14
O mother, soldier of God in the cause of religion, elder and woman! By steadfastness you have conquered even a tyrant, and in word and deed you have proved more powerful than a man.
15
For when you and your sons were arrested together, you stood and watched Eleazar being tortured, and said to your sons in the Hebrew language,
16
"My sons, noble is the contest to which you are called to bear witness for the nation. Fight zealously for our ancestral law.
17
For it would be shameful if, while an aged man endures such agonies for the sake of religion, you young men were to be terrified by tortures.
18
Remember that it is through God that you have had a share in the world and have enjoyed life,
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.