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⁸For she had been married to seven husbands, and the wicked demon Asmodeus had killed each of them before they had been with her as is customary for wives. So the maid said to her, ‘You are the one who kills^* your husbands! See, you have already been married to seven husbands and have not borne the name of^* a single one of them. ⁹Why do you beat us? Because your husbands are dead? Go with them! May we never see a son or daughter of yours!’

Sarah’s Prayer for Death

10 On that day she was grieved in spirit and wept. When she had gone up to her father’s upper room, she intended to hang herself. But she thought it over and said, ‘Never shall they reproach my father, saying to him, “You had only one beloved daughter but she hanged herself because of her distress.” And I shall bring my father in his old age down in sorrow to Hades. It is better for me not to hang myself, but to pray the Lord that I may die and not listen to these reproaches any more.’ ¹¹At that same time, with hands outstretched towards the window, she prayed and said,
‘Blessed are you, merciful God!
   Blessed is your name for ever;
   let all your works praise you for ever.
¹² And now, Lord,^* I turn my face to you,
   and raise my eyes towards you.
¹³ Command that I be released from the earth
   and not listen to such reproaches any more.
¹⁴ You know, O Master, that I am innocent
   of any defilement with a man,
¹⁵ and that I have not disgraced my name
   or the name of my father in the land of my exile.
I am my father’s only child;
   he has no other child to be his heir;
and he has no close relative or other kindred
   for whom I should keep myself as wife.
Already seven husbands of mine have died.
   Why should I still live?
But if it is not pleasing to you, O Lord, to take my life,
   hear me in my disgrace.’