Bible in a Year.

On day 289, we explore the victories and strategies of the Maccabees. Sirach 22-23 emphasizes ethical conduct and responsibility. Proverbs 22:26-29 highlights diligence, competence, and excellence in work, encouraging us to apply divine wisdom in our daily actions.

1. Now Judas heard of the fame of the Romans, that they are powerful and strong, and willingly agree to all things that are requested of them: and that whosoever have come to them, they have made amity with them, and that they are mighty in power.

2. And they heard of their battles, and their noble acts, which they had done in Galatia, how they conquered them, and brought them under tribute:

3. And how great things they had done in the land of Spain, and that they had brought under their power the mines of silver and of gold that are there, and had gotten possession of all the place by their counsel and patience:

4. And had conquered places that were very far off from them, and kings that came against them from the ends of the earth, and had overthrown them with great slaughter: and the rest pay them tribute every year.

5. And that they had defeated in battle Philip, and Perses the king of the Ceteans, and the rest that had borne arms against them, and had conquered them:

6. And how Antiochus the great king of Asia, who went to fight against them, having a hundred and twenty elephants, with horsemen, and chariots, and a very great army, was routed by them:

7. And how they took him alive, and appointed to him, that both he and they that should reign after him, should pay a great tribute, and that he should give hostages, and that which was agreed upon,

8. And the country of the Indians, and of the Medes, and of the Lydians, some of their best provinces: and those which they had taken from them they gave to king Eumenes.

9. And that they who were in Greece had a mind to go and to destroy them: and they had knowledge thereof,

10. And they sent a general against them, and fought with them, and many of them were slain, and they carried away their wives and their children captives, and spoiled them, and took possession of their land, and threw down their walls, and brought them to be their servants unto this day.

11. And the other kingdoms, and islands, that at any time had resisted them, they had destroyed and brought under their power.

12. But with their friends, and such as relied upon them, they kept amity, and had conquered kingdoms that were near, and that were far off: for all that heard their name, were afraid of them.

13. That whom they had a mind to help to a kingdom, those reigned: and whom they would, they deposed from a kingdom: and they were greatly exalted.

14. And none of all these wore a crown, or was clothed in purple, to be magnified thereby.

15. And that they made themselves a senate house, and consulted daily three hundred and twenty men, that sat in council always for the people, that they might do the things that were right.

16. And that they committed their government to one man every year, to rule over all their country, and they all obey one, and there is no envy, nor jealousy amongst them.

17. So Judas chose Eupolemus the son of John, the son of Jacob, and Jason the son of Eleazar, and he sent them to Rome to make a league of amity and confederacy with them.

18. And that they might take off from them the yoke of the Grecians, for they saw that they oppressed the kingdom of Israel with servitude.

19. And they went to Rome, a very long journey, and they entered into the senate house, and said:

20. Judas Machabeus, and his brethren, and the people of the Jews have sent us to you, to make alliance and peace with you, and that we may be registered your confederates and friends.

21. And the proposal was pleasing in their sight.

22. And this is the copy of the writing that they wrote back again, graven in tables of brass, and sent to Jerusalem, that it might be with them there for a memorial of the peace and alliance.

23. GOOD SUCCESS BE TO THE ROMANS, and to the people of the Jews, by sea and by land for ever: and far be the sword and enemy from them.

24. But if there come first any war upon the Romans, or any of their confederates, in all their dominions:

25. The nation of the Jews shall help them according as the time shall direct, with all their heart:

26. Neither shall they give them, whilst they are fighting, or furnish them with wheat, or arms, or money, or ships, as it hath seemed good to the Romans: and they shall obey their orders, without taking any thing of them.

27. In like manner also if war shall come first upon the nation of the Jews, the Romans shall help them with all their heart, according as the time shall permit them.

28. And there shall not be given to them that come to their aid, either wheat, or arms, or money, or ships, as it hath seemed good to the Romans: and they shall observe their orders without deceit.

29. According to these articles did the Romans covenant with the people of the Jews.

30. And if after this one party or the other shall have a mind to add to these articles, or take away anything, they may do it at their pleasure: and whatsoever they shall add, or take away, shall be ratified.

31. Moreover concerning the evils that Demetrius the king hath done against them, we have written to him, saying: Why hast thou made thy yoke heavy upon our friends, and allies, the Jews?

32. If therefore they come again to us complaining of thee, we will do them justice, and will make war against thee by sea and land.

Chapter 22

1. The sluggard is pelted with a dirty stone, and all men will speak of his disgrace.

2. The sluggard is pelted with the dung of oxen: and every one that toucheth him will shake his hands.

3. A son ill taught is the confusion of the father: and a foolish daughter shall be to his loss.

4. A wise daughter shall bring an inheritance to her husband: but she that confoundeth, becometh a disgrace to her father.

5. She that is bold shameth both her father and husband, and will not be inferior to the ungodly: and shall be disgraced by them both.

6. A tale out of time is like music in mourning: but the stripes and instruction of wisdom are never out of time.

7. He that teacheth a fool, is like one that glueth a potsherd together.

8. He that telleth a word to him that heareth not, is like one that waketh a man out of a deep sleep.

9. He speaketh with one that is asleep, who uttereth wisdom to a fool: and in the end of the discourse he saith: Who is this?

10. Weep for the dead, for his light hath failed: and weep for the fool, for his understanding faileth.

11. Weep but a little for the dead, for he is at rest.

12. For the wicked life of a wicked fool is worse than death.

13. The mourning for the dead is seven days: but for a fool and an ungodly man all the days of their life.

14. Talk not much with a fool, and go not with him that hath no sense.

15. Keep thyself from him, that thou mayst not have trouble, and thou shalt not be defiled with his sin.

16. Turn away from him, and thou shalt find rest, and shalt not be wearied out with his folly.

17. What is heavier than lead? and what other name hath he but fool?

18. Sand and salt, and a mass of iron is easier to bear, than a man without sense, that is both foolish and wicked.

19. A frame of wood bound together in the foundation of a building, shall not be loosed: so neither shall the heart that is established by advised counsel.

20. The thought of him that is wise at all times, shall not be depraved by fear.

21. As pales set in high places, and plasterings made without cost, will not stand against the face of the wind:

22. So also a fearful heart in the imagination of a fool shall not resist against the violence of fear.

23. As a fearful heart in the thought of a fool at all times will not fear, so neither shall he that continueth always in the commandments of God.

24. He that pricketh the eye, bringeth out tears: and he that pricketh the heart, bringeth forth resentment.

25. He that flingeth a stone at birds, shall drive them away: so he that upbraideth his friend, breaketh friendship.

26. Although thou hast drawn a sword at a friend, despair not: for there may be a returning. To a friend,

27. If thou hast opened a sad mouth, fear not, for there may be a reconciliation: except upbraiding, and reproach, and pride, and disclosing of secrets, or a treacherous wound: for in all these cases a friend will flee away.

28. Keep fidelity with a friend in his poverty, that in his prosperity also thou mayst rejoice.

29. In the time of his trouble continue faithful to him, that thou mayst also be heir with him in his inheritance.

30. As the vapour of a chimney, and the smoke of the fire goeth up before the fire: so also injurious words, and reproaches, and threats, before blood.

31. I will not be ashamed to salute a friend, neither will I hide myself from his face: and if any evil happen to me by him, I will bear it.

32. But every one that shall hear it, will beware of him.

33. Who will set a guard before my mouth, and a sure seal upon my lips, that I fall not by them, and that my tongue destroy me not?

Chapter 23

1. And let not the naming of God be usual in thy mouth, and meddle not with the names of saints, for thou shalt not escape free from them.

11. For as a slave daily put to the question, is never without a blue mark: so every one that sweareth, and nameth, shall not be wholly pure from sin.

12. A man that sweareth much, shall be filled with iniquity, and a scourge shall not depart from his house.

13. And if he make it void, his sin shall be upon him: and if he dissemble it, he offendeth double:

14. And if he swear in vain, he shall not be justified: for his house shall be filled with his punishment.

15. There is also another speech opposite to death, let it not be found in the inheritance of Jacob.

16. For from the merciful all these things shall be taken away, and they shall not wallow in sins.

17. Let not thy mouth be accustomed to indiscreet speech: for therein is the word of sin.

18. Remember thy father and thy mother, for thou sittest is the midst of great men:

19. Lest God forget thee in their sight, and thou, by thy daily custom, be infatuated and suffer reproach: and wish that thou hadst not been born, and curse the day of thy nativity.

20. The man that is accustomed to opprobrious words, will never be corrected all the days of his life.

21. Two sorts of men multiply sins, and the third bringeth wrath and destruction.

22. A hot soul is a burning fire, it will never be quenched, till it devour some thing.

23. And a man that is wicked in the mouth of his flesh, will not leave off till he hath kindled a fire.

24. To a man that is a fornicator all bread is sweet, he will not be weary of sinning unto the end.

25. Every man that passeth beyond his own bed, despising his own soul, and saying: Who seeth me?

26. Darkness compasseth me about, and the walls cover me, and no man seeth me: whom do I fear? the most High will not remember my sins.

27. And he understandeth not that his eye seeth all things, for such a man's fear driveth from him the fear of God, and the eyes of men fearing him:

28. And he knoweth not that the eyes of the Lord are far brighter than the sun, beholding round about all the ways of men, and the bottom of the deep, and looking into the hearts of men, into the most hidden parts.

29. For all things were known to the Lord God, before they were created: so also after they were perfected he beholdeth all things.

30. This man shall be punished in the streets of the city, and he shall be chased as a colt: and where he suspected not, he shall be taken.

31. And he shall be in disgrace with all men, because he understood not the fear of the Lord.

32. So every woman also that leaveth her husband, and bringeth in an heir by another :

33. For first she hath been unfaithful to the law of the most High: and secondly, she hath offended against her husband: thirdly, she hath fornicated in adultery, end hath gotten her children of another man.

34. This woman shall be brought into the assembly, and inquisition shall be made of her children.

35. Her children shall not take root, and her branches shall bring forth no fruit.

36. She shall leave her memory to be cursed, and her infamy shall not be blotted out.

37. And they that remain shall know. that there is nothing better than the fear of God: and that there is nothing sweeter than to have regard to the commandments of the Lord.

38. It is great glory to follow the Lord for length of days shall be received from him.

26. Be not with them that fasten down their hands, and that offer themselves sureties for debts:

27. For if thou have not wherewith to restore, what cause is there, that he should take the covering from thy bed?

28. Pass not beyond the ancient bounds which thy fathers have set.

29. Hast thou seen a man swift in his work? he shall stand before kings, and shall not be before those that are obscure.