12. Even the king and his attendants marveled at the young man’s spirit, because he regarded his sufferings as nothing.
13. After he had died, they tortured and maltreated the fourth brother in the same way.
14. When he was near death, he said, “It is my choice to die at the hands of mortals with the hope that God will restore me to life; but for you, there will be no resurrection to life.”
15. They next brought forward the fifth brother and maltreated him.
16. Looking at the king, he said: “Mortal though you are, you have power over human beings, so you do what you please. But do not think that our nation is forsaken by God.
17. Only wait, and you will see how his great power will torment you and your descendants.”
18. After him they brought the sixth brother. When he was about to die, he said: “Have no vain illusions. We suffer these things on our own account, because we have sinned against our God; that is why such shocking things have happened.
19. Do not think, then, that you will go unpunished for having dared to fight against God.”
20. Most admirable and worthy of everlasting remembrance was the mother who, seeing her seven sons perish in a single day, bore it courageously because of her hope in the Lord.
21. Filled with a noble spirit that stirred her womanly reason with manly emotion, she exhorted each of them in the language of their ancestors with these words:
22. “I do not know how you came to be in my womb; it was not I who gave you breath and life, nor was it I who arranged the elements you are made of.