2Maccabees:7

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* It came to pass also , that seven brethren with their mother were taken , and compelled by the king against the law to taste swine 's flesh , and were tormented with scourges and whips . * But one of them that spake first said thus , What wouldest thou ask or learn of us ? we are ready to die , rather than to transgress the laws of our fathers . * Then the king , being in a rage , commanded pans and caldrons to be made hot : * Which forthwith being heated , he commanded to cut out the tongue of him that spake first , and to cut off the utmost parts of his body , the rest of his brethren and his mother looking on . * Now when he was thus maimed in all his members , he commanded him being yet alive to be brought to the fire , and to be fried in the pan : and as the vapour of the pan was for a good space dispersed , they exhorted one another with the mother to die manfully , saying thus , * The Lord God looketh upon us , and in truth hath comfort in us , as Moses in his song , which witnessed to their faces , declared , saying , And he shall be comforted in his servants . * So when the first was dead after this number , they brought the second to make him a mocking stock : and when they had pulled off the skin of his head with the hair , they asked him , Wilt thou eat , before thou be punished throughout every member of thy body ? * But he answered in his own language , and said , No . Wherefore he also received the next torment in order , as the former did . * And when he was at the last gasp , he said , Thou like a fury takest us out of this present life , but the King of the world shall raise us up , who have died for his laws , unto everlasting life . * After him was the third made a mocking stock : and when he was required , he put out his tongue , and that right soon , holding forth his hands manfully . * And said courageously , These I had from heaven ; and for his laws I despise them ; and from him I hope to receive them again . * Insomuch that the king , and they that were with him , marvelled at the young man 's courage , for that he nothing regarded the pains . * Now when this man was dead also , they tormented and mangled the fourth in like manner . * So when he was ready to die he said thus , It is good , being put to death by men , to look for hope from God to be raised up again by him : as for thee , thou shalt have no resurrection to life . * Afterward they brought the fifth also , and mangled him . * Then looked he unto the king , and said , Thou hast power over men , thou art corruptible , thou doest what thou wilt ; yet think not that our nation is forsaken of God ; * But abide a while , and behold his great power , how he will torment thee and thy seed . * After him also they brought the sixth , who being ready to die said , Be not deceived without cause : for we suffer these things for ourselves , having sinned against our God : therefore marvellous things are done unto us . * But think not thou , that takest in hand to strive against God , that thou shalt escape unpunished . * But the mother was marvellous above all , and worthy of honourable memory : for when she saw her seven sons slain within the space of one day , she bare it with a good courage , because of the hope that she had in the Lord . * Yea , she exhorted every one of them in her own language , filled with courageous spirits ; and stirring up her womanish thoughts with a manly stomach , she said unto them , * I cannot tell how ye came into my womb : for I neither gave you breath nor life , neither was it I that formed the members of every one of you ; * But doubtless the Creator of the world , who formed the generation of man , and found out the beginning of all things , will also of his own mercy give you breath and life again , as ye now regard not your own selves for his laws ' sake . * Now Antiochus , thinking himself despised , and suspecting it to be a reproachful speech , whilst the youngest was yet alive , did not only exhort him by words , but also assured him with oaths , that he would make him both a rich and a happy man , if he would turn from the laws of his fathers ; and that also he would take him for his friend , and trust him with affairs . * But when the young man would in no case hearken unto him , the king called his mother , and exhorted her that she would counsel the young man to save his life . * And when he had exhorted her with many words , she promised him that she would counsel her son . * But she bowing herself toward him , laughing the cruel tyrant to scorn , spake in her country language on this manner ; O my son , have pity upon me that bare thee nine months in my womb , and gave thee such three years , and nourished thee , and brought thee up unto this age , and endured the troubles of education . * I beseech thee , my son , look upon the heaven and the earth , and all that is therein , and consider that God made them of things that were not ; and so was mankind made likewise . * Fear not this tormentor , but , being worthy of thy brethren , take thy death that I may receive thee again in mercy with thy brethren . * Whiles she was yet speaking these words , the young man said , Whom wait ye for ? I will not obey the king 's commandment : but I will obey the commandment of the law that was given unto our fathers by Moses . * And thou , that hast been the author of all mischief against the Hebrews , shalt not escape the hands of God . * For we suffer because of our sins . * And though the living Lord be angry with us a little while for our chastening and correction , yet shall he be at one again with his servants . * But thou , O godless man , and of all other most wicked , be not lifted up without a cause , nor puffed up with uncertain hopes , lifting up thy hand against the servants of God : * For thou hast not yet escaped the judgment of Almighty God , who seeth all things . * For our brethren , who now have suffered a short pain , are dead under God 's covenant of everlasting life : but thou , through the judgment of God , shalt receive just punishment for thy pride . * But I , as my brethren , offer up my body and life for the laws of our fathers , beseeching God that he would speedily be merciful unto our nation ; and that thou by torments and plagues mayest confess , that he alone is God ; * And that in me and my brethren the wrath of the Almighty , which is justly brought upon our nation , may cease . * Than the king ' being in a rage , handed him worse than all the rest , and took it grievously that he was mocked . * So this man died undefiled , and put his whole trust in the Lord . * Last of all after the sons the mother died . * Let this be enough now to have spoken concerning the idolatrous feasts , and the extreme tortures .

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