1 Maccabees 3:1–9

The Early Victories of Judas

³Then his son Judas, who was called Maccabeus, took command in his place.^{* 2}All his brothers and all who had joined his father helped him; they gladly fought for Israel.^*

³He extended the glory of his people.

Like a giant he put on his breastplate;

he bound on his armor of war and waged battles,

protecting the camp by his sword.

⁴He was like a lion in his deeds,

like a lion’s cub roaring for prey.^*

⁵He searched out and pursued those who broke the law;

he burned those who troubled his people.^*

⁶Lawbreakers shrank back for fear of him;

all the evildoers were confounded;

and deliverance prospered by his hand.^*

⁷He embittered many kings,

but he made Jacob glad by his deeds,

and his memory is blessed forever.

⁸He went through the cities of Judah;

he destroyed the ungodly out of the land;^h

thus he turned away wrath from Israel.^*

⁹He was renowned to the ends of the earth;

he gathered in those who were perishing.