4 Maccabees 2:1-6

1 And why is it amazing that the desires of the mind for the enjoyment of beauty are rendered powerless?

2 It is for this reason, certainly, that the temperate Joseph is praised, because by mental effort he overcame sexual desire.

3 For when he was young and in his prime for intercourse, by his reason he nullified the frenzy of the passions.

4 Not only is reason proved to rule over the frenzied urge of sexual desire, but also over every desire.

5 Thus the law says, "You shall not covet your neighbor's wife or anything that is your neighbor's."

6 In fact, since the law has told us not to covet, I could prove to you all the more that reason is able to control desires. Just so it is with the emotions that hinder one from justice.

Footnotes

• [a]. Other ancient authorities add [in reasoning]
• [b]. Or [gadfly]
• [c]. Or [all covetousness]