4 Maccabees 8:16-18

Common English Bible

¹⁶ But let’s think about what arguments they might have used if they had been cowardly and unmanly. Wouldn’t they have argued like this? ¹⁷ “What pitiful and stupid people we must be! When the king has invited and urged us to accept his favor, ¹⁸ why are we happy to make useless resolutions? Why should we dare to disobey when death will be the outcome?