2 Maccabees 6:28-30

New Catholic Bible

²⁸ and I shall leave to the young a noble example of how to die a good death willingly and nobly for our revered and holy laws.”

With these words he went immediately to the torture rack. ²⁹ Those who a short time before had been so kindly disposed toward him now became hostile after this statement that they regarded as sheer madness. ³⁰ When he was at the point of death as the result of the blows he had received, he groaned aloud and said: “The Lord in his holy knowledge clearly realizes that although I could have escaped death, not only am I enduring terrible sufferings in my body from this scourging, but in my soul I am gladly accepting these torments because of my awe of him.”