20 Let’s have compassion on our youth, and show pity for our mother’s old age as well.
21 Let’s take seriously the fact that, if we disobey, we are dead men!
22 Divine justice will not blame us because we were afraid of the king and his power over us.
23 So why should we deprive ourselves of this pleasant life and cheat ourselves out of this sweet world?
24 Let’s not fight against fate or take hollow pride in being tortured.
25 The Law itself would have difficulty giving us the death penalty since we sin out of fear of these instruments.
26 Why are we eager to fight a losing battle or so interested in being stubborn when we know it will kill us? We can enjoy a trouble-free life if we just obey the king!"