19
But don't think for a minute that you will avoid being punished for fighting against God."
20
The mother was the most amazing one of them all, and she deserves a special place in our memory. Although she saw her seven sons die in a single day, she endured it with great courage because she trusted in the Lord.
21
She combined womanly emotion with manly courage and spoke words of encouragement to each of her sons in their native language.
22
"I do not know how your life began in my womb," she would say, "I was not the one who gave you life and breath and put together each part of your body.
23
It was God who did it, God who created the universe, the human race, and all that exists. He is merciful and he will give you back life and breath again, because you love his laws more than you love yourself."
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.