1 Maccabees

1 Maccabees is a book written in Hebrew in the latter part of the 2nd century BC. The original Hebrew is lost and the most important surviving version is the Greek translation contained in the Septuagint.

Quotes

 * In those days certain renegades came out from Israel and misled many, saying, “Let us go and make a covenant with the Gentiles around us." ... They joined with the Gentiles and sold themselves to do evil.
 * 1:11,15 NRSV


 * Even if all the nations that live under the rule of the king obey him, and have chosen to obey his commandments, every one of them abandoning the religion of their ancestors, I and my sons and my brothers will continue to live by the covenant of our ancestors. Far be it from us to desert the law and the ordinances. We will not obey the king’s words by turning aside from our religion.
 * Mattathias, 2:19-22 NRSV


 * Do not fear the words of sinners, for their splendor will turn into dung and worms. Today they will be exalted, but tomorrow they will not be found, because they will have returned to the dust, and their plans will have perished.
 * Mattathias, 2:62-63 NRSV