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.

Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath.

Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment;

Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:

Then the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?

And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from those of every people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.

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

Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be given thee even to the half of the kingdom.

And Esther said, 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 the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that it may be done as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.

Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is:

if I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to-morrow as the king hath said.

Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to-morrow also am I invited by her together with the king.

Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

And the king said, What honor and dignity hath been bestowed on Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.

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 the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.

So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor? Now Haman said in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to myself?

And Haman said unto the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honor,

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

And Haman recounted unto Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai, before whom thou hast begun to fall, be of the seed of the Jews, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.

And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.

Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favor in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:

Then spake the king Ahasuerus and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?

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

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.

Then said Harbonah, one of the chamberlains that were before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman hath made for Mordecai, who spake good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. And the king said, Hang him thereon.

And she said, If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews that are in all the king's provinces:

Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.

And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what then have they done in the rest of the king's provinces! Now what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done.

Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews that are in Shushan to do to-morrow also according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.

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.

And Jehovah said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

And Jehovah said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil.

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

And Jehovah said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thy hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of Jehovah.

that there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them;

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;

and he said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: Jehovah gave, and Jehovah hath taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah.

And Jehovah said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered Jehovah, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

And Jehovah said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil: and he still holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.

And Satan answered Jehovah, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.

And Jehovah said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thy hand; only spare his life.

Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still hold fast thine integrity? renounce God, and die.

But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. 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.

And Job answered and said:

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

Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,

Then Job answered and said,

Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

Then Job answered and said,

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

Then Job answered and said,

Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,

Then Job answered and said,

If I have said to corruption, Thou art my father; To the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister;

Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

Then Job answered and said,

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

Then Job answered and said,

Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,

Who said unto God, Depart from us; And, What can the Almighty do for us?

Then Job answered and said,

Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

Then Job answered and said,

And Job again took up his parable, and said,

And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.

And Job again took up his parable, and said,

Then I said, I shall die in my nest, And I shall multiply my days as the sand:

If I have made gold my hope, And have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;

If the men of my tent have not said, Who can find one that hath not been filled with his meat?

And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; Wherefore I held back, and durst not show you mine opinion.

I said, Days should speak, And multitude of years should teach wisdom.

Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will show mine opinion.

Moreover Elihu answered and said,

For Job hath said, I am righteous, And God hath taken away my right:

For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing That he should delight himself with God.

For hath any said unto God, I have borne chastisement , I will not offend any more :

Moreover Elihu answered and said,

Elihu also proceeded, and said,

Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further; And here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

Moreover Jehovah answered Job, and said,

Then Job answered Jehovah, and said,

Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

Then Job answered Jehovah, and said,

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.

I will tell of the decree: Jehovah said unto me, Thou art my son; This day have I begotten thee.

Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; Our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works; There is none that doeth good.

O my soul , thou hast said unto Jehovah, Thou art my Lord: I have no good beyond thee.

When thou saidst , Seek ye my face; My heart said unto thee, Thy face, Jehovah, will I seek.

As for me, I said in my prosperity, I shall never be moved.

But I trusted in thee, O Jehovah: I said, Thou art my God.

As for me, I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: Nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications When I cried unto thee.

I acknowledged my sin unto thee, And mine iniquity did I not hide: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto Jehovah; And thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah