2 Maccabees 6:7-9

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

⁷ But they were led by bitter constraint on the king's birthday to the sacrifices: and when the feast of Bacchus was kept, they were compelled to go about crowned with ivy in honour of Bacchus.

⁸ And there went out a decree into the neighbouring cities of the Gentiles, by the suggestion of the Ptolemeans, that they also should act in like manner against the Jews, to oblige them to sacrifice:

⁹ And whosoever would not conform themselves to the ways of the Gentiles, should be put to death: then was misery to be seen.