3 Maccabees 6:31-33

Revised Standard Version

³¹ Accordingly those disgracefully treated and near to death,^[a] or rather, who stood at its gates, arranged for a banquet of deliverance instead of a bitter and lamentable death, and full of joy they apportioned to celebrants the place which had been prepared for their destruction and burial. ³² They ceased their chanting of dirges and took up the song of their fathers, praising God, their Savior and worker of wonders.^[b] Putting an end to all mourning and wailing, they formed choruses^[c] as a sign of peaceful joy. ³³ Likewise also the king, after convening a great banquet to celebrate these events, gave thanks to heaven unceasingly and lavishly for the unexpected rescue which he^[d] had experienced.