Bible in a Year.

On day 290, we reflect on the end of the Maccabees' journey and its impact on Israel's history. Sirach 24-25 celebrates wisdom and its benefits. Proverbs 23:1-4 offers guidance on prudence, moderation, and discernment, reminding us to live wisely and responsibly before God.

1. In the mean time when Demetrius heard that Nicanor and his army were fallen in battle, he sent again Bacchides and Alcimus into Judea; and the right wing of his army with them.

2. And they took the road that leadeth to Galgal, and they camped in Masaloth, which is in Arabella: and they made themselves masters of it, and slew many people.

3. In the first month of the hundred and fifty-second year they brought the army to Jerusalem:

4. And they arose, and went to Berea with twenty thousand men, and two thousand horsemen.

5. Now Judas had pitched his tents in Laisa, and three thousand chosen men with him:

6. And they saw the multitude of the army that they were many, and they were seized with great fear: and many withdrew themselves out of the camp, and there remained of them no more than eight hundred men.

7. And Judas saw that his army slipped away, and the battle pressed upon him, and his heart was cast down: because he had not time to gather them together, and he was discouraged.

8. Then he said to them that remained: Let us arise, and go against our enemies, if we may be able to fight against them.

9. But they dissuaded him, saying: We shall not be able, but let us save our lives now, and return to our brethren, and then we will fight against them: for we are but few.

10. Then Judas said: God forbid we should do this thing, and flee away from them: but if our time be come, let us die manfully for our brethren, and let us not stain our glory.

11. And the army removed out of the camp, and they stood over against them: and the horsemen were divided into two troops, and the slingers, and the archers went before the army, and they that were in the front were all men of valour.

12. And Bacchides was in the right wing, and the legion drew near on two sides, and they sounded the trumpets:

13. And they also were on Judas' side, even they also cried out, and the earth shook at the noise of the armies: and the battle was fought from morning even unto the evening.

14. And Judas perceived that the stronger part of the army of Bacchides was on the right side, and all the stout of heart came together with him:

15. And the right wing was discomfited by them, and he pursued them even to the mount Azotus.

16. And they that were in the left wing saw that the right wing was discomfited, and they followed after Judas, and them that were with him, at their back:

17. And the battle was hard fought, and there fell many wounded of the one side and of the other.

18. And Judas was slain, and the rest fled away.

19. And Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother, and buried him in the sepulchre of their fathers in the city of Modin.

20. And all the people of Israel bewailed him with great lamentation, and they mourned for him many days.

21. And said: How is the mighty man fallen, that saved the people of Israel!

22. But the rest of the words of the wars of Judas, and of the noble acts that he did, and of his greatness, are not written: for they were very many.

23. And it came to pass after the death of Judas, that the wicked began to put forth their heads in all the confines of Israel, and all the workers of iniquity rose up.

24. In those days there was a very great famine, and they and all their country yielded to Bacchides.

25. And Bacchides chose the wicked men, and made them lords of the country:

26. And they sought out, and made diligent search after the friends of Judas, and brought them to Bacchides, and he took vengeance of them, and abused them.

27. And there was a great tribulation in Israel, such as was not since the day, that there was no prophet seen in Israel.

28. And all the friends of Judas came together, and said to Jonathan:

29. Since thy brother Judas died, there is not a man like him to go forth against our enemies, Bacchides, and them that are the enemies of our nation.

30. Now therefore we have chosen thee this day to be our prince, and captain in his stead to fight our battles.

31. So Jonathan took upon him the government at that time, and rose up in the place of Judas his brother.

32. And Bacchides had knowledge of it, and sought to kill him.

33. And Jonathan and Simon his brother, knew it, and all that were with them: and they fled into the desert of Thecua, and they pitched by the water of the lake of Asphar,

34. And Bacchides understood it, and he came himself with all his army over the Jordan on the sabbath day.

35. And Jonathan sent his brother a captain of the people, to desire the Nabutheans his friends, that they would lend them their equipage, which was copious.

36. And the children of Jambri came forth out of Madaba, and took John, and all that he had, and went away with them.

37. After this it was told Jonathan, and Simon his brother, that the children of Jambri made a great marriage, and were bringing the bride out of Madaba, the daughter of one of the great princes of Chanaan, with great pomp.

38. And the remembered the blood of John their brother: and they went up, and hid themselves under the covert of the mountain.

39. And they lifted up their eyes, and saw: and behold a tumult, and great preparation: and the bridegroom came forth, and his friends, and his brethren to meet them with timbrels, and musical instruments, and many weapons.

40. And they rose up against them from the place where they lay in ambush, and slew them, and there fell many wounded, and the rest fled into the mountains, and they took all their spoils:

41. And the marriage was turned into mourning, and the noise of their musical instruments into lamentation.

42. And they took revenge for the blood of their brother: and they returned to the bank of the Jordan.

43. And Bacchides heard it, and he came on the sabbath day even to the bank of the Jordan with a great power.

44. And Jonathan said to his company: Let us arise, and fight against our enemies: for it is not now as yesterday, and the day before.

45. And behold the battle is before us, and the water of the Jordan on this side and on that side, and banks, and marshes, and woods: and there is no place for us to turn aside.

46. Now therefore cry ye to heaven, that ye may be delivered from the hand of your enemies. And they joined battle.

47. And Jonathan stretched forth his hand to strike Bacchides, but he turned away from him backwards.

48. And Jonathan, and they that were with him leaped into the Jordan, and swam over the Jordan to them:

49. And there fell of Bacchides' side that day a thousand man: and they returned to Jerusalem,

50. And they built strong cities in Judea, the fortress that was in Jericho, and in Ammaus, and in Bethoron, and in Bethel, and Thamnata, and Phara, and Thopo, with high walls, and gates, and bars.

51. And he placed garrisons in them, that they might wage war against Israel:

52. And he fortified the city of Bethsura, and Gazara, and the castle, and set garrisons in them, and provisions of victuals:

53. And he took the sons of the chief men of the country for hostages, and put them in the castle in Jerusalem in custody.

54. Now in the year one hundred and fifty-three, the second month, Alcimus commanded the walls of the inner court of the sanctuary to be thrown down, and the works of the prophets to be destroyed: and he began to be destroyed: and he began to destroy.

55. At that time Alcimus was struck: and his works were hindered, and his mouth was stopped, and he was taken with a palsy, so that he could no more speak a word, nor give order concerning his house.

56. And Alcimus died at that time in great torment.

57. And Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead: and he returned to the king, and the land was quiet for two years.

58. And all the wicked held a council, saying: Behold Jonathan, and they that are with him, dwell at ease, and without fear: now therefore let us bring Bacchides hither, and he shall take them all in one night.

59. So they went, and gave him counsel.

60. And he arose to come with a great army: and he sent secretly letters to his adherents that were in Judea, to seize upon Jonathan, and them that were with him: but they could not, for their design was known to them.

61. And he apprehended of the men of the country, that were the principal authors of the mischief, fifty men, and slew them.

62. And Jonathan, and Simon, and they that were with him retired into Bethbessen, which is in the desert: and he repaired the breaches thereof, and they fortified it.

63. And when Bacchides knew it, he gathered together all his multitude: and sent word to them that were of Judea.

64. And he came, and camped above Bethbessen, and fought against it many days, and made engines.

65. But Jonathan left his brother Simon in the city, and went forth into the country: and came with a number of men.

66. And struck Odares, and his brethren, and the children of Phaseron in their tents, and he began to slay, and to increase in forces.

67. But Simon and they that were with him, sallied out of the city, and burnt the engines.

68. And they fought against Bacchides, and he was discomfited by them: and they afflicted him exceedingly, for his counsel, and his enterprise was in vain.

69. And he was angry with the wicked men that had given him counsel to come into their country, and he slew many of them: and he purposed to return with the rest into their country.

70. And Jonathan had knowledge of it, and he sent ambassadors to him to make peace with him, and to restore to him the prisoners.

71. And he accepted it willingly, and did according to his words, and swore that the would do him no harm all the days of his life.

72. And he restored to him the prisoners which he before had taken out of the land of Juda: and he returned and went away into his own country, and he came no more into their borders.

73. So the sword ceased from Israel: and Jonathan dwelt in Machmas, and Jonathan began there to judge the people, and he destroyed the wicked out of Israel.

Chapter 24

1. Wisdom shall praise her own self, and shall be honoured in God, and shall glory in the midst of her people,

2. And shall open her mouth in the churches of the most High, and shall glorify herself in the sight of his power,

3. And in the midst of her own people she shall be exalted, and shall be ad- mired in the holy assembly.

4. And in the multitude of the elect she shall have praise, and among the blessed she shall be blessed, saying:

5. I came out of the mouth of the most High, the firstborn before all creatures:

6. I made that in the heavens there should rise light that never faileth, and as a cloud I covered all the earth:

7. I dwelt in the highest places, and my throne is in a pillar of a cloud.

8. I alone have compassed the circuit of heaven, and have penetrated into the bottom of the deep, and have walked in the waves of the sea,

9. And have stood in all the earth: and in every people,

10. And in every nation I have had the chief rule:

11. And by my power I have trodden under my feet the hearts of all the high and low: and in all these I sought rest, and I shall abide in the inheritance of the Lord.

12. Then the creator of all things commanded, and said to me: and he that made me, rested in my tabernacle,

13. And he said to me: Let thy dwelling be in Jacob, and thy inheritance in Israel, and take root in my elect.

14. From the beginning, and before the world, was I created, and unto the world to come I shall not cease to be, and in the holy dwelling place I have ministered before him.

15. And so was I established in Sion, and in the holy city likewise I rested, and my power was in Jerusalem.

16. And I took root in an honourable people, and in the portion of mg God his inheritance, and my abode is in the full assembly of saints.

17. I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress tree on mount Sion.

18. I was exalted like a palm tree in Cades, and as a rose plant in Jericho:

19. As a fair olive tree in the plains, and as a plane tree by the water in the streets, was I exalted.

20. I gave a sweet smell like cinnamon. and aromatical balm: I yielded a sweet odour like the best myrrh:

21. And I perfumed my dwelling as storax, and galbanum, and onyx, and aloes, and as the frankincense not cut, and my odour is as the purest balm.

22. I have stretched out my branches as the turpentine tree, and my branches are of honour and grace.

23. As the vine I have brought forth a pleasant odour: and my flowers are the fruit of honour and riches.

24. I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope.

25. In me is all grace of the way and of the truth, in me is all hope of life and of virtue.

26. Come over to me, all ye that desire me, and be filled with my fruits.

27. For my spirit is sweet above honey, and my inheritance above honey and the honeycomb.

28. My memory is unto everlasting generations.

29. They that eat me, shall yet hunger: and they that drink me, shall yet thirst.

30. He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded: and they that work by me, shall not sin.

31. They that explain me shall have life everlasting.

32. All these things are the book of life, and the covenant of the most High, and the knowledge of truth.

33. Moses commanded a law in the precepts of justices, and an inheritance to the house of Jacob, and the promises to Israel.

34. He appointed to David his servant to raise up of him a most mighty king, and sitting on the throne of glory for ever.

35. Who filleth up wisdom as the Phison, and as the Tigris in the days of the new fruits.

36. Who maketh understanding to abound as the Euphrates, who multiplieth it as the Jordan in the time of harvest.

37. Who sendeth knowledge as the light, and riseth up as Gehon in the time of the vintage.

38. Who first hath perfect knowledge of her, and a weaker shall not search her out.

39. For her thoughts are more vast than the sea, and her counsels more deep than the great ocean.

40. I, wisdom, have poured out rivers.

41. I, like a brook out of a river of a mighty water; I, like a channel of a river. and like an aqueduct, came out of paradise.

42. I said: I will water my garden of plants, and I will water abundantly the fruits of my meadow.

43. And behold my brook became a great river, and my river came near to a sea:

44. For I make doctrine to shine forth to all as the morning light, and I will declare it afar off.

45. I will penetrate to all the lower parts of the earth, and will behold all that sleep, and will enlighten all that hope in the Lord.

46. I will yet pour out doctrine as prophecy, and will leave it to them that seek wisdom, and will not cease to instruct their offspring even to the holy age.

47. See ye that I have not laboured for myself only, but for all that seek out the truth.

Chapter 25

1. With three things my spirit is pleased, which are approved before God and men:

2. The concord of brethren, and the love of neighbours, and mall and wife that agree well together.

3. Three sorts my soul hateth, and I am greatly grieved at their life:

4. A poor man that is proud: a rich man that is a liar: an old man that is a fool, and doting.

5. The things that thou hast not gathered in thy youth, how shalt thou find them in thy old age?

6. O how comely is judgment for a grey head, and for ancients to know counsel!

7. O how comely is wisdom for the aged, and understanding and counsel to men of honour!

8. Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is their glory.

9. Nine things that are not to be imagined by the heart have I magnified, and the tenth I will utter to men with my tongue.

10. A man that hath joy of his children: and he that liveth and seeth the fall of his enemies.

11. Blessed is he. that dwelleth with a wise woman, and that hath not slipped with his tongue, and that hath not served such as are unworthy of him.

12. Blessed is he that findeth a true friend, and that declareth justice to an ear that heareth.

13. How great is he that findeth wisdom and knowledge! but there is none above him that feareth the Lord.

14. The fear of God hath set itself above all things:

15. Blessed is the man, to whom it is given to have the fear of God: he that holdeth it, to whom shall he be likened?

16. The fear of God is the beginning of his love: and the beginning of faith is to be fast joined unto it.

17. The sadness of the heart is every plague: and the wickedness of a woman is all evil.

18. And a man will choose any plague, but the plague of the heart:

19. And ally wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman:

20. And any affliction, but the affliction from them that hate him:

21. And ally revenge, but the revenge of enemies.

22. There is no head worse than the head of a serpent:

23. And there is no anger above the anger of a woman. It will be more agreeable to abide with a lion and a dragon, than to dwell with a wicked woman.

24. The wickedness of a woman changeth her face: and she darkeneth her countenance as a bear: and sheweth it like sackcloth. In the midst of her neighbours,

25. Her husband groaned, and hearing he sighed a little.

26. All malice is shore to the malice of a woman, let the lot of sinners fall upon her.

27. As the climbing of a sandy way is to the feet of the aged, so is a wife full of tongue to a quiet man.

28. Look not upon a woman's beauty, and desire not a woman for beauty.

29. A woman's anger, and impudence, and confusion is great.

30. A woman, if she have superiority, is contrary to her husband.

31. A wicked woman abateth the courage, and maketh a heavy countenance, and a wounded heart.

32. Feeble hands, and disjointed knees, a woman that doth not make her husband happy.

33. From the woman came the beginning of sin, and by her we all die.

34. Give no issue to thy water, no, not a little: nor to a wicked woman liberty to gad abroad.

35. If she walk not at thy hand, she will confound thee in the sight of thy enemies.

36. Cut her off from thy flesh, lest she always abuse thee.

1. When thou shalt sit to eat with a prince, consider diligently what is set before thy face.

2. And put a knife to thy throat, if it be so that thou have thy soul in thy own power.

3. Be not desirous of his meats, in which is the bread of deceit.

4. Labour not to be rich: but set bounds to thy prudence.