4 Maccabees 16:5

5 Consider this also. If this woman, though a mother, had been fainthearted, she would have mourned over them and perhaps spoken as follows:

4 Maccabees 16:5 In-Context

3 The lions surrounding Daniel were not so savage, nor was the raging fiery furnace of Mishael so intensely hot, as was her innate parental love, inflamed as she saw her seven sons tortured in such varied ways.

4 But the mother quenched so many and such great emotions by devout reason.

5 Consider this also. If this woman, though a mother, had been fainthearted, she would have mourned over them and perhaps spoken as follows:

6 "O how wretched am I and many times unhappy! After bearing seven children, I am now the mother of none!

7 O seven childbirths all in vain, seven profitless pregnancies, fruitless nurturings and wretched nursings!