32
But the priests declared under oath that they had no idea where Judas was hiding.
33
Then Nicanor raised his right arm in the direction of the Temple and made a solemn threat: "If you do not hand Judas over to me as a prisoner, I will level God's Temple to the ground, demolish this altar, and on this spot build a glorious temple to Dionysus."
34
Then he left, and immediately the priests lifted their arms toward heaven and prayed to God, the faithful Defender of our nation:
35
"Lord, you are in need of nothing, yet it has pleased you to place your Temple here and to live among us.
36
You alone are holy, and your Temple has only recently been purified, so now protect its holiness forever."
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.