29 “How sweet is every form of death for the religion of our fathers!” Then he said to the tyrant, (WEB) 30 “Don’t you think, most cruel of all tyrants, that you are now tortured more than I, finding your arrogant conception of tyranny conquered by our perseverance in behalf of our religion? (WEB) 31 For I lighten my suffering by the pleasures which are connected with virtue. (WEB)
4 Maccabees 9:29–31
Semantically similar passages
4 Maccabees 10:9–11
9 When about to die, he said, (WEB) 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)
4 Maccabees 11:11–13
11 With his breath thus confined, and his body strangled, he said, (WEB) 12 “A great favor you bestow upon us, O tyrant, by enabling us to manifest our adherence to the law by means of nobler sufferings.” (WEB) 13 He also being dead, the sixth, quite a youth, was brought out. On th… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 11:1–3
1 When he had died, disfigured in his torments, the fifth leaped forward, and said, (WEB) 2 “I don’t intend, O tyrant, to get excused from the torment which is on behalf of virtue. (WEB) 3 But I have come of my own accord, that by my death you may owe heavenly vengeance and puni… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 10:15–17
15 By the blessed death of my kindred, and the eternal punishment of the tyrant, and the glorious life of the pious, I will not repudiate the noble brotherhood. (WEB) 16 Invent, O tyrant, tortures, that you may learn, even through them, that I am the brother of those torm… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 9:6–8
6 But if aged men of the Hebrews have died in the cause of religion after enduring torture, more rightly should we younger men die, scorning your cruel tortures, which our aged instructor overcame. (WEB) 7 Make the attempt, then, O tyrant. If you put us to death for our… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 11:19–21
19 Having heated sharp spits, they approached them to his back; and having transfixed his sides, they burned away his entrails. (WEB) 20 He, while tormented, said, “O good and holy contest, in which for the sake of religion, we kindred have been called to the arena of pai… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 9:14–16
14 With every member disjointed, he denounced the tyrant, saying, (WEB) 15 “O most accursed tyrant, and enemy of heavenly justice, and cruel-hearted, I am no murderer, nor sacrilegious man, whom you torture, but a defender of the Divine law.” (WEB) 16 And when the spearmen said, “C… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 10:3–5
3 I don’t renounce the noble relationship of my kindred. (WEB) 4 Now then, whatever instrument of vengeance you have, apply it to my body, for you aren’t able to touch my soul, even if you want to.” (WEB) 5 But they, highly incensed at his boldness of speech, dislocated his hand… (WEB)
Search the collection All books and codes Translations and sources