1 Maccabees 3:1–9

¹Then Judas his son, who was called Maccabeus, took command in his place. ²All 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 girded on his armor of war and waged battles,

protecting the host by his sword.

⁴He was like a lion in his deeds,

like a lion’s cub roaring for prey.

⁵He searched out and pursued the lawless;

he burned those who troubled his people.

⁶Lawless men 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 for ever.

⁸He went through the cities of Judah;

he destroyed the ungodly out of the land;

thus he turned away wrath from Israel.

⁹He was renowned to the ends of the earth;

he gathered in those who were perishing.