And the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants - which feast was because of Esther - and let the lands be in quietness, and gave royal gifts.

At the same time, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay their hands on the king Ahasuerus:

Then the king's servants which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, "Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?"

And the writings were sent by posts into all the king's lands, to root out, to kill, and to destroy all Jews, both young and old, children and women in one day, - namely upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar - and to spoil their goods.

Then Esther called Hathach, one of the king's chamberlains which stood before her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, that he might know what it were, and wherefore he did so.

So Hathach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate.

"All the king's servants, and the people in the lands of the king know that whosoever cometh within the court unto the king, whether it be man or woman, which is not called, the commandment is that the same shall die immediately, except the king hold out the golden scepter unto him, that he may live. As for me, I have not been called to come in to the king now this thirty days."

The same night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the Chronicles and the stories: which when they were read before the king,

they happened on the place where it was written how Mordecai had told, that the king's two chamberlains which kept the thresholds sought to lay hands on king Ahasuerus.

that he may be arrayed with the royal garments which the king useth to wear: and the horse that the king rideth upon, and that the crown royal may be set upon his head.

And Harbona, one of the chamberlains that stood before the king, said, "Behold, there standeth a gallows in Haman's house fifty cubits high, which he had made for Mordecai, that spake good for the king." The king said, "Hang him thereon."

And the king put off his finger ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

and said, "If it please the king, and if I have found grace in his sight, and if it be convenient for the king, and if it be accepted in his sight, then let it be written, that the letters of the device of Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, may be called again: which letters he wrote, to destroy the Jews in all the king's lands.

upon one day in all the lands of king Ahasuerus, namely upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.

In the twelfth month, that is the month Adar, upon the thirteenth day, which the king's word and commandment had appointed, that it should be done, even upon the same day that the enemies should have destroyed the Jews to have oppressed them, it turned contrary wise, even that the Jews should subdue their enemies.

This was done on the thirteenth day of the month Adar, and on the fourteenth day of the same month rested they, which day they ordained to be a day of feasting and gladness.

and how Esther went and spake to the king, that through letters his wicked device - which he imagined against the Jews - might be turned upon his own head, and how he and his sons were hanged on the tree.

For the which cause they called this day Purim after the name of Pur, according to all the words of this writing: and what they themselves had seen, and what had happened unto them.

how that these days are not to be forgotten, but to be kept of the children's children among all kindreds in all lands and cities. They are the days of Purim, which are not to be overslipped among the Jews, and the memorial of them ought not to perish from their seed.

As for all the work of his power and authority, and the great worship of Mordecai, which the king gave him, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia.

In the mean season while he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, "The Chaldeans made three armies, and fell upon thy camels, which they have carried away: yea, and slain thy servants with the sword, and I only am gotten away, to tell thee."

and suddenly there came a mighty great wind out of the South, and smote the four corners of the house: which fell upon thy children, so that they are dead, and I alone am gotten away, to tell thee."

and the night in the which it was said, 'There is a man child conceived.'

like as the kings and lords of the earth, which build themselves special places:

O that I utterly had no being, or were as a thing born out of time that is put aside, either as young children, which never saw the light.

There, are those let out free which have been in prison, so that they hear no more the voice of the oppressor.

Which long for death, if it come not;

and search for it more than for treasure. Which also would be exceedingly glad, and rejoice if they found their grave.

That should be joy to the man whose way is hid, which God keepeth back from him.

How much more then shall they that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is but earth: which shall be consumed by the moth?

which doeth things, that are unsearchable, and marvelous without number.

Which giveth rain upon the earth, and poureth water upon all things;

which setteth up them of low degree, and sendeth prosperity to those that are in heaviness;

Which destroyeth the devices of the subtle, so that they are not able to perform the things that they take in hand;

which compasseth the wise in their own craftiness, and overthroweth the counsel of the wicked.

That which is unsavory, shalt it be eaten without salt, or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

How steadfast are the words of truth! And which of you can rebuke or reprove them?

if thou wouldst put away the wickedness which thou hast in hand, so that no ungodliness dwelt in thy house;

Go from him, that he may rest until his day come: which he looketh for, like as a hireling doth.

Thou reprovest with words, that are worth nothing; and speakest the things which can do no good!

What is man, that he should be clean? What hath he, which is born of a woman, whereby he might be known to be righteous?

How much more then an abominable and vile man, which drinketh wickedness like water?

which wise men have told, and hath not been hid from their fathers:

Therefore shall his dwelling be in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabits, but are become heaps of stones.

My days are past, my thoughts are vanished away, which have vexed my heart,

Other men shall dwell in his house - which now is none of his - and brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.

know this then: that it is God which hath handled me so violently, and hath compassed me about with his net.

His men of war came together, which made their way over me, and besieged my dwelling round about.

yet he perisheth at the last, like dung. Insomuch that they which have seen him, say, 'Where is he?'

So that the eye which saw him before, getteth now no sight of him, and his place knoweth him no more.

Is it with a man, that I make this disputation? Which if it were so, should not my spirit be then in sore trouble?

which were cut down out of time, and whose foundation was as a running water,

which said unto God, 'Go from us.' And what did the Almighty do with them?

He shall give thee a harvest, which in plenty and abundance shall exceed the dust of the earth, and the gold of Ophir like river stones.

Considering then that there is no time hid from the Almighty, how happeneth it, that they which know him, will not regard his days?

whereas they, notwithstanding, are rebellious and disobedient enemies: which seek not his light and way, nor turn again in to his path.

"The ungodly is very swift: O that his portion also upon earth were swifter than the running water, which suffereth not the shipman to behold the fair and pleasant vineyards.

O that they, for the wickedness which they have done, were drawn to the hell, sooner than snow melteth at the heat.

How much more then man, that is but corruption, and the son of man, which is but a worm?"

Where is the counsel that thou shouldest give him, which hath no wisdom? Wilt thou so show thine excellent righteousness?

yea, and all they which dwell beneath in the hell are not hid from him, and the very destruction itself cannot be kept out of his sight.

"As truly as God liveth, which hath taken away my power from me; and the Almighty, that hath vexed my mind;

He bringeth food out of the earth, and that which is under, consumeth he with fire.

And why? I put upon me righteousness, which covered me as a garment, and equity was my crown.

They were children of fools and villains, which are dead away from the world.

O that I had one which would hear me. Lo, this is my cause: Let the almighty give me answer, and let him that is my contrary party, sue me with libel.

Behold, I am as the new wine, which hath no vent, and bursteth the new vessels in sunder.

that it is he, which withdraweth man from evil, delivereth him from pride,

Then his flesh, which hath been in misery and trouble, shall be as it was in his youth.

Which goeth in company of wicked doers, and walketh with ungodly men?

yea, above his sins he hath blasphemed, which offense he hath done even before us, in that he striveth against God with his words!"

Which giveth us more understanding than he doth the beasts of the earth, and teacheth us more than the fouls of heaven?'

But beware that thou turn not aside to wickedness and sin, which hitherto thou hast chosen more than meekness.

when God sendeth out his voice: great things doth he, which we can not comprehend.

Hast thou helped him to spread out the heavens, which are strong and bright as a looking glass?

"For every man seeth not the light, that he keepeth clear in the clouds, which he cleanseth when he maketh the wind to blow.

which I have prepared against the time of trouble, against the time of battle and war?

"Can he that striveth with the Almighty be at rest? Should not he which disputeth with God, give him an answer?"

"Behold Behemoth, whom I made with thee, which eateth hay as an ox:

Therefore take seven oxen and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, offer up also for yourselves a burnt offering: and let my servant Job pray for you. Him will I accept, and not deal with you after your foolishness: in that ye have not spoken the thing which is right, like as my servant Job hath done."

As for the ungodly, it is not so with them: but they are like the chaff, which the wind scattereth away from the face of the earth.

{Shiggaion of David, which he sang for the words of Cush the son of Benjamin} O LORD my God, in thee have I put my trust; save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me,

For I will consider thy heavens, even the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained.

O thou enemy, thy destructions are come to a perpetual end; even as the cities which thou hast destroyed, their memorial is perished with them.

O praise the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion; show the people of his doings.

Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider the trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death.

The Heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made; in the same net which they hid privily, is their own foot taken.

Break thou the power of the ungodly and malicious; search out the wickedness which he hath done, that he may perish.

For lo, the ungodly bend their bow, and make ready their arrows within the quiver, that they may privily shoot at them which are true of heart.

Which have said, "With our tongue will we prevail; we are they that ought to speak; Who is lord over us?"

The words of the LORD are pure words: even as the silver, which from the earth is tried, and purified seven times in the fire.

Even he that leadeth an uncorrupt life, and doeth the thing which is right, and speaketh the truth from his heart.

Show thy marvelous loving-kindness, thou that art the Saviour of them which put their trust in thee, from such as resist thy righthand.

From the men of thy hand, O LORD, from the men, I say, and from the evil world, which have their portion in this life, whose bellies thou fillest with thy hid treasure.

{To the Chanter, of David, servant of the Lord, which said unto the Lord the words of this song, on the day in which the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul, and said} I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.

3 I will call upon the LORD, which is worthy to be praised; so shall I be safe from mine enemies. {TYNDALE: I will praise and call on the LORD, and so shall be saved from mine enemies.}

He shall deliver me from my strongest enemy, and from them which hate me; for they are too mighty for me. {TYNDALE: He delivered me from my mighty enemy, and from them that hated me and were too strong for me.}

Thou shalt deliver me from the strivings of the people, and thou shalt make me the head of the Heathen. A people whom I have not known shall serve me. {TYNDALE: And thou deliveredst me from the dissension of my people, and keepest me to be a head over nations, for the people which I knew not became my servants.}

which cometh forth as a bridegroom out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a giant to run his course.

Call to remembrance, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy loving-kindnesses, which have been ever of old.