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, chosen to speak, said, “What askest thou, and whereof wouldest thou enquire of us? We are ready to die, rather than to transgress the laws of our fathers.”

Then the king, being in a rage, commanded that pans and caldrons should be made hot: And when they were hot, and as she was speaking, the young man said, “What do ye tarry for? I will not obey the king’s commandment, but I obey the commandment of the law that was given unto our fathers by Moses.”

And forthwith he commanded to cut out the tongue of him that spake, and to flay him from the crown of his head, and to cut off his extremities, before the eyes of his brethren, and his mother.

Now when he was thus maimed, he commanded him to be brought to the fire, there being yet breath in him, and to be fried in the pan: And as the vapor spread from the pan, they encouraged one another, and their mother, to die manfully.

Saying, “The Lord God looketh upon us, and in truth hath comfort in us, as Moses in his song, which witnesseth to the faces, declared, saying, ‘And he shall be comforted in his servants.’”

So when the first was dead after this manner, they brought the second to make him a mocking-stock, and when they had plucked off the skin of his head with the hair, they asked him, “Wilt thou eat before thou be punished limb by limb?”

But he answered in the language of his fathers, and said, “No.” Wherefore he also received the rest of the torment, as the first.

And when he was at the last gasp, he said, “Thou, O wicked wretch, dost take 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 quickly put out his tongue, and stretched forth his hands manfully,

And said with courage, “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.

When this man was dead, they tormented the fourth in like manner.

So when he was at the point of death, he said, “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 tormented him. But he looked unto the king, and said,

“Thou hast power over men, thou art mortal, thou doest what thou wilt: but think not that God hath forsaken our nation.”

“But abide a while, and thou shalt see his great power, how he will torment thee and thy seed.”

After him also they brought the sixth, and when he was ready to die, he said, “Be not deceived in vain: for we suffer these things for ourselves, because of our sins against our God: therefore wonderful things are come to pass.”

“But think not thou, that thou shalt escape unpunished, for that thou takes upon thee to fight against God.”

But the mother was marvellous above all, and worthy of honorable 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, full of noble courage, and stirring up her womanish thoughts with a manly spirit.

“The Creator of the world, who fashioned man from the beginning, and found out the generation 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 a rich and happy man, if he would turn from the laws of his fathers; and that also he would take him for his friend, and commit him to trusts.

But when the young man would in no case hearken unto him, the king called the mother, and exhorted her that she would counsel the young man to save himself.

Then bowing herself toward him, she derided the cruel tyrant, saying in her country language, “O my son, have pity upon me that bare thee nine months in my womb, and gave thee suck three years, and nourished thee, and brought thee up unto this age, and endured the troubles of education.”

“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.”

“But thou, O author of all mischief, that art to 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 ungracious wretch, and of all other most wicked, be not lifted up with thy vain hopes, whilst thou exercisest thy power upon his servants.”

“For thou has not escaped the judgment of Almighty God, who seeth all things.”

“For my brethren, after they have endured a short pain, are dead under God’s covenant, and in the promises of life everlasting: but thou, through the judgment of God, shalt receive just punishment for thy pride.”

“But I, as my brethren, offer up my body and my life for the laws of our fathers, beseeching God that he would speedily be merciful unto our nation; and that thou mayest be made to confess, by torments and plagues, that he alone is God;”

“And that in me and my brethren the wrath of the Almighty, which is justly brought upon our whole nation, may cease.”

Then the king, being in a rage, received her words with no patience, but used him worse than all the rest.

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.