Bible in a Year.

On day 298, 2 Maccabees 1 presents key events in Maccabean history. Sirach 40-41 teaches about justice, honor, and wisdom, and Proverbs 24:1-7 reminds us that prudence and discernment are essential to avoid pitfalls and act rightly before God.

1. To the brethren the Jews that are I throughout Egypt, the brethren, the Jews that are in Jerusalem, and in the land of Judea, send health, and good peace.

2. May God be gracious to you, and remember his covenant that he made with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, his faithful servants:

3. And give you all a heart to worship him, and to do his will with a great heart, and a willing mind.

4. May he open your heart in his law, and in his commandments, and send you peace.

5. May he hear your prayers, and be reconciled unto you, and never forsake you in the evil time.

6. And now here we are praying for you.

7. When Demetrius reigned, in the year one hundred and sixty-nine, we Jews wrote to you, in the trouble, and violence, that came upon us in those years, after Jason withdrew himself from the holy land, and from the kingdom.

8. They burnt the gate, and shed innocent blood: then we prayed to the Lord, and were heard, and we offered sacrifices, and fine flour, and lighted the lamps, and set forth the leaves.

9. And now celebrate ye the days of Scenopegia in the month of Casleu.

10. In the year Bone hundred and eighty- eight, the people that is at Jerusalem, and in Judea, and the senate, and Judas, to Aristobolus, the preceptor of king Ptolemee, who is of the stock of the anointed priests, and to the Jews that are in Egypt, health and welfare.

11. Having been delivered by God out of great dangers, we give him great thanks, forasmuch as we have been in war with such a king.

12. For he made numbers of men swarm out of Persia that have fought against us, and the holy city.

13. For when the leader himself was in Persia, and with him a very great army, he fell in the temple of Nanea, being deceived by the counsel of the priests of Nanea.

14. For Antiochus, with his friends, came to the place as though he would marry her, and that he might receive great sums of money under the title of a dowry.

15. And when the priests of Nanea had set it forth, and he with a small company had entered into the compass of the temple, they shut the temple,

16. When Antiochus was came in: and opening a secret entrance of the temple, they cast stones and slew the leader, and them that were with him, and hewed them in pieces, and cutting off their heads they threw them forth.

17. Blessed be God in all things, who hath delivered up the wicked.

18. Therefore whereas we purpose to keep the purification of the temple on the five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu, we thought it necessary to signify it to you: that you also may keep the day of Scenopegia, and the day of the fire, that was given when Nehemias offered sacrifice, after the temple and the altar was built.

19. For when our fathers were led in Persia, the priests that then were worshippers of God took privately the fire from the altar, and hid it in a valley where there was a deep pit without water, and there they kept it safe,

20. But when many years had passed, and it pleased God that Nehemias should be sent by the king of Persia, he sent some of the posterity of those priests that had hid it, to seek for the fire: and as they told us, they found no fire, but thick water.

21. Then he bade them draw it up, and bring it to him: and the priest Nehemias commanded the sacrifices that were laid on, to be sprinkled with the same water, both the wood, and the things that were laid upon it.

22. And when this was done, and the time came that the sun shone out, which before was in a cloud, there was a great fire kindled, so that all wondered.

23. And all the priests made prayer, while the sacrifice was consuming, Jonathan beginning, and the rest answering.

24. And the prayer of Nehemias was after this manner: 0 Lord God, Creator of all things, dreadful and strong, just and merciful, who alone art the goad king,

25. Who alone art gracious, who alone art just, and almighty, and eternal, who deliverest Israel from all evil, who didst choose the fathers and didst sanctify them :

26. Receive the sacrifice for all thy people Israel, and preserve thy own portion, and sanctify it.

27. Gather together our scattered people, deliver them that are slaves to the Gentiles, and look upon them that are despised and abhorred: that the Gentiles may know that thou art our God.

28. Punish them that oppress us, and that treat us injuriously with pride.

29. Establish thy people in thy holy place, as Moses hath spoken.

30. And the priests sung hymns till the sacrifice was consumed.

31. And when the sacrifice was consumed, Nehemias commanded the water that was left to be poured out upon the great stones.

32. Which being done, there -was kindled a dame from them: but it was consumed by the light that shined from the altar.

33. And when this matter became public, it was told to the king of Persia, that in the place where the priests that were led away, had hid the fire, there appeared water, with which Nehemias and they that were with him had purified the sacrifices.

34. And the king considering, and diligently examining the matter, made a temple for it, that he might prove what had happened.

35. And when he had proved it, he gave the priests many goods, and divers presents, and he took end distributed them to them with his own hand.

36. And Nehemias called this place Nephthar, which is interpreted purification. But many call it Nephi.

90. that the place was unknown to all men.

Chapter 40

1. Great labour is created for all men, and a heavy yoke is upon the children of Adam, from the day of their coming out of their mother's womb, until the day of their burial into the mother of all.

2. Their thoughts, and fears of the heart, their imagination of things to come, and the day of their end:

3. From him that sitteth on a glorious throne, unto him that is humbled in earth and ashes:

4. From him that weareth purple, and beareth the crown, even to him that is covered with rough linen: wrath, envy, trouble, unquietness, and the fear of death, continual anger, and strife,

5. And in the time of rest upon his bed, the sleep of the night changeth his knowledge.

6. A little and as nothing is his rest, and afterward in sleep, as in the day of keeping watch.

7. He is troubled in the vision of his heart, as if he had escaped in the day of battle. In the time of his safety he rose up, and wondereth that there is no fear:

8. Such things happen to all flesh, from man even to beast, and upon sinners are sevenfold mere.

9. Moreover, death, and bloodshed, strife, and sword, oppressions, famine, and affliction, and scourges:

10. All these things are created for the wicked, and for their sakes came the flood.

11. All things that are of the earth, shall return to the earth again, and all waters shall return to the sea.

12. All bribery, and injustice shall blotted out, and fidelity shall stand for ever.

13. The riches of the unjust shall be dried up like a river, and shall pass sway a noise like a great thunder in rain.

14. While he openeth his hands he shall rejoice: but transgressors shall pine away in the end.

15. The offspring of the ungodly shall not bring forth many branches, and make a noise as unclean roots upon the top of a rock.

16. The weed growing over every water, and at the bank of the river, shall be pulled up before all grass.

17. Grace is like a paradise in blessings, and mercy remaineth for ever.

18. The life of a labourer that is content with what he hath, shall be sweet, and in it thou shalt find a treasure.

19. Children, and the building of a city shall establish a name, but a blameless wife shall be counted above them both.

20. Wine and music rejoice the heart, but the love of wisdom is above them both.

21. The flute and the psaltery make a sweet melody, but a pleasant tongue is above them both.

22. Thy eye desireth favour and beauty, but more than these green sown fields.

23. A friend and companion meeting together in season, but above them both is a wife with her husband.

24. Brethren are a help in the time of trouble, but mercy shall deliver more than they.

25. Gold and silver make the feet stand sure: but wise counsel is above them both.

26. Riches and strength lift up the heart: but above these is the fear of the Lord.

27. There is no want in the fear of the Lord, and it needeth not to seek for help.

28. The fear of the Lord is like a paradise of blessing, and they have covered it above all glory.

29. My son, in thy lifetime be not indigent: for it is better to die than to want.

30. The life of him that looketh toward another man's table is not to be counted a life: for he feedeth his soul with another man's meat.

31. But a man, well instructed and taught, will look to himself.

32. Begging will be sweet in the mouth of the unwise, but in his belly there shall burn a fire.

Chapter 41

1. The children will complain of an ungodly father, because for his sake they are in reproach.

11. Woe to you, ungodly men, who have forsaken the law of the most high Lord.

12. And if you be born, you shall be born in malediction: and if you die, in malediction shall be your portion.

13. All things that are of the earth, shall return into the earth: so the ungodly shall from malediction to destruction.

14. The mourning of men is about their body, but the name of the ungodly shall be blotted out.

15. Take care of a good name: for this shall continue with thee, more than a thousand treasures precious and great.

16. A good life hath its number of days: but a good name shall continue for ever.

17. My children, keep discipline in peace: for wisdom that is hid, and a treasure that is not seen, what profit is there in them both?

18. Better is the man that hideth his folly, then the man that hideth his wisdom.

19. Wherefore have a shame of these things I am now going to speak of.

20. For it is not good to keep all shamefacedness: and all things do not please all men in opinion.

21. Be ashamed of fornication before father and mother: and of a lie before a governor and a man in power:

22. Of an offence before a prince, and a judge: of iniquity before a congregation and a people:

23. Of injustice before a companion and friend: and in regard to the place where thou dwellest,

24. Of theft, and of the truth of God, and the covenant: of leaning with thy elbow over meat, and of deceit in giving and taking:

25. Of silence before them that salute thee: of looking upon a harlot: and of turning away thy face from thy kinsman.

26. Turn not sway thy face from thy neighbour, and of taking away a portion and not restoring.

27. Gaze not upon another man's wife, and be not inquisitive after his handmaid, and approach not her bed.

28. Be ashamed of upbraiding speeches before friends: and after thou hast given, upbraid not.

1. Seek not to be like evil men, neither desire to be with them:

2. Because their mind studieth robberies, and their lips speak deceits.

3. By wisdom the house shall be built, and by prudence it shall be strengthened.

4. By instruction the storerooms shall be filled with all precious and most beautiful wealth.

5. A wise man is strong: and a knowing man, stout and valiant.

6. Because war is managed by due ordering: and there shall be safety where there are many counsels.

7. Wisdom is too high for a fool, in the gate he shall not open his mouth.