And the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon, and their brothers who kept the gates, were a hundred and seventy-two.

And the rest of Israel, of the priests and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, each one in his inheritance.

But the temple-slaves lived in Ophel; and Ziha and Gispa were over the temple-slaves.

And the overseer of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha. Of the sons of Asaph, the singers were over the business of the house of God.

And divisions of the Levites were in Judah and for Benjamin.

Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chief of the priests and of their brothers in the days of Jeshua.

And the Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah. Mattaniah was over the thanksgiving, he and his brothers.

And Bakbukiah and Unni, their brothers, were next to them in the watches.

And in the days of Joiakim were priests, the chief of the fathers: from the house of Seraiah was Meraiah; from Jeremiah, Hananiah;

The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, were recorded chief of the fathers and the priests, until the reign of Darius the Persian.

The sons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, were written in the Book of the Chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib.

And the chief of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah; and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers next to them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the command of David the man of God, watch by watch.

Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub, were guarding the gates, the guard at the thresholds of the gates.

These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe.

And the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, were with trumpets,

And at that time some were chosen over the rooms for the treasuries, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather to them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the Law for the priests and Levites. For Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites who waited.

For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.

And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah. And next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah. For they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute to their brothers.

in the third year of his reign, he made a feast to all his princes and his servants. The power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, were before him.

And when these days had expired, the king made a feast to all the people who were present in Shushan the palace, both to great and small, for seven days in the court of the garden of the king's palace.

White, green, and blue hangings were fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble. The beds were of gold and silver, on a pavement of red and white, and pearl, and black marble.

and the next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who saw the king's face, who sat first in the kingdom),

And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter. For she had neither father nor mother, and the young woman was fair and beautiful, whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.

And the young woman pleased him, and she received kindness from him. And he quickly gave to her purifiers and her portion. And seven young women who were fit to be given her, out of the king's house. And he moved her and her servant women to the best place in the house of the women.

And when the turn of each young woman had come to go in to King Ahasuerus, after she had been purified twelve months, according to the law of the women (for so the days of their anointing were done, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors, and with the perfumes of the women).

And when the virgins were gathered the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.

In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, of those who kept the door, were angry and tried to lay a hand on King Ahasuerus.

And when the matter was searched into, it was found out, and the two of them were hanged on a tree. And it was written in the Book of the Matters of the Days before the king.

After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes who were with him.

Then the king's scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded to the king's lieutenants, and to the governors who were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province, according to the writing of it, and to every people according to their language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king's ring.

And the letters were sent by postal riders into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, on the thirteenth of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take what they owned for a prize.

On that night the king could not sleep, and he commanded to bring the Book of the Records of the Matter of the Days. And they were read before the king.

And while they were still talking with him, the king's eunuchs came. And they hurried to bring Haman to the banquet which Esther had prepared.

Then the king's scribes were called at that time in the third month, the month Sivan, on the twenty-third of it. And it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, and to the lieutenants and the governors and rulers of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, a hundred and twenty-seven provinces, to every province according to the writing of it, and to every people in their writing, and to the Jews according to their writing and according to their language.

On that day the number of those who were killed in Shushan the palace was brought before the king.

And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters.

And his possessions were seven thousand sheep and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household, so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

And a day came when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house.

And there came a messenger to Job and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them.

While he was still speaking, there also came another and said, Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house.

Remember, please, who ever perished, being innocent? Or where were the righteous cut off?

Oh that my grief were but weighed, and my ruin laid in the balances together!

They were ashamed because they had hoped; they came there and were ashamed.

if you were pure and upright, surely now He would awake for you, and make the dwelling-place of your righteousness blessed.

Whom, though I were righteous, yet I would not answer; I seek mercy for my judgment.

Though I were perfect, yet I would not know my soul. I would despise my life.

Were you the first man born? Or were you made before the hills?

I also could speak as you do; if your soul were in my soul's place. I could heap up words against you, and shake my head at you.

Those after him shall be amazed at his day; and those before were seized with horror.

Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were engraved in a book!

Oh that they were cut with an iron pen and lead in the rock forever!

They were seized, but there was not time; their foundation was poured out by a flood;

By His Spirit the heavens were beautiful; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent.

Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God watched over me;

when the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were around me;

And Elihu had waited beside Job with words, because they were older than he in days.

His flesh wastes away, not seen; and his bones laid bare; they were not seen.

Job has spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.

Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell if you have understanding!

You know, because you were born then. And the number of your days is great.

And in all the land there were not found women as beautiful as the daughters of Job. And their father gave them inheritance among their brothers.

Jehovah looked down from Heaven on the sons of men, to see if there were any who understood and sought God.

There they were in great fear; for God is in the generation of the righteous.

Then the earth shook and trembled; and the foundations of the hills moved and were shaken, because He was angry.

A smoke went up out of His nostrils, and fire devoured out of His mouth; coals were kindled by it.

Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were uncovered, at Your rebuke, O Jehovah, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.

He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me; for they were too strong for me.

For all His judgments were before me, and I did not put away His Precepts from me.

I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them; nor did I turn again until they were destroyed.

They cried to You, and were delivered; they trusted in You, and were not ashamed.

By the Word of Jehovah were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.

They looked to Him, and were filled with light; and their faces were not ashamed.

But when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled my soul with fastings; and my prayer returned into my own bosom.

But in my stumbling they rejoiced, and gathered themselves; the defamers gathered themselves against me, and I knew not; they tore and were not silent,

Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, and give ear to my cry. Do not be silent at my tears; for I am a stranger with You, a pilgrim, as all my fathers were.

The nations raged, the kingdoms were shaken; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.

For, lo, the kings were gathered; they passed by together.

They saw, so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hurried away.

If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and the fullness of it.

When you saw a thief, then you were pleased to be with him, and you have taken part with adulterers.

He has delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me; for there were many with me.

He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him; he has broken his covenant.

The butterings of his mouth were forked, but war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

Let them melt away like waters; they run off to them; he bends his arrows, let them be as though they were cut off.

To the Chief Musician. On the Lily of Testimony. A secret treasure of David, to teach; when he struggled with Aram-naharaim and with Aram of Zobah, when Joab returned and struck twelve thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt. O God, You have cast us off, You have scattered us, You were angry; take us back.

I cried to Him with my mouth, and exaltations were under my tongue.

The Lord gave the Word; the bearers of it were a great army.

The singers went before, then the musicians came; among them were the virgins playing the timbrels.

The waters saw You, O God, the waters saw You; they were afraid; the depths also were troubled.

So they ate, and were filled to the full; for He gave them their own desire.

They were not turned away from their lust, but while their food was still in their mouths,

For their heart was not right with Him, neither were they faithful in His covenant.

For He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes away and does not come again.

but they turned back, and acted unfaithfully like their fathers; they were turned aside like a deceiving bow.

The fire burned up their young men; and their maidens were not given in marriage.

Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows were not able to weep.

The hills were covered with its shadow, and its boughs were as the great cedars.

I removed his shoulder from the burden; his hands were delivered from the pots.

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting You are God.

Moses and Aaron were among His priests, and Samuel among those who called on His name; they called on Jehovah, and He answered them.