18
Eleazar, one of the scribes in high position, a man now advanced in age and of noble presence, was being forced to open his mouth to eat swine's flesh.
19
But he, welcoming death with honor rather than life with pollution, went up to the rack of his own accord, spitting out the flesh,
20
as all ought to go who have the courage to refuse things that it is not right to taste, even for the natural love of life.
21
Those who were in charge of that unlawful sacrifice took the man aside because of their long acquaintance with him, and privately urged him to bring meat of his own providing, proper for him to use, and to pretend that he was eating the flesh of the sacrificial meal that had been commanded by the king,
22
so that by doing this he might be saved from death, and be treated kindly on account of his old friendship with them.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.