2 Maccabees 12:44 - King James Version with Apocrypha - American Edition

for if he had not hoped that they that were slain should have risen again, it had been superfluous and vain to pray for the dead.

More versions

If he hadn’t been looking forward to the resurrection of the dead, then it would have been unnecessary and frivolous to pray for them.

(for if he had not hoped that those who had fallen would be resurrected, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead,)

(For if he had not hoped that the that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead,)

If he had not believed that the dead would be raised, it would have been foolish and useless to pray for them.

For if he wasn’t expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would be superfluous and idle to pray for the dead.

Otherwise, it would have been useless and foolish of him to have spent this money on prayers for the dead.