2 Maccabees 13:11-13

New Catholic Bible

¹¹ since they were in danger of being deprived of their law, their country, and the holy temple, and not to allow them, just when they had begun to revive, to once again fall into the hands of the blasphemous Gentiles. ¹² When they had all joined in this petition and had implored the merciful Lord unceasingly for three days with weeping and fasting as they prostrated themselves, Judas encouraged them and ordered them to stand ready.

¹³ After consulting privately with the elders, he decided not to wait for the king’s army to invade Judea and take possession of the city, but to march forth and resolve matters with the help of God.