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 8
and him lived firmed up in reasonin malice and arrogance.
and as iron have been called firm - like unto Dan'iel sight it up on him kingdom - him turned in peoples countries in him area.
Him lived firmed up in evil and all him laziness and in disturbin persons.
and him totally destroy what I spoke formerly - and him eat a person money.
to him are diligent to evil like unto him father Deeyablos who firmed up him collar of reasonin - and him destroy what remained with him army.
Him say - "Mi era became like unto the Sun era" - yet him don't know JAH that Him were him Creator.
and in him reasonin him think that the Sun are found from him.
Him arise in Power - him camp in Tribe of Zablon lot and begin a formation in Meqiedonya - and him receive him food from Semarya - and them give him presents from Semarya.
Him camp in nomads region - and him reach up til Seedona - and him cast a tax on 'Akayya - and him elevate him collar of reasonin up til the flowin sea - and him return and send messengers up til Hindekie sea.
and likewise him elevate him collar of reasonin up til Heaven.
Him live firmed up in bein arrogant and in evil - yet him don't have humblin him ras self.
and him path are toward darkness and slipperiness - and toward crime and bein arrogant - and toward sheddin blood and tribulation.
and all him Work are what JAH hate ~ him do like unto robbery and evil and sin teacher Deeyablos taught him ~ him make a child cry whose mother and father dead on him - and him aren't nice to a poor one.
and him defeated and destroyed peoples kings by him authority.
and him ruled enemies chiefs - and him ruled many peoples - and him taxed them like unto him loved.
Even if him destroyed - him didn't quit ~ there are no person whom him didn't snatch Beginnin from Tersies sea up til 'Iyareeko sea.
Him would bow to idols ~ him would eat what dead and lodged - the blood - what a sword bloated and cut - and what were sacrificed to idols ~ all him Work are without justice - yet him have no justice ~ as him have been who alarm peoples beneath him authority - him would tax them tax like unto him loved.
As him do all that him loved before him - there are no fearin JAH before him - and him live in malice before JAH Who Created him.
Him didn't do it like unto him Creator - and like unto him did a evil thing on him companion on the time him vexed and seized him - JAH shall also pay him him hardship.
As JAH have said - I-man shall revenge and destroy sinner persons who don't live by I Command - that I-man might destroy them name invocation from this world - like unto Him destroyed peoples who were precedin him - Him shall revenge and destroy him on the time when Him destroy.
and like unto evil persons did evil things - them shall raceive them hardship.
But bein commanded from JAH - goodly Work shall follow persons who work goodly Work.
to like unto 'Iyasu destroyed the five Kene`an kings in cave in one day - and like unto him made Sun stand in Geba`on by him prayer that him might destroy them armies - Sun have stood amidst Heaven up til him destroyed 'Ewiewon and Kenaniewon - Fierziewon and Kiethiewon and 'Iyabusiewon armies - and like unto him killed around twenty thousand persons at one time - and like unto him killed them - and like unto him bound them makin foot from neck - and like unto him killed them in cave by spear - and like unto him fitted a stone on them...
Tribulation like unto this shall find all persons who sadden JAH in them evil Work.