43. And all those who fled from the evils added themselves to them, and they became a firmament to them.
44. And they gathered together an army, and they struck down the sinners in their wrath and the wicked men in their indignation. And the others fled to the nations, so as to escape.
45. And Mattathias and his friends traveled around, and they destroyed the altars.
46. And they circumcised all the uncircumcised boys, whom they found within the limits of Israel, and they acted with fortitude.
47. And they pursued the sons of arrogance, and the work was prosperous in their hands.
48. And they obtained the law from the hands of the Gentiles, and from the hands of the kings. And they did not surrender the horn to the sinner.