2 Maccabees 6:11-13

Good News Translation

^11 (A)On another occasion, Philip was told that some Jews had gathered in a nearby cave to observe the Sabbath in secret. Philip attacked and burned them all alive. They had such respect for the Sabbath that they would not fight to defend themselves.

The Lord Punishes and Shows Mercy

¹² I beg you not to become discouraged as you read about the terrible things that happened. Consider that this was the Lord's way of punishing his people, not of destroying them. ¹³ In fact, it is a sign of kindness to punish a person immediately for his sins, rather than to wait a long time.