8. No man who takes advantage of women ever tempted me to have sex in an isolated field. The destructive, lying snake didn’t ruin my innocence either.
9. When I was in my prime, I lived with my husband. He died when my children had grown up. He was privileged to have lived his life enjoying good children, and to have been spared the pain of losing them.
10. While he was still with you, he used to teach you the Law and the Prophets.
11. He read to you about Abel, who was killed by Cain, and about Isaac, who was offered as an entirely burned sacrifice, and about Joseph in prison.
12. He used to tell you about Phinehas’ total commitment, and to teach you about Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael in the fire.
13. He used to praise Daniel in the lions’ den—he called Daniel privileged.
14. He kept reminding you about the scripture in Isaiah that says, Even if you go through fire, the flame will not burn you up.
15. He used to sing to you the songs of David the psalmist, who said, The righteous person is bothered by many trials.
16. He used to quote Solomon’s proverb: There is a tree that gives life for those who do what God wants.
17. He reinforced the truth of Ezekiel, where it says, Will these dry bones live?
18. And he didn’t forget to teach you the song that Moses taught, which says,
19. I kill and I bring things to life: this is your life and the length of your days."
20. How that day was bitter and yet not bitter! That was when the bitter Greek tyrant smothered fire with more fire in his cruel copper pots. That was when he dragged those seven sons of that daughter of Abraham back and forth in his furious anger between the catapult and other torture devices.
21. That was when he skewered their eyes through the pupils, cut out their tongues, and put them to death with all kinds of torture.