4 Maccabees 18

1O children, descendants of the seed of Abraham, Israelites, obey this law, and be godly in every way.

2knowing that godly reason is master of the passions, and not only of inward sufferings but also of outward pains.

3For this reason, because of their godliness, when those men gave up their bodies to those sufferings, they were not only admired by men, but were also counted worthy of a divine share.

4And because of them the nation was at peace, and, having renewed good order in the homeland, it has besieged the enemies completely.

5And the tyrant Antiochus has been punished also on earth, and is punished with eternal things; for he was utterly unable to compel the people of Jerusalem to adopt foreign ways and to abandon the customs of their fathers' nation,

6Then indeed, having set out from Jerusalem, he encamped against the Persians. And the mother of the seven boys was saying these things also to each one of her children:

7For I remained a pure virgin, and I did not go beyond my father's house; rather, I guarded the rib that had been built.

8No destroyer in the desolate wilderness ruined me in the open field, nor did the serpent, destroyer through deceit, violate the purity of my virginity; but I remained with my husband through the time of my prime.

9But when these sons had reached adulthood, their father died. Blessed was that man, for after experiencing the life of having good children, he did not suffer the season of childlessness.

10who, while he was still with us, taught you the law and the prophets.

11And he recounted to us Abel, who was slain by Cain, and Isaac being offered up as a whole burnt offering, and Joseph in prison.

12And Phinehas the zealot was speaking to us, and Hananiah and Azariah and Mishael in the fire were teaching you.

13And he also glorified Daniel in the lions’ pit, whom he also called blessed.

14And he kept reminding you of the Scripture of Isaiah that says, “Even if you pass through fire, a flame will not burn you.”

15David sang to us, the hymn-writer, saying, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous.”

16He held up Solomon before us as a proverb, the one who says, “It is a tree of life for all who do his will.”

17He bore witness to Ezekiel, who says, “Will these dry bones live?”

18For she did not forget the song that Moses taught, which teaches, ‘I kill, and I make alive.’

19This is your life and the blessedness of your days.

20How bitter was that day—and yet not bitter—when the bitter Greek tyrant, after kindling fire in the cruel cauldrons and, in boiling rage, bringing the seven boys to the catapult and again to his tortures,

21He mutilated the pupils of their eyes, cut out their tongues, and killed them with various tortures.

22for which divine justice has pursued, and will pursue, the accursed one.

23But the children of Abraham, together with their victory-bearing mother, are gathered to the place of their fathers, having received pure and immortal souls from God.

24to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.