1 Meanwhile, Judas Maccabeus and his followers were going secretly through our towns and villages, gathering a force of about 6,000 faithful Jews.
2 Afterwards, they prayed:Our Lord, we've been horribly abused by everyone! Please have pity on us and on your temple that these godless foreigners have made unfit for worship.
3 Rescue Jerusalem from those enemies who have left it in ruins.Take revenge on those murderers!
4 Punish them for slaughtering innocent children and insulting you. Show how much you hate evil.
5 After Judas and his troops were ready for battle, the Lord's anger toward his people turned to mercy, and the foreigners did not stand a chance.
6 Judas burned towns and villages without warning; he captured fortresses and forced their troops to run for their lives.