4 Maccabees 8:12-22

12 When he had said these things, he ordered the instruments of torture to be brought forward so as to persuade them out of fear to eat the defiling food.
13 When the guards had placed before them wheels and joint-dislocators, rack and hooks and catapults and caldrons, braziers and thumbscrews and iron claws and wedges and bellows, the tyrant resumed speaking:
14 "Be afraid, young fellows; whatever justice you revere will be merciful to you when you transgress under compulsion."
15 But when they had heard the inducements and saw the dreadful devices, not only were they not afraid, but they also opposed the tyrant with their own philosophy, and by their right reasoning nullified his tyranny.
16 Let us consider, on the other hand, what arguments might have been used if some of them had been cowardly and unmanly. Would they not have been the following?
17 "O wretches that we are and so senseless! Since the king has summoned and exhorted us to accept kind treatment if we obey him,
18 why do we take pleasure in vain resolves and venture upon a disobedience that brings death?
19 O men and brothers, should we not fear the instruments of torture and consider the threats of torments, and give up this vain opinion and this arrogance that threatens to destroy us?
20 Let us take pity on our youth and have compassion on our mother's age;
21 and let us seriously consider that if we disobey we are dead!
22 Also, divine justice will excuse us for fearing the king when we are under compulsion.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Meaning of Gk uncertain
  • [b]. Here and elsewhere in 4 Macc an instrument of torture
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.