Bible in a Year.

On day 294, 1 Maccabees 13 shows the perseverance of the Maccabees in times of conflict. Sirach 32-33 provides guidance on emotional balance and self-control, and Proverbs 23:17-21 warns against excess and teaches moderation. A day to strengthen faith and discipline.

1. Now Simon heard that Tryphon was gathering together a very great army, to invade the land of Juda, and to destroy it.

2. And seeing that the people was in dread, and in fear, he went up to Jerusalem, and assembled the people:

3. And exhorted them, saying: You know what great battles I and my brethren, and the house of my father, have fought for the laws, and the sanctuary, and the distresses that we have seen:

4. By reason whereof all my brethren have lost their lives for Israel's sake, and I am left alone.

5. And now far be it from me to spare my life in any time of trouble: for I am not better than my brethren.

6. I will avenge then my nation and the sanctuary, and our children, and wives: for all the heathens are gathered together to destroy us out of mere malice.

7. And the spirit of the people was enkindled as soon as they heard these words.

8. And they answered with a loud voice, saying: Thou art our leader in the place of Judas, and Jonathan thy brother.

9. Fight thou our battles, and we will do whatsoever thou shalt say to us.

10. So gathering together all the men of war, he made haste to finish all the walls of Jerusalem, and he fortified it round about.

11. And he sent Jonathan the son of Absalom, and with him a new army into Joppe, and he cast out them that were in it, and himself remained there.

12. And Tryphon removed from Ptolemais with a great army, to invade the land of Juda, and Jonathan was with him in custody.

13. But Simon pitched in Addus, over against the plain.

14. And when Tryphon understood that Simon was risen up in the place of his brother Jonathan, and that he meant to join battle with him, he sent messengers to him,

15. Saying: We have detained thy brother Jonathan for the money that he owed in the king's account, by reason of the affairs which he had the management of.

16. But now send a hundred talents of silver, and his two sons for hostages, that when he is set at liberty he may not revolt from us, and we will release him.

17. Now Simon knew that he spoke deceitfully to him, nevertheless he ordered the money, and the children to be sent: lest he should bring upon himself a great hatred of the people of Israel, who might have said:

18. Because he sent not the money, and the children, therefore is he lost.

19. So he sent the children, and the hundred talents: and he lied, and did not let Jonathan go.

20. And after this Tryphon entered within the country, to destroy it: and they went about by the way that leadeth to Ador: and Simon and his army marched to every place whithersoever they went.

21. And they that were in the castle, sent messengers to Tryphon, that he should make haste to come through the desert, and sent them victuals.

22. And Tryphon made ready all his horsemen to come that night: but there fell a very great snow, and he came not into the country of Galaad.

23. And when he approached to Bascama, he slew Jonathan and his sons there.

24. And Tryphon returned, and went into his own country.

25. And Simon sent, and took the bones of Jonathan his brother, and buried them in Modin, in the city of his fathers.

26. And all Israel bewailed him with great lamentation: and they mourned for him many days.

27. And Simon built over the sepulchre of his father and of his brethren, a building lofty to the sight, of polished stone behind and before:

28. And he set up seven pyramids one against another for his father and his mother, and his four brethren:

29. And round about these he set great pillars: and upon the pillars arms for a perpetual memory: and by the arms ships carved, which might be seen by all that sailed on the sea.

30. This is the sepulchre that he made in Modin even unto this day.

31. But Tryphon when he was upon a journey with the young king Antiochus, treacherously slew him.

32. And he reigned in his place, and put on the crown of Asia: and brought great evils upon the land.

33. And Simon built up the strong holds of Judea, fortifying them with high towers, and great walls, and gates, and bars: and he stored up victuals in the fortresses.

34. And Simon chose men and sent to king Demetrius, to the end that he should grant an immunity to the land: for all that Tryphon did was to spoil.

35. And king Demetrius in answer to this request, wrote a letter in this manner:

36. King Demetrius to Simon the high priest, and friend of kings, and to the ancients, and to the nation of the Jews, greeting.

37. The golden crown, and the palm, which you sent, we have received: and we are ready to make a firm peace with you, and to write to the king's chief officers to release you the things that we have released.

38. For all that we have decreed in your favour, shall stand in force. The strong holds that you have built, shall be your own.

39. And as for any oversight or fault committed unto this day, we forgive it, and the crown which you owed: and if any other thing were taxed in Jerusalem, now let it not be taxed.

40. And if any of you be fit to be enrolled among ours, let them be enrolled, and let there be peace between us.

41. In the year one hundred and seventy the yoke of the Gentiles was taken off from Israel.

42. And the people of Israel began to write in the instruments, and public records, The first year under Simon the high priest, the great captain and prince of the Jews.

43. In those days Simon besieged Gaza, and camped round about it, and he made engines, and set them to the city, and he struck one tower, and took it.

44. And they that were within the engine leaped into the city: and there was a great uproar in the city.

45. And they that were in the city went up with their wives and children upon the wall, with their garments rent, and they cried with a loud voice, beseeching Simon to grant them peace.

46. And they said: Deal not with us according to our evil deeds, but according to thy mercy.

47. And Simon being moved, did not destroy them: but yet he cast them out of the city, and cleansed the houses wherein there had been idols, and then he entered into it with hymns, blessing the Lord.

48. And having cast out of it all uncleanness, he placed in it men that should observe the law: and he fortified it, and made it his habitation.

49. But they that were in the castle of Jerusalem were hindered from going out and coming into the country, and from buying and selling: and they were straitened with hunger, and many of them perished through famine.

50. And they cried to Simon form peace, and he granted it to them: and he cast them out from thence, and cleansed the castle from uncleannesses.

51. And they entered into it the three and twentieth day of the second month, in the year one hundred and seventy-one, with thanksgiving, and branches of palm trees, and harps, and cymbals, and psalteries, and hymns, and canticles, because the great enemy was destroyed out of Israel.

52. And he ordained that these days should be kept every year with gladness.

53. And he fortified the mountain of the temple that was near the castle, and he dwelt there himself, and they that were with him.

54. And Simon saw that John his son was a valiant man for war: and he made him captain of all the forces: and he dwelt in Gazara.

Chapter 32

1. Have they made thee ruler? be not lifted up: be among them as one of them.

2. Have care of them, and so sit down, and when thou hast acquitted thyself of all thy charge, take thy place :

3. That thou mayst rejoice for them, and receive a crown as an ornament of grace, and get the honour of the contribution.

4. Speak, thou that art elder: for it becometh thee,

5. To speak the first word with care knowledge, and hinder not music.

6. Where there is no hearing, pour out words, and be not lifted up out season with thy wisdom.

7. 7A concert of music in a banquet wine is as a carbuncle set in gold.

8. As a signet of an emerald in a work of gold: so is the melody of music with pleasant and moderate wine.

9. Hear in silence, and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.

10. Young man, scarcely speak in thy own cause.

11. If thou be asked twice, let thy answer be short.

12. In many things be as if thou wert ignorant, and hear in silence and withal seeking.

13. In the company of great men bake not upon thee: and when the ancients are present, speak not much.

14. Before a storm goeth lightning: and before shamefacedness goeth favour: and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.

15. And at the time of rising be not slack: but be first to run home to thy house, and there withdraw thyself, and there take thy pastime.

16. And do what thou hast a mind, but not in sin or proud speech.

17. And for all these things bless the Lord, that made thee, and that replenisheth thee with all his good things.

18. He that feareth the Lord, will receive his discipline: and they that will seek him early, shall find a blessing.

19. He that seeketh the law, shall be filled with it: and he that dealeth deceitfully, shall meet with a stumblingblock therein.

20. They that fear the Lord, shall find just judgment, and shall kindle justice as a light.

21. A sinful man will flee reproof, and will find an excuse according to his will.

22. A man of counsel will not neglect understanding, a strange and proud man will not dread fear:

23. Even after he hath done with fear without counsel, he shall be controlled by the things of his own seeking.

24. My son, do thou nothing without counsel, and thou shalt not repent when thou hast done.

25. Go not in the way of ruin, and thou shalt not stumble against the stones; trust not thyself to a rugged may, lest thou set a stumblingblock to thy soul.

26. And beware of thy own children, and take heed of them of thy household.

27. In every work of thine regard thy soul in faith: for this is the keeping of the commandments.

28. He that believeth God, taketh heed to the commandments: and he that trusteth in him, shall fare never the worse.

Chapter 33

1. No evils shall happen to him that feareth the Lord, but in temptation God will keep him, and deliver him from evils.

2. A wise man hateth not the commandments and justices, and he shall not be dashed in pieces as a ship in a storm.

3. A man of understanding is faithful to the law of God, and the law is faithful to him.

4. He that cleareth up a question, shall prepare what to say, and so having prayed he shall be heard, and shall keep discipline, and then he shall answer.

5. The heart of a fool is as a wheel of a cart: and his thoughts are like a rolling axletree.

6. A friend that is a mocker, is like a stallion horse: he neigheth under every one that sitteth upon him.

7. Why doth one day excel another, and one light another, and one year another year, when all come of the sun?

8. By the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished, the sun being made, and keeping his commandment.

9. And he ordered the seasons, and holidays of them, and in them they celebrated festivals at an hour.

10. Some of them God made high and great days, and some of them he put in the number of ordinary days. And all men are from the ground, and out of the earth, from whence Adam was created.

11. With much knowledge the Lord hath divided them and diversified their ways.

12. Some of them hath he blessed, and exalted: and some of them hath he sanctified, and set near himself: and some of them hath he cursed and brought low, end turned them from their station.

13. As the potter's clay is in his hand, to fashion and order it:

14. All his ways are according to his ordering: so man is in the hand of him that made him, and he will render to him according to his judgment.

15. Good is set against evil, and life against death: so also is the sinner against a just man. And so look upon all the works of the most High. Two and two, and one against another.

16. And I awaked last of all, and as one that gathereth after the grapegatherers.

17. In the blessing of God I also have hoped: and as one that gathereth grapes, have I filled the winepress.

18. See that I have not laboured for myself only, but for all that seek discipline.

19. Hear me, ye great men, and all ye people, and hearken with your ears, ye rulers of the church.

20. Give not to son or wife, brother or friend, power over thee while thou livest; and give not thy estate to another, lest then repent, and thou entreat for the same.

21. As long as thou livest, and hast breath in thee, let no man change thee.

22. For it is better that thy children should ask of thee, than that thou look toward the hands of thy children.

23. In all thy works keep the pre-eminence.

24. Let no stain sully thy glory. In the time when thou shalt end the days of thy life, and in the time of thy decease, distribute thy inheritance.

25. Fodder, and a wand, and a burden are for an ass: bread, and correction, and work for a slave.

26. He worketh under correction, and seeketh to rest: let his hands be idle, and he seeketh liberty.

27. The yoke and the thong bend a stiff neck, and continual labours bow a slave.

28. Torture and fetters are for a malicious slave: send him to work, that he be not idle:

29. For idleness hath taught much evil.

30. Set him to work: for so it is fit for him. And if he be not obedient, bring him down with fetters, but be not excessive towards any one: and do no grievous thing without judgment.

31. If thou have a faithful servant, let him be to thee as thy own soul: treat him as a brother: because in the blood of thy soul thou hast gotten him.

32. If thou hurt him unjustly, he will run away:

33. And if he rise up and depart, thou knowest not whom to ask, and in what way to seek him.

17. Let not thy heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long:

18. Because thou shalt have hope in the latter end, and thy expectation shall not be taken away.

19. Hear thou, my son, and be wise: and guide thy mind in the way.

20. Be not in the feasts of great drinkers, nor in their revellings, who contribute flesh to eat:

21. Because they that give themselves to drinking, and that club together shall be consumed; and drowsiness shall be clothed with rags.