For the queen’s conduct will become known to all women, causing them to look on their husbands with contempt (disrespect), since they will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she did not come.’

If it pleases the king, let a royal command be issued by him and let it be written in the laws of the Persians and Medes so that it cannot be repealed or modified, that Vashti is no longer to come before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better and more worthy than she.

Now as for Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai who had taken her in as his [own] daughter, when her turn came to go in to the king, she requested nothing except what Hegai the king’s eunuch [and attendant] who was in charge of the women, advised. And Esther found favor in the sight of all who saw her.

“All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that for any man or woman who comes to the king to the inner court without being summoned, he has but one law, that he is to be put to death, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he may live. And as for me, I have not been summoned to come to the king for these [last] thirty days.”

For if you remain silent at this time, liberation and rescue will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father’s house will perish [since you did not help when you had the chance]. And who knows whether you have attained royalty for such a time as this [and for this very purpose]?”

Esther said, “If it pleases the king, may the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”

Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly so that we may do as Esther says.” So the king and Haman came to the banquet which Esther had prepared.

if I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and to do as I request, may the king and Haman come to the banquet that I will prepare for them; and tomorrow I will do as the king says [and express my request].”

Haman also said, “Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the banquet she had prepared; and tomorrow also I am invited by her [together] with the king.

So the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace to ask the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows which he had prepared for him.

The king’s servants said to him, “Look, Haman is standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.”

For how can I endure to see the tragedy that will happen to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?”

The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming around on the earth and from walking around on it.”

The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming around on the earth and from walking around on it.”

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

“As for that night, let darkness seize it;
Let it not rejoice among the days of the year;
Let it not be counted in the number of the months.

“Behold, let that night be barren [and empty];
Let no joyful voice enter it.

Who wait for death, but it does not come,
And dig (search) for death more [diligently] than for hidden treasures,

“For my groaning comes at the sight of my food,
And my cries [of despair] are poured out like water.

“For the thing which I greatly fear comes upon me,
And that of which I am afraid has come upon me.

“I am not at ease, nor am I quiet,
And I am not at rest, and yet trouble still comes [upon me].”

“But now adversity comes upon you, and you are impatient and intolerant;
It touches you, and you are horrified.

“For affliction does not come forth from the dust,
Nor does trouble spring forth from the ground.

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

“You will come to your grave in old age,
Like the stacking of grain [on the threshing floor] in its season.

“As a cloud vanishes and is gone,
So he who goes down to Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) does not come up.

I am afraid of all my pains and worries [yet to come];
I know that You will not acquit me and leave me unpunished.

“For God is not a [mere] man, as I am, that I may answer Him,
That we may go to court and judgment together.

“With the aged [you say] is wisdom,
And with long life is understanding.

“Be silent before me so that I may speak;
And let happen to me what may.

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

“How many are my iniquities and sins [that so much sorrow should come to me]?
Make me recognize and understand my transgression and my sin.

“Like a flower he comes forth and withers;
He also flees like a shadow and does not remain.

“If a man dies, will he live again?
I will wait all the days of my struggle
Until my change and release will come.

“His sons achieve honor, and he does not know it;
They become insignificant, and he is not aware of it.

“A [dreadful] sound of terrors is in his ears;
While at peace and in a time of prosperity the destroyer comes upon him [the tent of the robber is not at peace].

“For when a few years are past,
I shall go the way of no return.

“But as for all of you, come back again,
Even though I do not find a wise man among you.

“Those in the west are astonished and appalled at his fate,
And those in the east are seized with horror.

“His troops come together
And build up their way and siege works against me
And camp around my tent.

“In the fullness of his excess (great abundance) he will be in trouble;
The hand of everyone who suffers will come against him [he is miserable on every side].

“The arrow is drawn forth and it comes out of his back [after passing through his body];
Yes, the glittering point comes out of his gall.
Terrors march in upon him;

“How often [then] is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out,
And that their disaster falls on them?
Does God distribute pain and destruction and sorrow [to them] in His anger?

“Now yield and submit yourself to Him [agree with God and be conformed to His will] and be at peace;
In this way [you will prosper and great] good will come to you.

“Oh, that I knew where I might find Him,
That I might [even] come to His seat!

“But He knows the way that I take [and He pays attention to it].
When He has tried me, I will come forth as [refined] gold [pure and luminous].

“Will God hear his cry
When trouble and distress come upon him?

“[As for] the earth, out of it comes food,
But underneath [its surface, down deep] it is turned over as fire.

“From where then does wisdom come?
And where is the place of understanding?

“As through a wide breach they come,
Amid the crash [of falling walls] they roll on [over me].

“I am seething within and my heart is troubled and cannot rest;
Days of affliction come to meet me.

So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him,
And He heard the cry of the afflicted.

“Out of its chamber comes the storm,
And cold from the north wind.

“Whether [it be] for correction, or for His earth [generally]
Or for [His] mercy and lovingkindness, He causes it to happen.

“Out of the north comes golden splendor [and people can hardly look on it];
Around God is awesome splendor and majesty [far too glorious for man’s eyes].

And said, ‘This far you shall come, but no farther;
And here your proud waves shall stop’?

“Who can penetrate or strip off his outer armor?
Who can come to his jaws with a double bridle?

“One is so near to another
That no air can come between them.

And he will be like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season;
Its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers [and comes to maturity].

For the Lord knows and fully approves the way of the righteous,
But the way of the wicked shall perish.

Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous [those in right standing with You];
For the righteous God tries the hearts and minds.

His mischief will return on his own head,
And his violence will come down on the top of his head [like loose dirt].

He says to himself, “I will not be moved;
For throughout all generations I will not be in adversity [for nothing bad will happen to me].”

Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
When the Lord restores His captive people,
Then Jacob will rejoice, Israel will be glad.

Hear the just (righteous) cause, O Lord; listen to my loud [piercing] cry;
Listen to my prayer, that comes from guileless lips.

Let my verdict of vindication come from Your presence;
May Your eyes look with equity and behold things that are just.

They will come and declare His righteousness
To a people yet to be born—that He has done it [and that it is finished].

Lift up your heads, O gates,
And be lifted up, ancient doors,
That the King of glory may come in.

Lift up your heads, O gates,
And lift them up, ancient doors,
That the King of glory may come in.

For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may endure for a night,
But a shout of joy comes in the morning.

Do not be like the horse or like the mule which have no understanding,
Whose trappings include bridle and rein to hold them in check,
Otherwise they will not come near to you.

Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you to fear the Lord [with awe-inspired reverence and worship Him with obedience].

For Your arrows have sunk into me and penetrate deeply,
And Your hand has pressed down on me and greatly disciplined me.

Then I said, “Behold, I come [to the throne];
In the scroll of the book it is written of me.

And when one comes to see me, he speaks empty words,
While his heart gathers malicious gossip [against me];
When he goes away, he tells it [everywhere].

My soul (my life, my inner self) thirsts for God, for the living God.
When will I come and see the face of God?

All this has come upon us, yet we have not forgotten You,
Nor have we been false to Your covenant [which You made with our fathers].

Rise up! Come be our help,
And ransom us for the sake of Your steadfast love.

Come, behold the works of the Lord,
Who has brought desolations and wonders on the earth.

May our God come and not keep silent;
Fire devours before Him,
And around Him a mighty tempest rages.

Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
When God restores [the fortunes of] His people,
Let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

Fear and trembling have come upon me;
Horror has overwhelmed me.

Let death come deceitfully upon them;
Let them go down alive to Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead),
For evil [of every kind] is in their dwelling and in their hearts, in their midst.

You will prolong the king’s life [adding days upon days];
His years will be like many generations.

For God alone my soul waits in silence;
From Him comes my salvation.

O You who hear prayer,
To You all mankind comes.

Blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near
To dwell in Your courts.
We will be filled with the goodness of Your house,
Your holy temple.

Come and see the works of God,
He is awesome in His deeds toward the children of men.

I shall come into Your house with burnt offerings;
I shall pay You my vows,

Come and hear, all who fear God [and worship Him with awe-inspired reverence and obedience],
And I will tell what He has done for me.

Princes and envoys shall come from Egypt;
Ethiopia will quickly stretch out her hands [with the offerings of submission] to God.

Save me, O God,
For the waters have threatened my life [they have come up to my neck].

I have sunk in deep mire, where there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters, where a flood overwhelms me.

Add [unforgiven] iniquity to their iniquity [in Your book],
And may they not come into Your righteousness.

I will come with the mighty acts of the Lord God [and in His strength];
I will make mention of Your righteousness, Yours alone.

And even when I am old and gray-headed, O God, do not abandon me,
Until I declare Your [mighty] strength to this generation,
Your power to all who are to come.

May he come down like rain on the mown grass,
Like showers that water the earth.

“When I select an appointed time,
I will judge with equity,” [says the Lord].

For not from the east, nor from the west,
Nor from the desert comes exaltation.

We will not hide them from their children,
But [we will] tell to the generation to come the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
And [tell of] His great might and power and the wonderful works that He has done.