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.
49 Then the days drew near when Mattathias would die, and he said to his sons: "Now arrogance and chastisement have been strengthened, and it is a time of overturning and of the wrath of indignation.
50 Now therefore, O sons, be imitators of the law, and give your lives for the sake of the covenant of your fathers.