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1.
51
And when he had gone out I wept, nor did I taste that or any other of her food.
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1.
52
So then after one day she came to me and observed the food, and said unto me: Why is it that thou hast not eaten of the food?
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1.
53
And I said unto her: It is because thou hast filled it with deadly enchantments; and how saidst thou: I come not near to idols but to the Lord alone.
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1.
54
Now therefore know that the God of my father hath revealed unto me by His angel thy wickedness, and I have kept it to convict thee, if haply thou mayst see and repent.
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1.
55
But that thou mayst learn that the wickedness of the ungodly hath no power over them that worship God with chastity behold I will take of it and eat before thee.
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1.
56
And having so said, I prayed thus: The God of my fathers and the angel of Abraham, be with me; and ate.
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1.
57
And when she saw this she fell upon her face at my feet, weeping; and I raised her up and admonished her.
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1.
58
And she promised to do this iniquity no more.
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1.
59
But her heart was still set upon evil, and she looked around how to ensnare me, and sighing deeply she became downcast, though she was not sick.
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1.
60
And when her husband saw her, he said unto her: Why is thy countenance fallen?
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1.
61
And she said unto him: I have a pain at my heart, and the groanings of my spirit oppress me; and so he comforted her who was not sick.
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1.
62
Then, accordingly seizing an opportunity, she rushed unto me while her husband was yet without, and said unto me: I will hang myself, or cast myself over a cliff, if thou wilt not lie with me.
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1.
63
And when I saw the spirit of Beliar was troubling her, I prayed unto the Lord, and said unto her:
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1.
64
Why, wretched woman, art thou troubled and disturbed, blinded through sins?
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1.
65
Remember that if thou kill thyself, Asteho, the concubine of thy husband, thy rival, will beat thy children, and thou wilt destroy thy memorial from off the earth.
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1.
66
And she said unto me: Lo, then thou lovest me; let this suffice me: only strive for my life and my children, and I expect that I shall enjoy my desire also.
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1.
67
But she knew not that because of my lord I spake thus, and not because of her.
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1.
68
For if a man hath fallen before the passion of a wicked desire and become enslaved by it, even as she, whatever good thing he may hear with regard to that passion, he receiveth it with a view to his wicked desire.
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1.
69
I declare, therefore, unto you, my children, that it was about the sixth hour when she departed from me; and I knelt before the Lord all day, and all the night; and about dawn I rose up, weeping the while and praying for a release from her.
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1.
70
At last, then, she laid hold of my garments, forcibly dragging me to have connexion with her.
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1.
71
When, therefore, I saw that in her madness she was holding fast to my garment, I left it behind, and fled away naked.
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1.
72
And holding fast to the garment she falsely accused me, and when her husband came he cast me into prison in his house; and on the morrow he scourged me and sent me into Pharaoh's prison.
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1.
73
And when I was in bonds, the Egyptian woman was oppressed with grief, and she came and heard how I gave thanks unto the Lord and sang praises in the abode of darkness, and with glad voice rejoiced, glorifying my God that I was delivered from the lustful desire of the Egyptian woman.
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1.
74
And often hath she sent unto me saying: Consent to fulfil my desire, and I will release thee from thy bonds, and I will free thee from the darkness.
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1.
75
And not even in thought did I incline unto her.
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1.
76
For God loveth him who in a den of wickedness combines fasting with chastity, rather than the man who in kings' chambers combines luxury with license.
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1.
77
And if a man liveth in chastity, and desireth also glory, and the Most High knoweth that it is expedient for him, He bestoweth this also upon me.
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1.
78
How often, though she were sick, did she come down to me at unlooked for times, and listened to my voice as I prayed!
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1.
79
And when I heard her groanings I held my peace.
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1.
80
For when I was in her house she was wont to bare her arms, and breasts, and legs, that I might lie with her; for she was very beautiful, splendidly adorned in order to beguile me.
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1.
81
And the Lord guarded me from her devices.
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