1 Maccabees 2:7

7 he said: "Why was I born to see these terrible things, the ruin of my people and of the holy city? Must I sit here helpless while the city is surrendered to enemies and the Temple falls into the hands of foreigners?

1 Maccabees 2:7 In-Context

5 Eleazar (also called Avaran), and Jonathan (also called Apphus).

6 When Mattathias saw all the sins that were being committed in Judea and Jerusalem,

7 he said: "Why was I born to see these terrible things, the ruin of my people and of the holy city? Must I sit here helpless while the city is surrendered to enemies and the Temple falls into the hands of foreigners?

8 The Temple is like someone without honor.

9 Its splendid furnishings have been carried away as loot. Our children have been killed in the streets, and our young men by the sword of the enemy.