The King James Version Bible

1 Maccabees 1:37-44

  1. Thus they shed innocent blood on every side of the sanctuary, and defiled it:

  2. Insomuch that the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled because of them: whereupon the city was made an habitation of strangers, and became strange to those that were born in her; and her own children left her.

  3. Her sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness, her feasts were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into reproach her honour into contempt.

  4. As had been her glory, so was her dishonour increased, and her excellency was turned into mourning.

  5. Moreover king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all should be one people,

  6. And every one should leave his laws: so all the heathen agreed according to the commandment of the king.

  7. Yea, many also of the Israelites consented to his religion, and sacrificed unto idols, and profaned the sabbath.

  8. For the king had sent letters by messengers unto Jerusalem and the cities of Juda that they should follow the strange laws of the land,