And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman had come into the outer court of the king's house, to ask the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.

And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delights to honor,

For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I would have held my tongue, although the enemy could never compensate for the king's loss.

And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath 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.

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.

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

On that day did 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.

For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?

Write you also for the Jews, as it pleases you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.

By these the king granted the Jews who were in every city to gather themselves together, and to defend their lives, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the forces of the people and province that would assault them, their little ones and women, and to take their possessions for a spoil,

The copy of the writing for a command to be given in every province was published unto all people, so that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

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.

The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their harm: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.

And all the princes of the provinces, and the satraps, and the governors, and officials of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.

For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai grew greater and greater.

For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and killed three hundred men at Shushan; but on the spoil they laid not their hand.

And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, both near and far,

Therefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them,

To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their descendants, concerning the matters of the fastings and their lamentations.

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

And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one on his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

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.

And the LORD said unto Satan, From where come you? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.

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.

And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I alone am escaped to tell you.

And the LORD said unto Satan, From where come you? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.

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

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: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

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

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.

Let the stars of its twilight be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day:

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

With kings and counselors of the earth, who built desolate places for themselves;

The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master.

Who long for death, but it comes not; and dig for it more than for hidden treasures;

For my sighing comes before I eat, and my groanings are poured out like the waters.

For the thing which I greatly feared has come upon me, and that which I was afraid of has come unto me.

Is not this your fear, your confidence, your hope, and the uprightness of your ways?

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

Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.

For wrath kills the foolish man, and envy slays the simple one.

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

For affliction comes not forth from the dust, neither does trouble spring out of the ground;

For he bruises, and binds up: he wounds, and his hands make whole.

For you shall be in covenant with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.

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

For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.

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!

Then should I still have comfort; yea, I would exult myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

To him that is afflicted pity should be shown from his friend; even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

The caravans of Tema looked, the travelers of Sheba waited for them.

For now you are nothing; you see my terror, and are afraid.

Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?

Yea, you overwhelm the fatherless, and you dig a pit for your friend.

Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie.

As a servant earnestly desires the shadow, and as a hireling looks for the reward of his work:

When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.

I loathe it; I would 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 shall I sleep in the dust; and you shall seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.

If your children have sinned against him, and he has cast them away for their transgression;

If you were pure and upright; surely now he would awake for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.

For inquire, I pray you, of the former age, and prepare yourself to the findings of their fathers:

(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)

His roots are wrapped about the stone heap, and looks for a place in the stones.

For, though I were righteous, yet could I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

For he breaks me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause.

For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in trial.

Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:

Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.

For it increases. You hunt me as a fierce lion: and again you show yourself awesome against me.

For you have said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in your eyes.

For he knows vain men: he sees wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

For a vain man will be wise, when a man is born a wild donkey's colt.

If iniquity be in your hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in your tents.

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

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

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

He also shall be my salvation: for a hypocrite shall not come before him.

Who is he that will contend with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall die.

Withdraw your hand far from me: and let not your dread make me afraid.

Why hide you your face, and hold me for your enemy?

Will you break a leaf driven to and fro? and will you pursue the dry stubble?

For you write bitter things against me, and make me possess the iniquities of my youth.

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.

For now you number my steps: do not watch over my sin.

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

For your mouth utters your iniquity, and you choose the tongue of the crafty.

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

The wicked man travails with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden for the oppressor.

He believes not that he shall return out of darkness, and he is waited for by the sword.

He wanders abroad for bread, saying, Where is it? he knows that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.

Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid; they shall prevail against him, as a king ready for battle.

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

Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for futility shall be his reward.

For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tents of bribery.

I was at ease, but he has broken me asunder: he has also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.

Not for any violence in my hands: also my prayer is pure.

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