Bible in a Year.

On day 309, 2 Maccabees 12 shows steadfast faith and integrity in the face of adversity. Wisdom 13-14 leads us to reflect on human nature and the value of divine discernment, while Proverbs 25:11-14 highlights the reward of right words and actions at the right time.

1. When these covenants were made, Lyslas went to the king, and the Jews gave themselves to husbandry.

2. But they that were behind, namely, Timotheus and Apollonius the son of Genneus, also Hieronymus, and Demophon, and besides them Nicanor the governor of Cyprus, would not suffer them to live in peace, and to be quiet.

3. The men of Joppe also were guilty of this kind of wickedness: they desired the Jews who dwelt among them to go with their wives and children into the boats, which they had prepared, as though they had no enmity to them.

4. Which when they had consented to, according to the common decree of the city, suspecting nothing, because of the peace : when they were gone forth into the deep, they drowned no fewer than two hundred of them.

5. But as soon as Judas heard of this cruelty done to his countrymen, he commanded the men that were with him: and after having called upon God the just judge,

6. He came against those murderers of his brethren, and set the haven on fire in the night, burnt the boats, and slew with the sword them that escaped from the fire.

7. And when he had done these things in this manner, he departed as if he would return again, and root out all the Joppites.

8. But when he understood that the men of Jamnia also designed to do in like manner to the Jews that dwelt among them,

9. He came upon the Jamnites also by night, end set the haven on fire with the ships, so that the light of the fire was seen at Jerusalem two hundred and forty furlongs off.

10. And when they were now gone from thence nine furlongs, and were marching towards Timotheus, five thousand footmen and Ave hundred horsemen of the Arabians set upon them.

11. And after a hard fight, in which by the help of God they got the victory, the rest of the Arabians being overcome, besought Judas for peace, promising to give him pastures, and to assist him in other things.

12. And Judas thinking that they might be profitable indeed in many things, promised them peace, and after having joined hands, they departed to their tents.

13. He also laid siege to a certain strong city, encompassed with bridges and walls, and inhabited by multitudes of different nations, the name of which is Casphin.

14. But they that were within it, trusting in the strength of the walls, and the provision of victuals, behaved in a more negligent manner, and provoked Judas with railing and blaspheming, and uttering such words as were not to be spoken.

15. But Machabeus calling upon the great Lord of the world, who without any rams or engines of war threw down the walls of Jericho in the time of Josue, fiercely assaulted the walls.

16. And having taken the city by the will of the Lord, he made an unspeakable slaughter, so that a pool adjoining of two furlongs broad seemed to run with the blood of the slain.

17. From thence they departed seven hundred and fifty furlongs, and came to Characa to the Jews that are called Tubianites.

18. But as for Timotheus, they found him not in those places, for before he had dispatched any thing he went back, having left a very strong garrison in a certain hold :

19. But Dositheus, and Sosipater, who were captains with Machabeus, slew them that were left by Timotheus in the hold, to the number of ten thousand men.

20. And Machabeus having set in order about him six thousand men, and divided them by bands, went forth against Timetheus, who had with him a hundred and twenty thousand footmen, and two thousand five hundred horsemen.

21. Now when Timotheus had knowledge of the coming of Judas, he sent the women and children, and the other baggage before him into a fortress, called Carnion: for it was impregnable and hard to come at, by reason of the straitness of the places.

22. But when the first band of Judas came in sight, the enemies were struck with fear, by the presence of God, who seeth all things, and they were put to flight one from another, so that they were often thrown down by their own companions, and wounded with the strokes of their own swords.

23. But Judas was vehemently earnest in punishing the profane, of whom he slew thirty thousand men.

24. And Timotheus himself fell into the hands of the band of Dositheus and Sosipater, and with many prayers he besought them to let him go with his life, because he had the parents and brethren of many of the Jews, who, by his death, might happen to be deceived.

25. And when he had given his faith that he would restore them according to the agreement, they let him go without hurt, for the saving of their brethren.

26. Then Judas went away to Carnion, where he slew five and twenty thousand persons.

27. And after he had put to flight and destroyed these, he removed his army to Ephron, a strong city, wherein there dwelt a multitude of divers nations: and stout young men standing upon the walls made a vigorous resistance: and in this place there were many engines of war, and a provision of darts.

28. But when they had invocated the Almighty, who with his power breaketh the strength of the enemies, they took the city; and slew five and twenty thou- sand of them that were within.

29. From thence they departed to Scythopolis, which lieth six hundred furlongs from Jerusalem.

30. But the Jews that were among the Scythopolitans testifying that they were used kindly by them, and that even in the times of their adversity they had treated them with humanity:

31. They gave them thanks exhorting them to be still friendly to their nation, and so they came to Jerusalem, the feast of the weeks being at hand.

32. And after Pentecost they marched against Gorgias the governor of Idumea.

33. And he came out with three thousand footmen, and four hundred horsemen.

34. And when they had joined battle, it happened that a few of the Jews were slain.

35. But Dositheus, a horseman, one of Bacenor's band, a valiant man, took hold of Gorgias: and when he would have taken him alive, a certain horseman of the Thracians came upon him, and cut off his shoulder: and so Gorgias escaped to Maresa.

36. But when they that were with Esdrin had fought long, and were weary, Judas called upon the Lord to be their helper, and leader of the battle:

37. Then beginning in his own language, and singing hymns with a loud voice, he put Gorgias' soldiers to flight.

38. So Judas having gathered together his army, came into the city Odollam: and when the seventh day came, they purified themselves according to the custom, and kept the sabbath in the place.

39. And the day following Judas cam with his company, to take away the bodies of them that were slain, and to bury them with their kinsmen, in the sepulchres of their fathers.

40. And they found under the coats o the slain some of the donaries of the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbiddeth the Jews:

41. Then they all blessed the just judgment of the Lord, who had discovered the things that were hidden.

42. And so betaking themselves to prayers, they besought him, that the sin which had been committed might be forgotten. But the most valiant Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves from sin, forasmuch as they saw before their eyes what had happened, because of the sins of those that were slain.

43. And making a gathering, he twelve thousand drachms of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection,

44. (For if he had not hoped that the that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead,)

45. And because he considered that the who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace laid up for them.

46. It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.

90. that all plainly saw, for this cause they were slain.

Chapter 13

1. But all men are vain, in whom there is not the knowledge of God: and who by these good things that are seen, could not understand him that is, neither by attending to the works have acknowledged who was the workman:

2. But have imagined either the fire, or the wind, or the swift air, or the circle of the stars, or the great water, or the sun and moon, to be the gods that rule the world.

3. With whose beauty, if they, being delighted, took them to be gods: let them know how much the Lord of them is more beautiful than they: for the first author of beauty made all those things.

4. Or if they admired their power and their effects, let them understand by them, that he that made them, is mightier than they:

5. For by the greatness of the beauty, and of the creature, the creator of them may be seen, so as to be known thereby.

6. But yet as to these they are less to be blamed. For they perhaps err, seeking God, and desirous to find him.

7. For being conversant among his works, they search: and they are persuaded that the things are good which are seen.

8. But then again they are not to be pardoned.

9. For if they were able to know so much as to make a judgment of the world: how did they not more easily find out the Lord thereof?

10. But unhappy are they, and their hope is among the dead, who have called gods the works of the hands of men, gold and silver, the inventions of art, and the resemblances of beasts, or an unprofitable stone the work of an ancient hand.

11. Or if an artist, a carpenter, hath cut down a tree proper for his use in the wood, and skilfully taken off all the bark thereof, and with his art, diligently formeth a vessel profitable for the common uses of life,

12. And useth the chips of his work to dress his meat:

13. And taking what was left thereof, which is good for nothing, being a crooked piece of wood, and full of knots, carveth it diligently when he hath nothing else to do, and by the skill of his art fashioneth it and maketh it like the image of a man:

14. Or the resemblance of some beast, laying it over with vermillion, and painting it red, and covering every spot that is in it:

15. And maketh a convenient dwelling place for it, and setting it in a wall, and fastening it with iron,

16. Providing for it, lest it should fall, knowing that it is unable to help itself: for it is an image, and hath need of help.

17. And then maketh prayer to it, inquiring concerning his substance, and his children, or his marriage. And he is not ashamed to speak to that which hath no life:

18. And for health he maketh suspplication to the weak, and for life prayeth to that which is dead, and for help calleth upon that which is unprofitable:

19. And for a good journey he petitioneth him that cannot walk: and for getting, and for working, and for the event of all things he asketh him that is unable to do any thing.

Chapter 14

1. Again, another designing to sail, and beginning to make his voyage through the raging waves, calleth upon a piece of wood more frail than the wood that carrieth him.

2. For this the desire of gain devised, and the workman built it by his skill.

3. But thy providence, O Father, governeth it: for thou hast made a way even in the sea, and a most sure path among the waves,

4. Shewing that thou art able to save out of all things, yea though a man went to sea without art.

5. But that the works of thy wisdom might not be idle: therefore men also trust their lives even to a little wood, and passing over the sea by ship are saved.

6. And from the beginning also when the proud giants perished, the hope of the world fleeing to a vessel, which was governed by thy hand, left to the world seed of generation.

7. For blessed is the wood, by which justice cometh.

8. But the idol that is made by hands, is cursed, as well it, as he that made it: he because he made it; and it because being frail it is called a god.

9. But to God the wicked and his wickedness are hateful alike.

10. For that which is made, together with him that made it, shall suffer torments.

11. Therefore there shall be no respect had even to the idols of the Gentiles: because the creatures of God are turned to an abomination, and a temptation to the souls of men, and a snare to the feet of the unwise.

12. For the beginning of fornication is the devising of idols: and the invention of them is the corruption of life.

13. For neither were they from the beginning, neither shall they be for ever.

14. For by the vanity of men they came into the world: and therefore they shall be found to come shortly to an end.

15. For a father being afflicted with bitter grief, made to himself the image of his son who was quickly taken away: and him who then had died as a man, he began now to worship as a god, and appointed him rites and sacrifices among his servants.

16. Then in process of time, wicked custom prevailing, this error was kept as a law, and statues were worshipped by the commandment of tyrants.

17. And those whom men could not honour in presence, because they dwelt far off, they brought their resemblance from afar, and made an express image of the king whom they had a mind to honour: that by this their diligence, they might honour as present, him that was absent.

18. And to worshipping of these, the singular diligence also of the artificer helped to set forward the ignorant.

19. For he being willing to please him that employed him, laboured with all his art to make the resemblance in the best manner.

20. And the multitude of men, carried away by the beauty of the work, took him now for a god that a little before was but honoured as a man.

21. And this was the occasion of deceiving human life: for men serving either their affection, or their kings, gave the incommunicable name to stones and wood.

22. And it was not enough for them to err about the knowledge of God, but whereas they lived in a great war of ignorance, they call so many and so great evils peace.

23. For either they sacrifice their own children, or use hidden sacrifices, or keep watches full of madness,

24. So that now they neither keep life, nor marriage undefiled, but one killeth another through envy, or grieveth him by adultery:

25. And all things are mingled together, blood, murder, theft and dissimulation, corruption and unfaithfulness, tumults and perjury, disquieting of the good,

26. Forgetfulness of God, defiling of souls, changing of nature, disorder in marriage, and the irregularity of adultery and uncleaness.

27. For the worship of abominable idols is the cause, and the beginning and end of all evil.

28. For either they are mad when they are merry: or they prophesy lies, or they live unjustly, or easily forswear themselves.

29. For whilst they trust in idols, which are without life, though they swear amiss, they look not to be hurt.

30. But for two things they shall be justly punished, because they have thought not well of God, giving heed to idols, and have sworn unjustly, in guile despising justice.

31. For it is not the power of them, by whom they swear, but the just vengeance of sinners always punisheth the transgression of the unjust.

11. To speak a word in due time, is like apples of gold on beds of silver.

12. As an earring of gold and a bright pearl, so is he that reproveth the wise, and the obedient ear.

13. As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to him that sent him, for he refresheth his soul.

14. As clouds, and wind, when no rain followeth, so is the man that boasteth, and doth not fulfil his promises.