13 If then, the seven kindred despised troubles even to death, it’s admitted on all sides that righteous reasoning is absolute master over the emotions. 2 Because just as if they’d eaten of the unholy as slaves to the emotions, we’d have said that they’d been conquered by them. 3 Now it isn’t so. But by means of the reasoning which is praised by God, they mastered their emotions. 4 It’s impossible to overlook the leadership of reflection, for it gained the victory over both emotions and troubles. 5 How, then, can we avoid according to these men mastery of emotion through right reasoning, since they didn’t withdraw from the pains of fire? 6 Because just as by means of towers projecting in front of harbours men break the threatening waves, and thus assure a still course to vessels entering port, 7 so that seven-towered right-reasoning of the young men, securing the harbour of religion, conquered the tempest of emotions. 8 Because having arranged a holy choir of piety, they encouraged one another, saying, 9 “Brothers, may we die brotherly for the law. Let us imitate the three young men in Ashur (Assyria) who despised the equally afflicting furnace. 10 Let’s not be cowards in the manifestation of piety.” 11 One said, “Courage, brother!” and another, “Nobly endure!” 12 Another said, “Remember of what stock you are;” and by the hand of our father Yitshak (Isaac) endured to be slain for the sake of piety. 13 One and all, looking at each other serene and confident, said, “Let’s sacrifice with all our heart our souls to God who gave them, and employ our bodies for the keeping of the law. 14 Let’s not fear him who thinks he kills; 15 for great is the trial of soul and danger of eternal torment laid up for those who transgress God’s commandment. 16 Let’s arm ourselves, therefore, in the self-control, which is divine reasoning. 17 If we suffer like this, Avraham, Yitshak, and Ya’akov (Jacob) will receive us, and all the fathers will commend us. 18 As each one of the kindred was hauled away, the rest exclaimed, “Don’t disgrace us, Oh brother, nor falsify those who died before you!”

19 Now you aren’t ignorant of the charm of brotherhood, which the Divine and all wise Providence has imparted through fathers to children, and has engendered through the mother’s womb. 20 In which these brothers having remained an equal time, and having been formed for the same period, and been increased by the same blood, and having been perfected through the same principle of life, 21 and having been brought forth at equal intervals, and having sucked milk from the same springs, hence their brotherly souls are reared up lovingly together, 22 and increase the more powerfully because of this simultaneous rearing, and by daily companionship, and by other education, and exercise in God’s law.

23 Brotherly love being thus sympathetically constituted, the seven kindred had a more sympathetic mutual harmony. 24 Because being educated in the same law, and practising the same virtues, and reared up in a just course of life, they increased this harmony with each other. 25 Because the same ardour for what’s right and honourable increased their goodwill and harmony towards each other. 26 Because it acting along with religion, made their brotherly feeling more desirable to them. 27 And yet, although nature, companionship, and virtuous morals increased their brotherly love, those who were left endured to see their kindred, who were mistreated for their religion, tortured even to death.

14 More that this, they even urged them on to this mistreatment; so that they not only despised pains themselves, but they even got the better of their affections of brotherly love. 2 Reasoning is more royal than a king, and freer than freemen! 3 What a sacred and harmonious concert of the seven kindred as about piety! 4 None of the seven youths turned cowardly or shrank back from death. 5 But all of them, as though running the road to immortality, hastened on to death through tortures. 6 Because just as hands and feet are moved sympathetically with the directions of the soul, so those holy youths agreed to death for religion’s sake, as through the immortal soul of religion. 7 Oh holy seven of harmonious kindred! Because as the seven days of creation, about religion, 8 so the youths, circling around the number seven, annulled the fear of torments. 9 We now shudder at the recital of the affliction of those young men; but they not only saw, and not only heard the immediate execution of the threat, but undergoing it, persevered; and that through the pains of fire. 10 What could be more painful? Because the power of fire, being sharp and quick, speedily dissolved their bodies.