Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for its service.

Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet you bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.

And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of your mercy.

And I contended with them, and pronounced them cursed, and struck certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, You shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.

Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did foreign women cause to sin.

Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying foreign wives?

Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.

And provided for the wood offering, at appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.

And when the virgins were gathered together 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 sought to lay hands on king Ahasuerus.

And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and paid homage to Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor paid him homage.

Then the king's servants, who were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgress you the king's commandment?

And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you.

And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

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

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

Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor trembled before him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.

Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.

Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sits at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that you have spoken.

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

And Harbona, one of the eunuchs, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, stands in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.

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

Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending presents one to another.

As the days on which the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feast

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

And it was so, when the days of their feasting were finished, 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 cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

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

And the LORD said unto Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one that fears God, and turns away from evil?

Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Does Job fear God for nothing?

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

In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God with wrong.

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

And the LORD said unto Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one that fears God, and turns away from evil? and still he holds fast his integrity, although you moved me against him, to destroy him without cause.

Then said his wife unto him, Do you still retain your integrity? curse God, and die.

But he said unto her, You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.

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

Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God has hedged in?

I was not at ease, neither had I quiet, neither was I at rest; yet trouble came.

Remember, I pray you, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?

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

Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?

His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them.

I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:

Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects: therefore despise not the chastening of the Almighty:

Lo this, we have searched it out, so it is; hear it, and know you it for your good.

For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison thereof drinks up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

O remember that my life is a breath: my eye shall no more see good.

Does God pervert judgment? or does the Almighty pervert justice?

If you would seek unto God early, and make your supplication to the Almighty;

While it is yet green, and not cut down, it withers before any other plant.

So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:

Whose confidence shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web.

Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man, neither will he help the evil doers:

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

If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do bow before him.

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

I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; show me why you contend with me.

Is it good unto you that you should oppress, that you should despise the work of your hands, and smile upon the counsel of the wicked?

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

And that he would show you the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves.

Can you by searching find out God? can you find out the limits of the Almighty?

I am as one mocked of his neighbor, who calls upon God, and he answers him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.

The tents of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God brings abundantly.

Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

Will you speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?

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

Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocks another, do you so mock him?

He comes forth like a flower, and is cut down: he flees also as a shadow, and continues not.

For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender shoots thereof will not cease.

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

Yea, you cast off fear, and restrain prayer before God.

Have you heard the council of God? and do you limit wisdom to yourself?

Are the consolations of God too small for you? on the word that deals gently with you?

That you turn your spirit against God, and let such words go out of your mouth?

For he stretches out his hand against God, and strengthens himself against the Almighty.

God has delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

My friends scorn me: but my eye pours out tears unto God.

O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleads for his neighbor!

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

Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knows not God.

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

Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O you my friends; for the hand of God has touched me.

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

And though after my skin is thus destroyed, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

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

When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.

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

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

Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of your ways.

How often is the lamp of the wicked put out! and how often comes their destruction upon them! God distributes sorrows in his anger.

God lays up his iniquity for his children: he recompenses him, and he shall know it.

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

Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judges those that are on high.

One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.

Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?

Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!