Page:KJV 1772 Oxford Edition, vol. 2.djvu/200

Apocrypha. ch'rist mu^itu^e» ana* tne divers preparations of ,6i. armour, and the fierceness of the beasts, or. stretched out his hands toward heaven, and called upon the Lord that worketh wonders, knowing that victory cometh not by arms, but even as it feemeth good to him, he giveth it to such as are worthy :

22 Therefore in his prayer he said aster this manner; O Lord, 1 thou didst fend ch*»' V" ^ine angel in the time of Ezekias king of ' I9' Judea, and didst slay in the host of Sen nacherib an hundred fourscore and five thousand :

23 Wherefore now also, O Lord of hea ven, send a good angel before us for a fear and dread unto them ;

2A. And through the might of thine arm let those be stricken with terror, that come against thy holy people to blaspheme. And he ended thus.

25 Then Nicanor and they that were with him came forward with trumpets and songs.

26 But Judas and his company encoun tered the enemies with invocation and prayer.

27 So that fighting with their hands, and praying unto God with their hearts, they flew no less than thirty and five thousand men : for through the appearance of God they were greatly cheered.

28 Now when the battle was done, re turning again with joy, they knew that Nicanor lay dead in his harness.

29 Then they made a great shout and a noise, praising the Almighty in their own language.

30 And "Judas, who was ever the chief defender of the citizens both in body and mind, and who continued his love toward his countrymen all his life, commanded to strike off Nicanor*s head, and his hand with his moulder, and bring them to Je- ch- 161. rusalem.

31 So when he was there, and had called 47' them of his nation together, and set the priests before the altar, he sent for them that were of the tower,

32 And shewed themvileNicanor's head, and the hand of that blasphemer, d which with proud brags he had stretched out against the holy temple of the Almighty.

33 And when he had cut out the tongue of that ungodly Nicanor, he commanded that they mould give it by pieces unto the fowls, and hang up the reward of his mad ness before the temple.

34 So every man praised toward the hea ven the glorious Lord, saying, Blessed be he that hath kept his own place undefiled.

35 He hanged also Nicanor's head upon the tower, an evident and manifest sign unto all of the help of the Lord.

36 And e they ordained all with a com- e » Mjc- mon decree in no case to let that day pass 7' 49' without solemnity, but to celebrate the thirteenth day of the twelfth month,which in theSyrian tongue is called Adar, the day before Mardocheus' day. farther

37 Thuswentit withNicanor: and from 9- »?. *»• that time forth the Hebrews had the city in their power. And here will I make an end.

38 And if I have done well, and as is fit ting the story, it is that which I desired : but if slenderly and meanly, it is that which I could attain unto.

39 For as it is hurtful to drink wine or water alone j and as wine mingled with water is pleasant, and delighteth the taste : even so speech finely framed delighteth the ears of them that read the story. And here shall be an end.