1 Maccabees 2:18-20

New Catholic Bible

¹⁸ Now be the first to come forward and obey the decree of the king, as all the Gentiles have done, as well as the citizens of Judah and the people who remain in Jerusalem. Then you and your sons will be counted among the Friends of the King,^[a] and you and your sons will be honored with gold and silver and many other gifts.”

¹⁹ However, Mattathias responded in a loud voice: “Even if every nation in the king’s dominions obeys him, each one forsaking the religion of its fathers and agreeing to submit to the king’s commands, ²⁰ I and my sons and my brothers will continue to observe the covenant of our fathers.