1 Maccabees 4:37-39

Common English Bible

³⁷ All the army gathered together and went up to Mount Zion. ³⁸ They found the sanctuary deserted, the altar treated with disrespect, and the gates burned. In the courts, bushes had sprung up like in an open field or on one of the mountains. They saw that the priests’ chambers were in ruins as well. ³⁹ So they tore their clothes and mourned with great sorrow. They sprinkled their heads with ashes