who

And he explained, 'Those who excel in courage and righteousness and those who are more anxious about the safety of their men than to gain a victory by risking their lives through rashness. For as God acts well towards all men, so too you in imitation of Him are the benefactor of all your subjects.'

And he explained, 'Those who excel in courage and righteousness and those who are more anxious about the safety of their men than to gain a victory by risking their lives through rashness. For as God acts well towards all men, so too you in imitation of Him are the benefactor of all your subjects.'

And he replied, 'The man who is furnished with reputation and wealth and power and possesses a soul equal to it all. You yourself show by your actions that you are most worthy of admiration through the help of God who makes you care for these things.'

And he replied, 'The man who is furnished with reputation and wealth and power and possesses a soul equal to it all. You yourself show by your actions that you are most worthy of admiration through the help of God who makes you care for these things.'

And he replied, 'To reading and the study of the records of official journeys, which are written in reference to the various kingdoms, with a view to the reformation and preservation of the subjects. And it is by such activity that you have attained to a glory which has never been approached by others, through the help of God who fulfils all your desires.' 15 The king spoke enthusiastically to the man and asked another, how ought a man to occupy himself during his hours of relaxation and recreation?

And he replied, 'You should summon to your side men of learning and those who are able to give you useful hints with regard to the affairs of your kingdom and the lives of your subjects (for you could not find any theme more suitable or more educative than this) since such men are dear to God because they have trained their minds to contemplate the noblest themes--as you indeed are doing yourself, since all your actions are directed by God.'

And he replied, 'He who is best by nature. For kings who come of royal lineage are often harsh and severe towards their subjects. And still more is this the case with some of those who have risen from the ranks of private citizens, who after having experienced evil and borne their share of poverty, when they rule over multitudes turn out to be more cruel than the godless tyrants.

And he replied, 'He who is best by nature. For kings who come of royal lineage are often harsh and severe towards their subjects. And still more is this the case with some of those who have risen from the ranks of private citizens, who after having experienced evil and borne their share of poverty, when they rule over multitudes turn out to be more cruel than the godless tyrants.

And he replied, 'He who is best by nature. For kings who come of royal lineage are often harsh and severe towards their subjects. And still more is this the case with some of those who have risen from the ranks of private citizens, who after having experienced evil and borne their share of poverty, when they rule over multitudes turn out to be more cruel than the godless tyrants.

And he replied, 'He who is best by nature. For kings who come of royal lineage are often harsh and severe towards their subjects. And still more is this the case with some of those who have risen from the ranks of private citizens, who after having experienced evil and borne their share of poverty, when they rule over multitudes turn out to be more cruel than the godless tyrants.

But, as I have said, a good nature which has been properly trained is capable of ruling, and you are a great king, not so much because you excel in the glory of your rule and your wealth but rather because you have surpassed all men in clemency and philanthropy, thanks to God who has endowed you with these qualities.'

These results are achieved through the influence of the ruler, when he is a man who hates evil and loves the good and devotes his energies to saving the lives of men, just as you consider injustice the worst form of evil and by your just administration have fashioned for yourself an undying reputation, since God bestows upon you a mind which is pure and untainted by any evil.'

For though the questioner had given great thought to each particular question, those who replied one after the other had their answers to the questions ready at once and so they seemed to me and to all who were present and especially to the philosophers to be worthy of admiration.

For though the questioner had given great thought to each particular question, those who replied one after the other had their answers to the questions ready at once and so they seemed to me and to all who were present and especially to the philosophers to be worthy of admiration.

And I suppose that the thing will seem incredible to those who will read my narrative in the future.

When the work was completed, Demetrius collected together the Jewish population in the place where the translation had been made, and read it over to all, in the presence of the translators, who met with a great reception also from the people, because of the great benefits which they had conferred upon them.

And when the whole company expressed their approval, they bade them pronounce a curse in accordance with their custom upon anyone who should make any alteration either by adding anything or changing in any way whatever any of the words which had been written or making any omission.

And he replied, 'Because the law is sacred and of divine origin. And some of those who formed the intention of dealing with it have been smitten by God and therefore desisted from their purpose.'

I could bring before you many examples, drawn from various sources, where Reason has proved itself master over the passions, but the best instance by far that I can give is the noble conduct of those who died for the sake of virtue, Eleazar, and the Seven Brethren and the Mother.

Our people were deeply angered by this announcement, and protested strongly, considering it, an outrageous thing for those who had entrusted their deposits to the temple treasury to be robbed of them, and they threw all possible obstacles in his way.

But Seleucus dying, his successor on the throne was his son Antiochus Epiphanes, an overweening terrible man; who dismissed Onias from his sacred office, and made his brother Jason high-priest instead, the condition being that in return for the appointment Jason should pay him three thousand six hundred and sixty talents yearly.

And when he had plundered the city he made a decree denouncing the penalty of death upon any who should be seen to live after the law of our fathers.

Not so, for the Law teaches us self-control, so that we are masters of all our pleasures and desires and are thoroughly trained in manliness so as to endure all pain with readiness; and it teaches justice, so that with all our various dispositions we act fairly, and it teaches righteousness, so that with due reverence we worship only the God who is.

And first they unclothed the old man, who was adorned with the beauty of holiness.

No city besieged with many and cunning engines ever defended itself so well as did that holy man when his sacred soul was attacked with scourge and rack and flame, and he moved them who were laying siege to his soul through his Reason that was the shield of sanctity.

For who is there that being a philosopher following righteously the whole rule of philosophy, and having put his trust in God, and knowing that it is a blessed thing to endure all hardness for the sake of virtue, would not conquer his passions for the sake of righteousness?

'O young men, I wish well to each one of you, and admire your beauty, and honour highly so large a band of brothers; so not only do I advise you not to persist in the madness of that old man who has already suffered, but I even entreat of you to yield to me and become partakers in my friendship.

For, as I am able to punish those who disobey my orders, so am I able to advance those who do obey me.

For, as I am able to punish those who disobey my orders, so am I able to advance those who do obey me.

Invent tortures, O tyrant, in order that thou mayest learn thereby that I am brother of those who have been already tortured.'

And when this man also was dead, the sixth was brought, a mere boy, who in answer to the tyrant's inquiry whether he was willing to eat and be released, said:

And it is impossible to deny the supremacy of the mind; for they won the victory over their passions and their pains. 19 How can we do otherwise than admit right Reason's mastery over passion with these men who shrank not before the agonies of burning?

Let us imitate the Three Children at the Assyrian court who despised this same ordeal of the furnace.

And each and all of them together, looking at each other brightly and very boldly, said, 'With a whole heart will we consecrate ourselves unto God who gave us our souls, and let us lend our bodies to the keeping of the Law.

Let us not fear him who thinketh he kills; for a great struggle and peril of the soul awaits in eternal torment those who transgress the ordinance of God.

Let us not fear him who thinketh he kills; for a great struggle and peril of the soul awaits in eternal torment those who transgress the ordinance of God.

You are not ignorant of the love of brethren, whereof the divine and all-wise Providence has given an inheritance to those who are begotten though their fathers, implanting it in them even through the mother's womb; wherein brethren do dwell the like period, and take their form during the same time, and are nourished from the same blood, and are quickened with the same soul, and are brought into the world after the same space, and they draw milk from the same founts, whereby their fraternal souls are nursed together in arms at the breast; and they are knit yet closer through a common nurture and daily companionship and other education, and through our discipline under the Law of God.

But though nature, companionship, and their virtuous disposition increased the ardour of their brotherly love, nevertheless the surviving sons through their religion supported the sight of their brethren, who were on the rack, being tortured to death; nay more, they even encouraged them to face the agony, so as not only to despise their own tortures, but also to conquer their passion of brotherly affection for their brethren. 34 O Reasoning minds, more kingly than kings, than freemen more free, of the harmony of the seven brethren, holy and well attuned to the keynote of piety!

And what need have we of examples of the love of offspring among irrational animals, when even the bees, about the season of the making of the comb, fend off intruders, and stab with their sting, as with a sword, those who approach their brood, and do battle against them even to the death?

O mother, who now knew sharper pangs than the pangs of labour! O woman, alone among women, the fruit of whose womb was perfect religion!

And righteousness won the victor and gave the crown to her athletes. Who but wondered at the athletes of the true Law?

Who were not amazed at them? The tyrant himself and his whole council admired their endurance, whereby they now do both Stand beside the throne of God and live the blessed age.

For Moses says, 'All also who have sanctified themselves are under thy hands.'

Who, while he was yet with us, taught you the Law and the prophets. He read to us of Abel who was slain by Cain, and of Isaac who was offered as a burnt-offering, and of Joseph in the prison.

Who, while he was yet with us, taught you the Law and the prophets. He read to us of Abel who was slain by Cain, and of Isaac who was offered as a burnt-offering, and of Joseph in the prison.

Who, while he was yet with us, taught you the Law and the prophets. He read to us of Abel who was slain by Cain, and of Isaac who was offered as a burnt-offering, and of Joseph in the prison.

For who is able to distinguish love, except the one that is loved?

And he who has pleasure in the Living One, will become living.

For who is there that shall put on thy grace, and be hurt?

Blessed then are the ministers of that draught who are entrusted with that water of His:

He who created wisdom is wiser than His works:

And He who created me when yet I was not knew what I should do when I came into being:

They who make songs shall sing the grace of the Lord Most High;

Rise up, and stand erect, ye who sometime were brought low:

Tell forth ye who were in silence, that your mouth hath been opened.

Keep my secret, ye who are kept by it:

Keep my faith, ye who are kept by it.

And understand my knowledge, ye who know me in truth.

Love me with affection, ye who love:

Who then shall rise up against my handiwork, or who is there that is not subject to them?

Who then shall rise up against my handiwork, or who is there that is not subject to them?

And yet beloved ones in the Beloved: those who are kept, in Him that liveth:

That none of those who hear may fall in war, and that those again who have known Him may not perish, and that those who receive may not be ashamed.

That none of those who hear may fall in war, and that those again who have known Him may not perish, and that those who receive may not be ashamed.

That none of those who hear may fall in war, and that those again who have known Him may not perish, and that those who receive may not be ashamed.

An everlasting crown for ever is Truth. Blessed are they who set it on their heads:

And all those who have conquered shall be written in His book.

To convert the souls of them who are willing to come to Him; and to lead captive a good captivity for freedom.

And the Gentiles were gathered together who were scattered abroad.

And I worshipped the Lord on account of His glory; and I said, Blessed, O Lord, are they who are planted in thy land! and those who have a place in thy Paradise;

And I worshipped the Lord on account of His glory; and I said, Blessed, O Lord, are they who are planted in thy land! and those who have a place in thy Paradise;

Behold! all thy servants are fair, who do good works, and turn away from wickedness to the pleasantness that is thine:

And they knew Him who made them, because they were in concord; for the mouth of the Most High spake to them; and His explanation ran by means of it:

Blessed are they who by means thereof have understood everything, and have known the Lord in His truth. Hallelujah.

And He who knew and brought me up is the Most High in all His perfection. And He glorified me by His kindness, and raised my thoughts to the height of His truth.

And they too came in likeness of it and became vain; and those have understood who have known and meditated;

The Son is the cup, and He who was milked is the Father:

And they who receive in its fulness are the ones on the right hand.

He who brought me down from on high, also brought me up from the regions below;

And He who gathers together the things that are betwixt is He also who cast me down:

And He who gathers together the things that are betwixt is He also who cast me down:

He who scattered my enemies had existed from ancient and my adversaries:

He who gave me authority over bonds that I might loose them;

Thy right hand destroyed his wicked poison; and thy hand levelled the way for those who believe in thee.

Joy is of the saints! and who shall put it on, but they alone?

Grace is of the elect! and who shall receive it except those who trust in it from the beginning?

Grace is of the elect! and who shall receive it except those who trust in it from the beginning?

Love is of the elect? And who shall put it on except those who have possessed it from the beginning?

Love is of the elect? And who shall put it on except those who have possessed it from the beginning?

But those who saw it went after the letter that they might know where it would alight, and who should read it and who should hear it.

But those who saw it went after the letter that they might know where it would alight, and who should read it and who should hear it.

But those who saw it went after the letter that they might know where it would alight, and who should read it and who should hear it.

And all the apostates hasted and fled away. And those who persecuted and were enraged became extinct.

For they who in their hearts were lifted up were deficient in wisdom, and so they were rejected, because the truth was not with them.

For the Lord disclosed His way, and spread abroad His grace: and those who understood it, know His holiness. Hallelujah.

Who can write the Psalms of the Lord, or who read them?

Who can write the Psalms of the Lord, or who read them?

Or who can train his soul for life, that his soul may be saved,

Or who can rest on the Most High, so that with His mouth he may speak?

Who is able to interpret the wonders of the Lord?