In those days, while Mordecai was sitting in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those that kept the threshold, were wroth, and sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus.

And when inquisition was made of the matter, and it was found to be so, they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.

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.

And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not down, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.

Then were the king's scribes called in the first month, on the thirteenth day thereof; and there was written according to all that Haman commanded unto the king's satraps, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the princes of every people, to every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and it was sealed with the king's ring.

A copy of the writing, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published unto all the peoples, that they should be ready against that day.

The posts went forth in haste by the king's commandment, and the decree was given out in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.

Now when Mordecai knew all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;

And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

And Esther's maidens and her chamberlains came and told it her; and the queen was exceedingly grieved: and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take his sackcloth from off him; but he received it not.

Then called Esther for Hathach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and charged him to go to Mordecai, to know what this was, and why it was.

So Hathach went forth to Mordecai unto the broad place of the city, which was before the king's gate.

Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given out in Shushan to destroy them, to show it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him, for her people.

And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.

Then went Haman 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 filled with wrath against Mordecai.

And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, of those that kept the threshold, who had sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus.

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.

And Esther said, An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.

And the king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.

Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the couch whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he even force the queen before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.

So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.

On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.

Then were the king's scribes called at that time, in the third month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, a hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.

A copy of the writing, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published unto all the peoples, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

So the posts that rode upon swift steeds that were used in the king's service went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment; and the decree was given out in Shushan the palace.

And Mordecai went forth from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a robe of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan shouted and was glad.

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

Now in the twelfth month, which 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, on the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have rule over them, (whereas 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 was fallen upon all the peoples.

And all the princes of the provinces, and the satraps, and the governors, and they that did the king's business, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai was fallen upon them.

For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went forth throughout all the provinces; for the man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.

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

And the king commanded it so to be done: and a decree was given out in Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons.

This was done on the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

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

And the commandment of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.

For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.

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

His substance also was 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 children of the east.

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

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

While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have taken them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house;

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, and they made an appointment together to come to bemoan him and to comfort him.

So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.

Let the day perish wherein I was born, And the night which said, There is a man-child conceived.

Thy words have upholden him that was falling, And thou hast made firm the feeble knees.

Now a thing was secretly brought to me, And mine ear received a whisper thereof.

It stood still, but I could not discern the appearance thereof; A form was before mine eyes: There was'silence, and I heard a voice,'saying ,

And though thy beginning was small, Yet thy latter end would greatly increase.

If I wash myself with snow water, And make my hands never so clean;

The waters wear the stones; The overflowings thereof wash away the dust of the earth: So thou destroyest the hope of man.

Art thou the first man that was born? Or wast thou brought forth before the hills?

Unto whom alone the land was given, And no stranger passed among them):

I was at ease, and he brake me asunder; Yea, he hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces: He hath also set me up for his mark.

Knowest thou not this of old time, Since man was placed upon earth,

There was nothing left that he devoured not; Therefore his prosperity shall not endure.

Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundation was poured out as a stream,

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, Neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.

As I was in the ripeness of my days, When the friendship of God was upon my tent;

When the Almighty was yet with me, And my children were about me;

The voice of the nobles was hushed, And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; And I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: My justice was as a robe and a diadem.

I was eyes to the blind, And feet was I to the lame.

I was a father to the needy: And the cause of him that I knew not I searched out.

Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? Was not my soul grieved for the needy?

If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my hand had gotten much;

So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.

Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was kindled.

Yea, I attended unto you, And, behold, there was none that convinced Job, Or that answered his words, among you.

He singeth before men, and saith, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, And it profited me not:

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.

Doubtless , thou knowest, for thou wast then born, And the number of thy days is great!

And it was so, that, after Jehovah had spoken these words unto Job, Jehovah said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends; for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness; Thou hast set me at large when I was in distress: Have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (Yea, I have delivered him that without cause was mine adversary;)

Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations also of the mountains quaked And were shaken, because he was wroth.

He bowed the heavens also, and came down; And thick darkness was under his feet.

They came upon me in the day of my calamity; But Jehovah was my stay.

I was also perfect with him, And I kept myself from mine iniquity.

They cried, but there was none to save; Even unto Jehovah, but he answered them not.

But thou art he that took me out of the womb; Thou didst make me trust when I was upon my mother's breasts.

I was cast upon thee from the womb; Thou art my God since my mother bare me.

I will wash my hands in innocency: So will I compass thine altar, O Jehovah;

Thou, Jehovah, of thy favor hadst made my mountain to stand strong: Thou didst hide thy face; I was troubled.

For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: My moisture was changed as with the drought of summer. Selah

For he spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.

But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I afflicted my soul with fasting; And my prayer returned into mine own bosom.

But one passed by, and, lo, he was not: Yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; And my sorrow was stirred.

My heart was hot within me; While I was musing the fire burned: Then'spake I with my tongue:

I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; Because thou didst it.

For they gat not the land in possession by their own sword, Neither did their own arm save them; But thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, Because thou wast favorable unto them.

These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such a one as thyself: But I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.

Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.

Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.