The Bible, Douay Rheims, Book 46: 2 Machabees
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Unknown >> The Bible, Douay Rheims, Book 46: 2 Machabees
15:22. And in his prayer he said after this manner: Thou, O Lord, who
didst send thy angel in the time of Ezechias, king of Juda, and didst
kill a hundred and eighty-five thousand of the army of Sennacherib:
15:23. Send now also, O Lord of heaven, thy good angel before us, for
the fear and dread of the greatness of thy arm,
15:24. That they may be afraid, who come with blasphemy against thy holy
people. And thus he concluded his prayer.
15:25. But Nicanor, and they that were with him came forward, with
trumpets and songs.
15:26. But Judas, and they that were with him, encountered them, calling
upon God by prayers:
15:27. So fighting with their hands, but praying to the Lord with their
hearts, they slew no less than five and thirty thousand, being greatly
cheered with the presence of God.
15:28. And when the battle was over, and they were returning with joy,
they understood that Nicanor was slain in his armour.
15:29. Then making a shout, and a great noise, they blessed the Almighty
Lord in their own language.
15:30. And Judas, who was altogether ready, in body and mind, to die for
his countrymen, commanded that Nicanor's head, and his hand, with the
shoulder, should be cut off, and carried to Jerusalem.
15:31. And when he was come thither, having called together his
countrymen, and the priests to the altar, he sent also for them that
were in the castle,
15:32. And shewing them the head of Nicanor, and the wicked hand, which
he had stretched out, with proud boasts, against the holy house of the
Almighty God,
15:33. He commanded also, that the tongue of the wicked Nicanor should
be cut out, and given by pieces to birds, and the hand of the furious
man to be hanged up over against the temple.
15:34. Then all blessed the Lord of heaven, saying: Blessed be he that
hath kept his own place undefiled.
15:35. And he hung up Nicanor's head in the top of the castle, that it
might be an evident and manifest sign of the help of God.
15:36. And they all ordained by a common decree, by no means to let this
day pass without solemnity:
15:37. But to celebrate the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, called
in the Syrian language, the day before Mardochias' day.
15:38. So these things being done with relation to Nicanor, and from
that time the city being possessed by the Hebrews, I also will here make
an end of my narration.
15:39. Which if I have done well, and as it becometh the history, it is
what I desired: but if not so perfectly, it must be pardoned me.
If not so perfectly, etc... This is not said with regard to the truth of
the narration; but with regard to the style and manner of writing: which
in the sacred penmen is not always the most accurate. See St. Paul, 2
Cor. 11.6.
15:40. For as it is hurtful to drink always wine, or always water, but
pleasant to use sometimes the one, and sometimes the other: so if the
speech be always nicely framed, it will not be grateful to the readers.
But here it shall be ended.
