4 So therefore be confident, holy-minded mother! Keep firm that hope in God that fueled your endurance.
5 The moon that is in heaven with the stars is not as royal as you. You lit the path of respect for God for your seven sons who are like stars, and you now stand in front of God in honor, firmly set in heaven along with them.
6 Your sons were true descendants of our father Abraham!
7 If we had the skill of an artist to paint a picture showing the story of your commitment to God, wouldn’t those who viewed the painting tremble to see a mother enduring the experience of seven children being tortured to death in so many ways?
8 What would be an appropriate message that could be carved on their tomb to remind our nation’s people? Perhaps these words:
9 HERE LIE BURIED AN OLD PRIEST, AN OLD WOMAN, AND SEVEN CHILDREN BECAUSE OF THE VIOLENCE OF A TYRANT WHO WISHED TO DESTROY THE HEBREW WAY OF LIFE.
10 THEY WON JUSTICE FOR THEIR NATION BY FIXING THEIR EYES ON GOD AND ENDURING TORTURE TO THE POINT OF DEATH.