4
When they declared, "It is the living Lord himself, the Sovereign in heaven, who ordered us to observe the seventh day,"
5
he replied, "But I am a sovereign also, on earth, and I command you to take up arms and finish the king's business." Nevertheless, he did not succeed in carrying out his abominable design.
6
This Nicanor in his utter boastfulness and arrogance had determined to erect a public monument of victory over Judas and his forces.
7
But Maccabeus did not cease to trust with all confidence that he would get help from the Lord.
8
He exhorted his troops not to fear the attack of the Gentiles, but to keep in mind the former times when help had come to them from heaven, and so to look for the victory that the Almighty would give them.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.