33. and he swore, saying: "Unless you deliver Judas to me in chains, I will reduce this shrine of God to the ground, and I will dig up the altar, and I will consecrate this temple to Liber the father."
34. And having said this, he departed. But the priests, extending their hands toward heaven, called upon him who had always fought for his people, saying this:
35. "O Lord of the universe, who needs nothing, you willed that the temple of your dwelling should be with us.
36. And now, O Lord, Holy of all holies, preserve unpolluted, until eternity, this house, which was recently made clean."
37. Then Razias, a certain one of the elders from Jerusalem, was brought before Nicanor; the man was of good reputation, and was one who loved the city. For his affection, he was called the father of the Jews.
38. This one, for a long time, held on to his purpose of continuing in Judaism, and he was content to hand over body and life, so that he might persevere in it.
39. Then Nicanor, being willing to manifest the hatred that he held for the Jews, sent five hundred soldiers to apprehend him.
40. For he thought, if he mistreated him, it would bring great disaster upon the Jews.
41. Now, as the group sought to rush into his house, and to break open the door, and wanting even to bring in fire, as he was about to be apprehended, he struck himself with the sword:
42. choosing to prefer to die nobly rather than to become subject to sinners, or to suffer unworthy injustices against his birth.