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

And when they spake this daily unto him and he followed them not, they told Haman, that they might see whether Mordecai's matters would endure: for he had told them that he was a Jew.

And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not the knee unto him, nor worshipped him, he was full of indignation

And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, "There is a people scattered abroad and dispersed among all people in all the lands of thine empire, and their law is contrary unto all people, and they do not after the king's laws, neither is it the king's profit to suffer them after this manner.

If it please the king, let him write that they may be destroyed, and so will I weigh down ten thousand talents of silver, under the hands of the workmen, to be brought into the king's chamber."

Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written, according as Haman commanded, unto the king's princes, and to the captains everywhere in the lands, and to the rulers of every people in the countries on every side, according to the writing of every nation, and after their language in the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed with the king's ring.

And the writings were sent by posts into all the king's lands, to root out, to kill, and to destroy all Jews, both young and old, children and women in one day, - namely upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar - and to spoil their goods.

And the posts went in all the haste according to the king's commandment. And in the castle of Susa was the commandment devised. And the king and Haman sat and drank. But the city Susa was disquieted.

and came before the king's gate: for there might no man enter within the king's gate, that had a sackcloth on.

And in all lands and places, as far as the king's word and commandment extended, there was great lamentation among the Jews and many fasted, wept, mourned and lay in sackcloth and in ashes.

So Esther's damsels and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly astonished. And she sent raiment, that Mordecai should put them on and lay the sackcloth from him. But Mordecai would not take them.

Then Esther called Hathach, one of the king's chamberlains which stood before her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, that he might know what it were, and wherefore he did so.

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

And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of silver that Haman had promised to weigh down in the king's chamber because of the Jews, for to destroy them.

Esther spake unto Hathach, and commanded him to say unto Mordecai,

"All the king's servants, and the people in the lands of the king know that whosoever cometh within the court unto the king, whether it be man or woman, which is not called, the commandment is that the same shall die immediately, except the king hold out the golden scepter unto him, that he may live. As for me, I have not been called to come in to the king now this thirty days."

And when Mordecai was certified of Esther's words,

Mordecai bade say again unto Esther, "Think not to save thine own life, while thou art in the king's house before all Jews:

for if thou holdest thy peace at this time, then shall the Jews have help and deliverance out of another place, and thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed. And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom, for this time's sake?"

'Go thou thy way then, and gather together all the Jews that are found at Susa, and fast ye for me, that ye eat not and drink not in three days, neither day nor night. I and my damsels will fast likewise, and so will I go in to the king contrary to the commandment: if I perish, I perish.'"

So Mordecai went his way, and did all that Esther had commanded him.

And on the third day put Esther on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's palace within, over against the king's house. And the king sat upon his royal seat in the king's palace over against the gate of the house.

And when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she found grace in his sight. And the king held out the golden scepter in his hand toward Esther. So Esther stepped forth, and touched the top of the scepter.

if I have found grace in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to give me my petition, and to fulfill my request, then let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and so will I do tomorrow as the king hath said."

Then went Haman forth the same day joyful and merry in his mind. And when he saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up and kneeled before him, he was full of indignation at Mordecai.

and told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children all together how the king had promoted him so greatly, and how that he was taken above the princes and servants of the king.

But in all this am I not satisfied as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate."

they happened on the place where it was written how Mordecai had told, that the king's two chamberlains which kept the thresholds sought to lay hands on king Ahasuerus.

And the king said, "What worship and good have we done to Mordecai therefore?" 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?" For Haman was gone into the court without before the king's house, that he might speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the tree, that he had prepared for him.

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

And let this raiment and horse be delivered under the hand of one of the king's princes, that he may array the man withal, whom the king would fain honour: and carry him upon the horse through the streets of the city, and cause it to be proclaimed before him, 'Thus shall it be done to every man, whom the king would fain honour.'"

The king said, "Make haste, and take, as thou hath said, the raiment and the horse: and do even so with Mordecai the Jew that sitteth before the king's gate; and let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken."

And Mordecai came again to the king's gate, but Haman gat him home in all the haste, mourning bare-headed,

While they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and caused Haman to make haste to come unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.

Esther the queen answered and said: If I have found grace in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, then grant me my life at my desire and my people for my petition's sake:

for we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. And would God we were sold to be bondmen and bondwomen, then would I hold my tongue; although the enemy could not recompense the king's loss.

And the king arose from the banquet and from the wine in his displeasure and went in to the palace garden. And Haman stood up, and besought queen Esther for his life: for he saw that there was a mischeif prepared for him of the king already.

And when the king came again out of the palace garden into the parlor where they had eaten, Haman had laid him upon the bed that Esther sat upon. Then said the king, "Will he force the queen also? Beside me, in the house?" As soon as that word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.

And Harbona, one of the chamberlains that stood before the king, said, "Behold, there standeth a gallows in Haman's house fifty cubits high, which he had made for Mordecai, that spake good for the king." The king said, "Hang him thereon."

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

and said, "If it please the king, and if I have found grace in his sight, and if it be convenient for the king, and if it be accepted in his sight, then let it be written, that the letters of the device of Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, may be called again: which letters he wrote, to destroy the Jews in all the king's lands.

For how can I see the evil that shall happen unto my people? And how can I look upon the destruction of my kindred?"

Write ye now therefore for the Jews, as it liketh you in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring." For the writings that were written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, durst no man disannul.

Then were the king's scribes called at the same time in the third month, that is the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day. And it was written, as Mordecai commanded, unto the Jews and to the princes, to the deputies and captains in the lands from India until Ethiopia, namely a hundred and seven and twenty lands, unto every one according to the writing thereof, unto every people after their speech, and to the Jews according to their writing and language.

And it was written in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed with the king's ring. And by posts that rode upon swift young Mules, sent he the writings,

And the posts that rode upon the Mules made haste with all speed, according to the king's word: and the commandment was devised in the castle of Susa.

And in all lands and cities, into what places soever the king's word and commandment reached, there was joy and mirth, prosperity and good days among the Jews: insomuch that many of the people in the land became of the Jews' belief: for the fear of the Jews came upon them.

In the twelfth month, that is the month Adar, upon the thirteenth day, which the king's word and commandment had appointed, that it should be done, even upon the same day that the enemies should have destroyed the Jews to have oppressed them, it turned contrary wise, even that the Jews should subdue their enemies.

For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and the report of him was noised in all lands, how he increased and grew.

Esther said, "If it please the king, let him suffer the Jews tomorrow also to do according unto this day's commandment, that they may hang Haman's ten sons upon the tree."

And the king charged to do so, and the commandment was devised at Susa, and Haman's ten sons were hanged.

As for the other Jews in the king's lands, they came together, and stood for their lives, and gat rest from their enemies: and slew of their enemies five and seventy thousand: howbeit, they laid no hands on their goods.

how that these days are not to be forgotten, but to be kept of the children's children among all kindreds in all lands and cities. They are the days of Purim, which are not to be overslipped among the Jews, and the memorial of them ought not to perish from their seed.

And the king Ahasuerus laid tribute upon the land, and upon the Isles of the sea.

His substance was seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred she-asses, and a very great household: so that he was one of the most principal men among all them of the east country.

And the LORD said unto Satan, "Lo, all that he hath, be in thy power: only upon himself see that thou lay not thine hand." Then went Satan forth from the LORD.

Now upon a certain day when his sons and daughters were eating, and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,

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

and suddenly there came a mighty great wind out of the South, and smote the four corners of the house: which fell upon thy children, so that they are dead, and I alone am gotten away, to tell thee."

and said, "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I turn thither again. The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; now blessed be the name of the LORD."

So went Satan forth from the LORD, and smote Job with marvelous sore boils, from the sole of the foot unto his crown;

so that he sat upon the ground in the ashes, and scraped off the filth of his sores with a potsherd.

Now when Job's friends heard of all the trouble that happened to him, there came three of them, every one from his own place: namely, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they were agreed together to come, to shew their compassion on him, and to comfort him.

So when they lift up their eyes afar off, they knew him not. Then they cried, and wept: then every one of them rent his clothes, and sprinkled dust upon their heads in the air.

They sat them down by him also upon the ground seven days and seven nights. Neither was there any of them that spake one word unto him, for they saw that his pain was very great.

Let the stars of that night be dim through darkness of it. Let it look for light, but let it see none, neither the raising up of the fair morning:

"Alas, why died I not in the birth? Why did not I perish, as soon as I came out of my mother's womb?

O that I utterly had no being, or were as a thing born out of time that is put aside, either as young children, which never saw the light.

There, are those let out free which have been in prison, so that they hear no more the voice of the oppressor.

For, as I have proved by experience, they that plow iniquity and sow wretchedness, reap the same.

The roaring of the lion, the voice of the lioness, and the teeth of the lion's whelps are broken.

The lion perisheth, for lack of prey, and the lion's whelps are scattered abroad.

Which destroyeth the devices of the subtle, so that they are not able to perform the things that they take in hand;

And so he delivereth the poor from the sword, from the threatenings of the ungodly, and from the hand of the cruel;

He delivereth thee out of six troubles, so that in the seventh there can no harm touch thee.

He shall keep thee from the perilous tongue so that when trouble cometh, thou shalt not need to fear.

Thou shalt see also, that thy seed shall increase, and that thy posterity shall be as the grass upon the earth.

For then should it be heavier than the sand of the sea.

This is the cause, that my words are so sorrowful.

Even so are ye also come unto me: but now that ye see my misery, ye are afraid.

To deliver me from the enemy's hand, or to save me from the power of the mighty?

Do ye take deliberacy to check men's sayings, and judge a poor word spoken in vain?

Even so have I laboured whole months long - but in vain - and many a careful night have I told.

my days pass over more speedily than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.

"O remember that my life is but a wind, and that mine eye shall no more see the pleasures thereof;

yea, and that none other man's eye shall see me anymore.

For if thou fasten thine eyes upon me, I come to naught like as a cloud is consumed and vanisheth away. Even so, he that goeth down to hell, cometh no more up,

Am I a sea, or a whalefish, that thou keepest me so in prison?

then troublest thou me with dreams - and makest me so afraid through visions

I can see no remedy. I shall live no more. O spare me then, for my days are but vain.

Why goest thou not from me, nor lettest me alone, so long till I swallow down my spittle?

I have offended; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? Why hast thou made me to stand in thy way, and am so heavy a burden unto myself?

"How long wilt thou talk of such things? How long shall thy mouth speak so proud words?

Even so goeth it with all them that forget God: and even thus also shall the hypocrite's hope come to naught.

His confidence shall be destroyed, for he trusteth in a spider's web.

"I know it is so of a truth: for how may a man, compared unto God, be justified?

He, himself, alone, spreadeth out the heavens, and goeth upon the waves of the sea.

If he be hasty to take anything away, who will make him restore it again? Who will say unto him, 'What doest thou?'

He troubleth me so with the tempest, and woundeth me out of measure without a cause.