5. And the tyrant Antiochus was both punished upon earth, and is punished now he is dead; for when he was quite unable to compel the Israelites to adopt foreign customs, and to desert the manner of life of their fathers,
6. then, departing from Jerusalem, he made war against the Persians.
7. And the righteous mother of the seven children spoke also as follows to her offspring: I was a pure virgin, and went not beyond my father’s house; but I took care of the built-up rib.
8. No destroyer of the desert, or ravisher of the plain, injured me; nor did the destructive, deceitful snake, make spoil of my chaste virginity; and I remained with my husband during the period of my prime.
9. And these my children, having arrived at maturity, their father died: blessed was he! for having sought out a life of fertility in children, he was not grieved with a period of loss of children.
10. And he used to teach you, when yet with you, the law and the prophets.
11. He used to read to you the slaying of Abel by Cain, and the offering up of Isaac, and the imprisonment of Joseph.
12. And he used to tell you of the zealous Phinehas; and informed you of Ananias and Azarias, and Misael in the fire.
13. And he used to glorify Daniel, who was in the den of lions, and pronounce him blessed.
14. And he used to put you in mind of the scripture of Esaias, which says, Even if you pass through the fire, it shall not burn you.
15. He chanted to you David, the hymn-writer, who says, Many are the afflictions of the just.
16. He declared the proverbs of Solomon, who says, He is a tree of life to all those who do His will.
17. He used to verify Ezekiel, who said, Shall these dry bones live?
18. For he did not forget the song which Moses taught, proclaiming, I will kill, and I will make to live.
19. This is our life, and the length of our days.