45
And Mattathias and his friends went about and tore down the altars;
46
they forcibly circumcised all the uncircumcised boys that they found within the borders of Israel.
47
They hunted down the arrogant men, and the work prospered in their hands.
48
They rescued the law out of the hands of the Gentiles and kings, and they never let the sinner gain the upper hand.
49
Now the days drew near for Mattathias to die, and he said to his sons: "Arrogance and reproach have now become strong; it is a time of ruin and furious anger.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.