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chapter 7
1
To
came to pass also, that seven brethren, together with their mother, were
apprehended, and compelled by the king to eat swine's flesh against the law,
for which end they were tormented with whips and scourges.
2 But one of them, who was the eldest, said thus: What
wouldst thou ask, or learn of us? we are ready to die rather than to transgress
the laws of God, received from our fathers.
3 Then the king being angry commanded fryingpans, and
brazen caldrons to be made hot: which forthwith being heated,
4 He commanded to cut out the tongue of him that had
spoken first: and the skin of his head being drawn off, to chop off also the
extremities of his hands and feet, the rest of his brethren, and his mother,
looking on.
5 And when he was now maimed in all parts, he commanded
him, being yet alive, to be brought to the Are, and to be fried in the
fryingpan: and while he was suffering therein long torments, the rest, together
with the mother, exhorted one another to die manfully,
6 Saying: The Lord God will look upon the truth, and
will take pleasure in us, "as Moses declared in the profession of the
canticle: And In his servants he will take pleasure.
7 So when the first was dead after this manner, they
brought the next to make him a, mocking stock: and when they had pulled off the
skin of his head with the hair, they asked him if he would eat, before he were
punished throughout the whole body in every limb.
8 But he answered in his own language, and said: I will
not do it. Wherefore Ire also in the next place, received the torments of the
first:
9 And when he was at the last gasp, he said thus: Thou
indeed, O most wicked man, destroyest us out of this present life: but the King
of the world will raise us up, who die for his laws, in the resurrection of
eternal life.
10 After him the third was made a mocking stock, and
when he was required, he quickly put forth his tongue, and courageously stretched
out his hands:
11 And said with confidence: These
1 have from heaven, but for the laws of God I now
despise them: because I hope to receive them again from him.
12 So that the king, and they that were with him,
wondered at the young man's courage, because he esteemed the torments as
nothing.
13 And after he was thus dead, they tormented the
fourth in the like manner
14 And when he was now ready to die, he spoke thus: It
is better, being put to death by men, to look for hope from God, to be raised
up again by him: for, as to thee thou shalt have no resurrection unto life.
15 And when they had brought the fifth, they tormented
him. But he looking upon the king,
16 Said: Whereas thou hast power among men, though thou
art corruptible, thou dost what thou wilt: but think not that our nation is
forsaken by God.
17 But stay patiently a while, and thou shalt see his
great power, in what manner he will torment thee and thy seed.
18 After him they brought the sixth, and he being ready
to die, spoke thus: Be not deceived without cause: for we suffer these things
for ourselves, having sinned against our God, and things worthy of admiration
are done to us:
19 But do not think that thou s escape unpunished, for
that thou attempted to fight against God.
20 Now the mother was to be ad above measure, and
worthy to be remembered by good men, who beheld seven sons slain in the space
of one day, and bore it with a good courage, for the hope that she had in God:
21 And she bravely exhorted every o of them in her own
language, being filled with wisdom: and joining a man's heart to a woman's
thought,
22 She said to them: I know not how you were formed in
my womb: for I neither gave you breath, nor soul, nor life, neither did I frame
the limbs of every one of you.
23 But the Creator of the world, that formed the
nativity of man, and that found out the origin of all, he will re- store to you
again in his mercy, both breath and life, as now you despise your- selves for
the sake of his laws.
24 Now Antiochus, thinking himself despised, and withal
despising the voice of the upbraider, when the youngest was yet alive, did not
only exhort him by words, but also assured him with an oath, that he would make
him a rich and a happy man, and, if he would turn from the laws of his fathers,
would take him for a friend, and furnish him with things necessary.
25 But when the young man was not moved with these
things, the king called the mother, and counselled her to deal with the young
man to save his life.
26 And when he had exhorted her with many words, she
promised that she would counsel her son.
27 So bending herself towards him, mocking the cruel
tyrant, she said her own language: My son, have pi upon me, that bore thee nine
months my womb, and save thee suck years, and nourished thee, and b thee up
unto this age.
28 I beseech thee, my son, look upon heaven and earth,
and all that is in them: and consider that God made the out of nothing, and
mankind also:
29 So thou shalt not fear this tormentor, but being
made a worthy partner with thy brethren, receive death, that in that mercy I
may receive thee again with thy brethren.
30 While she was yet speaking these words, the young man
said: For whom do you stay ? I will not obey the commandment of the king, but
the commandment of the law, which was given us by Moses.
31 But thou that hast been the author of all mischief
against the Hebrews, shalt not escape the hand of God.
32 For we suffer thus for our sine.
33 And though the Lord our God is angry with us a
little while for our chastisement and correction: yet he will be reconciled
again to his servants.
34 But thou, O wicked and of all men most flagitious,
be not lifted up without cause with vain hopes, whilst thou art raging against
his servants.
35 For thou hast not yet escaped the judgment of the
almighty God, who beholdeth all things.
36 For my brethren, having now undergone a short pain,
are under the covenant of eternal life: but thou by the judgment of God shalt
receive just punishment for thy pride.
37 But I, like my brethren, offer up my life and my body
for the laws of our fathers: calling upon God to be speedily merciful to our
nation, and that thou by torments and stripes mayst confess that he alone is
God.
38 But in me and in my brethren the wrath of the
Almighty, which hath justly been brought upon all our nation, shall cease.
39 Then the king being incensed with anger, raged
against him more cruelly than all the rest, taking it grievously that he was
mocked.
40 So this man also died undefiled, wholly trusting in
the Lord.
41 And last of all after the sons the mother also was
consumed.
42 But now there is enough said of the sacrifices, and
of the excessive cruelties.
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