1. In those days, there rose up Mattathias, the son of John, the son of Simeon, a priest of the sons of Joarib from Jerusalem, and he settled on the mountain of Modin.
2. And he had five sons: John, who was surnamed Gaddi,
3. and Simon, who was surnamed Thassi,
4. and Judas, who was called Maccabeus,
5. and Eleazar, who was surnamed Avaran, and Jonathan, who was surnamed Apphus.
6. These saw the evils that were done among the people of Judah and in Jerusalem.
7. And Mattathias said: "Woe to me, for why was I born to see the grief of my people and the grief of the holy city, and to sit there, while it is given into the hands of the enemies?
8. The holy places have fallen into the hands of outsiders. Her temple is like a man without honor.
9. The vessels of her glory have been taken away captive. Her old men have been butchered in the streets, and her young men have fallen by the sword of the enemies.
10. What nation has not inherited her kingdom and taken from her spoils?
11. All her beauty has been taken away. She who was free, has become a slave.
12. And behold, our sanctuary, and our beauty, and our splendor has been desolated, and the Gentiles have defiled them.
13. Therefore, what is it to us that we still live?"
14. And Mattathias and his sons tore their garments, and they covered themselves with haircloth, and they lamented greatly.