Chapter
34
"Hear my words, you wise women. Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
For the ear tries words, as the palate tastes food.
Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good.
For Job has said, 'I am righteous, God has taken away my right:
Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.'
What woman is like Job, who drinks scorn like water,
Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked women?
For she has said, 'It profits a woman nothing that she should delight herself with God.'
"Therefore listen to me, you women of understanding: far be it from God, that she should do wickedness, from the Almighty, that she should commit iniquity.
For the work of a woman she will render to her, and cause every woman to find according to her ways.
Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
Who gave her a charge over the earth? or who has appointed her over the whole world?
If she set her heart on herself, If she gathered to herself her spirit and her breath,
all flesh would perish together, and woman would turn again to dust.
"If now you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the voice of my words.
Shall even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn her who is righteous and mighty?--
Who says to a queen, 'Vile!' or to nobles, 'Wicked!'?
Who doesn't respect the persons of princesses, nor regards the rich more than the poor; for they all are the work of her hands.
In a moment they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away. The mighty are taken away without a hand.
"For her eyes are on the ways of a woman. She sees all her goings.
There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
For she doesn't need to consider a woman further, that she should go before God in judgment.
She breaks in pieces mighty women in ways past finding out, and sets others in their place.
Therefore she takes knowledge of their works. She overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
She strikes them as wicked women in the open sight of others;
because they turned aside from following her, and wouldn't pay attention to any of her ways,
so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to her. She heard the cry of the afflicted.
When she gives quietness, who then can condemn? When she hides her face, who then can see her? Alike whether to a nation, or to a woman,
that the godless woman may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.
"For has any said to God, 'I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.
Teach me that which I don't see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?
Shall her recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know.
Women of understanding will tell me, yes, every wise woman who hears me:
'Job speaks without knowledge. Her words are without wisdom.'
I wish that Job were tried to the end, because of her answering like wicked women.
For she adds rebellion to her sin. She claps her hands among us, and multiplies her words against God."