27
By leaning toward her son and mocking the savage tyrant, she spoke in their native language: "Son, pity me who carried you in the womb nine months, nursed you for three years, nurtured you, and brought you into this stage of life with care.
25
When the young man wouldn't accept the offer by any means, the king appealed to the mother to counsel the boy to save himself.
26
After a great deal of urging, she agreed to try to persuade her son.
27
By leaning toward her son and mocking the savage tyrant, she spoke in their native language: "Son, pity me who carried you in the womb nine months, nursed you for three years, nurtured you, and brought you into this stage of life with care.
28
I beg you, child, to look at heaven and earth. See everything that is in them and know that God made these things from nothing, and created humankind in the same way.
29
Don't fear this killer but prove worthy of your brothers. Accept death so that in God's mercy I should recover you with your brothers."