4. And they responded to him, "There is the living Lord himself in heaven, the powerful One, who ordered the seventh day to be kept."
5. And so he said: "I also am powerful upon the earth, so I command arms to be taken up and the king's plans to be fulfilled." Nevertheless, he did not succeed in accomplishing his plan.
6. And Nicanor, being certainly lifted up with the greatest arrogance, had decided to establish a public monument of his victory over Judas.
7. But Maccabeus, as always, trusted with all hope that God would be present to help them.
8. And he exhorted his own not to fear the arrival of the nations, but to keep in mind the assistance they had received before from heaven, and now to hope for a future victory from the Almighty.
9. And speaking to them from the law and the prophets, reminding them even of the conflicts they had fought before, he made them more willing.
10. And so, having raised up their courage, at the same time he revealed the deceitful plan of the Gentiles and their betrayal of the oaths.
11. Then he armed every one of them, not with the weapons of shield and spear, but with the best speeches and exhortations; and he explained to them a dream, worthy to be believed, in which he rejoiced with them all.
12. Now the vision was in this manner: Onias, who had been high priest, a good and kind man, modest in appearance, gentle in manners, and noble in speech, and who from boyhood was trained in the virtues, extending his hands, prayed on behalf of all the people of the Jews.
13. After this, there appeared also another man, admirable in age and glory, and with a bearing of great dignity about him.
14. In truth, Onias responded by saying: "This one loves his brothers and the people of Israel. This is he who prays greatly for the people and for all the holy city: Jeremiah, the prophet of God."
15. Then Jeremiah extended his right hand, and he gave to Judas a sword of gold, saying:
16. "Receive this holy sword as a gift from God, with it you shall cast down the adversaries of my people Israel."
17. And so, having been exhorted by the very good words of Judas, by which the readiness and courage of the young men were able to be raised and strengthened, they resolved to strive and to contend with fortitude, so that virtue would judge the matter, because the holy city and the temple were in peril.