4 Maccabees 12:10-19

10 Running to the nearest of the braziers,
11 he said, "You profane tyrant, most impious of all the wicked, since you have received good things and also your kingdom from God, were you not ashamed to murder his servants and torture on the wheel those who practice religion?
12 Because of this, justice has laid up for you intense and eternal fire and tortures, and these throughout all time will never let you go.
13 As a man, were you not ashamed, you most savage beast, to cut out the tongues of men who have feelings like yours and are made of the same elements as you, and to maltreat and torture them in this way?
14 Surely they by dying nobly fulfilled their service to God, but you will wail bitterly for having killed without cause the contestants for virtue."
15 Then because he too was about to die, he said,
16 "I do not desert the excellent example of my brothers,
17 and I call on the God of our ancestors to be merciful to our nation;
18 but on you he will take vengeance both in this present life and when you are dead."
19 After he had uttered these imprecations, he flung himself into the braziers and so ended his life.

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. Gk [throughout the whole age]
  • [b]. Other ancient authorities read [the witness]
  • [c]. Other ancient authorities read [my race]
  • [d]. Gk [and so gave up]; other ancient authorities read [gave up his spirit] or [his soul]
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.