18
Now therefore come thou first and fulfill the king's commandment, as all the heathen have done, yea, and the men of Judah also and such as remain at Jerusalem. So shalt thou and thy house be in the number of the king's friends, and thou and thy children shall be honored with silver and gold and many rewards."
19
Then Mattathias answered and spoke with a loud voice: "Though all the nations that are under the king's dominion obey him, and fall away every one from the religion of their fathers, and give consent to his commandments,
20
yet will I and my sons and my brethren walk in the covenant of our fathers.
21
God forbid that we should forsake the law and the ordinances.
22
We will not hearken to the king's words, to go from our religion either on the right hand or the left."
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.