But it happened that when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem went forward, and that the breaches began to be filled, then they were very angry;

But we made our prayer to our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

But the former governors who were before me were supported by the people, and took bread and wine from them, besides forty shekels of silver; yes, even their servants ruled over the people: but I did not do so, because of the fear of God.

that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, "Come, let us meet together at Ha-Kephirim in the plain of Ono." But they intended to harm me.

Then I sent to him, saying, "There are no such things done as you say, but you imagine them out of your own heart."

For they all would have made us afraid, saying, "Their hands will be weakened from the work, that it not be done. But now, strengthen my hands."

I discerned, and behold, God had not sent him; but he pronounced this prophecy against me. Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

Now the city was wide and large; but the people were few therein, and the houses were not built.

These were those who went up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but they could not show their fathers' houses, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel:

These searched for their genealogical records, but couldn't find them. Therefore were they deemed polluted and put from the priesthood.

"But they and our fathers dealt proudly and hardened their neck, did not listen to your commandments,

and refused to obey, neither were they mindful of your wonders that you did among them, but hardened their neck, and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and did not forsake them.

But after they had rest, they did evil again before you; therefore left you them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them; yet when they returned, and cried to you, you heard from heaven; and many times you delivered them according to your mercies,

and testified against them, that you might bring them again to your law. Yet they dealt proudly, and did not listen to your commandments, but sinned against your ordinances, (which if a man does, he shall live in them), turned their backs, stiffened their neck, and would not hear.

However you are just in all that has come on us; for you have dealt truly, but we have done wickedly;

Now these are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in the cities of Judah everyone lived in his possession in their cities: Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinim, and the children of Solomon's servants.

But the temple servants lived on Ophel, and Ziha and Gishpa were in charge of the temple servants.

because they did not meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them: however our God turned the curse into a blessing.

But in all this, I was not at Jerusalem; for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king: and after certain days asked I leave of the king,

and their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.

But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by the eunuchs. Therefore the king was very angry, and his anger burned in him.

Memucan answered before the king and the officials, "Vashti the queen has not done wrong to just the king, but also to all the officials and to all the people who are in all the provinces of the King Ahasuerus.

For this deed of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to show contempt for their husbands, when it is reported, 'King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she did not come.'

Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, came to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's eunuch, the keeper of the women, advised. Esther obtained favor in the sight of all those who looked at her.

All the king's servants who were in the king's gate bowed down, and paid homage to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or pay him homage.

But he scorned the thought of laying hands on Mordecai alone, for they had made known to him Mordecai's people. Therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even Mordecai's people.

The couriers went forth in haste by the king's commandment, and the decree was given out in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.

Esther's maidens and her eunuchs came and told her this, and the queen was exceedingly grieved. She sent clothing to Mordecai, to replace his sackcloth; but he did not receive it.

For if you remain silent now, then relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Who knows if you haven't come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

Then Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he did not stand up nor move for him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.

Haman also said, "Yes, Esther the queen let no man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and tomorrow I am also invited by her together with the king.

Mordecai came back to the king's gate, but Haman hurried to his house, mourning and having his head covered.

Haman recounted to Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, "If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him, but you will surely fall before him."

For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondservants and bondmaids, I would have held my peace, although the adversary could not have compensated for the king's loss."

Now in the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the month, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, on the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to conquer them, (but it was turned out the opposite happened, that the Jews conquered those who hated them),

the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Jew's enemy, but they did not lay their hand on the plunder.

The Jews who were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and killed three hundred men in Shushan; but they did not lay their hand on the spoil.

The other Jews who were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, defended their lives, had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy-five thousand of those who hated them; but they did not lay their hand on the plunder.

But the Jews who were in Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth and on the fourteenth days of the month; and on the fifteenth day of that month, they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

but when this became known to the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he had devised against the Jews, should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

But put forth your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will renounce you to your face."

But put forth your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will renounce you to your face."

But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Let the stars of its twilight be dark. Let it look for light, but have none, neither let it see the eyelids of the morning,

Who long for death, but it doesn't come; and dig for it more than for hidden treasures,

I am not at ease, neither am I quiet, neither have I rest; but trouble comes."

"If someone ventures to talk with you, will you be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?

But now it is come to you, and you faint. It touches you, and you are troubled.

It stood still, but I couldn't discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes. Silence, then I heard a voice, saying,

I have seen the foolish taking root, but suddenly I cursed his habitation.

but man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward.

"But as for me, I would seek God. I would commit my cause to God,

But he saves from the sword of their mouth, even the needy from the hand of the mighty.

How forcible are words of uprightness. But your reproof, what does it reprove?

The eye of him who sees me shall see me no more. Your eyes shall be on me, but I shall not be.

I loathe my life. I do not want to live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.

Why do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I shall not be."

(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow.)

He shall lean on his house, but it shall not stand. He shall cling to it, but it shall not endure.

"Truly I know that it is so, but how can man be just with God?

Behold, he goes by me, and I do not see him. He passes on also, but I do not perceive him.

He will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness.

But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against you,

But the eyes of the wicked shall fail. They shall have no way to flee. Their hope shall be the giving up of the spirit."

"No doubt, but you are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.

But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Yes, who doesn't know such things as these?

"But ask the animals, now, and they shall teach you; the birds of the sky, and they shall tell you.

But you are forgers of lies. You are all physicians of no value.

But man dies, and is laid low. Yes, man gives up the spirit, and where is he?

But now you number my steps. Do you not watch over my sin?

"But the mountain falling comes to nothing. The rock is removed out of its place;

His sons come to honor, and he doesn't know it. They are brought low, but he doesn't perceive it of them.

But his flesh on him has pain, and his soul within him mourns."

but I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you.

But now, God, you have surely worn me out. You have made desolate all my company.

"But he has made me a byword of the people. They spit in my face.

But as for you all, come on now again; I shall not find a wise man among you.

"Behold, I cry out 'Injustice.' but there is no justice.

But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives. In the end, he will stand upon the earth.

that the triumphing of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless but for a moment?

His bones are full of his youth, but youth shall lie down with him in the dust.

though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth;

But as for the mighty man, he had the earth. The honorable man, he lived in it.

Yet he filled their houses with good things, but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No, but he would listen to me.

He works to the north, but I can't see him. He turns south, but I can't catch a glimpse of him.

But he knows the way that I take. When he has tried me, I shall come forth like gold.

But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? What his soul desires, even that he does.

Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways. How small a whisper do we hear of him. But the thunder of his power who can understand?"

he may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.

He lies down rich, but he shall not do so again. He opens his eyes, and he is not.

"But where shall wisdom be found? Where is the place of understanding?

"But now those who are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to put with my sheep dogs.

(the foreigner has not lodged in the street, but I have opened my doors to the traveler);

But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of Shaddai gives them understanding.

Yes, I gave you my full attention, but there was no one who convinced Job, or who answered his words, among you.

"For has any said to God, 'I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.

But none says, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,

There they cry, but none gives answer, because of the pride of evil men.

But now, because he has not visited in his anger, neither does he greatly regard arrogance.