4 Maccabees 11:1-6

1 When he too died, after being cruelly tortured, the fifth leaped up, saying,

2 "I will not refuse, tyrant, to be tortured for the sake of virtue.

3 I have come of my own accord, so that by murdering me you will incur punishment from the heavenly justice for even more crimes.

4 Hater of virtue, hater of humankind, for what act of ours are you destroying us in this way?

5 Is it because we revere the Creator of all things and live according to his virtuous law?

6 But these deeds deserve honors, not tortures."

Footnotes

• [a]. Other ancient authorities read [Or does it seem evil to you that]
• [b]. Other authorities add verses 7 and 8, +V7+W[If you but understood human feelings and had hope of salvation from God--] +V8+W[but, as it is, you are a stranger to God and persecute those who serve him."]