I had also psalteries and a ten-stringed lute, and every day when the widows and the poor had dined I would play to them and put them in mind of God, that they should praise Him.  And if ever my handmaidens murmured at the work they had to do, I took a psaltery and sang to them of the recompense of the reward.  And they were comforted, and ceased from their murmuring.

As for my children, they took part every day in the ministry, and after that they gathered together in the house of their eldest brother, and feasted there.  But every morning I offered up sacrifices for them, even thirty doves, fifty kids of the goats, and twelve sheep, and a choice bullock.  All of these, after I had offered up prayer, I caused to be prepared for the poor, and gave to them, saying, “Take these over and above that which you have had, and pray for my children, lest they perchance have said in their hearts, ’We are the children of a wealthy father, and these goods are ours.  Wherefore should we wait upon the poor and waste our substance in this manner?’” For indeed pride is an abomination unto the Lord.

Now this was my manner of life for seven years after that the angel had come to me.  But when Satan had obtained from the Lord power against me, he came down in great wrath; and first he burnt up the 7000 sheep, and 3000 camels, and 500 asses, and 500 yoke of oxen; and the rest were carried away by the men of the country to whom I had showed kindness, but now they turned against me and spoiled my goods.  Then one came and told me, and I gave glory to God, and said not a word of complaint.

Satan therefore, when he saw how I took the matter, devised yet more against me, and took on him the likeness of the King of Persia, and came and spake to all the worthless men of the country, saying, “This man Jobab, who hath consumed all the good of the land, and left nothing, giving it away to the halt, and maimed, and blind, is the same that destroyed the temple of the great god and laid waste the place of offerings.  It is time that he should receive the reward of his deeds.  Come, fall upon him and spoil his house.”  But they said, “He hath seven sons and three daughters; what if they escape into other lands and accuse us of violence, and return and slay us?” Satan answered, “Trouble not yourselves for that.  See, I have consumed part of his goods with fire; other part have I carried off. I will take in hand his children.”

And he departed, and cast down the house upon my sons and daughters, and slew them all.  And when the men saw that he had spoken truth, they came and plundered all that was in my house.  Mine eyes saw worthless and dishonourable men on my couches and at my tables, and I could not utter a word, for I was stricken weak, as a sick woman.  Nevertheless, I remembered the recompense of the reward; and I accounted the loss of my goods as nothing, if I might attain to that city whereof the angel had spoken.