Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;

And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.

Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)

In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.

Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.

Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.

Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.

All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.

Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.

Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king.

And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.

So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?

Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.

Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;)

The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.

And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king's provinces? now what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done.

And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far,

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.

Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.

Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein.

For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest,

But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.

Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.

Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:

Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the saints wilt thou turn?

He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.

And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin.

Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth.

Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good.

For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.

For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.

Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie.

O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.

The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.

As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.

He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.

And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.

If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.

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

I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.

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

Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.

I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

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

Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!

Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

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

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:

Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.

He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.

What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.

But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.

Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.

How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.

So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.

For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?

Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?

What knowest thou, that we know not? what understandest thou, which is not in us?

Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.

Unto whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger passed among them.

And he dwelleth in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabiteth, which are ready to become heaps.

But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.

O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.

Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.

Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?

But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.

And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?

His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street.

Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net.

Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.

I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth.

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

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.

The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.

There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.

God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.

Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.

Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,

And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?

Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.

Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!

I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.

Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?

They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold.

They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.

The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face.

In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light.

For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.

The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree.

He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life.