4 Maccabees 9:3-5

Revised Standard Version

³ Tyrant and counselor of lawlessness, in your hatred for us do not pity us more than we pity ourselves.^{[a] 4} For we consider this pity of yours which insures our safety through transgression of the law to be more grievous than death itself. ⁵ You are trying to terrify us by threatening us with death by torture, as though a short time ago you learned nothing from Elea′zar.