that were sent by king Sennacherib blasphemed thee, an angel went out, and slew of them a hundred and eighty-five thousand:

42. Even so destroy this army in our sight to day, and let the rest know that he hath spoken ill against thy sanctuary: and judge thou him according to his wickedness.

43. And the armies joined battle on the thirteenth day of the month Adar: and the army of Nicanor was defeated, and he himself was first slain in the battle.

44. And when his army saw that Nicanor was slain, they threw away their weapons, and fled:

45. And they pursued after them one day's journey from Adazer, even till ye come to Gazara, and they sounded the trumpets after them with signals.

46. And they went forth out of all the towns of Judea round about, and they pushed them with the horns, and they turned again to them, and they were all slain with the sword, and there was not left of them so much as one.

47. And they took the spoils of them for a booty, and they cut off Nicanor's head, and his right hand, which he had proudly stretched out, and they brought it, and hung it up over against Jerusalem.

48. And the people rejoiced exceedingly, and they spent that day with great joy.

49. And he ordained that this day should be kept every year, being the thirteenth of the month of Adar.

50. And the land of Juda was quiet for a short time.

Chapter 19

1. Hast thou heard a word against thy neighbour? let it die within thee, trusting that it will not burst thee.

11. At the hearing of a word the fool is in travail, as a woman groaning. in the bringing forth a child.

12. As an arrow that sticketh in a man's thigh: so is a word in the heart of a fool.

13. Reprove a friend, lest he may not have understood, and say : f did it not: or if he did it, that he may do it no more.

14. Reprove thy neighbour, for it may be he hath not said it: and if he hath said it, that he may not say it again.

15. Admonish thy friend: for there is often a fault committed.

16. And believe not every word. There is one, that slippeth with the tongue, but not from his heart.

17. For who is there that hath not offended with his tongue? Admonish thy neighbour before thou threaten him.

18. And give place to the fear of the most High: for the fear of God is all wisdom, and therein is to fear God, and the disposition of the law is in all wisdom.

19. But the learning of wickedness is not wisdom: and the device of sinners is not prudence.

20. There is a subtle wickedness, and the same is detestable: and there is a man that is foolish, wanting in wisdom.

21. Better is a man that hath less wisdom, and wanteth understanding, with the fear of God, than he that aboundeth in understanding, and transgresseth the law of the most High.

22. There is an exquisite subtilty, and the same is unjust.

23. And there is one that uttereth an exact word telling the truth. There is one that humbleth himself wickedly, and his interior is full of deceit:

24. And there is one that submitteth himself exceedingly with a great lowliness: and there is one that casteth down his countenance, and maketh as if he did not see that which is unknown:

25. And if he be hindered from sinning for want of power, if he shall find opportunity to do evil, he will do it.

26. A man is known by his look, and a wise man, when thou meetest him, is known by his countenance.

27. The attire of the body, and the laughter of the teeth, and the gait of the man, shew what he is.

28. There is a lying rebuke in the anger of an injurious man: and there is a judgment that is not allowed to be good: and there is one that holdeth his peace, he is wise.

Chapter 20

1. How much better is it to reprove, than to be angry, and not to hinder him that confesseth in prayer.

2. The lust of an eunuch shall devour a young maiden:

3. So is he that by violence executeth unjust judgment.

4. How good is it, when thou art reproved, to shew repentance! for so thou shalt escape wilful sin.

5. There is one that holdeth his peace, that is found wise: and there is another that is hateful, that is bold in speech.

6. There is one that holdeth his peace, because he knoweth not what to say: and there is another that holdeth his peace, knowing the proper time.

7. A wise man will hold his peace till he see opportunity: but a babbler, and a fool, will regard no time.

8. He that useth many words shall hurt his own soul: and he that taketh authority to himself unjustly shall be hated.

9. There is success in evil things to a man without discipline, and there is a finding that turneth to loss.

10. There is a gift that is not profitable: and there is a gift, the recompense of which is double.

11. There is an abasement because of glory: and there is one that shall lift up his head from a low estate.

12. There is that buyeth much for a small price, and restoreth the same sevenfold.

13. A man wise in words shall make himself beloved: but the graces of fools shall be poured out.

14. The gift of the fool shall do thee no good: for his eyes are sevenfold.

15. He will give a few things, and upbraid much: and the opening of his mouth is the kindling of a fire.

16. To day a man lendeth, and to morrow he asketh it again: such a man as this is hateful.

17. A fool shall have no friend, and there shall be no thanks for his good deeds.

18. For they that eat his bread, are of a false tongue. How often, and how many will laugh him to scorn!

19. For he doth not distribute with right understanding that which was to be had: in like manner also that which was not to be had.

20. The slipping of a false tongue is as one that falleth on the pavement: so the fall of the wicked shall come speedily.

21. A man without grace is as a vain fable, it shall be continually in the mouth of the unwise.

22. A parable coming out, of a fool's mouth shall be rejected: for he doth not speak it in due season.

23. There is that is hindered from sinning through want, and in his rest he shall be pricked.

24. There is that will destroy his own soul through shamefacedness, and by occasion of an unwise person he will destroy it: and by respect of person he will destroy himself.

25. There is that for bashfulness promiseth to his friend, and maketh him his enemy for nothing.

26. A lie is a foul blot in a man, and yet it will be continually in the mouth of men without discipline.

27. A thief is better than a man that is always lying: but both of them shall inherit destruction.

28. The manners of lying men are without honour: and their confusion is with them without ceasing.

29. A wise man shall advance himself with his words, and a prudent man shall please the great ones.

30. He that tilleth his land shall make a high heap of corn: and he that worketh justice shall be exalted: and he that pleaseth great men shall escape iniquity.

31. Presents and gifts blind the eyes of judges, and make them dumb in the mouth, so that they cannot correct.

32. Wisdom that is hid, and treasure that is not seen: what profit is there in them both?

33. Better is he that hideth his folly, than the man that hideth his wisdom.

Chapter 21

1. My son, hast thou sinned? do so no more: but for thy former sins also pray that they may be forgiven thee.

2. Flee from sins as from the face of a serpent: for if thou comest near them, they will take hold of thee.

3. The teeth thereof are the teeth of a lion, killing the souls of men.

4. All iniquity is like a two-edged sword, there is no remedy for the wound thereof.

5. Injuries and wrongs will waste riches: and the house that is very rich shall be brought to nothing by pride : so the substance of the proud shall be rooted out.

6. The prayer out of the mouth of the poor shall reach the ears of God, and judgment shall come for him speedily.

7. He that hateth to be reproved walketh in the trace of a sinner: and he that feareth God will turn to his own heart.

8. He that is mighty by a bold tongue is known afar off, but a wise man knoweth to slip by him.

9. He that buildeth his house at other men's charges, is as he that gathereth himself stones to build in the winter.

10. The congregation of sinners is like tow heaped together, and the end of them is a flame of fire.

11. The way of sinners is made plain with stones, and in their end is hell, and darkness, and pains.

12. He that keepeth justice shall get the understanding thereof.

13. The perfection of the fear of God is wisdom and understanding.

14. He that is not wise in good, will not be taught.

15. But there is a wisdom that aboundeth in evil : and there is no understanding where there is bitterness.

16. The knowledge of a wise man shall abound like a flood, and his counsel continueth like a fountain of life.

17. The heart of a fool is like a broken vessel, and no wisdom at all shall it hold.

18. A man of sense will praise every wise word he shall hear, and will apply it to himself: the luxurious man hath heard it, and it shall displease him, and he will cast it behind his back.

19. The talking of a fool is like a burden in the way: but in the lips of the wise, grace shall be found.

20. The mouth of the prudent is sought after in the church, and they will think upon his words in their hearts.

21. As a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool : and the knowledge of the unwise is as words without sense.

22. Doctrine to a fool is as fetters on the feet, and like manacles on the right hand.

23. A fool lifteth up his voice in laughter: but a wise man will scarce laugh low to himself.

24. Learning to the prudent is as an ornament of gold, and like a bracelet upon his right arm.

25. The foot of a fool is soon in his neighbour's house: but a man of experience will be abashed at the person of the mighty.

26. A fool will peep through the window into the house: but he that is well taught will stand without.

27. It is the folly of a man to hearken at the door: and a wise man will be grieved with the disgrace.

28. The lips of the unwise will be telling foolish things but the words of the wise shall be weighed in a balance.

29. The heart of fools is in their mouth: and the mouth of wise men is in their heart.

30. While the ungodly curseth the devil, he curseth his own soul.

31. The talebearer shall defile his own soul, and shall be hated by all: and he that shall abide with him shall be hateful: the silent and wise man shall be honoured.

22. Do no violence to the poor, because he is poor: and do not oppress the needy in the gate:

23. Because the Lord will judge his cause, and will afflict them that have afflicted his soul.

24. Be not a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man:

25. Lest perhaps thou learn his ways, and take scandal to thy soul.