7. and he said, Woe is me! wherefore was I born to see the destruction of my people, and the destruction of the holy city, and to dwell there, when it was given into the hand of the enemy, the sanctuary into the hand of aliens?
8. Her temple is become as a man that was glorious:
9. her vessels of glory are carried away into captivity, her infants are slain in her streets, her young men with the sword of the enemy.
10. What nation has not inherited her palaces, and gotten possession of her spoils?
11. her adorning is all taken away; instead of a free woman she is become a bond woman:
12. and, behold, our holy things and our beauty and our glory are laid waste, and the Gentiles have profaned them.
13. Wherefore should we live any longer?
14. And Mattathias and his sons tore their clothes, and put on sackcloth, and mourned exceedingly.
15. And the king’s officers, that were enforcing the apostasy, came into the city Modin to sacrifice.
16. And many of Israel came to them, and Mattathias and his sons were gathered together.
17. And the king’s officers answered and spoke to Mattathias, saying, You are a ruler and an honorable and great man in this city, and strengthened with sons and brethren:
18. now therefore come you first and do the commandment of the king, as all the nations have done, and the men of Judah, and they that remain in Jerusalem: and you and your house shall be in the number of the king’s Friends, and you and your sons shall be honored with silver and gold and many gifts.
19. And Mattathias answered and said with a loud voice, If all the nations that are in the house of the king’s dominion hearken to him, to fall away each one from the worship of his fathers, and have made choice to follow his commandments,
20. yet will I and my sons and my brethren walk in the covenant of our fathers.
21. Heaven forbid that we should forsake the law and the ordinances.
22. We will not hearken to the king’s words, to go aside from our worship, on the right hand, or on the left.
23. And when he had left speaking these words, there came a Jew in the sight of all to sacrifice on the altar which was at Modin, according to the king’s commandment.
24. And Mattathias saw it, and his zeal was kindled, and his reins trembled, and he showed forth his wrath according to judgement, and ran, and killed him upon the altar.
25. And the king’s officer, who compelled men to sacrifice, he killed at that time, and pulled down the altar.