4 Maccabees 7:15-17

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

¹⁵ O man of blessed age and of venerable gray 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 pious reason is governor of the passions. ¹⁷ Some perhaps might say, “Not all have full command of their passions, because not all have prudent reason.”