2 Maccabees 6 12-17

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.

For it is a token of his great goodness, when wicked doers are not suffered any long time, but forthwith punished.

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,

Lest that, being come to the height of sin, afterwards he should take vengeance of us.

And therefore he never withdraweth his mercy from us: and though he punish with adversity, yet doth he never forsake his people.

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.