When it became the turn of Esther daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai (who had raised her as if she were his own daughter) to go to the king, she did not request anything except what Hegai the king's eunuch, who was overseer of the women, had recommended. Yet Esther met with the approval of all who saw her.

Esther was still not divulging her lineage or her people, just as Mordecai had instructed her. Esther continued to do whatever Mordecai said, just as she had done when he was raising her.

As a result, all the king's servants who were at the king's gate were bowing and paying homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded. However, Mordecai did not bow, nor did he pay him homage.

When Haman saw that Mordecai was not bowing or paying homage to him, he was filled with rage.

Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a particular people that is dispersed and spread among the inhabitants throughout all the provinces of your kingdom whose laws differ from those of all other peoples. Furthermore, they do not observe the king's laws. It is not appropriate for the king to provide a haven for them.

When Esther's female attendants and her eunuchs came and informed her about Mordecai's behavior, the queen was overcome with anguish. Although she sent garments for Mordecai to put on so that he could remove his sackcloth, he would not accept them.

"All the servants of the king and the people of the king's provinces know that there is only one law applicable to any man or woman who comes uninvited to the king in the inner court -- that person will be put to death, unless the king extends to him the gold scepter, permitting him to be spared. Now I have not been invited to come to the king for some thirty days!"

"Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa and fast in my behalf. Don't eat and don't drink for three days, night or day. My female attendants and I will also fast in the same way. Afterward I will go to the king, even though it violates the law. If I perish, I perish!"

Now Haman went forth that day pleased and very much encouraged. But when Haman saw Mordecai at the king's gate, and he did not rise nor tremble in his presence, Haman was filled with rage toward Mordecai.

Throughout that night the king was unable to sleep, so he asked for the book containing the historical records to be brought. As the records were being read in the king's presence,

The king asked, "What great honor was bestowed on Mordecai because of this?" The king's attendants who served him responded, "Not a thing was done for him."

Haman then related to his wife Zeresh and to all his friends everything that had happened to him. These wise men, along with his wife Zeresh, said to him, "If indeed this Mordecai before whom you have begun to fall is Jewish, you will not prevail against him. No, you will surely fall before him!"

For we have been sold -- both I and my people -- to destruction and to slaughter and to annihilation! If we had simply been sold as male and female slaves, I would have remained silent, for such distress would not have been sufficient for troubling the king."

the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. But they did not confiscate their property.

The Jews who were in Susa then assembled on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, and they killed three hundred men in Susa. But they did not confiscate their property.

The rest of the Jews who were throughout the provinces of the king assembled in order to stand up for themselves and to have rest from their enemies. They killed seventy-five thousand of their adversaries, but they did not confiscate their property.

These days were to be remembered and to be celebrated in every generation and in every family, every province, and every city. The Jews were not to fail to observe these days of Purim; the remembrance of them was not to cease among their descendants.

Now all the actions carried out under his authority and his great achievements, along with an exact statement concerning the greatness of Mordecai, whom the king promoted, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia?

Have you not made a hedge around him and his household and all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock have increased in the land.

So the Lord said to Satan, "All right then, everything he has is in your power. Only do not extend your hand against the man himself!" So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

In all this Job did not sin, nor did he charge God with moral impropriety.

But he replied, "You're talking like one of the godless women would do! Should we receive what is good from God, and not also receive what is evil?" In all this Job did not sin by what he said.

But when they gazed intently from a distance but did not recognize him, they began to weep loudly. Each of them tore his robes, and they threw dust into the air over their heads.

"Let the day on which I was born perish, and the night that said, 'A man has been conceived!'

That day -- let it be darkness; let not God on high regard it, nor let light shine on it!

That night -- let darkness seize it; let it not be included among the days of the year; let it not enter among the number of the months!

Indeed, let that night be barren; let no shout of joy penetrate it!

because it did not shut the doors of my mother's womb on me, nor did it hide trouble from my eyes!

"Why did I not die at birth, and why did I not expire as I came out of the womb?

Or why was I not buried like a stillborn infant, like infants who have never seen the light?

There the prisoners relax together; they do not hear the voice of the oppressor.

to those who wait for death that does not come, and search for it more than for hidden treasures,

Is not your piety your confidence, and your blameless ways your hope?

In the troubling thoughts of the dreams in the night when a deep sleep falls on men,

Is not their excess wealth taken away from them? They die, yet without attaining wisdom.

For evil does not come up from the dust, nor does trouble spring up from the ground,

They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope about in the noontime as if it were night.

"Therefore, blessed is the man whom God corrects, so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

You will be protected from malicious gossip, and will not be afraid of the destruction when it comes.

You will laugh at destruction and famine and need not be afraid of the beasts of the earth.

And you will know that your home will be secure, and when you inspect your domains, you will not be missing anything.

Then I would yet have my comfort, then I would rejoice, in spite of pitiless pain, for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

Is not my power to help myself nothing, and has not every resource been driven from me?

"Now then, be good enough to look at me; and I will not lie to your face!

Is there any falsehood on my lips? Can my mouth not discern evil things?

"Does not humanity have hard service on earth? Are not their days also like the days of a hired man?

If I lie down, I say, 'When will I arise?', and the night stretches on and I toss and turn restlessly until the day dawns.

As a cloud is dispersed and then disappears, so the one who goes down to the grave does not come up again.

"Therefore, I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

I loathe it; I do not want to live forever; leave me alone, for my days are a vapor!

Will you never look away from me, will you not let me alone long enough to swallow my spittle?

And why do you not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? For now I will lie down in the dust, and you will seek me diligently, but I will be gone."

For we were born yesterday and do not have knowledge, since our days on earth are but a shadow.

Will they not instruct you and speak to you, and bring forth words from their understanding?

While they are still beginning to flower and not ripe for cutting, they can wither away faster than any grass!

He leans against his house but it does not hold up, he takes hold of it but it does not stand.

"Surely, God does not reject a blameless man, nor does he grasp the hand of the evildoers.

he who commands the sun and it does not shine and seals up the stars;

God does not restrain his anger; under him the helpers of Rahab lie crushed.

Although I am innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my judge for mercy.

If I summoned him, and he answered me, I would not believe that he would be listening to my voice --

He does not allow me to recover my breath, for he fills me with bitterness.

I am blameless. I do not know myself. I despise my life.

If a land has been given into the hand of a wicked man, he covers the faces of its judges; if it is not he, then who is it?

I dread all my sufferings, for I know that you do not hold me blameless.

For he is not a human being like I am, that I might answer him, that we might come together in judgment.

who would take his rod away from me so that his terror would not make me afraid.

Then would I speak and not fear him, but it is not so with me.

I will say to God, 'Do not condemn me; tell me why you are contending with me.'

although you know that I am not guilty, and that there is no one who can deliver out of your hand?

Did you not pour me out like milk, and curdle me like cheese?

You clothed me with skin and flesh and knit me together with bones and sinews.

If I sinned, then you would watch me and you would not acquit me of my iniquity.

Are not my days few? Cease, then, and leave me alone, that I may find a little comfort,

"Should not this abundance of words be answered, or should this talkative man be vindicated?

For he knows deceitful men; when he sees evil, will he not consider it?

if iniquity is in your hand -- put it far away, and do not let evil reside in your tents.

For then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be securely established and will not fear.

I also have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these?

Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this,

Does not the ear test words, as the tongue tastes food?

Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?

What you know, I know also; I am not inferior to you!

Would not his splendor terrify you and the fear he inspires fall on you?

Only in two things spare me, O God, and then I will not hide from your face:

He grows up like a flower and then withers away; he flees like a shadow, and does not remain.

"But there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail.

so man lies down and does not rise; until the heavens are no more, they will not awake nor arise from their sleep.

"Surely now you count my steps; then you would not mark my sin.

If his sons are honored, he does not know it; if they are brought low, he does not see it.

Your own mouth condemns you, not I; your own lips testify against you.

If God places no trust in his holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes,

He does not expect to escape from darkness; he is marked for the sword;

He will not grow rich, and his wealth will not endure, nor will his possessions spread over the land.

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

Let him not trust in what is worthless, deceiving himself; for worthlessness will be his reward.

Before his time he will be paid in full, and his branches will not flourish.

"But if I speak, my pain is not relieved, and if I refrain from speaking -- how much of it goes away?

"O earth, do not cover my blood, nor let there be a secret place for my cry.

Because you have closed their minds to understanding, therefore you will not exalt them.