If it please the king, let there be a royal command from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it may not be changed, that Vashti come no more before King Ahasuerus. And let the king give her royal state to another who is better than she is.

Esther had not revealed her people nor her kindred, for Mordecai had commanded her that she should not show it.

She went in the evening, and on the next day she returned to the second house of the women, into the hand of Shaashgaz, the king's officer who kept the concubines. She did not come in to the king any more, unless the king delighted in her, and she was called by name.

Esther had not yet revealed her kindred nor her people, as Mordecai had commanded her. For Esther obeyed the command of Mordecai as she did when she was brought up with him.

And all the king's servants in the king's gate bowed and worshiped Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow nor worship.

And it happened when they spoke daily to him, and when he did not listen to them, they told Haman, to see if Mordecai's matters would stand. For he had told them that he was a Jew.

And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow nor worship him, then Haman was full of wrath.

And Haman said to King Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people, in all the provinces of your kingdom. And their laws are different from all people, neither do they keep the king's laws. And it is not for the king's gain to allow them to live.

And Esther's servant women and her eunuchs came and told her. And the queen was exceedingly grieved, and she sent clothing to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him. But he did not receive it.

And the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that whoever, whether man or woman, shall come to the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his, execution, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden scepter so that he may live. But I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.

And Mordecai commanded them to answer Esther, Do not think within yourself that you shall escape in the king's house more than all the Jews.

Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me, and do not eat nor drink three days, night or day. My maidservants and I will also fast in the same way. And so I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law. And if I perish, I perish.

And Haman went forth that day joyful and with a glad heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he did not stand up nor move for him, he was full of fury against Mordecai.

On that night the king could not sleep, and he commanded to bring the Book of the Records of the Matter of the Days. And they were read before the king.

And the king said to Haman, Make haste! Take the clothing and the horse, as you have said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Do not fail to do any of all the things you have spoken.

And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had happened to him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, If Mordecai is of the seed of the Jews, before whom you have begun to fall, you shall not prevail against him but shall surely fall before him.

For we are sold, my people and I, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to perish. But if we had been sold for men-slaves and women-slaves, I would have held my tongue, although the enemy could not make up for the king's damage.

they killed the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. But they did not lay their hands on the spoil.

For the Jews in Shushan gathered themselves on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and killed three hundred men at Shushan. But they did not lay their hands on the spoil.

But the rest of the Jews in the king's provinces gathered themselves and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy-five thousand of their foes. But they did not lay their hands on the spoil.

the Jews ordained, and took on them and on their seed, and on all such as joined themselves to them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their time every year,

and that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city, and these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed.

And all the acts of his power and of might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, with which the king made him great, 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 around his house, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock have increased in the land.

And Jehovah said to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your power. Only do not lay your hand upon him. And Satan went forth from the presence of Jehovah.

In all this Job did not sin, nor charge God foolishly.

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

And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and did not know him, they lifted up their voice and wept. And each one tore his robe, and they sprinkled dust upon their heads toward Heaven.

Let the day perish in which I was born, and the night which said, A man-child is conceived.

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

As for that night, let darkness seize upon it. Let it not rejoice among the days of the year, Let it not come into the number of the months.

Lo, let that night be barren; let no joyful voice come in it.

Let the stars of its twilight be dark; let it look for light, but have none. Let it not see the eyelids of the dawn.

For it did not shut up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hide sorrow from my eyes.

Why did I not die from the womb, come from the womb and expire?

or as a hidden untimely birth I would not have been, like infants who did not see light.

the prisoners are at rest together; they hear not the voice of the slave driver.

who is waiting for death, but it comes not; and dig for it more than for treasures?

I was not in safety, nor did I have rest, nor was I quiet; yet trouble comes.

Is not your reverence your hope? Is not your hope the uprightness of your ways?

In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men,

It stood still, but I could not tell the form of it. An image was before my eyes; silence; then I heard a voice,

Is not their tent cord plucked up within them? They die, but not with wisdom.

For affliction does not come forth from the dust, nor does trouble spring up out of the ground;

They meet with darkness in the day time, and grope in the noonday as in the night.

Behold, blessed is the man whom God corrects. Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.

And it is yet my comfort; yea, I would rejoice in pain, though He did not spare me; for I have not hidden the words of the Holy One.

Is not my help in me? And is wisdom fully driven away from me?

Is there not a warfare to man on earth? Are not his days also like the days of a hireling?

When I lie down, I say, When shall I rise? But the night is long, and I am full of tossing to and fro until the dawning of the day.

Therefore I will not hold my mouth; I will speak in the trouble of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

I despise them; I will not live always; let me alone, for my days are vanity.

And why do You not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? For now I shall sleep in the dust, and You shall seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.

Shall they not teach you, and tell you, and speak words out of their heart?

While it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down, it dries out before any other herb.

He shall lean on his house, but it shall not stand; he shall hold fast to it, but it shall not endure.

If he is destroyed from his place, then it shall deny him: I have not seen you.

Behold, God will not cast away the innocent, nor will He help the evildoers,

He who removes the mountains, and they know it not, when He overturns them in His anger;

the One speaking to the sun, and it does not rise; and seals up the stars;

Behold! He goes by me, and I do not see Him; He passes on also, but I do not perceive Him.

God will not withdraw His anger; the helpers of pride stoop under Him.

Whom, though I were righteous, yet I would not answer; I seek mercy for my judgment.

If I had called and He had answered me, yet would I not believe that He had listened to my voice;

who will not allow me to take my breath, but fills me with bitterness.

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

The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges; if it is not He, then who is it?

I am afraid of all my sorrows; I know that You will not hold me innocent.

For He is not a man, as I am, that I should answer Him, that we should come together in judgment;

Let Him take His rod away from me, and let not His fear make me afraid;

then would I speak and not fear Him; for it is not so with me.

I will say to God, Do not condemn me; make me know why You contend with me.

You know that I am not wicked; and there is none who can deliver out of Your hand.

Have You not poured me out like milk, and curdled me like cheese?

If I sin, then You mark me, and You will not acquit me from my iniquity.

If I am wicked, woe to me; and if I am righteous, I will not lift up my head, being filled with shame, and looking on my affliction.

I should have been as though I had not been; I would have been carried from the womb to the grave.

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

before I go, and I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;

Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be justified?

For He knows vain men; and when He sees wickedness, will He not search it?

if iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and do not let wickedness dwell in your tents;

surely then you shall lift up your face without spot; yea, you shall be steadfast and shall not fear;

But I have understanding as well as you; I do not fall short of you; yes, who does not know such things as these?

who of all these does not know that the hand of Jehovah has done this?

Does not the ear try words? And does not the mouth taste its food?

Behold, He breaks down, and it can not be built up again; He shuts up a man, and no one opens.

What you know, I know also; I do not fall short of you.

Shall not His highness make you afraid, and His dread fall on you?

Though he slay me, I will not wait, but I will maintain my own ways before Him.

He also is my salvation, for an ungodly one shall not come before Him.

Only do not do two things to me; then I will not hide myself from You.

Withdraw Your hand far from me, and let not Your fear make me afraid.

He comes forth like a flower, and withers; he also flees as a shadow, and does not stand.

For there is hope of a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and its tender branch will not cease.

so man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, they shall not awake, nor be awakened out of their sleep.

For now You number my steps; do You not watch over my sin?

His sons come to honor, and he knows it not; they fall, but he does not mark it.

Should he reason with talk that is not useful, or with speeches which have no profit?

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