1 When he, too, had undergone blessed martyrdom, and died in the cauldron into which he had been thrown, the seventh, the youngest of all, came forward, (WEB) 2 whom the tyrant pitying, though he had been dreadfully reproached by his kindred, (WEB) 3 seeing him already encompassed with chains, had him brought nearer, and endeavored to counsel him, saying, (WEB) 4 “You see the end of the madness of your kindred, for they have died in torture through disobedience. You, if disobedient, having been miserably tormented, will yourself perish prematurely. (WEB) 5 But if you obey, you will be my friend, and have a charge over the affairs of the kingdom.” (WEB) 6 Having thus exhorted him, he sent for the boy’s mother, that, by showing compassion to her for the loss of so many sons, he might incline her, through the hope of safety, to make the survivor obedient. (WEB) 7 He, after his mother had urged him on in the Hebrew tongue, (as we will soon relate) said, (WEB) 8 “Release me that I may speak to the king and all his friends.” (WEB) 9 They, rejoicing exceedingly at the promise of the youth, quickly let him go. (WEB) 10 He, running up to the pans, said, (WEB) 11 “Impious tyrant, and most blasphemous man, were you not ashamed, having received prosperity and a kingdom from God, to kill His servants, and to rack the doers of godliness? (WEB) 12 Therefore the divine vengeance is reserving you for eternal fire and torments, which will cling to you for all time. (WEB) 13 Weren’t you ashamed, man as you are, yet most savage, to cut out the tongues of men of like feeling and origin, and having thus abused to torture them? (WEB) 14 But they, bravely dying, fulfilled their religion toward God. (WEB) 15 But you will groan as you deserve for having slain without cause the champions of virtue. (WEB) 16 Therefore,” he continued, “I myself, being about to die, (WEB) 17 will not forsake my kindred. (WEB) 18 I call upon the God of my fathers to be merciful to my race. (WEB) 19 But you, both living and dead, he will punish.” (WEB) 20 Thus having prayed, he hurled himself into the pans; and so expired. (WEB)
4 Maccabees 12:1–20
Semantically similar passages
2 Maccabees 7:16–18
16 But he looked toward the king and said, “Because you have authority among men, though you are corruptible, you do what you please. But don’t think that our race has been forsaken by God. (WEB) 17 But hold on to your ways, and see how his sovereign majesty will torture… (WEB) 18 … (WEB)
4 Maccabees 10:10–12
10 “We, O accursed tyrant, suffer this for the sake of Divine education and virtue. (WEB) 11 But you, for your impiety and blood shedding, will endure unceasing torments.” (WEB) 12 Thus having died worthily of his kindred, they dragged forward the fourth, saying, (WEB)
4 Maccabees 9:8–10
8 For we through this ill-treatment and endurance will gain the rewards of virtue. (WEB) 9 But you, for the wicked and despotic slaughter of us, will, from the Divine vengeance, endure eternal torture by fire.” (WEB) 10 When they had said this, the tyrant was not only exasperated… (WEB)
2 Maccabees 7:37–39
37 But I, as my brothers, give up both body and soul for the laws of our fathers, calling upon God that he may speedily become gracious to the nation, and that you, amidst trials and plagues, may confess that he alone is God, (WEB) 38 and that in me and my brothers you ma… (WEB)
2 Maccabees 7:28–30
28 I beg you, my child, to lift your eyes to the sky and the earth, and to see all things that are in it, and thus to recognize that God made them not of things that were, and that the race of men in this way comes into being. (WEB) 29 Don’t be afraid of this butcher, but… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 9:31–32
31 For I lighten my suffering by the pleasures which are connected with virtue. (WEB) 32 But you are tortured with threatenings for impiety. You won’t escape, most corrupt tyrant, the vengeance of Divine wrath.” (WEB)
2 Maccabees 6:27–29
27 Therefore, by bravely parting with my life now, I will show myself worthy of my old age, (WEB) 28 and leave behind a noble example to the young to die willingly and nobly a glorious death for the revered and holy laws.” When he had said these words, he went immediately… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 6:20–22
20 It would be disgraceful if we would live on some short time, and that scorned by all men for cowardice, (WEB) 21 and be condemned by the tyrant for cowardice by not contending to the death for our divine law. (WEB) 22 Therefore you, O children of Abraham, die nobly for your reli… (WEB)
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