4 Maccabees 9:1–32

¹ “Why do you delay, O tyrant? For we are more ready to die than to transgress the injunctions of our fathers. (WEB) ² We would be disgracing our fathers if we didn’t obey the law, and take knowledge for our guide. (WEB) ³ O tyrant, counselor of law-breaking, do not, hating us as you do, pity us more than we pity ourselves. (WEB) ⁴ For we consider your escape to be worse than death. (WEB) ⁵ You try to scare us by threatening us with death by tortures, as though you had learned nothing by the death of Eleazar. (WEB) 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 religion, don’t think that you harm us by torturing us. (WEB) 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 against them for being disobedient, but enraged with them for being ungrateful. (WEB) ¹¹ So, at his bidding, the torturers brought the oldest of them, and tearing through his tunic, bound his hands and arms on each side with straps. (WEB) ¹² When they had labored hard without effect in scourging him, they hurled him on the wheel. (WEB) ¹³ The noble youth, extended upon this, became dislocated. (WEB) 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, “Consent to eat, that you may be released from your tortures,” (WEB) ¹⁷ he answered, “Not so powerful, O accursed lackeys, is your wheel, as to stifle my reasoning. Cut my limbs, and burn my flesh, and twist my joints. (WEB) ¹⁸ For through all my torments I will convince you that the children of the Hebrews are alone unconquered on behalf of virtue.” (WEB) ¹⁹ While he was saying this, they heaped up fuel, and setting fire to it, strained him on the wheel still more. (WEB) ²⁰ The wheel was defiled all over with blood. The hot ashes were quenched by the droppings of gore, and pieces of flesh were scattered about the axles of the machine. (WEB) ²¹ Although the framework of his bones was now destroyed, the high-minded and Abrahamic youth didn’t groan. (WEB) ²² But, as though transformed by fire into immortality, he nobly endured the rackings, saying, (WEB) ²³ “Imitate me, O kindred. Never desert your station, nor renounce my brotherhood in courage. Fight the holy and honorable fight o… (WEB)