2 Maccabees 8:1–7

^aThen ^bJudas Maccabeus, and they that were with him, went privily into the towns, and called their kinsfolks together, and took unto them all such as continued in the Jews’ religion, and assembled about six thousand men. ²And they called upon the Lord, that he would look upon the people that was trodden down of all; and also pity ^cthe temple profaned of ungodly men; ³and that he would have compassion upon ^cthe city, sore defaced, and ready to be made even with the ground; ^dand hear ^ethe blood that cried unto him, ⁴and remember the wicked slaughter ^fof harmless infants, and the blasphemies committed against his name; and that he would shew his hatred against the wicked. ⁵Now when Maccabeus had his company about him, he could not be withstood by the heathen: for ^gthe wrath of the Lord was turned into mercy. ⁶Therefore he came at unawares, and burnt up towns and cities, and got into his hands ^ggthe most commodious places, and overcame and put to flight no small number of his enemies. ⁷But specially took he advantage of the night for such privy attempts, insomuch that the ^hbruit of his manliness was spread every where.