And the rulers knew not whither I went or what I did: for hitherto had I not told the Jews and the priests, the councilors and the rulers, and the others that laboured in the work.

And I told them of the good hand of my God which was upon me; and the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, "Then let us get up and build," and strengthened their hands to good.

Next unto them builded Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, men of Gibeon and of Mizphah; where he that was captain on this side the water had a mansion.

But when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that they had begun to stop up the gaps, they were very wroth;

Nevertheless, when our enemies heard that we had gotten word of it, God brought their counsel to nought, and we turned all again to the wall, every one unto his labour.

And everyone that builded, had his sword gird by his side, and so builded they. And the trumpeters stood beside me.

For the old captains that were before me, had been chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, and forty sicles of silver: yea and their servants had oppressed the people. But so did not I, and that because of the fear of God.

And when Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the others of our enemies heard that I had builded the wall, and that there were no more gaps therein - howbeit at the same time had I not hanged the doors upon the gates -

And I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, and he had shut himself within, and said, "Let us come together in to the house of God, even unto the midst of the temple, and shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee, yea even in the night will they come to put thee to death."

For I perceived that God had not sent him; Yet spake he prophecy upon me. Nevertheless, Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him for money.

For there were many in Judah that were sworn unto him, for he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah, and his son Johanan had the daughter of Meshullam the son of Barachiah.

Now when we had builded the wall I hanged on the doors; and the porters, singers and Levites were appointed.

"These are the sons of the land that went up from the captivity of the carrying away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had brought away, and came again to Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city;

Beside their servants and maidens, of whom there were seven thousand, three hundred and seven and thirty. And they had two hundred and seven and forty singing men and women,

And Ezra the scribe stood upon a high pulpit of wood, which they had made for the preaching, and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Ananiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his righthand: and on his left hand stood Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchiah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

And all the people went their way to eat and to drink, and to send part unto others, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.

And they found written in the law, how that the LORD had commanded by Moses that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month.

And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity, made booths, and dwelt therein. For since the time of Jeshua the son of Nun unto this day, had not the children of Israel done so, and there was very great gladness.

But when they came to rest, they turned back again to do evil before thee: therefore leftest thou them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them. So they converted, and cried unto thee, and thou heardest them from heaven; and many times hast thou delivered them according to thy great mercy,

And the other people, the priests, Levites, Porters, singers, Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people in the lands unto the law of God, with their wives, sons and daughters, as many as could understand it,

and their lords that had rule of them, received it for their brethren. And they came to sware, and to bind themselves with an oath to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, that they would observe and do according unto all the commandments, judgments, and statutes of the LORD our God:

And Joel the son of Zichri had the oversight of them: and Judah the son of Senuah over the second part of the city.

And certain of the Levites that had portions in Judah, dwelt in Benjamin.

And these were the chief among the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, and their brethren over against them, to give praise and thanks, according as David the man of God had ordained it, one watch over against another.

and from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages about Jerusalem.

And the same day were there great sacrifices offered, and they rejoiced: for God had given them great gladness, so that both the wives and children were joyful, and the mirth of Jerusalem was heard afar off.

Now when they heard the Law, they separated from Israel everyone that had mixed himself therein.

And before this had the Priest Eliashib delivered the chest of the house of our God unto his kinsman Tobiah:

for he had made him a great chest, and there had they afore time laid the meat offerings, frankincense, vessel, and the tithes of corn, wine and oil - according to the commandment given to the Levites, singers and porters - and the heave offerings of the priests.

to come to Jerusalem. And I gat knowledge of the evil that Eliashib did unto Tobiah, in that he had made him a chest in the court of the house of God,

And one of the children of Jehoiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, had made a contract with Sanballat the Horonite: but I chased him from me.

And no man was appointed what he should drink: for the king had commanded all the officers of his house, that everyone should do as it liked him.

And the king spake to the wise men that had understanding in the ordinances of the land - for the king's matters must be handled before all such as have knowledge of the law and judgment,

After these acts when the displeasure of king Ahasuerus was allayed, he thought upon Vashti: what she had done, and what was concluded concerning her.

and he nourished Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and she was a fair and beautiful damsel. And when her father and mother died, Mordecai received her as his own daughter.

But Esther showed not her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her, that she should not tell it.

And when the appointed time of every damsel came that she should come to the king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months in the decking of the women - for their decking must have so much time, namely six months with Balm and Myrrh, and six months with good spices; so were the women beautified -

Now when the time came of Esther the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai, which had received her as his own daughter, that she should come to the king, she desired nothing but what Hegei the king's chamberlain the keeper of the women, said. And Esther found favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.

And as yet had not Esther showed her kindred and her people, according as Mordecai had bidden her: for Esther did after the word of Mordecai, like as when he was her tutor.

And all the king's servants that were in the gate, bowed their knees, and did reverenced unto Haman: for the king had so commanded. But Mordecai bowed not the knee, and worshiped him not.

And when they spake this daily unto him and he followed them not, they told Haman, that they might see whether Mordecai's matters would endure: for he had told them that he was a Jew.

and thought it too little to lay hands only on Mordecai: for they had showed him the nation of Mordecai. Wherefore, he sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole empire of Ahasuerus and were of the nation of Mordecai.

and came before the king's gate: for there might no man enter within the king's gate, that had a sackcloth on.

And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of silver that Haman had promised to weigh down in the king's chamber because of the Jews, for to destroy them.

So Mordecai went his way, and did all that Esther had commanded him.

The king said, "Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said." Now when the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared,

the king said unto Esther, when he had drunken wine, "Esther what is thy petition? And it shall be given thee. And what requirest thou? Even the half of the empire, it shall be done."

and told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children all together how the king had promoted him so greatly, and how that he was taken above the princes and servants of the king.

Haman said moreover, "Yea and Esther the queen let no man come with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared, except me, and tomorrow am I bidden unto her also with 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.

And the king said, "Who is in the court?" For Haman was gone into the court without before the king's house, that he might speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the tree, that he had prepared for him.

and told Zeresh his wife and all his friends, everything that had happened him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, "If it be Mordecai of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou canst do nothing unto him, but shalt fall before him."

While they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and caused Haman to make haste to come unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.

And when the king and Haman came to banquet that queen Esther had prepared,

the king said unto Esther on the second day, when he had drunken wine, "What is thy petition queen Esther, that it may be given thee? And what requirest thou? Yea, ask even half of the empire, and it shall be done."

And when the king came again out of the palace garden into the parlor where they had eaten, Haman had laid him upon the bed that Esther sat upon. Then said the king, "Will he force the queen also? Beside me, in the house?" As soon as that word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.

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."

So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had made for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.

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 Esther spake yet more before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him, that he would put away the wickedness of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had imagined against the Jews.

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.

And the Jews received it that they had begun to do, and that Mordecai wrote unto them:

how that Haman, the son of Hammedatha all the Jews' enemy, had devised to destroy all the Jews, and caused to cast Pur, that is lot, for to put them in fear, and to bring them to naught:

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.

to confirm these days of Purim, in their time appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had ordained concerning them: like as they upon their soul and upon their seed had confirmed the acts of the fasting and of her complaint.

This man had seven sons, and three daughters.

And it fortuned that when they had passed over the time of their banqueting round about; Job sent for them, and sanctified them, and gat up early, and offered for every one a burnt offering. For Job thought thus: "Peradventure my sons have done some offense, and have been unthankful to God in their hearts." And thus did Job everyday.

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.

Was I not happy? Had I not quietness? Was I not in rest? And now cometh such misery upon me!"

that his harvest was eaten up of the hungry; that the weaponed man had spoiled it, and that the thirsty had drunk up his riches.

If I had called upon him, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had heard my voice!

Wherefore hast thou brought me out of my mother's womb? O that I had perished, and that no eye had seen me.

If they had carried me to my grave as soon as I was born, then should I be now, as though I had never been.

that he might show thee out of his secret wisdom how manifold his law is! Then shouldest thou know that God had forgotten thee, because of thy sins.

Though he had plenteousness of everything, yet was he poor, and therefore he is but a wretch on every side.

Another dieth in sorrow and heaviness, and never had good days.

If I had spoken, they would have it none other ways, my words were so well taken among them.

And when they were driven forth, men cried after them, as it had been after a thief.

They fell upon me, as it had been the breaking in of waters, and came in by heaps to destroy me.

Did not I weep in the time of trouble? Had not my soul compassion upon the poor?

Did I ever think scorn to do right unto my servants and maidens, when they had any matter against me?

Have I eaten my portion alone, that the fatherless hath had no part with me?

Did I ever greatly regard the rising of the sun? Or, had I the going down of the moon in great reputation?

For if I had feared any great multitude of people, or if I had been despised of the simple; Oh then should I have been afraid. Thus have I quietly spent my life, and not gone out at the door.

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.

And with Job's three friends he was angry also, because they had found no reasonable answer to overcome him.

Now tarried Elihu till they had ended their communication with Job: for why? They were elder than he.

For when I had waited till ye made an end of your talking, and heard your wisdom, what arguments you made in your communication;

Yea, when I had diligently pondered what ye said, I found not one of you that made any good argument against Job, or that directly could make answer unto his words,

Now when the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, he said unto Eliphaz the Temanite, "I am displeased with thee and thy two friends, for ye have not spoken the thing that is right before me, like as my servant Job hath done.

and the LORD turned him unto Job, when he prayed for his friends: Yea, the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had afore.

And then came there unto him all his brethren, all his sisters, with all them that had been of his acquaintance afore, and ate bread with him in his house: wondering at him, and comforting him over all the trouble that the LORD had brought upon him. Every man gave him a sheep and a Jewel of gold.

And the LORD made Job richer than he was before: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand asses.

He had children also, seven sons and three daughters.

They prevented me in the day of my trouble, but the LORD was my upholder. {TYNDALE: When they had compassed me in the day of my tribulation, the LORD stayed me up.}

He brought me forth also into a place of liberty: he brought me forth, even because he had a favor unto me. {TYNDALE: And he brought me out into roomth, and delivered me, because he delighted in me.}

For I have an eye unto all his laws, and will not cast out his commandments from me. {TYNDALE: But I had all his laws in my sight, and I turned my face from none of his ordinances.}

Therefore shall the LORD reward me after my righteous dealing, and according unto the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. {TYNDALE: And the LORD did to me again, according to my righteousness, and after my pureness that I had in his sight.}

I will follow upon mine enemies, and overtake them; neither will I turn again till I have destroyed them. {TYNDALE: I followed mine enemies and destroyed them, and turned not again until I had consumed them.}

They had an eye unto him, and were lightened; and their faces were not ashamed.