4 Maccabees 5:13-15

Revised Standard Version

¹³ For consider this, that if there is some power watching over this religion of yours, it will excuse you from any transgression that arises out of compulsion.”

¹⁴ When the tyrant urged him in this fashion to eat meat unlawfully, Elea′zar asked to have a word. ¹⁵ When he had received permission to speak, he began to address the people as follows: