1 Maccabees 3:42-44

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

⁴² Now Judas and his brothers saw that misfortunes had increased and that the forces were encamped in their territory. They also learned what the king had commanded to do to the people to cause their final destruction. ⁴³ But they said to one another, “Let us restore the ruins of our people, and fight for our people and the sanctuary.” ⁴⁴ So the congregation assembled to be ready for battle, and to pray and ask for mercy and compassion.