13. For indeed that those who act impiously be not let alone any long time, but straightway meet with retribution, is a sign of great beneficence.
14. For in the case of the other nations the Sovereign Lord does with longsuffering forbear, until that he punish them when they have attained to the full measure of their sins; but not so judged he as touching us,
15. that he may not take vengeance on us afterward, when we be come to the height of our sins.
16. Wherefore he never withdraws his mercy from us; but though he chasteneth with calamity, yet does he not forsake his own people.
17. Howbeit let this that we have spoken suffice to put you in remembrance; but after these few words we must come to the narrative.
18. Eleazar, one of the principal scribes, a man already well stricken in years, and of a noble countenance, was compelled to open his mouth to eat swine’s flesh.
19. But he, welcoming death with renown rather than life with pollution, advanced of his own accord to the instrument of torture, but first spat forth the flesh,
20. coming forward as men ought to come that are resolute to repel such things as not even for the natural love of life is it lawful to taste.
21. But they that had the charge of that forbidden sacrificial feast took the man aside, for the acquaintance which of old times they had with him, and privately implored him to bring flesh of his own providing, such as was befitting for him to use, and to make as if he did eat of the flesh from the sacrifice, as had been commanded by the king;
22. that by so doing he might be delivered from death, and for his ancient friendship with them might be treated kindly.