2 Maccabees 15:14-17

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

¹⁴ Then Onias answering, said: This is a lover of his brethren, and of the people of Israel: this is he that prayeth much for the people, and for all the holy city, Jeremias the prophet of God.

¹⁵ Whereupon Jeremias stretched forth his right hand, and gave to Judas a sword of gold, saying:

¹⁶ Take this holy sword a gift from God, wherewith thou shalt overthrow the adversaries of my people Israel.

¹⁷ Thus being exhorted with the words of Judas, which were very good, and proper to stir up the courage, and strengthen the hearts of the young men, they resolved to fight, and to set upon them manfully: that valour might decide the matter, because the holy city and the temple were in danger.