4 Maccabees 8:23

23 Why do we banish ourselves from this most pleasant life and deprive ourselves of this delightful world?

4 Maccabees 8:23 In-Context

21 and let us seriously consider that if we disobey we are dead!

22 Also, divine justice will excuse us for fearing the king when we are under compulsion.

23 Why do we banish ourselves from this most pleasant life and deprive ourselves of this delightful world?

24 Let us not struggle against compulsion or take hollow pride in being put to the rack.

25 Not even the law itself would arbitrarily put us to death for fearing the instruments of torture.