And Hatach went forth to Mordecai, unto the public place of the city which was before the king's gate.

And Esther said, If it seem good to the king, let the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him.

And Haman went forth that day joyful and glad of heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up nor moved for him, he was full of fury against Mordecai.

Yet all this is of no avail to me so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.

And the king said to Haman, Make haste, take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast said.

And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house, mourning and having his head covered.

And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold, also, the gallows fifty cubits high, that Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke good for the king, stands in the house of Haman. And the king said, Hang him on it!

Write ye then for the Jews as seems good to you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring. For a writing that is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, cannot be reversed.

And in every province, and in every city, wherever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many among the peoples of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews had fallen upon them.

Therefore the Jews of the villages that dwell in the country towns make the fourteenth of the month Adar a day of joy and feasting, and a good day, and on which they send portions one to another.

as the days on which the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month that was turned to them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.

There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and this man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God and abstained from evil.

And it was so, when the days of the feasting were gone about, that Job sent and hallowed them; and he rose up early in the morning, and offered up burnt-offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

And there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah; and Satan came also among them.

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 Satan answered Jehovah and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped, alone, to tell thee.

In all this Job sinned not, nor ascribed anything unseemly to God.

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

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.

And his wife said to him, Dost thou still remain firm in thine integrity? curse God and die.

But he said to her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. We have also received good from God, and should we not receive evil? In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

That day let it be darkness, let not +God care for it from above, neither let light shine upon it:

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

To the man whose way is hidden, and whom +God hath hedged in?

Remember, I pray thee, who that was innocent has perished? and where were the upright cut off?

By the breath of +God they perish, and by the blast of his nostrils are they consumed.

Shall mortal man be more just than +God? Shall a man be purer than his Maker?

His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, and there is no deliverer:

But as for me I will seek unto God, and unto God commit my cause;

Behold, happy is the man whom +God correcteth; therefore despise not the chastening of the Almighty.

For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, their poison drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of +God are arrayed against me.

Oh that I might have my request, and that +God would grant my desire!

And that it would please +God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!

Remember thou that my life is wind; mine eye shall no more see good.

Doth God pervert judgment, and the Almighty pervert justice?

If thou seek earnestly unto God, and make thy supplication to the Almighty,

Whilst it is yet in its greenness and not cut down, it withereth before any other grass.

So are the paths of all that forget God; and the profane man's hope shall perish,

Whose confidence shall be cut off, and his reliance is a spider's web.

Behold, God will not cast off a perfect man, neither will he take evil-doers by the hand.

Of a truth I know it is so; but how can man be just with God?

+God withdraweth not his anger; the proud helpers stoop under him:

And my days are swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no good.

I will say unto +God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou strivest with me.

But oh that +God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, how that they are the double of what is realised; and know that +God passeth by much of thine iniquity!

Canst thou by searching find out +God? canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection?

I am to be one that is a derision to his friend, I who call upon +God, and whom he will answer: a derision is the just upright man.

The tents of desolators are in peace, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand +God bringeth.

But I will speak to the Almighty, and will find pleasure in reasoning with God;

Will ye speak unrighteously for God? and for him speak deceit?

Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?

He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down; and he fleeth as a shadow, and continueth not.

For there is hope for a tree: if it be cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender branch will not cease;

Reasoning with unprofitable talk, and with speeches which do no good?

Yea, thou makest piety of none effect, and restrainest meditation before God.

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

Are the consolations of God too small for thee? and the word gently spoken to thee?

That thou turnest thy spirit against God, and lettest words go out of thy mouth?

For he hath stretched out his hand against God, and strengthened himself against the Almighty:

God hath delivered me over to the iniquitous man, and hurled me into the hands of the wicked.

My friends are my mockers; mine eye poureth out tears unto +God.

Oh that there were arbitration for a man with +God, as a son of man for his friend!

His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off;

Surely, such are the dwellings of the unrighteous man, and such the place of him that knoweth not God.

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

Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, ye my friends; for the hand of +God hath touched me.

Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?

And if after my skin this shall be destroyed, yet from out of my flesh shall I see +God;

He hath swallowed down riches, but he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.

This is the portion of the wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed to him by God.

Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of +God upon them.

And they say unto God, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways!

+God layeth up the punishment of his iniquity for his children; he rewardeth him, and he shall know it:

For what pleasure should he have in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?

Can any teach God knowledge? And he it is that judgeth those that are high.

One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;

And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath not tasted good:

Can a man be profitable to God? surely it is unto himself that the wise man is profitable.

Is not +God in the height of the heavens? And behold the summit of the stars: how exalted are they!

And thou sayest, What doth God know? will he judge through the dark cloud?

Who said unto God, Depart from us! and what could the Almighty do to them?

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

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

Yea, then shalt thou delight thyself in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto +God:

For God hath made my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me;

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he hidden the gloom from me.

Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out; and +God imputeth not the impiety.

He that despoileth the barren that beareth not, and doeth not good to the widow:

God setteth him in safety, and he resteth thereon; but his eyes are upon their ways.

They are exalted for a little, and are no more; they are laid low; like all other are they gathered, and are cut off as the tops of the ears of corn.

And how should man be just with God? Or how should he be clean that is born of a woman?

As God liveth, who hath taken away my right, and the Almighty, who hath embittered my soul,

All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of +God is in my nostrils,

For what is the hope of the ungodly, when God cutteth him off, when +God taketh away his soul?

Will God hear his cry when distress cometh upon him?

Doth he delight himself in the Almighty? will he at all times call upon +God?

I will teach you concerning the hand of God; what is with the Almighty will I not conceal.

This is the portion of the wicked man with God, and the heritage of the violent, which they receive from the Almighty: --