Good News Translation
But he preferred an honorable death rather than a life of disgrace. So he spit out the meat and went willingly to the place of torture, showing how people should have courage to refuse unclean food, even if it costs them their lives.

New Revised Standard Version
But he, welcoming death with honor rather than life with pollution, went up to the rack of his own accord, spitting out the flesh,

Contemporary English Version
Eleazar chose to die with honor rather than to live with shame. So he willingly walked to the place of torture, spitting out the meat as he went.

New American Bible
But preferring a glorious death to a life of defilement, he went forward of his own accord to the instrument of torture,

Douay-Rheims Bible
But he, choosing rather a most glorious death than a hateful life, went forward voluntarily to the torment.

But he, choosing rather a most glorious death than a hateful life, went forward voluntarily to the torment.

2 Maccabees 6:17
But let this suffice in a few words for a warning to the readers. And now we must come to the narration.

2 Maccabees 6:18
Eleazar one of the chief of the scribes, a man advanced in years, and of a comely countenance, was pressed to open his mouth to eat swine's flesh.

2 Maccabees 6:20
And considering in what manner he was to come to it, patiently bearing, he determined not to do any unlawful things for the love of life.

2 Maccabees 6:21
But they that stood by, being moved with wicked pity, for the old friendship they had with the man, taking him aside, desired that flesh might be brought which it was lawful for him to eat, that he might make as if he had eaten, as the king had commanded, of the flesh of the sacrifice: