4
O youths, with favourable feelings, I admire the beauty of each of you; and greatly honouring so numerous a band of brethren, I not only counsel you not to share the madness of the old man who has been tortured before,
5
but I do beg you to yield, and to enjoy my friendship; for I possess the power, not only of punishing those who disobey my commands, but of doing good to those who obey them.
6
Put confidence in me, then, and you shall receive places of authority in my government, if you forsake your national ordinance,
7
and, conforming to the Greek mode of life, alter your rule, and revel in youth's delights.
8
For if you provoke me by your disobedience, you will compel me to destroy you, every one, with terrible punishments by tortures.
The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.