22. For all these reasons, children of Abraham, die well for the sake of showing God proper respect!
23. As for you, soldiers of the tyrant, what are you waiting for?"
24. When the king’s advisors saw that he remained confident in the face of torture and didn’t appreciate their compassion, the guards carried him to the fire.
25. They burned his body with diabolical devices, and then they threw him on the ground and poured disgusting liquids into his nostrils.
26. Eleazar was now burned down to his bones and on the edge of death. He raised his eyes toward God and said,
27. "God, you know that I could have saved myself; instead, I am being burned and tortured to death for the sake of your Law.
28. Have mercy on your people. Make our punishment sufficient for their sake.
29. Purify them with my blood, and take my life in exchange for theirs."
30. When he said this, the holy man died with dignity from the torture. By thinking clearly, he resisted even while facing the pains of death for the sake of the Law.
31. So without question, godly thinking rules over the emotions.
32. If the emotions had overpowered clear thinking in these events, we would have given evidence of their superior strength.
33. But as it is, since clear thinking conquered the emotions, we are correct to affirm its authority to rule.
34. It’s only right for us to affirm that clear thinking has greater power when it has gained control over the response to physical pain. It would be ridiculous to say anything else.
35. So I am showing that clear thinking maintains control not only in the face of physical pain but also in the face of pleasure, without giving way to any of these things.