4 Maccabees 7

1For just as the reasoning of our father Eleazar, like an excellent helmsman, was steering the ship of godliness on the sea of the passions,

2and, being overwhelmed by the tyrant’s threats and being swamped by the billows of torments,

3In no way did he turn aside the rudders of godliness, until he sailed into the harbor of victory over death.

4No city under siege ever held out against many and varied siege engines as that most holy man, while his sacred soul was being burned by tortures and the wheel, stirred up those besieging him through the reason that defends godliness.

5For, like a sheer cliff, father Eleazar, stretching out his own mind, broke around himself the surging waves of the passions that were raging.

6O priest, worthy of the priesthood, you did not defile your sacred teeth, nor did you make your stomach—which had room for godliness and purity—a partner in defiling food.

7O you who are in harmony with the law and a philosopher of the divine way of life.

8Such men must be those who establish the law with their own blood, and defend it with noble sweat through sufferings unto death.

9You, father, confirmed our law-abiding way by our endurance unto glory, and, speaking honorably of holiness, you did not abolish it, and by your deeds you certified the words of philosophy.

10O Eleazar, elder stronger than torments, old man more intense than fire, and king greater than sufferings.

11For just as the father Aaron, armed with the censer, running through the midst of the multitude, overcame the fire-bearing angel,

12Thus Eleazar, the descendant of Aaron, though being burned through the fire, did not change his resolve.

13And yet, most astonishingly, though he was an old man, with the pains of his body already loosened, and his flesh relaxed, and even his sinews worn out, he renewed his youth.

14by the spirit of reason, and by Isaac-like reason he nullified the many-headed wheel.

15O blessed old age, and venerable gray hair, and a law-abiding life, which a faithful seal of death brought to completion.

16If, then, an old man despised tortures even to the point of death because of piety, then surely pious reason is ruler over the passions.

17But perhaps some might say, “Not all gain mastery over their passions, because not all have prudent reason.”

18But all who care for godliness with their whole heart, these alone are able to master the passions of the flesh.

19those who believe that they do not die to God, but live to God, just as our patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

20Therefore, nothing is opposed by the fact that some appear to be ruled by passions because of weak reason.

21For who, while devoutly pursuing philosophy according to the whole rule of philosophy, and having put his trust in God,

22And knowing that it is blessed to endure every pain for the sake of virtue, would he not prevail over the passions for the sake of godliness?

23For only the wise and self-controlled man is courageous, master of the passions.

24For this reason indeed, even young men, by philosophizing according to the reasoning of piety, overcame more severe tortures.