4 Maccabees 9:26-28

Common English Bible

The second brother’s torture and response

²⁶ While everyone was still in awe over the oldest son’s strong will, the guards dragged forward the next-oldest son. They put on iron gloves with sharp claws and tied the young man to the torture device. ²⁷ Before they began to torture him, they asked if he would eat pork. When they heard his courageous answer, ²⁸ they acted like wild leopards. They ripped out his muscles with their iron claws, tore his flesh all the way up to his chin, and tore his scalp off. He bore the pain with difficulty and said: