4 Maccabees 7:15-17

New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised

¹⁵ O man of blessed age and of venerable grey hair and of law-abiding life, whom the faithful seal of death has perfected!

¹⁶ If, therefore, because of piety an aged man despised tortures even to death, most certainly devout reason is governor of the emotions. ¹⁷ Some perhaps might say, ‘Not all have full command of their emotions, because not all have prudent reason.’