15
No, by the blessed death of my brothers, by the eternal destruction of the tyrant, and by the everlasting life of the pious, I will not renounce our noble brotherhood.
16
Contrive tortures, tyrant, so that you may learn from them that I am a brother to those who have just been tortured."
17
When he heard this, the bloodthirsty, murderous, and utterly abominable Antiochus gave orders to cut out his tongue.
18
But he said, "Even if you remove my organ of speech, God hears also those who are mute.
19
See, here is my tongue; cut it off, for in spite of this you will not make our reason speechless.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.