3. Simon, called Thassi;
4. Judas, called Maccabeus;
5. Eleazar, called Avaran; and Jonathan, called Apphus.
6. Mattathias saw the offensive actions against God that were taking place in Judah and Jerusalem.
7. He said:"Horrible! Why was I born to see this—the ruin of my people,the ruin of the holy city?Why was I born to live there when it was given over to the enemy,and when the sanctuarywas given over to strangers?
8. Her temple has becomelike a person stripped of honor.
9. Her glorious equipmenthas been taken away into exile.Her babies have been killedin her streets,her young peopleby the enemy’s sword.
10. Is there a nation that hasn’ttaken away some part of her majestyand seized upon her loot?
11. All her adornment has been taken away.She is no longer free,but is instead a slave.
12. Look! Our holy place, our beauty,and our glory have all been destroyed.The Gentiles have trampled them.
13. Why should we live any longer?"
14. Then Mattathias and his sons tore their clothes and put on mourning clothes, and they lamented.
15. At that time, the king’s officers were enforcing the decrees to give up Jewish practice. They came to the town of Modein to make its people offer pagan sacrifice.