I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was restricted to his house. He said:

Let us meet at the house of God
inside the temple.
Let us shut the temple doors
because they are coming to kill you.
They are coming to kill you tonight!

I said to them, “Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot, and let the doors be shut and securely fastened while the guards are on duty. Station the citizens of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some at their homes.”

Lod’s, Hadid’s, and Ono’s people721

You led them with a pillar of cloud by day,
and with a pillar of fire by night,
to illuminate the way they should go.

Lod, and Ono, the Valley of Craftsmen.

“If it meets the king’s approval, he should personally issue a royal decree. Let it be recorded in the laws of Persia and Media, so that it cannot be revoked: Vashti is not to enter King Ahasuerus’s presence, and her royal position is to be given to another woman who is more worthy than she.

The king’s personal attendants suggested, “Let a search be made for beautiful young women for the king.

Let the king appoint commissioners in each province of his kingdom, so that they may assemble all the beautiful young women to the harem at the fortress of Susa. Put them under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women, and give them the required beauty treatments.

In the first month, the month of Nisan, in King Ahasuerus’s twelfth year, Pur (that is, the lot) was cast before Haman for each day in each month, and it fell on the twelfth month, the month Adar.

If the king approves, let an order be drawn up authorizing their destruction, and I will pay 375 tons of silver to the accountants for deposit in the royal treasury.”

She said, “If it pleases the king, and I have found approval before him, if the matter seems right to the king and I am pleasing in his sight, let a royal edict be written. Let it revoke the documents the scheming Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces.

For Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them. He cast the Pur (that is, the lot) to crush and destroy them.

If only that day had turned to darkness!
May God above not care about it,
or light shine on it.

Let those who curse certain days
cast a spell on it,
those who are skilled in rousing Leviathan.

Now I would certainly be lying down in peace;
I would be asleep.
Then I would be at rest

Why is light given to one burdened with grief,
and life to those whose existence is bitter,

He doesn’t let me catch my breath
but soaks me with bitter experiences.

Let Him take His rod away from me
so His terror will no longer frighten me.

I will say to God:
“Do not declare me guilty!
Let me know why You prosecute me.

It is a land of blackness like the deepest darkness,
gloomy and chaotic,
where even the light is like the darkness.”

Or speak to the earth, and it will instruct you;
let the fish of the sea inform you.

He reveals mysteries from the darkness
and brings the deepest darkness into the light.

They grope around in darkness without light;
He makes them stagger like drunken men.

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If only you would shut up
and let that be your wisdom!

Be quiet, and I will speak.
Let whatever comes happen to me.

Pay close attention to my words;
let my declaration ring in your ears.

remove Your hand from me,
and do not let Your terror frighten me.

look away from him and let him rest
so that he can enjoy his day like a hired hand.

Let him not put trust in worthless things, being led astray,
for what he gets in exchange will prove worthless.

They turned night into day
and made light seem near in the face of darkness.

Yes, the light of the wicked is extinguished;
the flame of his fire does not glow.

The light in his tent grows dark,
and the lamp beside him is put out.

For his own feet lead him into a net,
and he strays into its mesh.

He is driven from light to darkness
and chased from the inhabited world.

or were inscribed in stone forever
by an iron stylus and lead!

though he cherishes it and will not let it go
but keeps it in his mouth,

This is the wicked man’s lot from God,
the inheritance God ordained for him.

Pay close attention to my words;
let this be the consolation you offer.

They let their little ones run around like lambs;
their children skip about,

God reserves a person’s punishment for his children.
Let God repay the person himself, so that he may know it.

Let his own eyes see his demise;
let him drink from the Almighty’s wrath!

When you make a decision, it will be carried out,
and light will shine on your ways.

The wicked are those who rebel against the light.
They do not recognize its ways
or stay on its paths.

In the dark they break into houses;
by day they lock themselves in,
never experiencing the light.

Can His troops be numbered?
Does His light not shine on everyone?

He laid out the horizon on the surface of the waters
at the boundary between light and darkness.

I will cling to my righteousness and never let it go.
My conscience will not accuse me as long as I live!

This is a wicked man’s lot from God,
the inheritance the ruthless receive from the Almighty.

He dams up the streams from flowing
so that he may bring to light what is hidden.

when His lamp shone above my head,
and I walked through darkness by His light!

If I smiled at them, they couldn’t believe it;
they were thrilled at the light of my countenance.

Yes, I know that You will lead me to death—
the place appointed for all who live.

But when I hoped for good, evil came;
when I looked for light, darkness came.

let God weigh me in accurate scales,
and He will recognize my integrity.

let someone else eat what I have sown,
and let my crops be uprooted.

let my own wife grind grain for another man,
and let other men sleep with her.

If I have refused the wishes of the poor
or let the widow’s eyes go blind,

then let my shoulder blade fall from my back,
and my arm be pulled from its socket.

If only I had someone to hear my case!
Here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me.
Let my Opponent compose His indictment.

then let thorns grow instead of wheat
and stinkweed instead of barley.

The words of Job are concluded.

So do not claim, “We have found wisdom;
let God deal with him, not man.”

Fear of me should not terrify you;
the pressure I exert against you will be light.

He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit,
and I will continue to see the light.”

in order to turn him back from the Pit,
so he may shine with the light of life.

Let us judge for ourselves what is right;
let us decide together what is good.

Be careful that no one lures you with riches;
do not let a large ransom lead you astray.

What supports its foundations?
Or who laid its cornerstone

Light is withheld from the wicked,
and the arm raised in violence is broken.

Where is the road to the home of light?
Do you know where darkness lives,

so you can lead it back to its border?
Are you familiar with the paths to its home?

What road leads to the place where light is dispersed?
Where is the source of the east wind that spreads across the earth?

Can you bring out the constellations in their season
and lead the Bear and her cubs?

Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?
Let him who argues with God give an answer.

His snorting flashes with light,
while his eyes are like the rays of dawn.

“Let us tear off their chains
and free ourselves from their restraints.”

Lord, lead me in Your righteousness
because of my adversaries;
make Your way straight before me.

Punish them, God;
let them fall by their own schemes.
Drive them out because of their many crimes,
for they rebel against You.

But let all who take refuge in You rejoice;
let them shout for joy forever.
May You shelter them,
and may those who love Your name boast about You.

Let the assembly of peoples gather around You;
take Your seat on high over it.

Let the evil of the wicked come to an end,
but establish the righteous.
The One who examines the thoughts and emotions
is a righteous God.

Rise up, Lord! Do not let man prevail;
let the nations be judged in Your presence.

Put terror in them, Lord;
let the nations know they are only men.Selah

In arrogance the wicked relentlessly pursue the afflicted;
let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.

Let my vindication come from You,
for You see what is right.

Lord, You light my lamp;
my God illuminates my darkness.

The precepts of the Lord are right,
making the heart glad;
the command of the Lord is radiant,
making the eyes light up.

Moreover, keep Your servant from willful sins;
do not let them rule over me.
Then I will be innocent
and cleansed from blatant rebellion.

Let us shout for joy at your victory
and lift the banner in the name of our God.
May Yahweh fulfill all your requests.

“He relies on the Lord;
let Him rescue him;
let the Lord deliver him,
since He takes pleasure in him.”

for He laid its foundation on the seas
and established it on the rivers.

My God, I trust in You.
Do not let me be disgraced;
do not let my enemies gloat over me.

Guard me and deliver me;
do not let me be put to shame,
for I take refuge in You.

Davidic.The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom should I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom should I be afraid?

Because of my adversaries,
show me Your way, Lord,
and lead me on a level path.

Wait for the Lord;
be strong and courageous.
Wait for the Lord.

For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.Lord, I seek refuge in You;
let me never be disgraced.
Save me by Your righteousness.

For You are my rock and my fortress;
You lead and guide me
because of Your name.

Lord, do not let me be disgraced when I call on You.
Let the wicked be disgraced;
let them be silent in Sheol.

Let lying lips be quieted;
they speak arrogantly against the righteous
with pride and contempt.

Therefore let everyone who is faithful pray to You
at a time that You may be found.
When great floodwaters come,
they will not reach him.