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.

The couriers rode out in haste on their royal horses at the king’s urgent command. The law was also issued in the fortress of Susa.

And Jehovah said to Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and abstaineth from evil?

Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is spread abroad in the land.

The work of his hands Thou hast blessed, and his substance hath spread in the land, and yet, put forth, I pray Thee, Thy hand, and strike against anything that he hath -- if not: to Thy face he doth bless Thee!'

And Jehovah said to Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and abstaineth from evil? and still he remaineth firm in his integrity, though thou movedst me against him, to swallow him up without cause.

Then said the LORD unto Satan, "Lo, there hast thou him in thy power, but spare his life."

Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands;

Thy words have upholden him that was stumbling, and thou hast braced up the bending knees:

And thou hast known that thy tent is peace, And inspected thy habitation, and errest not,

And hast known that numerous is Thy seed, And thine offspring as the herb of the earth;

for the paths that they go in are crooked: they haste after vain things, and shall perish.

And thou hast affrighted me with dreams, And from visions thou terrifiest me,

Have I sinned, what do I unto thee, thou Observer of men? Why hast thou set me as an object of assault for thee, so that I am become a burden to myself?

Thou dost not take away my transgression, And cause to pass away mine iniquity, Because now, for dust I lie down: And Thou hast sought me -- and I am not!

If he be hasty to take anything away, who will make him restore it again? Who will say unto him, 'What doest thou?'

Is it seemly in thee, that thou shouldst oppress? that thou shouldst despise the labour of thine own hand, when, upon the counsel of the lawless, thou hast shone?

Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth?

Thine own hands, shaped me, and made me, all in unison round about, and yet thou hast confounded me.

Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as clay, and wilt bring me into dust again.

Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?

Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews;

Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy care hath preserved my spirit;

And these things hast thou hid in thy heart: I know that this is with thee.

If I sinned, then Thou hast observed me, And from mine iniquity dost not acquit me,

Why then hast thou brought me forth from the womb? O that I had expired, and no eye had seen me!

Shall, thy pratings, cause men to hold their peace? When thou hast mocked, shall there be none to put thee to shame?

For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thy eyes.

If, thou, hast prepared thy heart, and wilt spread forth, unto him, thy hands -

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

For then thou liftest up thy face from blemish, And thou hast been firm, and fearest not.

And thou shalt he confident, that there is hope, and, when thou hast searched, securely shalt thou lie down;

And thou hast rested, And none is causing trembling, And many have entreated thy face;

Thou hast put my foot in the stocks: thou lookest narrowly unto all my paths, and markest the steps of my feet.

And yet upon such a one as this, hast thou opened thine eye? And, him, wouldst thou bring into judgment with thee?

If his days are determined, if the number of his months is with thee, and thou hast appointed his bounds which he must not pass,

Thou dost call, and I -- I answer Thee; To the work of Thy hands Thou hast desire.

"For thou hast numbered all my goings, yet be not thou too extreme upon my sins.

Sealed up in a bag, is my transgression, and thou hast glued over mine iniquity.

Stones, have been hollowed out by waters, the floods thereof wash away the dust of the earth, and, the hope of mortal man, thou hast destroyed:

Thou dost overpower him utterly, and he departeth, Disfiguring his face, so, hast thou sent him away.

As for shame, thou hast set it aside - else wouldest thou not make so many words before God.

For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou hast chosen the tongue of the crafty.

Hast thou listened in the secret council of +God? And hast thou absorbed wisdom for thyself?

What hast thou known, and we know not? Understandest thou -- and it is not with us?

For thou turnest against God thy spirit? And hast brought out words from thy mouth:

Shall not thy vain words come yet to an end? Or, hast thou yet any more to say?

But now he hath made me weary; ... thou hast made desolate all my family;

Thou hast shrivelled me up! it is become a witness; and my leanness riseth up against me, it beareth witness to my face.

For thou hast hidden their heart from understanding; therefore thou wilt not exalt them.

Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.

This hast thou known from antiquity? Since the placing of man on earth?

For thou hast taken a pledge of thy brother for nought, and stripped off the clothing of the naked.

Thou hast not given water to the fainting to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.

Widows hast thou sent empty away, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

And thou hast said, 'What -- hath God known? Through thickness doth He judge?

Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?

How hast thou helped the powerless; how saved the arm that is without strength!

How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom, and abundantly declared the thing as it is!

For whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?

“For it will hurl [thunderbolts of God’s wrath] at him unsparingly and without compassion;
He flees in haste from its power.

Thou hast become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me.

In times past thou didst set me up on high, as it were above the wind, but now hast thou given me a very sore fall.

Verily I walked not in falsity, nor did my foot haste unto deceit: -

Surely -- thou hast said in mine ears, And the sounds of words I hear:

Lo, in this thou hast not been righteous, I answer thee, that greater is God than man.

Wherefore against Him hast thou striven, When for all His matters He answereth not?

If thou hast anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify thee.

If thou hast nothing, then hear me, and hold thy tongue, so shall I teach thee wisdom."

If now thou hast understanding, hear this: give ear to the voice of my words!

By thee doth He recompense, That thou hast refused -- That thou dost choose, and not I? And what thou hast known, speak.

This hast thou reckoned for judgment: Thou hast said -- 'My righteousness is more than God's?'

For thou hast asked of what profit it is unto thee: what do I gain more than if I had sinned?

If thou hast sinned, what dost thou against Him? And thy transgressions have been multiplied, What dost thou to Him?

If thou hast been righteous, What dost thou give to Him? Or what from thy hand doth He receive?

And the judgment of the wicked thou hast fulfilled, Judgment and justice are upheld -- because of fury,

Take heed -- do not turn unto iniquity, For on this thou hast fixed Rather than on affliction.

Who hath appointed unto Him his way? And who said, 'Thou hast done iniquity?'

Art thou of his counsel, when he spreadeth out the clouds? Hast thou the perfect knowledge of his wonders?

Thou hast made an expanse with Him For the clouds -- strong as a hard mirror!

Where wast thou when I founded earth? Declare, if thou hast known understanding.

Hast thou commanded morning since thy days? Causest thou the dawn to know its place?

Their tokens and weapons hast thou turned like clay, and set them up again as the changing of a garment.

Yea, thou hast spoiled the ungodly of their light, and broken the arm of the proud.

Hast thou come in to springs of the sea? And in searching the deep Hast thou walked up and down?

Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? and hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?

Thou hast understanding, Even unto the broad places of earth! Declare -- if thou hast known it all.

Thou hast known -- for then thou art born And the number of thy days are many!

Hast thou come in unto the treasure of snow? Yea, the treasures of hail dost thou see?

Hast thou brought the seven stars together? Or art thou able to loose the bands of Orion?

Hast thou known the statutes of heaven? Or dost thou appoint Its dominion in the earth?

Hast thou known the time of The bearing of the wild goats of the rock? The bringing forth of hinds thou dost mark!

Thou dost number the months they fulfil? And thou hast known the time of their bringing forth!

Hast thou given strength to the horse? hast thou clothed his neck with the quivering mane?

Hast thou made him to leap as a locust? The glory of his snorting is terrible.

And an arm like God hast thou? And with a voice like Him dost thou thunder?

Lo, a flood oppresseth -- he doth not haste, He is confident though Jordan Doth come forth unto his mouth.

Thou hast known that for all things Thou art able, And not withheld from Thee is any device:

Rise, O Jehovah! save me, my God. Because Thou hast smitten All mine enemies on the cheek. The teeth of the wicked Thou hast broken.

{To the chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.} When I call, answer me, O God of my righteousness: in pressure thou hast enlarged me; be gracious unto me, and hear my prayer.