1 If, then, even a woman, and that an aged one, and the mother of seven children, endured to see her children’s torments even to death, it must be admitted that religious reasoning is master even of the emotions. (WEB) 2 I have proved, then, that not only men have obtained the mastery of their emotions, but also that a woman despised the greatest torments. (WEB) 3 The lions around Daniel were not so fierce, nor the furnace of Misael burning with most vehement fires as that natural love of children burned within her, when she saw her seven sons tortured. (WEB) 4 But with the reasoning of religion the mother quenched emotions so great and powerful. (WEB) 5 For we must consider also this: that, had the woman been faint hearted, as being their mother, she would have lamented over them, and perhaps might have spoken thus: (WEB) 6 “Ah! I am wretched and many times miserable, who having born seven sons, have become the mother of none. (WEB) 7 O seven useless childbirths, and seven profitless periods of labor, and fruitless givings of suck, and miserable nursings at the breast. (WEB) 8 Vainly, for your sakes, O sons, have I endured many pangs, and the more difficult anxieties of rearing. (WEB) 9 Alas, of my children, some of you unmarried, and some who have married to no profit, I will not see your children, nor have the joy of being a grandmother. (WEB) 10 Ah, that I who had many and fair children, should be a lone widow full of sorrows! (WEB) 11 Nor, should I die, will I have a son to bury me.” But with such a lament as this, the holy and God-fearing mother wept for none of them. (WEB) 12 Nor did she divert any of them from death, nor grieve for them as for the dead. (WEB) 13 But as one possessed with an adamant mind, and as one bringing forth again her full number of sons to immortality, she rather urged them to death on behalf of religion. (WEB) 14 O woman, soldier of God for religion, you, aged and a female, have conquered through endurance even a tyrant; and even though weak, have been found more powerful in deeds and words. (WEB) 15 For when you were seized along with your children, you stood looking at Eleazar in torture, and said to your sons in the Hebrew tongue, (WEB) 16 “O sons, the contest is noble, to which you being called as a witness for the nation, strive zealously for the laws of your country. (WEB) 17 For it would be disgraceful if this old man endured pains for the sake of righteousness, and that you who are younger would be afraid of the tortures. (WEB) 18 Remember that through God, you obtained existence and have enjoyed it. (WEB) 19 Therefore, you ought to bear every affliction because of God. (WEB) 20 For him also our father Abraham was zealous to sacrifice Isaac our progenitor, and didn’t shudder at the sight of his… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 16:1–25
Semantically similar passages
4 Maccabees 17:1–3
1 Some of the spearbearers said that when she herself was about to be seized for the purpose of being put to death, she threw herself on the pile, rather than let them touch her body. (WEB) 2 O you mother, who together with seven children destroyed the violence of the t… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 17:9–11
9 “Here an aged priest, an aged woman, and seven sons, are buried through the violence of a tyrant, who wished to destroy the society of the Hebrews. (WEB) 10 These also avenged their nation, looking to God, and enduring torments to death.” (WEB) 11 For it was truly a divine conte… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 15:1–2
1 O reasoning of the sons, lord over the emotions, and religion more desirable to a mother than children! (WEB) 2 The mother, when two things were set before her, religion and the safety of her seven sons for a time, on the conditional promise of a tyrant, (WEB)
4 Maccabees 14:11–13
11 Don’t think it wonderful that reasoning ruled over those men in their torments, when even a woman’s mind despised more manifold pains. (WEB) 12 For the mother of those seven youths endured the rackings of each of her children. (WEB) 13 Consider how comprehensive is the love of o… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 14:19–20
19 Even bees, at the season of honey-making, attack all who approach, and pierce with their sting, as with a sword, those who draw near their hive, and repel them even to death. (WEB) 20 But sympathy with her children didn’t turn away the mother of the young men, who had… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 15:15–17
15 She saw her children’s flesh dissolving around the fire, and their extremities quivering on the ground, and the flesh of their heads dropped forward down to their beards, like masks. (WEB) 16 O you mother, who was tried at this time with bitterer pangs than those at bi… (WEB)
Baruch 4:26–28
26 My delicate ones have traveled rough roads. They were taken away like a flock carried off by enemies. (WEB) 27 Take courage, my children, and cry to God; for you will be remembered by him who has brought this upon you. (WEB) 28 For as it was your decision to go astray from God,… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 15:7–9
7 Through her many pains undergone in connection with each one, she was compelled to feel sympathy with them; (WEB) 8 yet, through fear of God, she neglected the temporary salvation of her children. (WEB) 9 Not only so, but on account of the excellent disposition to the law, her… (WEB)
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