2 Maccabees 15:20-22

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

The Defeat and Death of Nicanor

²⁰ When all were now looking forward to the coming decision, and the enemy was already close at hand with their army drawn up for battle, the elephants strategically stationed and the cavalry deployed on the flanks, ²¹ Maccabe′us, perceiving the hosts that were before him and the varied supply of arms and the savagery of the elephants,^[a] stretched out his hands toward heaven and called upon the Lord who works wonders; for he knew that it is not by arms, but as the Lord^[b] decides, that he gains the victory for those who deserve it. ²² And he called upon him in these words: “O Lord, thou didst send thy angel in the time of Hezeki′ah king of Judea, and he slew fully a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the camp of Sennach′erib.