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 17
A wheat kernel won't grow nor bear fruit unless she were demolished. But if a wheat kernel are demolished she will send roots toward Earth ~ she will send forth leaves ~ there will be buds ~ it will bear fruit.
You know that the one wheat kernel will become many kernels.
and all likewise - this kernel grow risin up from Water and wind and Earth dew - to wheat cyaan bear fruit without Sun - but Sun are because fire stead.
and wind are because a soul stead - and wheat cyaan bear fruit without wind - and the Water give Earth to drink and satta she.
and after Earth that are ashes drank Water - she produce roots - and she tips are lofty upward ~ she bear fruit around what JAH blessed she.
But a wheat kernel are 'Adam example - in whom lodged a resonatin soul that JAH Created - and likewise a grape wood drink Water and send forth roots - and the thin root kinds drink Water.
to Pardon Dew found from JAH give to drink vines tips that were long - and it send the Water upward toward the leaf tips ~ it bud up from the Sun heat - and by JAH Accord it bear fruit.
It shall be a goodly fragrance that make a reasonin Feeling good - and on the time them ate it - it shall satta like unto Water that don't make thirsty and grain that don't make hungry - and on the time them immersed it - it will be the cluster blood.
and like unto it were told in Psalm sayin - "Grapes make a person reasonin Feeling good" - on the time them drank it - it make a person heart Feeling good - and on the time a person who came loose opened him mouth and drank it - him are drunk ~ him drink and fill in him lungs - and the blood flow toward him heart.
As grapes drunkenness totally mislead - and as it deprive him him mind - it make the pit and the cliff like unto a wide meadow - and him don't know obstacles and thorns on him feet and hands.
JAH did thus on she fruit and grape wood that Him Name might be praised by persons who believe dead persons arisin and who do Him Accord.
in the Kingdom of Heaven Him shall make persons Feeling good who believe persons who dead arisin.