, called upon the Lord, that worketh wonders, who
giveth victory to them that are worthy, not according to the power of
their arms, but according as it seemeth good to him.

15:22. And in his prayer he said after this manner: Thou, O Lord, who
didst send thy angel in the time of Ezechias, king of Juda, and didst
kill a hundred and eighty-five thousand of the army of Sennacherib:

15:23. Send now also, O Lord of heaven, thy good angel before us, for
the fear and dread of the greatness of thy arm,

15:24. That they may be afraid, who come with blasphemy against thy holy
people. And thus he concluded his prayer.

15:25. But Nicanor, and they that were with him came forward, with
trumpets and songs.

15:26. But Judas, and they that were with him, encountered them, calling
upon God by prayers:

15:27. So fighting with their hands, but praying to the Lord with their
hearts, they slew no less than five and thirty thousand, being greatly
cheered with the presence of God.

15:28. And when the battle was over, and they were returning with joy,
they understood that Nicanor was slain in his armour.

15:29. Then making a shout, and a great noise, they blessed the Almighty
Lord in their own language.

15:30. And Judas, who was altogether ready, in body and mind, to die for
his countrymen, commanded that Nicanor's head, and his hand, with the
shoulder, should be cut off, and carried to Jerusalem.

15:31. And when he was come thither, having called together his
countrymen, and the priests to the altar, he sent also for them that
were in the castle,

15:32. And shewing them the head of Nicanor, and the wicked hand, which
he had stretched out, with proud boasts, against the holy house of the
Almighty God,

15:33. He commanded also, that the tongue of the wicked Nicanor should
be cut out, and given by pieces to birds, and the hand of the furious
man to be hanged up over against the temple.

15:34. Then all blessed the Lord of heaven, saying: Blessed be he that
hath kept his own place undefiled.

15:35. And he hung up Nicanor's head in the top of the castle, that it
might be an evident and manifest sign of the help of God.

15:36. And they all ordained by a common decree, by no means to let this
day pass without solemnity:

15:37. But to celebrate the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, called
in the Syrian language, the day before Mardochias' day.

15:38. So these things being done with relation to Nicanor, and from