and Ezra continued to read from the Book of the Law of God day by day, from the first day through the last. They celebrated for seven days, and on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly according to regulation.

While they stood there, they read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for one fourth of the day, and they confessed and worshipped the LORD their God for another fourth of the day.

"Then they disobeyed, rebelled against you, and threw your Law behind their backs. They murdered your prophets who had admonished the people to return to you, committing terrible blasphemies.

You admonished them to return to your Law, but they acted arrogantly, and would not listen to your commands. They sinned against your regulations, which if anyone obeys, he will live by them. They turned away, being stubborn and stiff-necked, and they did not listen.

Furthermore, neither our kings, nor our leaders, nor our priests nor our ancestors have practiced your Law or paid attention to your commands and warnings by which you admonished them.

The rest of the people, the priests, the descendants of Levi, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Temple Servants, and everyone who had separated themselves from the nations of the surrounding lands for the Law of God their wives, their sons, their daughters, and all who had knowledge and understanding

joined with their relatives and their leaders. They entered into an oath enforced by a curse to walk in God's Law that was given through God's servant Moses, and to be careful to obey all of the commands of the LORD, our Lord, as well as his regulations and statutes:

We the priests, the descendants of Levi, and the people cast lots to determine when to bring the wood offering into the Temple of our God, just as our ancestors' families were appointed annually to maintain the altar fire of the LORD our God, as recorded in the Law.

as well as the firstborn of our sons and our cattle, as recorded in the Law, along with the firstlings of our herds and our flocks, to present to the Temple of our God for the priests that minister in the Temple of our God.

Also at that time men were appointed over the storerooms for the contributions, for the first fruits, and for the tithes, so those portions required by the Law could be gathered from the fields adjacent to the towns to benefit the priests and descendants of Levi, for the people of Judah rejoiced over the priests and the descendants of Levi who were serving.

When they heard the Law, they separated all those of foreign descent from Israel.

I argued with them, "Why are you staying outside the wall? If you do this again, I'll arrest you." From that time on, they didn't come anymore on the Sabbath.

One of the sons of Eliashib the high priest's son Joiada was a son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite, so I drove him away from me.

Then the king flew into a rage. The king spoke to the wise men who understood the times, for it was the king's custom to consult all those who understood law and justice.

The king inquired, "According to law, what should be done to Queen Vashti because she did not obey the order of King Ahasuerus that was delivered by the eunuchs?"

When the report about the queen goes out to all the women, it will cause them to despise their husbands. They'll say, "King Ahasuerus ordered Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she wouldn't come.'

If the king approves, let it be decreed that they're to be destroyed, and I'll measure out 10,000 silver talents and bring it to the king's treasury for those who will do the work."

In every province where the order of the king and his edict reached, among the Jewish people there was great mourning, fasting, weeping, and lamenting, and many lay down on sackcloth and ashes.

"Every servant of the king and every person in the king's provinces knows that for any man or woman who goes to the king in the inner court without being summoned there is only one law that he be put to death unless the king holds out the golden scepter to him. Only then he will live. For these last 30 days I've not been summoned to come to the king."

"Go and gather all the Jewish people who are in Susa and fast for me. Don't eat or drink for three days, night or day. Both I and my young women will also fast in the same way, and then I'll go in to the king, even though it's against the law. And if I perish, I perish."

If I've found favor with the king and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and to honor my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I'll prepare for them tomorrow, and then I'll do what the king has said."

A copy of the document was to be issued as law in each and every province and published for all people, indicating that the Jewish people were to be ready to take vengeance on their enemies on that day.

the ten sons of Hammedatha's son Haman, the enemy of the Jewish people, but they did not lay their hands on the spoils.

The Jewish people in Susa assembled again on that day, the fourteenth of Adar, and they killed 300 people in Susa, but they did not lay their hands on the spoils.

The rest of the Jewish people in the king's provinces assembled to defend themselves, and they gained relief from their enemies, killing 75,000 of those who hated them. But they did not lay their hands on the spoils.

Then Job stood up, tore his robe, shaved his head, fell to the ground, bowed very low,

However, stretch out your hand and strike his bones and flesh, and he'll curse you to your face, won't he?"

His children are far from deliverance; they'll be maltreated before they leave home, with no one to rescue them.

You'll be protected from the accusing tongue; you need not fear destruction when it heads your way.

You'll laugh at destruction and famine; and you need not fear the beasts of the earth.

For you'll have a pact with the stones in the field; and the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.

You'll know that your home is secure; when you search your possessions, and nothing will be missing.

You'll know that you'll have many children; and that your offspring will be like the grass of the earth.

You'll go to your grave at a ripe old age; like a stack of grain that's harvested at just the right time.

"Will the wild donkey bray from hunger if fresh grass is beside him? Will the ox low from distress if it is near its feed?

"Instruct me, and I'll remain silent. Help me understand where I've gone astray.

Now be willing to face me, and I won't lie to your face.

"When I lie down I ask, "When will I wake up?' But the night continues and I keep tossing and turning until dawn.

"In addition, I won't keep my opinion to myself; I'll speak from my distressed spirit; I'll complain with my bitter soul.

Why haven't you pardoned my transgression and taken away my iniquity? Now I'm about to lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I won't be around!"

"If your children sin against him, he'll make them a prisoner of their sins.

if you are clean and upright, surely then, he'll act on your behalf and restore your rightful place.

Though I'm in the right, my own mouth will condemn me; though I'm blameless, he'll pronounce me as guilty.

If a calamity causes sudden death, he'll mock at the despair of the innocent.

"If I wash myself with water from snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,

you'll still drop me into the Pit, and my own clothes will despise me.

"I am disgusted with living, so I'm going to talk about my complaint freely. I'll speak out from the bitterness of my soul.

I'll say to God, "Don't condemn me! Let me know why you are fighting me.

""Please remember that you've made me like clay and you'll return me to dust.

You'll forget your suffering; you'll remember it like water that has evaporated.

You'll be secure, because there is hope; you'll see that you're at rest and safe.

When you sleep, there'll be nothing to fear; and many will court your favor.

"Ask the wild animals, and they'll teach you; the birds of the sky will tell you.

Or ask the green plants of the earth and they'll teach you; let the fish in the sea tell you.

When he withholds water, rivers dry up; when he lets them loose, they'll flood the land.

Will things go well for you under his cross-examination? Can you lie to him, as you would to a human being?

Even though he kills me, I'll continue to hope in him. At least I'll be able to argue my case to his face!

Who can oppose me? If they do, I'll be silent and die.

Then call and I'll answer, or let me speak and then you reply to me!"

You'll call and I'll answer you; you'll long for your creatures that your hands have made.

Then you'll certainly count every step I took, but you won't keep an inventory of my sin.

"What is mankind, that he can be blameless? Or does being born of a woman mean he'll be in the right?

"I'll tell you what, listen to me! Let me relate what I've seen,

He won't escape darkness; a flame will wither his shoots; and he'll depart by the breath of God's mouth.

For when only a few years have elapsed, I'll start down a path from which I'll never return."

Make sure that you remain wary of God's sword, for God's wrath brings with it the sword of punishment, by which you'll know there's a judgment."

he'll perish forever, like his own excrement; those who saw him will ask, "Where is he?'

He'll vanish like a dream, and no one will find him; he will be chased away like a night vision."

Though his bones were full of youthful vigor; yet they will lie down with him in the dust.

Bear with me and let me speak! Then, after I've spoken, you'll be free to mock me.

Their own eyes will see their destruction; and they'll drink the wrath of the Almighty.

They both lie down in the dust; and worms cover them."

"Get to know God, and you'll be at peace with him, and then prosperity will come to you.

"If you return to the Almighty you'll be restored, as you remove iniquity from your household.

"Then you'll take delight in the Almighty; and will turn your face toward God.

You'll entreat him and he'll listen to you as you fulfill your vows.

He'll even deliver the guilty, who will be delivered through your innocence."

I would lay out my case before him; and fill my mouth with arguments.

I know how he would answer me; I understand what he'll tell me.

"Would he use his great power to fight me? No, he'll pay attention to me.

In that place, the upright can reason with him; and I'll be acquitted once and for all by my judge."

Because he knows the road on which I travel, when he had tested me, I'll come out like gold.

He'll complete what he has planned for me; he has many things in mind for me!

I'll retain my righteousness and not compromise it; my conscience won't rebuke me at any time.

"I'll teach you about the power of God, that which is with the Almighty I won't conceal.

He'll be swept up by a storm wind and carried away; he'll be whirled away from his place.

It will toss him around without pity. He'll try to break free from its grip,

The deepest ocean says, "It's not within me.' and the sea says, "You'll never find it with me.'

They come like those who breach through a wall; as everything crashes around me they'll roll on and on!

I'll wear it on my shoulder, or tie it on my head for a crown!

I'll give an account for every step I've taken; I'll approach him confidently like a Commander-in-Chief."

Therefore I'm saying, "Listen to me!' Then I'll declare what I know.

"I will contribute my arguments as an answer; I'll declare what I know,

Don't be afraid of me; I'll go easy on you."

"He'll sing to mankind with these words: "I've sinned. I have twisted what is right. Yet he has not repaid me like I deserve.

"Be patient with me a moment longer, and I'll show you that there's more to say on God's behalf.

I'll take what I know to its logical conclusion and ascribe righteousness to my Creator,

he'll reveal their actions to them, when their transgressions have become excessive.

If they listen and serve him, they'll finish their lives in prosperity and their years will be pleasant.

"But if they won't listen, they'll perish by the sword and die in their ignorance.