11 Thus speaking, he ordered the instruments of torture to be brought forward, that very fear might prevail upon them to eat unclean meat.
12 And when the spearman brought forward the wheels, and the racks, and the hooks, and catapults, and caldrons, pans, and finger-racks, and iron hands and wedges, and bellows, the tyrant continue:
13 Fear, young men, and the righteousness which you⌃ worship will be merciful to you if you err from compulsion.
14 Now they having listened to these words of persuasion, and seeing the fearful instruments, not only were not afraid, but even answered the arguments of the tyrant, and through their good reasoning destroyed his power.
15 Now let us consider the matter: had any of them been weak-spirited and cowardly among them, what reasonings would they have employed but these?
16 O wretched that we are, and exceeding senseless! when the king exhorts us, and calls us to his bounty, should we not obey him?
17 Why do we cheer ourselves with vain counsels, and venture upon a disobedience bringing death?