4 Maccabees 13:1–27

¹ If then, the seven kindred despised troubles even to death, it is admitted on all sides that righteous reasoning is absolute master over the emotions. (WEB) ² For just as if they had eaten of the unholy as slaves to the emotions, we would have said that they had been conquered by them. (WEB) ³ Now it is not so. But by means of the reasoning which is praised by God, they mastered their emotions. (WEB) ⁴ It is impossible to overlook the leadership of reflection, for it gained the victory over both emotions and troubles. (WEB) ⁵ How, then, can we avoid according to these men mastery of emotion through right reasoning, since they didn’t withdraw from the pains of fire? (WEB) ⁶ For just as by means of towers projecting in front of harbors men break the threatening waves, and thus assure a still course to vessels entering port, (WEB) ⁷ so that seven-towered right-reasoning of the young men, securing the harbour of religion, conquered the tempest of emotions. (WEB) ⁸ For having arranged a holy choir of piety, they encouraged one another, saying, (WEB) ⁹ “Brothers, may we die brotherly for the law. Let us imitate the three young men in Assyria who despised the equally afflicting furnace. (WEB) ¹⁰ Let’s not be cowards in the manifestation of piety.” (WEB) ¹¹ One said, “Courage, brother!” and another, “Nobly endure!” (WEB) ¹² Another said, “Remember of what stock you are;” and by the hand of our father Isaac endured to be slain for the sake of piety. (WEB) ¹³ One and all, looking at each other serene and confident, said, “Let’s sacrifice with all our heart our souls to God who gave them, and employ our bodies for the keeping of the law. (WEB) ¹⁴ Let’s not fear him who thinks he kills; (WEB) ¹⁵ for great is the trial of soul and danger of eternal torment laid up for those who transgress the commandment of God. (WEB) ¹⁶ Let’s arm ourselves, therefore, in the self-control, which is divine reasoning. (WEB) ¹⁷ If we suffer like this, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will receive us, and all the fathers will commend us. (WEB) ¹⁸ As each one of the kindred was hauled away, the rest exclaimed, “Don’t disgrace us, O brother, nor falsify those who died before you!” (WEB) ¹⁹ Now you are not ignorant of the charm of brotherhood, which the Divine and all wise Providence has imparted through fathers to children, and has engendered through the mother’s womb. (WEB) ²⁰ These brothers remained an equal time in their mother’s womb, and were formed for the same period, and nourished by the same blood, and were perfected through the same principle of life. (WEB) ²¹ They were brought forth at equal intervals, and sucked milk from the same fountains. Their brotherly souls were reared up lovingly together, (WEB) ²² and increase the more powerfully by reason of this simultaneous rearing, and… (WEB) ²³ … (WEB)