38
There they found the Temple abandoned, the altar profaned, the gates burned down, the courtyards grown up in a forest of weeds, and the priests' rooms torn down.
36
Judas and his brothers said, "Now that our enemies have been defeated, let's go to Jerusalem to purify the Temple and rededicate it."
37
So the whole army was assembled and went up to Mount Zion.
38
There they found the Temple abandoned, the altar profaned, the gates burned down, the courtyards grown up in a forest of weeds, and the priests' rooms torn down.
39
In their sorrow, they tore their clothes, cried loudly, threw ashes on their heads,
40
and fell face down on the ground. When the signal was given on the trumpets, everyone cried out to the Lord.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.