---
title: "2 Maccabees 15 – Catholic Bible (CPDV) & Latin Vulgate"
url: https://blessbible.app/bible/2-maccabees/15/
description: "Judas encouraged by a vision gains a glorious victory over Nicanor. The… 2 Maccabees 15 in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin Vulgate."
---

# 2 Maccabees 15

2 Maccabees 15 is chapter 15 of 15 in the Second Book of Maccabees. Here are all 40 verses in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin of the Clementine Vulgate beside them.

> Judas encouraged by a vision gains a glorious victory over Nicanor. The conclusion.
>
> — Bp. Richard Challoner, chapter summary

## 2 Maccabees 15 (Catholic Public Domain Version)

1. But when Nicanor discovered Judas to be in the places of Samaria, he decided to meet him in warfare with all violence, on the Sabbath day.
2. In truth, the Jews who followed him out of necessity were saying: “Do not act so fiercely and barbarously, but give honor to the day of sanctification and reverence to him who beholds all things.”
3. That unhappy man asked, “Is there a powerful One in heaven, who commanded the day of the Sabbath to be kept.”
4. And they responded to him, “There is the living Lord himself in heaven, the powerful One, who ordered the seventh day to be kept.”
5. And so he said: “I also am powerful upon the earth, so I command arms to be taken up and the king’s plans to be fulfilled.” Nevertheless, he did not succeed in accomplishing his plan.
6. And Nicanor, being certainly lifted up with the greatest arrogance, had decided to establish a public monument of his victory over Judas.
7. But Maccabeus, as always, trusted with all hope that God would be present to help them.
8. And he exhorted his own not to fear the arrival of the nations, but to keep in mind the assistance they had received before from heaven, and now to hope for a future victory from the Almighty.
9. And speaking to them from the law and the prophets, reminding them even of the conflicts they had fought before, he made them more willing.
10. And so, having raised up their courage, at the same time he revealed the deceitful plan of the Gentiles and their betrayal of the oaths.
11. Then he armed every one of them, not with the weapons of shield and spear, but with the best speeches and exhortations; and he explained to them a dream, worthy to be believed, in which he rejoiced with them all.
12. Now the vision was in this manner: Onias, who had been high priest, a good and kind man, modest in appearance, gentle in manners, and noble in speech, and who from boyhood was trained in the virtues, extending his hands, prayed on behalf of all the people of the Jews.
13. After this, there appeared also another man, admirable in age and glory, and with a bearing of great dignity about him.
14. In truth, Onias responded by saying: “This one loves his brothers and the people of Israel. This is he who prays greatly for the people and for all the holy city: Jeremiah, the prophet of God.”
15. Then Jeremiah extended his right hand, and he gave to Judas a sword of gold, saying:
16. “Receive this holy sword as a gift from God, with it you shall cast down the adversaries of my people Israel.”
17. And so, having been exhorted by the very good words of Judas, by which the readiness and courage of the young men were able to be raised and strengthened, they resolved to strive and to contend with fortitude, so that virtue would judge the matter, because the holy city and the temple were in peril.
18. For their concern was less for their wives and sons, and likewise less for their brothers and relatives; in truth, their greatest and first fear was for the sanctity of the temple.
19. But those also who were in the city had no small concern for those who had gathered together.
20. And, when all now hoped that judgment would soon occur, and when the enemies were near, and the army was set in order, with the beasts and the horsemen positioned in strategic places,
21. Maccabeus, considering the arrival of the multitude, and the various preparations of weapons, and the fierceness of the beasts, extending his hands to heaven, called upon the Lord, who works miracles, who gives victory to those who are worthy, not according to the power of the weapons, but just as it pleases him.
22. Then, calling out in this way, he said: “You, O Lord, who sent your Angel under Hezekiah, king of Judah, and who killed one hundred and eighty-five thousand from the camp of Sennacherib,
23. now also, O Ruler of the heavens, send your good Angel before us, who are in fear and trembling at the greatness of your arm,
24. so that those who approach against your holy people with blasphemy may be afraid.” And in this way, indeed, he concluded his prayer.
25. But Nicanor, and those who were with him, advanced with trumpets and songs.
26. In truth, Judas, and those who were with him, calling upon God through prayers, came together against them.
27. Indeed, fighting with their hands, but praying to the Lord with their hearts, they struck down no less than thirty-five thousand, being delighted by the presence of God.
28. And when they had ceased and were returning with gladness, they realized, by his armor, that Nicanor had been slain.
29. And so, making a loud noise and inciting a disturbance, they blessed the Almighty Lord in the language of the fathers.
30. But Judas, who was prepared throughout all his body and soul to die for his citizens, instructed that Nicanor’s head, and his hand with the arm, should be cut off and carried through to Jerusalem.
31. When it arrived, having called together his fellow tribesmen, and the priests to the altar, he summoned those also who were in the stronghold.
32. And he displayed the head of Nicanor, and his nefarious hand, which he had extended against the holy house of Almighty God with magnificent boasting.
33. He even ordered now that the tongue of the impious Nicanor should be cut up and given in pieces to the birds, but that the hand of this demented man should be suspended opposite the temple.
34. Therefore, they all blessed the Lord of heaven, saying, “Blessed is he who has kept his own place uncontaminated.”
35. Then he suspended Nicanor’s head at the top of the stronghold, so that it would be an evident and manifest sign of the assistance of God.
36. And so, they all decreed by common counsel in no way to let this day pass without celebration,
37. but to hold a celebration on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, which was called in the Syrian language: the day before Mardochias’ day.
38. Therefore, these things were accomplished concerning Nicanor, and from that time the city was possessed by the Hebrews. And so, I will bring an end to my narration here.
39. And, indeed, if I have done well, so as to have made an adequate history, this also is what I wanted. But if it is less than worthy, may it be permitted me.
40. For, just as it is adverse to drink always wine, or always water, so also it is pleasant to use sometimes the one, and sometimes the other. So, if the words were always exact, it would not be pleasing to the readers. Therefore, here it shall be completed.

## 2 Maccabees 15 in Latin (Clementine Vulgate, 1592)

1. Nicanor autem, ut comperit Judam esse in locis Samariæ, cogitavit cum omni impetu die sabbati committere bellum.
2. Judæis vero qui illum per necessitatem sequebantur, dicentibus: Ne ita ferociter et barbare feceris, sed honorem tribue diei sanctificationis, et honora eum qui universa conspicit:
3. ille infelix interrogavit si est potens in cælo, qui imperavit agi diem sabbatorum.
4. Et respondentibus illis: Est Dominus vivus ipse in cælo potens, qui jussit agi septimam diem:
5. at ille ait: Et ego potens sum super terram qui impero sumi arma, et negotia regis impleri. Tamen non obtinuit ut consilium perficeret.
6. Et Nicanor quidem cum summa superbia erectus, cogitaverat commune trophæum statuere de Juda.
7. Machabæus autem semper confidebat cum omni spe auxilium sibi a Deo affuturum:
8. et hortabatur suos ne formidarent ad adventum nationum, sed in mente haberent adjutoria sibi facta de cælo, et nunc sperarent ab Omnipotente sibi affuturam victoriam.
9. Et allocutus eos de lege et prophetis, admonens etiam certamina quæ fecerant prius, promptiores constituit eos:
10. et ita animis eorum erectis simul ostendebat gentium fallaciam, et juramentorum prævaricationem.
11. Singulos autem illorum armavit, non clypei et hastæ munitione, sed sermonibus optimis et exhortationibus, exposito digno fide somnio, per quod universos lætificavit.
12. Erat autem hujuscemodi visus: Oniam, qui fuerat summus sacerdos, virum bonum et benignum, verecundum visu, modestum moribus, et eloquio decorum, et qui a puero in virtutibus exercitatus sit, manus protendentem orare pro omni populo Judæorum.
13. Post hoc apparuisse et alium virum ætate et gloria mirabilem, et magni decoris habitudine circa illum.
14. Respondentem vero Oniam dixisse: Hic est fratrum amator, et populi Israël: hic est qui multum orat pro populo et universa sancta civitate, Jeremias propheta Dei.
15. Extendisse autem Jeremiam dextram, et dedisse Judæ gladium aureum, dicentem:
16. Accipe sanctum gladium munus a Deo, in quo dejicies adversarios populi mei Israël.
17. Exhortati itaque Judæ sermonibus bonis valde, de quibus extolli posset impetus, et animi juvenum confortari, statuerunt dimicare et confligere fortiter: ut virtus de negotiis judicaret, eo quod civitas sancta et templum periclitarentur.
18. Erat enim pro uxoribus et filiis, itemque pro fratribus et cognatis, minor sollicitudo: maximus vero et primus pro sanctitate timor erat templi.
19. Sed et eos qui in civitate erant, non minima sollicitudo habebat pro his qui congressuri erant.
20. Et cum jam omnes sperarent judicium futurum, hostesque adessent atque exercitus esset ordinatus, bestiæ equitesque opportuno in loco compositi,
21. considerans Machabæus adventum multitudinis, et apparatum varium armorum, et ferocitatem bestiarum, extendens manus in cælum, prodigia facientem Dominum invocavit, qui non secundum armorum potentiam, sed prout ipsi placet, dat dignis victoriam.
22. Dixit autem invocans hoc modo: Tu Domine, qui misisti angelum tuum sub Ezechia rege Juda, et interfecisti de castris Sennacherib centum octoginta quinque millia:
23. et nunc, dominator cælorum, mitte angelum tuum bonum ante nos in timore et tremore magnitudinis brachii tui,
24. ut metuant qui cum blasphemia veniunt adversus sanctum populum tuum. Et hic quidem ita peroravit.
25. Nicanor autem et qui cum ipso erant, cum tubis et canticis admovebant.
26. Judas vero et qui cum eo erant, invocato Deo, per orationes congressi sunt:
27. manu quidem pugnantes, sed Dominum cordibus orantes, prostraverunt non minus triginta quinque millia, præsentia Dei magnifice delectati.
28. Cumque cessassent, et cum gaudio redirent, cognoverunt Nicanorem ruisse cum armis suis.
29. Facto itaque clamore, et perturbatione excitata, patria voce omnipotentem Dominum benedicebant.
30. Præcepit autem Judas, qui per omnia corpore et animo mori pro civibus paratus erat, caput Nicanoris, et manum cum humero abscissam, Jerosolymam perferri.
31. Quo cum pervenisset, convocatis contribulibus et sacerdotibus ad altare, accersiit et eos qui in arce erant.
32. Et ostenso capite Nicanoris, et manu nefaria quam extendens contra domum sanctam omnipotentis Dei magnifice gloriatus est.
33. Linguam etiam impii Nicanoris præcisam jussit particulatim avibus dari: manum autem dementis contra templum suspendi.
34. Omnes igitur cæli benedixerunt Dominum, dicentes: Benedictus qui locum suum incontaminatum servavit.
35. Suspendit autem Nicanoris caput in summa arce, ut evidens esset, et manifestum signum auxilii Dei.
36. Itaque omnes communi consilio decreverunt nullo modo diem istum absque celebritate præterire:
37. habere autem celebritatem tertiadecima die mensis Adar, quod dicitur voce syriaca, pridie Mardochæi diei.
38. Igitur his erga Nicanorem gestis, et ex illis temporibus ab Hebræis civitate possessa, ego quoque in his faciam finem sermonis.
39. Et si quidem bene, et ut historiæ competit, hoc et ipse velim: sin autem minus digne, concedendum est mihi.
40. Sicut enim vinum semper bibere, aut semper aquam, contrarium est; alternis autem uti, delectabile: ita legentibus si semper exactus sit sermo, non erit gratus. Hic ergo erit consummatus.

## Bishop Challoner's notes

Bp. Richard Challoner, notes on the Douay-Rheims (1750); they comment on its older wording.
- Verse 39: This is not said with regard to the truth of the narration; but with regard to the style and manner of writing: which in the sacred penmen is not always the most accurate. See St. Paul, 2 Cor. 11. 6.

Source: Catholic Public Domain Version (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain; Latin: Clementine Vulgate (1592).