15
We will set before you some cooked meat; save yourself by pretending to eat pork."
16
But Eleazar, as though more bitterly tormented by this counsel, cried out:
17
"Never may we, the children of Abraham, think so basely that out of cowardice we feign a role unbecoming to us!
18
For it would be irrational if having lived in accordance with truth up to old age and having maintained in accordance with law the reputation of such a life, we should now change our course
19
and ourselves become a pattern of impiety to the young by setting them an example in the eating of defiling food.
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.