2 Maccabees 6:11-17
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11 And others, that had run together into caves near by, to keep the sabbath day secretly, being discovered by Philip, were all burnt together, because they made a conscience to help themselves for the honour of the most sacred day.
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12 Now I beseech those that read this book, that they be not discouraged for these calamities, but that they judge those punishments not to be for destruction, but for a chastening of our nation.
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13 For it is a token of his great goodness, when wicked doers are not suffered any long time, but forthwith punished.
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14 For not as with other nations, whom the Lord patiently forbeareth to punish, till they be come to the fulness of their sins, so dealeth he with us,
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15 Lest that, being come to the height of sin, afterwards he should take vengeance of us.
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16 And therefore he never withdraweth his mercy from us: and though he punish with adversity, yet doth he never forsake his people.
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17 But let this that we at spoken be for a warning unto us. And now will we come to the declaring of the matter in a few words.