Strong's G703 ἀρέτη (arete)

I am the Lord God: that is my name: I will not give my glory to another, nor my praises to graven images.

They shall give glory to God, and shall proclaim his praises in the islands.

even my people whom I have preserved to tell forth my praises.

I remembered the mercy of the Lord, the praises of the Lord in all things wherein he recompenses us. The Lord is a good judge to the house of Israel; he deals with us according to his mercy, and according to the abundance of his righteousness.

God shall come from Teman, And the Holy One from the dark shady Mount Paran. Pause.

And he shall receive power, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and there shall be a priest on his right hand, and a peaceable counsel shall be between them both.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

And thus this man died, leaving his death for an example of a noble courage, and a memorial of virtue, not only unto young men, but unto all his nation.

Now the sun being newly risen, they joined both together; the one part having together with their virtue their refuge also unto the Lord for a pledge of their success and victory: the other side making their rage leader of their battle.

And this was his vision: That Onias, who had been high priest, a virtuous and a good man, reverend in conversation, gentle in condition, well spoken also, and exercised from a child in all points of virtue, holding up his hands prayed for the whole body of the Jews.

Thus being well comforted by the words of Judas, which were very good, and able to stir them up to valor, and to encourage the hearts of the young men, they determined not to pitch camp, but courageously to set upon them, and manfully to try the matter by conflict, because the city and the sanctuary and the temple were in danger.

And Eleazar, an illustrious priest of the country, who had attained to length of days, and whose life had been adorned with virtue, caused the presbyters who were about him to cease to cry out to the holy God, and prayed thus:

For reason is necessary to everyone as a step to science: and more especially does it embrace the praise of prudence, the highest virtue.

but I shall prove it with the greatest force from the fortitude of Eleazar, and seven brethren, and their mother, who suffered death in defense of virtue.

For their virtues, then, it is right that I should commend those men who died with their mother at this time in behalf of rectitude; and for their honors, I may count them happy.

For reasoning is the leader of the virtues, but it is the sole ruler of the passions. Observe then first, through the very things which stand in the way of temperance, that reasoning is absolute ruler of the passions.

For the law conquers even affection toward parents, not surrendering virtue on their account.

and knowing that it is a blessed thing to endure all kinds of hardships for virtue, would not, for the sake of religion, master his passion?

For we through this ill-treatment and endurance shall bear off the rewards of virtue.

For through all my torments I will convince you that the children of the Hebrews are alone unconquered in behalf of virtue.

For I lighten my suffering by the pleasures which are connected with virtue.

We, O accursed tyrant, suffer this for the sake of Divine education and virtue.

I intend not, O tyrant, to get excused from the torment which is in behalf of virtue.

But they, bravely dying, fulfilled their religion toward God.

For being educated in the same law, and practicing the same virtues, and reared up in a just course of life, they increased this harmony with each other.

And yet, although nature and intercourse and virtuous morals increased their brotherly love, those who were left endured to behold their brethren, who were ill-used for their religion, tortured even unto death.

For at that time virtue presided over the contest, approving the victory through endurance, namely, immortality, eternal life.

For the tyrant Antiochus, looking to their manly virtue, and to their endurance in torture, proclaimed that endurance as an example to his soldiers.

Better it is to have no children, and to have virtue: For the memorial thereof is immortal: Because it is known with God, and with men.

Even so we in like manner, as soon as we were born, began to draw to our end, And had no sign of virtue to show; But were consumed in our own wickedness.

And if a man love righteousness, Her labors are virtues: For she teacheth temperance and prudence, Justice and fortitude: Which are such things, as men can have nothing more profitable in their life.