This book is part of the canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, but is not recognized by Protestant, Catholic, or non-Ethiopian Eastern Orthodox traditions. It is one of the three books of Meqabyan (sometimes called the 'Ethiopian Maccabees'), which are distinct from the Maccabees books found in the Septuagint and Vulgate. Although it shares the name, it has no direct relation to the Jewish Maccabean revolt. The text presents parallels with Deuteronomistic themes: sin, punishment, repentance, and restoration, along with a strong emphasis on the resurrection of the dead.
II Meqabyan
Chapter 16
Thou - please think of what are on thy flesh - and thy feet and thy hands nails - and thy head hair - to them proceed quickly on the time thou cut them ~ know Resurrection by this - that thou have a reasonin - and that thou have religion and knowledge.
Thy feet and thy hands nails and thy head hair - thou say - "Where do these come from?" ~ aren't it JAH Who prepared it that them might proceed - that thou know arisin that shall be done on thy flesh that aren't on another flesh - that thou might know that thou will arise after thou dead?
Because thou misled persons while thou said - "There are no Resurrection of the dead ones" - on the time when dead ones arise thou will raceive thy hardship like unto thou worked sin and iniquity.
and as even what thou planted now won't remain refusin that it might grow - whether it be wheat or barley - thou will sight she up on the time the day arrived when thou raceive thy hardship.
and again - the plant thou planted won't say - "I-man won't grow" - and be it a fig wood or a grape vine - it fruit and it leaf won't be changed.
If thou plant grapes - it won't be changed that it might be a fig - and if thou plant figs - it won't be changed that it might be grapes - and if thou sow wheat it won't be changed that it might be barley.
All - in each of the seeds - in each of it kinds - each of the fruits - each of the woods - each of the leaves - each of the roots - send forth fruit havin raceived Pardon Dew blessin by what are found from JAH - yet if thou sow barley also it won't be changed that it might be wheat.
and all likewise - that a grave might produce flesh and soul - she shall produce persons like unto JAH sowed on she ~ the flesh and soul that JAH sowed shall arise bein Inited - yet persons who worked goodly Work won't be changed in persons who worked evil Work - and persons who worked evil Work also won't be changed in persons who worked goodly Work.
on the time the hour arrived when a drum are beaten - persons who dead shall arise by the Pardon Dew found from JAH ~ persons who worked goodly Work shall arise in Life Resurrection - and them reward are the Garden where are Feeling good joy that JAH prepared to kind persons - where are no tribulation nor disease - and that are clean ones lodgin where them won't again dead after this.
But persons who worked evil Work shall arise a Definite Judgemant arisin - and with Deeyablos who misled them...
and with him armies - demons who don't love that even one person might be saved from all 'Adam childran...
them shall descend toward Gehannem that were darkness edge - where are tooth grindin and mournin - where are no charity nor pardon - and where are no exits up til Eternity - that are beneath See'ol forever. to them didn't work goodly Work in them Life in this world when them were in them flesh.
Because this thing it shall be judged on them on the time when flesh and soul arise bein Inited.
Woe to persons who don't believe the flesh and soul arisin whereby JAH show Him miracles abundance together.
and all and each one shall raceive him reward like unto him Work and him hands weariness.