For Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the adversary of all the Jews, had schemed against the Jews to destroy them and had cast Pur, that is the lot, to disturb them and destroy them.

the Jews established and made a custom for themselves and for their descendants and for all those who allied themselves with them, so that they would not fail to celebrate these two days according to their regulation and according to their appointed time annually.

He sent letters to all the Jews, to the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, namely, words of peace and truth,

And all the accomplishments of his authority and strength, and the full account of the greatness of Mordecai to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia?

For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews and in favor with his many kinsmen, one who sought the good of his people and one who spoke for the welfare of his whole nation.

His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.

Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.

But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.”

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord.

While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.

Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life.

However, put forth Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse You to Your face.”

And he took a potsherd to scrape himself while he was sitting among the ashes.

But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, they came each one from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite; and they made an appointment together to come to sympathize with him and comfort him.

“If one ventures a word with you, will you become impatient?
But who can refrain from speaking?

Dread came upon me, and trembling,
And made all my bones shake.

“Call now, is there anyone who will answer you?
And to which of the holy ones will you turn?

“From six troubles He will deliver you,
Even in seven evil will not touch you.

“In famine He will redeem you from death,
And in war from the power of the sword.

“You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue,
And you will not be afraid of violence when it comes.

“You will laugh at violence and famine,
And you will not be afraid of wild beasts.

“For you will be in league with the stones of the field,
And the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.

“You will know that your tent is secure,
For you will visit your abode and fear no loss.

“You will know also that your descendants will be many,
And your offspring as the grass of the earth.

“You will come to the grave in full vigor,
Like the stacking of grain in its season.

“Teach me, and I will be silent;
And show me how I have erred.

“Remember that my life is but breath;
My eye will not again see good.

“The eye of him who sees me will behold me no longer;
Your eyes will be on me, but I will not be.

“He will not return again to his house,
Nor will his place know him anymore.

“Therefore I will not restrain my mouth;
I will speak in the anguish of my spirit,
I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

“If I say, ‘My bed will comfort me,
My couch will ease my complaint,’

“I waste away; I will not live forever.
Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.

“Will You never turn Your gaze away from me,
Nor let me alone until I swallow my spittle?

“Why then do You not pardon my transgression
And take away my iniquity?
For now I will lie down in the dust;
And You will seek me, but I will not be.”

“How long will you say these things,
And the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?

“Though your beginning was insignificant,
Yet your end will increase greatly.

“Will they not teach you and tell you,
And bring forth words from their minds?

“While it is still green and not cut down,
Yet it withers before any other plant.

“So are the paths of all who forget God;
And the hope of the godless will perish,

“If he is removed from his place,
Then it will deny him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’

“Behold, this is the joy of His way;
And out of the dust others will spring.

“Lo, God will not reject a man of integrity,
Nor will He support the evildoers.

“He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
And your lips with shouting.

“Those who hate you will be clothed with shame,
And the tent of the wicked will be no longer.”

“God will not turn back His anger;
Beneath Him crouch the helpers of Rahab.

“He will not allow me to get my breath,
But saturates me with bitterness.

“Though I am righteous, my mouth will condemn me;
Though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty.

“It is all one; therefore I say,
‘He destroys the guiltless and the wicked.’

“Though I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,
I will leave off my sad countenance and be cheerful,’

I am afraid of all my pains,
I know that You will not acquit me.

“I loathe my own life;
I will give full vent to my complaint;
I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

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

“An idiot will become intelligent
When the foal of a wild donkey is born a man.

“But the eyes of the wicked will fail,
And there will be no escape for them;
And their hope is to breathe their last.”

“Truly then you are the people,
And with you wisdom will die!

“But I have intelligence as well as you;
I am not inferior to you.
And who does not know such things as these?

“Who among all these does not know
That the hand of the Lord has done this,

In whose hand is the life of every living thing,
And the breath of all mankind?

“Behold, my eye has seen all this,
My ear has heard and understood it.

“But you smear with lies;
You are all worthless physicians.

“Will you speak what is unjust for God,
And speak what is deceitful for Him?

“Will you show partiality for Him?
Will you contend for God?

“Will it be well when He examines you?
Or will you deceive Him as one deceives a man?

“He will surely reprove you
If you secretly show partiality.

“Will not His majesty terrify you,
And the dread of Him fall on you?

“Though He slay me,
I will hope in Him.
Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him.

“This also will be my salvation,
For a godless man may not come before His presence.

“Behold now, I have prepared my case;
I know that I will be vindicated.

“Who will contend with me?
For then I would be silent and die.

“Only two things do not do to me,
Then I will not hide from Your face:

“Then call, and I will answer;
Or let me speak, then reply to me.

“Will You cause a driven leaf to tremble?
Or will You pursue the dry chaff?

“You put my feet in the stocks
And watch all my paths;
You set a limit for the soles of my feet,

While I am decaying like a rotten thing,
Like a garment that is moth-eaten.

“For there is hope for a tree,
When it is cut down, that it will sprout again,
And its shoots will not fail.

At the scent of water it will flourish
And put forth sprigs like a plant.

So man lies down and does not rise.
Until the heavens are no longer,
He will not awake nor be aroused out of his sleep.

“If a man dies, will he live again?
All the days of my struggle I will wait
Until my change comes.

“You will call, and I will answer You;
You will long for the work of Your hands.

That you should turn your spirit against God
And allow such words to go out of your mouth?

“I will tell you, listen to me;
And what I have seen I will also declare;

“The wicked man writhes in pain all his days,
And numbered are the years stored up for the ruthless.

“Sounds of terror are in his ears;
While at peace the destroyer comes upon him.

“He does not believe that he will return from darkness,
And he is destined for the sword.

“He will not become rich, nor will his wealth endure;
And his grain will not bend down to the ground.

“He will not escape from darkness;
The flame will wither his shoots,
And by the breath of His mouth he will go away.

“Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself;
For emptiness will be his reward.

“It will be accomplished before his time,
And his palm branch will not be green.

“He will drop off his unripe grape like the vine,
And will cast off his flower like the olive tree.

“I have heard many such things;
Sorry comforters are you all.

“But now He has exhausted me;
You have laid waste all my company.

“Lay down, now, a pledge for me with Yourself;
Who is there that will be my guarantor?

“For You have kept their heart from understanding,
Therefore You will not exalt them.

“He who informs against friends for a share of the spoil,
The eyes of his children also will languish.

“My eye has also grown dim because of grief,
And all my members are as a shadow.