Dedication of the basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

15And they that were sent from king Antiochus came thither, to compel them that were fled into the city of Modin, to sacrifice, and to burn incense, and to depart from the law of God. 16And many of the people of Israel consented, and came to them: but Mathathias and his sons stood firm. 17And they that were sent from Antiochus, answering, said to Mathathias: Thou art a ruler, and an honourable, and great man in this city, and adorned with sons, and brethren. 18Therefore come thou first, and obey the king's commandment, as all nations have done, and the men of Juda, and they that remain in Jerusalem: and thou, and thy sons, shall be in the number of the king's friends, and enriched with gold, and silver, and many presents. 19Then Mathathias answered, and said with a loud voice: Although all nations obey king Antiochus, so as to depart every man from the service of the law of his fathers, and consent to his commandments: 20I and my sons, and my brethren will obey the law of our fathers. 21God be merciful unto us: it is not profitable for us to forsake the law, and the justices of God: 22We will not hearken to the words of king Antiochus, neither will we sacrifice, and transgress the commandments of our law, to go another way. 23Now as he left off speaking these words, there came a certain Jew in the sight of all to sacrifice to the idols upon the altar in the city of Modin, according to the king's commandment. 24And Mathathias saw and was grieved, and his reins trembled, and his wrath was kindled according to the judgment of the law, and running upon him he slew him upon the altar: 25Moreover the man whom king Antiochus had sent, who compelled them to sacrifice, he slew at the same time, and pulled down the altar. 26And shewed zeal for the law, as Phinees did by Zamri the son of Salomi. 27And Mathathias cried out in the city with a loud voice, saying: Every one that hath zeal for the law, and maintaineth the testament, let him follow me. 28So he, and his sons fled into the mountains, and left all that they had in the city. 29Then many that sought after judgment, and justice, went down into the desert:

1A psalm for Asaph. The God of gods, the Lord hath spoken: and he hath called the earth. From the rising of the sun, to the going down thereof:

2Out of Sion the loveliness of his beauty.

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5Gather ye together his saints to him: who set his covenant before sacrifices.

6And the heavens shall declare his justice: for God is judge.

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14Offer to God the sacrifice of praise: and pay thy vows to the most High.

15And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

41And when he drew near, seeing the city, he wept over it, saying: 42If thou also hadst known, and that in this thy day, the things that are to thy peace; but now they are hidden from thy eyes. 43For the days shall come upon thee, and thy enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and straiten thee on every side, 44And beat thee flat to the ground, and thy children who are in thee: and they shall not leave in thee a stone upon a stone: because thou hast not known the time of thy visitation.