3 Maccabees 7:12-14

Revised Standard Version

¹² The king^[a] then, admitting and approving the truth of what they said, granted them a general license so that freely and without royal authority or supervision they might destroy those everywhere in his kingdom who had transgressed the law of God. ¹³ When they had applauded him in fitting manner, their priests and the whole multitude shouted the Hallelujah and joyfully departed. ¹⁴ And so on their way they punished and put to a public and shameful death any whom they met of their fellow-countrymen who had become defiled.