44 And they gathered an army, and slew the sinners in their wrath, and the wicked men in their indignation: and the rest fled to the nations for safety.
45 And Mathathias and his friends went round about, and they threw down the altars:
46 And they circumcised all the children whom they found in the confines of Israel that were uncircumcised: and they did valiantly.
47 And they pursued after the children of pride, and the work prospered in their hands:
48 And they recovered the law out of the hands of the nations, and out of the hands of the kings: and they yielded not the horn to the sinner.
49 Now the days drew near that Mathathias should die, and he said to his sons: Now hath pride and chastisement gotten strength, and the time of destruction, and the wrath of indignation:
50 Now therefore, O my sons, be ye zealous for the law, and give your lives for the covenant of your fathers.