Old Testament

New Testament

4 Maccabees 7:3-9 World English Bible (WEB)

3. in no way shifted the rudder of piety till it sailed into the harbour of victory over death.

4. Not so has ever a city, when besieged, held out against many and various machines, as did that holy man, when his pious soul was tried with the fiery trial of tortures and rackings, move his besiegers through the religious reasoning that shielded him.

5. For father Eleazar, projecting his disposition, broke the raging waves of the passions as with a jutting promontory.

6. O priest worthy of the priesthood! you did not pollute your sacred teeth; nor make your appetite, which had always embraced the clean and lawful, a partaker of profanity.

7. O harmonizer with the law, and sage devoted to a divine life!

8. Of such a character ought those to be who perform the duties of the law at the risk of their own blood, and defend it with generous sweat by sufferings even to death.

9. You, father, have gloriously established our right government by your endurance; and making of much account our service past, prevented its destruction, and, by your deeds, have made credible the words of philosophy.

Read complete chapter 4 Maccabees 7