3 Maccabees 1:24-26

Common English Bible

²⁴ Now the crowd in front of the temple was occupied in praying, ²⁵ but the elders standing near the king tried in many ways to turn his arrogant mind from the scheme that he had conceived. ²⁶ But he, being made bold and ignoring all their arguments, began to make his approach, determined to carry out his plan.