4 Maccabees 12:1-6

1 When he too, thrown into the caldron, had died a blessed death, the seventh and youngest of all came forward.

2 Even though the tyrant had been vehemently reproached by the brothers, he felt strong compassion for this child when he saw that he was already in fetters. He summoned him to come nearer and tried to persuade him, saying,

3 "You see the result of your brothers' stupidity, for they died in torments because of their disobedience.

4 You too, if you do not obey, will be miserably tortured and die before your time,

5 but if you yield to persuasion you will be my friend and a leader in the government of the kingdom."

6 When he had thus appealed to him, he sent for the boy's mother to show compassion on her who had been bereaved of so many sons and to influence her to persuade the surviving son to obey and save himself.