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1611 King James Bible

2 Maccabees 15

  1. 2 Maccabees 15:1 But Nicanor hearing that Iudas and his company were in the strong places about Samaria, resolued without any danger to set vpon them on þ sabbath day.
  2. 2 Maccabees 15:2 Neuertheles, the Iewes that were compelled to go with him, said, O destroy not so cruelly and barbarously, but giue honour to that day, which he that seeth all things, hath honoured with holinesse aboue
  3. 2 Maccabees 15:3 Then this most vngracious wretch demanded, if there were a mightie one in heauen that had commanded the Sabbath day to be kept.
  4. 2 Maccabees 15:4 And when they said, There is in heauen a liuing Lord, and mightie, who commanded the seuenth day to be kept,
  5. 2 Maccabees 15:5 Then said the other, And I also am mightie vpon earth, & I cōmand to take armes, and to do the kings busines: yet he obteined not to haue his wicked wil done.
  6. 2 Maccabees 15:6 So Nicanor in exceeding pride and haughtinesse, determined to set vp a publike moument of his victorie ouer Iudas, and them that were with him.
  7. 2 Maccabees 15:7 But Maccabeus had euer sure confidence that the Lord would helpe him.
  8. 2 Maccabees 15:8 Wherfore he exhorted his people not to feare the comming of the heathen against them, but to remember the helpe which in former times they had receiued from heauen, and now to expect the victory, and aid which should come vnto them from the Almightie.
  9. 2 Maccabees 15:9 And so comforting them out of the law, and the prophets, and withall putting them in mind of the battels that they won afore, he made them more cheerefull.
  10. 2 Maccabees 15:10 And when he had stirred vp their minds, he gaue them their charge, shewing them therewithall the falshood of the heathen, and the breach of othes.
  11. 2 Maccabees 15:11 Thus he armed euery one of them not so much with defence of shields and speares, as with comfortable and good words: and besides that, he tolde them a dreame worthy to be beleeued, as if it had bin so indeed, which did not a litle reioyce them.
  12. 2 Maccabees 15:12 And this was his vision: that Onias, who had bin high Priest, a vertuous, and a good man, reuerend in conuersation, gentle in condition, well spoken also, and exercised from a child in all points of vertue, holding vp his hands, prayed for the whole bodie of the Iewes.
  13. 2 Maccabees 15:13 This done, in like maner there appeared a man with gray haires, & exceeding glorious, who was of a wonderfull and excellent maiestie.
  14. 2 Maccabees 15:14 Then Onias answered, saying, This is a louer of the brethren, who prayeth much for the people, and for the holy citie, (to wit) Ieremias þ prophet of God.
  15. 2 Maccabees 15:15 Whereupon Ieremias, holding forth his right hand, gaue to Iudas a sword of gold, and in giuing it spake thus:
  16. 2 Maccabees 15:16 Take this holy sword a gift from God, with the which thou shalt wound the aduersaries.
  17. 2 Maccabees 15:17 Thus being well comforted by the words of Iudas, which were very good, and able to stirre them vp to valour, and to encourage the hearts of the yong men, they determined not to pitch campe, but couragiously to set vpon them, and manfully to trie the matter by conflict, because the citie, and the Sanctuarie, and the Temple were in danger.
  18. 2 Maccabees 15:18 For the care that they tooke for their wiues, and their children, their brethren, and kinsfolkes, was in least account with them: but the greatest, and principall feare, was for the holy Temple.
  19. 2 Maccabees 15:19 Also they that were in the citie, tooke not the least care, being troubled for the conflict abroad.
  20. 2 Maccabees 15:20 And now when as all looked what should bee þ triall, & the enemies were already come neere, and the armie was set in aray, and the beasts conueniently placed, and the horsemen set in wings:
  21. 2 Maccabees 15:21 Maccabeus seeing the comming of the multitude, and the diuers preparations of armour, and the fiercenesse of the beasts, stretched out his hands towards heauen, and called vpon the Lord, that worketh wonders, knowing that victorie commeth not by armes, but euen as it seemeth good to him, he giueth it to such as are worthy:
  22. 2 Maccabees 15:22 Therefore in his prayer he said after this maner: O Lord, thou diddest send thine Angel in the time of Ezekias king of Iudea, and diddest slay in the host of Sennacherib, an hundred, fourescore, and fiue thousand.
  23. 2 Maccabees 15:23 Wherfore now also O Lord of heauen, send a good Angel before vs, for a feare, and dread vnto them.
  24. 2 Maccabees 15:24 And through the might of thine arme, let those bee stricken with terror, that come against thy holy people to blaspheme. And he ended thus.
  25. 2 Maccabees 15:25 Then Nicanor, and they that were with him came forward with trumpets, and songs.
  26. 2 Maccabees 15:26 But Iudas, and his company encountred the enemies with inuocation, and prayer.
  27. 2 Maccabees 15:27 So that fighting with their hands, and praying vnto God with their hearts, they slew no lesse then thirty and fiue thousand men: for through the appearance of God, they were greatly cheered.
  28. 2 Maccabees 15:28 Now when the battell was done, returning againe with ioy, they knew that Nicanor lay dead in his harnesse.
  29. 2 Maccabees 15:29 Then they made a great shout, and a noise, praising the Almighty in their owne language:
  30. 2 Maccabees 15:30 And Iudas, who was euer the chiefe defender of the citizens both in body, and minde, and who continued his loue towards his countrymen all his life, commanded to strike off Nicanors head, and his hand, with his shoulder, & bring them to Ierusalem.
  31. 2 Maccabees 15:31 So when he was there, and had called them of his nation together, and set the priests before the altar, he sent for them that were of the Towre,
  32. 2 Maccabees 15:32 And shewed them vile Nicanors head, and the hand of that blasphemer, which with proud brags he had stretched out against the holy Temple of the Almightie.
  33. 2 Maccabees 15:33 And when he had cut out the tongue of that vngodly Nicanor, he commanded that they should giue it by pieces vnto the foules, and hang vp the reward of his madnesse before the Temple.
  34. 2 Maccabees 15:34 So euery man praised towards the heauen the glorious Lord, saying, Blessed be hee that hath kept his owne place vndefiled.
  35. 2 Maccabees 15:35 He hanged also Nicanors head vpon the Towre, an euident, and manifest signe vnto all, of the helpe of the Lord.
  36. 2 Maccabees 15:36 And they ordained all with a common decree, in no case to let that day passe without solemnitie: but to celebrate the thirteenth day of the twelfth moneth, which in the Syrian tongue is called Adar, the day before Mardocheus day.
  37. 2 Maccabees 15:37 Thus went it with Nicanor, and from that time forth, the Hebrewes had the citie in their power: and heere will I make an end.
  38. 2 Maccabees 15:38 And if I haue done well, and as is fitting the story, it is that which I desired: but if slenderly, and meanly, it is that which I could attaine vnto.
  39. 2 Maccabees 15:39 For as it is hurtfull to drinke wine, or water alone; & as wine mingled with water is pleasant, and delighteth the tast: euen so speech finely framed, delighteth the eares of them that read the storie. And heere shall be an end.