1Some of the guards said that when she also was about to be seized and put to death she threw herself into the flames so that no one might touch her body.
2O mother, who with your seven sons nullified the violence of the tyrant, frustrated his evil designs,and showed the courage of your faith! 3Nobly set like a roof on the pillars of your sons, you held firm and unswerving against the earthquake of the tortures. 4Take courage, therefore, O holy-minded mother, maintaining firm an enduring hope in God. 5The moon in heaven, with the stars, does not stand so august as you, who, after lighting the way of your star-like seven sons to piety, stand in honor before God and are firmly set in heaven with them. 6For your children were true descendants of father Abraham.
7If it were possible for us to paint the history of your piety as an artist might, would not those who first beheld it have shuddered as they saw the mother of the seven children enduring their varied tortures to death for the sake of religion? 8Indeed it would be proper to inscribe upon their tomb these words as a reminder to the people of our nation:
11Truly the contest in which they were engaged was divine, 12for on that day virtue gave the awards and tested them for their endurance. The prize was immortality in endless life. 13Eleazar was the first contestant, the mother of the seven sons entered the competition, and the brothers contended. 14The tyrant was the antagonist, and the world and the human race were the spectators. 15Reverence for God was victor and gave the crown to its own athletes. 16Who did not admire the athletes of the divine legislation? Who were not amazed?
17The tyrant himself and all his council marveled at their endurance, 18because of which they now stand before the divine throne and live through blessed eternity. 19For Moses says, "All who are consecrated are under your hands." 20These, then, who have been consecrated for the sake of God, are honored, not only with this honor, but also by the fact that because of them our enemies did not rule over our nation, 21the tyrant was punished, and the homeland purified - they having become, as it were, a ransom for the sin of our nation. 22And through the blood of those devout ones and their death as an expiation, divine Providence preserved Israel that previously had been afflicted.
23For the tyrant Antiochus, when he saw the courage of their virtue and their endurance under the tortures, proclaimed them to his soldiers as an example for their own endurance, 24and this made them brave and courageous for infantry battle and siege, and he ravaged and conquered all his enemies.
| << | 4Macc:17 | >> |
|---|