"Go ask the LORD for me and for those who survive in Israel and in Judah about the words that we've read in this book that we found, because the wrath of the LORD that we deserve to have poured out on us is very great, since our ancestors haven't obeyed the command from the LORD that required us to do everything that is written in this book."

"This is what the LORD God of Israel says: "Tell the man who sent you to me, "This is what the LORD says: "Pay attention! I'm bringing evil to visit this place and its inhabitants every single curse written in the book that they've been reading to the King of Judah.

"Now tell the king of Judah who sent you to ask the LORD about this: "This is what the LORD God of Israel says about what you've heard:

And the singers the sons of Asaph were in their place according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the king's seer. And the porters were at every gate. They did not need to depart from their service, fo

He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him vow allegiance in the name of God. He was stubborn and obstinate, and refused to return to the Lord God of Israel.

And they sang one to another in praising and giving thanks to LORD, [saying], For he is good, for his loving kindness [is] forever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised LORD, because the fo

they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families with this message: "Let's build along with you, because, like you, we seek your God, as do you, and we've been making sacrifices to him since the reign of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, who brought us here."

—came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which Yahweh, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he requested because the hand of Yahweh his God was on him.

Now, when these things were ended, the rulers drew near unto me, saying, The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not kept themselves separate from the peoples of the lands, - in view of their abominations-even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites;

Though now, for a moment, grace has been shown from the LORD our God, leaving a few survivors to escape, and providing us a secure hold in his Holy Place, so that our God might enlighten us and give us relief from our servitude.

So Ezra got up and made the chief priests, the descendants of Levi, and all of Israel vow to carry out everything they promised. And so they agreed.

At this, the entire community responded with a loud cry, "We will do just as you've spoken!

And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.

Now there was a great outcry of the [poorer] people and their wives against their Jewish brothers [to whom they were deeply in debt].

Still others were saying "We've borrowed money against our fields and vineyards to pay the king's taxes.

I accused them, "To the best of our ability, we've been buying back our fellow Jews who had been sold to foreigners. Even now you're selling your fellow countrymen, only for them to be sold back to us!" They kept quiet and never spoke a word.

So today please restore to them their fields, vineyards, olive orchards, and homes, along with the one percent interest charge that you've assessed them on the grain, wine, and oil."

"Remember me with favor, my God, for everything I've done for this people."

I sent word back to him, "Nothing has happened as you've claimed. You're making up these charges in your imagination."

Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded.

Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was elevated above everyone. As he opened it, all the people stood up.

So now, our God—the great, mighty,
and awe-inspiring God who keeps His gracious covenant—
do not view lightly all the hardships that have afflicted us,
our kings and leaders,
our priests and prophets,
our ancestors and all Your people,
from the days of the Assyrian kings until today.

In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement in writing on a sealed document containing the names of our leaders, Levites, and priests.

"Every servant of the king and every person in the king's provinces knows that for any man or woman who goes to the king in the inner court without being summoned there is only one law that he be put to death unless the king holds out the golden scepter to him. Only then he will live. For these last 30 days I've not been summoned to come to the king."

Esther replied, "If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet I've prepared for him."

If I've found favor with the king and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and to honor my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I'll prepare for them tomorrow, and then I'll do what the king has said."

Then the king told Haman, "Quick! Take the clothes and the horse just as you have suggested and do this for Mordecai the Jew who sits in the king's gate. And don't let anything you've suggested fall through the cracks."

Queen Esther answered: "If I've found favor with you, your majesty, and if it seems good to the king, let my life be given to me as my petition and my people as my request.

Esther said, “A foe and an enemy is this wicked Haman!” Then Haman became terrified before the king and queen.

She said, "If it pleases the king, and if I've found favor with him, and if the matter is proper in the king's opinion, and if I'm pleasing to the king, let an order be issued revoking the letters devised by Hammedatha the Agagite's son Haman, which ordered the destruction of the Jewish people throughout the king's provinces.

King Ahasuerus told Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, "Look, I've given Haman's property to Esther, and they have hanged him on the pole because he tried to harm the Jewish people.

Because Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the hater of all the Jews, had made designs for their destruction, attempting to get a decision by Pur (that is, chance) with a view to putting an end to them and cutting them off;

Look! You've admonished many people, and you've strengthened feeble hands.

"Look! We have thought all this through, and what we've said is true; So please listen and learn for your own good!"

It would weigh more than the sand on the seashore! Here's why I've talked so rashly:

or, 'Save me from the foe's hand,' or, 'Ransom me from the tyrants' hand'?

"Instruct me, and I'll remain silent. Help me understand where I've gone astray.

Truly I've been allotted months of emptiness; nights of trouble have been appointed for me.

For I've said, "My bed will comfort me; my couch will ease my burdens while I complain.'

Yes, I know what you’ve said is true,
but how can a person be justified before God?

Who commands the sun, and it does not shine;
Who seals up the stars [from view];

""Please remember that you've made me like clay and you'll return me to dust.

But you've hidden these things in your heart I know this was your purpose:

""You have brought new witnesses against me, you're even more angry with me you've brought fresh troops to attack me!

Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,

You've said, "My teaching is flawless; I'm clean in God's sight.'

"Look, I've seen everything; I've listened carefully and I understand.

"Look, now! I've prepared my case for court. I know that I'm going to win.

You've accused me of bitter things; you've caused me to reap the sins of my youth.

You've locked my feet in stocks; you watch all my steps; You've limited where I can walk.

Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.

Since his days have been determined, the number of his months is known to you. You've set his limit and he cannot exceed it.

Too few for thee are the comforts of God? And a gentle word is with thee,

"I'll tell you what, listen to me! Let me relate what I've seen,

'All days of the wicked he is paining himself, And few years have been laid up for the terrible one.

"I've heard many things like this. What miserable comforters you all are!

You've arrested me, making me testify against myself! My leanness rises up to attack me, accusing me to my face.

His wrath has torn, and he has been hostile toward me; he gnashed at me with his teeth. My foe sharpens his eyes against me.

"I've even sewn sackcloth directly to my skin; I've buried my strength in the dust.

When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.

Ten times you've tried to humiliate me! You're not ashamed to wrong me!

Even if it's true that I've erred, my error only affects me.

Bear with me and let me speak! Then, after I've spoken, you'll be free to mock me.

"After all, you've taken collateral from your relatives for no reason; you stripped the naked of their clothing.

You've neglected to give water to the weary, and you've withheld food from the hungry.

You've asked, "What does God know? Can he sort through pitch black darkness?'

{Surely} our foe perishes, and fire has consumed their remainder.

I haven't wandered away from the commands that he has spoken; I've treasured what he has said more than my own meals."

He obscures the view of His throne,
spreading His cloud over it.

Indeed, these are the fringes of his ways, and how faint is the whisper we've heard of it! But who can comprehend the thunder of his might?"

"I wish I could go back to how things were a few months ago; when God used to watch over me,

"Now, I've become the object of their mocking melodies; I'm nothing but a fool's proverb to them!

But God has loosened his cord and afflicted me; so they've cast off all restraints in my presence.

They have made waste my roads, with a view to my destruction; his bowmen come round about me;

"He tossed me into the mire; I've become like dust and ashes.

I've become a brother to jackals, and a friend to ostriches.

"If I've lived my life in the company of vanity, or run quickly to embrace deception,

what I've planted, let another eat or let my crops be uprooted."

"If my heart has been seduced by a woman and I've laid in wait at my friend's door,

"If I've refused to help my male and female servants when they complain against me,

if I have eaten my few crumbs alone
without letting the fatherless eat any of it—

if I've observed someone who is about to die for lack of clothes or if I have no clothing to give to the poor,

if I've raised my hand against an orphan when I thought I would against him in court,

"If I've put my confidence in gold, if I've told gold, "You're my security,'

if I've found joy in great wealth that I own, if I've earned a lot with my own hands,

I'll give an account for every step I've taken; I'll approach him confidently like a Commander-in-Chief."

If I've consumed its produce without paying for it and snuffed out the life of its owners;

And Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite will answer and say, I few for days, and ye old men; for this I was afraid, and I shall fear showing you my knowledge.

Look! I've begun to speak, and I'm fashioning my words.

"You spoke clearly so I could hear; I've heard what you've said:

His flesh is consumed away from view, and his bones that were not seen stick out;

"He'll sing to mankind with these words: "I've sinned. I have twisted what is right. Yet he has not repaid me like I deserve.

In full view of the public,
He strikes them for their wickedness,

because they've abandoned their pursuit of him and had no respect for any of his ways.

"Has anyone ever really told God, "I've endured, and I won't act corruptly anymore.

What I don't see, instruct me! If I've done anything evil, I won't repeat it!'

After all, you've asked what your benefit will be: "What will I profit from refraining from sin?'

which I've reserved for the tribulation to come, for the day of battle and war?

to whom I've given the Arabah for a home; the salt plain for his dwelling place?

I've heard you with my ears; and now I've seen you with my eyes.