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of me? Where is the god of Hamath, and where is the god of Arphad, and where is the god of the city of Sepharim? Were they not able to deliver Samaria from my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem from my hand?" But immediately and at once he received the wages of his blasphemy, and those many myriads were destroyed by one angel; but he himself, having fled and reached the land that bore him, had as slayers those whom he had begotten. For since he moved his tongue against the Creator, he receives slaughter from the men whom he begot. But not even this example bridled the tongue of Nebuchadnezzar, nor did that dream, which showed the successions of the kings, teach him to be sober-minded, but he remained raging against his Maker; but God arrays against him not an angel (as He had done in the case of that Sennacherib), but three captive lads, forced to dwell in a foreign land, bearing the yoke of slavery, young in age, being in the very springtime of their life; for these, immediately hearing that rage and mad blasphemy, were filled with anger and zeal, and they answered and said to the king: "We have no need to answer you concerning this matter." Superfluous, he says, is the question brought to us by you; for what we thought, we think now, and we will accept no change from your threats. 81.1321 17. "For our God whom we serve is in heaven, able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hands, O king." Who would not rightly be amazed at the courage of these blessed youths, their wisdom, their piety, their righteousness concerning the laws, their soberness in all things? For to not be terrified by so great a tyrant, who was set, so to speak, against all men, and by that great fire, threatened not only in words but also seen, testifies to their courage, which was more steadfast than adamant. And to have preferred the divine laws to the present life, what excess of righteousness does it leave behind? Their sober-mindedness is proclaimed by their not using insolent words against the king, nor again shaming their race through cowardice; and their prudence and wisdom by the piety set against the impious and blasphemous words. For the one said, "What god is there who will deliver you out of my hands?" But the others cried out, "Our God whom we serve is in heaven, able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hands, O king." For do not suppose that our God is like your gods. For you rightly despise them, as they have their being from matter and art; but our God, the Creator of heaven and earth and of all things, has power, which the things that are seen demonstrate. For that which is beyond these things is not easy for those uninitiated in divine things to perceive; revering Him, we await help from Him. For He is able to deliver us both from your hands and from the fiery furnace which you have built. But the things spoken after this leave no excess of courage and love for God. For having said, "Our God whom we serve is in heaven, able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hands, O king," they immediately added: 18. "But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the golden image which you have set up." For we do not serve our Master for a reward, but being spurred by affection and longing, we choose above all things the service of our God. For His sake we do not even ask indefinitely for deliverance from evils, but we cherish the Master's economy and providence; and not knowing what will be expedient, we permit the helmsman to steer as He wishes. For that He has the power to deliver us from the threatened evils, we know clearly. But whether He also wishes to do this, we do not know; but to Him, being wise, we yield pr...

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μου; ποῦ ὁ θεὸς Ἐμὰθ, καὶ ποῦ ὁ θεὸς Ἀρφὰθ, καὶ ποῦ ὁ θεὸς τῆς πόλεως Σεπφαρίμ; μὴ ἠδυνήθησαν ῥύσασθαι Σαμάρειαν ἐκ χειρός μου, ὅτι ῥύσεται Κύριος τὴν Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἐκ χειρός μου;" Ἀλλ' εὐθὺς καὶ παραχρῆμα ἔλαβε τῆς βλασφημίας τὰ ἐπίχειρα, καὶ αἱ πολλαὶ μὲν ἐκεῖναι μυριάδες ὑφ' ἑνὸς ἀνῃρέθησαν ἀγγέλου· αὐτὸς δὲ φυγὼν, καὶ τὴν ἐνεγκοῦσαν καταλαβὼν, σφαγέας οὓς ἐγέννησεν, ἔσχηκεν. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ κατὰ τοῦ Ποιητοῦ τὴν γλῶτταν ἐκίνησε, δέχεται τὴν σφαγὴν παρὰ ἀνθρώπων οὓς ἐγέννησεν. Ἀλλ' οὐδὲ τούτου τὸ παράδειγμα τοῦ Ναβουχοδονόσορ ἐχαλίνωσε τὴν γλῶτταν, οὔτε τὸ ἐνύπνιον ἐκεῖνο τὰς τῶν βασιλέων ὑποδεῖξαν διαδο χὰς ἐδίδαξε σωφρονεῖν, ἀλλ' ἔμεινε κατὰ τοῦ πεποιη κότος λυττῶν· ἀντιστρατεύει δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ Θεὸς οὐκ ἄγγελον (ὅπερ ἐπὶ τοῦ Σενναχηρεὶμ ἐκείνου πε ποίηκεν), ἀλλὰ τρία παιδάρια αἰχμάλωτα, τὴν ξένην οἰκεῖν ἠναγκασμένα, τὸν τῆς δουλείας ἕλκοντα ζυγὸν, νέαν ἄγοντα τὴν ἡλικίαν, ἐν αὐτῷ ὄντα ἔαρι τοῦ χρόνου· οὗτοι γὰρ παραυτίκα τῆς λύττης ἐκεί νης καὶ μανικῆς βλασφημίας ἀκούσαντες, θυμοῦ καὶ ζήλου πλήρεις ἐγένοντο, καὶ ἀπεκρίθησαν, καὶ εἶπον τῷ βασιλεῖ· "Οὐ χρείαν ἔχομεν ἡμεῖς περὶ τοῦ ῥήματος τούτου ἀποκριθῆναί σοι." Περιττὴ, φησὶν, ἡ πεῦσις ἡ παρὰ σοῦ ἡμῖν προσαγομένη· ἃ γὰρ ἐφρονοῦμεν, καὶ νῦν φρονοῦμεν, καὶ οὐδεμίαν μεταβολὴν ἐκ τῶν σῶν ἀπειλῶν δεξόμεθα. 81.1321 ιζʹ. "Ἔστι γὰρ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν ἐν οὐρανοῖς, ᾧ ἡμεῖς λατρεύομεν, δυνατὸς ἐξελέσθαι ἡμᾶς ἐκ τῆς καμίνου τοῦ πυρὸς τῆς καιομένης, καὶ ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν σου, βασιλεῦ, ῥύσεται ἡμᾶς." Τίς οὐκ ἂν εἰκότως ἐκπλαγείη τῶν μακαρίων τούτων νέων τὴν ἀνδρείαν, τὴν σοφίαν, τὴν εὐσέβειαν, τὴν περὶ τοὺς νόμους δικαιοσύνην, τὴν περὶ πάντα σωφροσύνην; Τὸ μὲν γὰρ μὴ καταπλαγῆναι τὸν τοσοῦτον ἐκεῖνον τύραννον, μετὰ πάντων, ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν, ἀνθρώπων ἀντιτε ταγμένον, καὶ τὴν μεγίστην ἐκείνην πυρὰν, οὐ λόγοις μόνον ἀπειλουμένην, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὁρωμένην, τὴν ἀδά μαντος στεῤῥοτέραν αὐτοῖς ἀνδρείαν μαρτυρεῖ. Τὸ δὲ τοὺς θείους νόμους τῆς παρούσης προτιμῆσαι ζωῆς, ποίας δικαιοσύνης ὑπερβολὴν καταλείπει; Τὴν δὲ σωφροσύνην αὐτῶν κηρύττει, τὸ μήτε θρασέσι κατὰ τοῦ βασιλέως χρήσασθαι λόγοις, μήτε δειλίᾳ πάλιν καταισχῦναι τὸ γένος· τὴν δὲ φρόνησιν καὶ σοφίαν ἡ τοῖς δυσσεβέσι καὶ βλασφήμοις λόγοις ἀντιτεθεῖσα εὐσέβεια. Ὁ μὲν γὰρ ἔλεγε· "Τίς ἐστι Θεὸς, ὃς ἐξελεῖται ὑμᾶς ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν μου;" Οἱ δὲ ἐβόων· "Ἔστιν ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν ἐν οὐρανοῖς, ᾧ ἡμεῖς λατρεύο μεν, δυνατὸς ἐξελέσθαι ἡμᾶς ἐκ τῆς καμίνου τοῦ πυρὸς τῆς καιομένης, καὶ ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν σου, βασι λεῦ, ῥύσεται ἡμᾶς." Μὴ γὰρ νομίσῃς τὸν ἡμέτε ρον Θεὸν τοῖς σοῖς ἐοικέναι θεοῖς. Ἐκείνων γὰρ εἰκό τως καταφρονεῖς, ἐξ ὕλης τε καὶ τέχνης ἐσχηκότων τὸ εἶναι· ὁ δὲ ἡμέτερος Θεὸς, οὐρανοῦ τε καὶ γῆς, καὶ τῶν ἁπάντων ∆ημιουργὸς, δύναμιν ἔχων, ἣν δείκνυσι τὰ ὁρώμενα. Τὴν γὰρ ὑπὲρ ταῦτα τοῖς τῶν θείων ἀμυήτοις οὐ ῥᾴδιον κατιδεῖν· τοῦτον πρε σβεύοντες τὴν παρ' αὐτοῦ βοήθειαν ἀναμένομεν. Ἱκα νὸς γὰρ ἡμᾶς καὶ τῶν σῶν ἀπαλλάξαι χειρῶν, καὶ τῆς καμίνου τοῦ πυρὸς, ἣν σὺ κατεσκεύασας. Τὰ δὲ μετὰ ταῦτα ῥηθέντα οὐδεμίαν ἀνδρείας καὶ φιλοθεΐας ὑπερβολὴν καταλείπει. Εἰρηκότες γάρ· "Ἔστιν ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν ἐν οὐρανοῖς, ᾧ ἡμεῖς λατρεύομεν, δυνα τὸς ἐξελέσθαι ἡμᾶς ἐκ τῆς καμίνου τοῦ πυρὸς τῆς καιομένης, καὶ ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν σου, βασιλεῦ, ῥύσεται ἡμᾶς," εὐθὺς ἐπήγαγον· ιηʹ. "Καὶ ἐὰν μὴ, γνωστὸν ἔστω σοι, βασιλεῦ, ὅτι τοῖς θεοῖς σου οὐ λατρεύομεν, καὶ τῇ εἰκόνι τῇ χρυσῇ, ᾗ ἔστησας, οὐ προσκυνοῦμεν." Οὐ γὰρ ἐπὶ μισθῷ τῷ ἡμετέρῳ ∆εσπότῃ δουλεύομεν, ἀλλὰ φίλτρῳ καὶ πόθῳ νυττόμενοι, πάντων ὁμοῦ τὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν προαιρούμεθα θεραπείαν. Οὗ χάριν οὐδὲ τὴν ἀπαλλαγὴν τῶν κακῶν ἀορίστως αἰτοῦμεν, ἀλλὰ τοῦ ∆εσπότου τὴν οἰκονομίαν καὶ προμήθειαν στέργομεν· καὶ τὸ συνοίσειν μέλλον οὐκ εἰδότες, τῷ κυβερνήτῃ παραχωροῦμεν ἰθύνειν, ὡς ἂν ἐθέλῃ. Ὅτι μὲν γὰρ ἀπαλλάττειν ἡμᾶς τῶν ἠπειλημένων κακῶν ἰσχύει, σαφῶς ἐπιστάμεθα. Εἰ δὲ καὶ βούλεται τοῦτο ποιεῖν, ἀγνοοῦμεν· σοφῷ δὲ ὄντι παραχωροῦμεν πρυ