8
so these youths, forming a chorus, encircled the sevenfold fear of tortures and dissolved it.
9
Even now, we ourselves shudder as we hear of the tribulations of these young men; they not only saw what was happening, yes, not only heard the direct word of threat, but also bore the sufferings patiently, and in agonies of fire at that.
10
What could be more excruciatingly painful than this? For the power of fire is intense and swift, and it consumed their bodies quickly.
11
Do not consider it amazing that reason had full command over these men in their tortures, since the mind of woman despised even more diverse agonies,
12
for the mother of the seven young men bore up under the rackings of each one of her children.
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.