Then I related to them how the good hand of my God was on me and what the king had said to me. Then they replied, "Let's begin rebuilding right away!" So they readied themselves for this good project.

But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard all this, they derided us and expressed contempt toward us. They said, "What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?"

and in the presence of his colleagues and the army of Samaria he said, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they be left to themselves? Will they again offer sacrifice? Will they finish this in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones to life again from piles of dust?"

Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was close by, said, "If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!"

They replied, "We will return these things, and we will no longer demand anything from them. We will do just as you say." Then I called the priests and made the wealthy and the officials swear to do what had been promised.

My God placed it on my heart to gather the leaders, the officials, and the ordinary people so they could be enrolled on the basis of genealogy. I found the genealogical records of those who had formerly returned. Here is what I found written in that record:

What the rest of the people gave amounted to 20,000 gold drachmas, 2,000 silver minas, and 67 priestly garments.

So Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly which included men and women and all those able to understand what they heard. (This happened on the first day of the seventh month.)

They read from the book of God's law, explaining it and imparting insight. Thus the people gained understanding from what was read.

So I registered a complaint with the nobles of Judah, saying to them, "What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day?

The king asked, "By law, what should be done to Queen Vashti in light of the fact that she has not obeyed the instructions of King Ahasuerus conveyed through the eunuchs?"

When these things had been accomplished and the rage of King Ahasuerus had diminished, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what had been decided against her.

And day after day Mordecai used to walk back and forth in front of the court of the harem in order to learn how Esther was doing and what might happen to her.

When it became the turn of Esther daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai (who had raised her as if she were his own daughter) to go to the king, she did not request anything except what Hegai the king's eunuch, who was overseer of the women, had recommended. Yet Esther met with the approval of all who saw her.

The king said to her, "What is on your mind, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even as much as half the kingdom will be given to you!"

While at the banquet of wine, the king said to Esther, "What is your request? It shall be given to you. What is your petition? Ask for as much as half the kingdom, and it shall be done!"

The king asked, "What great honor was bestowed on Mordecai because of this?" The king's attendants who served him responded, "Not a thing was done for him."

So Haman came in, and the king said to him, "What should be done for the man whom the king wishes to honor?" Haman thought to himself, "Who is it that the king would want to honor more than me?"

On the second day of the banquet of wine the king asked Esther, "What is your request, Queen Esther? It shall be granted to you. And what is your petition? Ask up to half the kingdom, and it shall be done!"

Then the king said to Queen Esther, "In Susa the citadel the Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men and the ten sons of Haman! What then have they done in the rest of the king's provinces? What is your request? It shall be given to you. What other petition do you have? It shall be done."

So the Jews committed themselves to continue what they had begun to do and to what Mordecai had written to them.

Therefore, because of the account found in this letter and what they had faced in this regard and what had happened to them, the Jews established as binding on themselves, their descendants, and all who joined their company that they should observe these two days without fail, just as written and at the appropriate time on an annual basis.

But he replied, "You're talking like one of the godless women would do! Should we receive what is good from God, and not also receive what is evil?" In all this Job did not sin by what he said.

For the very thing I dreaded has happened to me, and what I feared has come upon me.

He frustrates the plans of the crafty so that their hands cannot accomplish what they had planned!

"Oh that my request would be realized, and that God would grant me what I long for!

What is my strength, that I should wait? and what is my end, that I should prolong my life?

How painful are honest words! But what does your reproof prove?

"What is mankind that you make so much of them, and that you pay attention to them?

If I have sinned -- what have I done to you, O watcher of men? Why have you set me as your target? Have I become a burden to you?

Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert what is right?

If he snatches away, who can turn him back? Who dares to say to him, 'What are you doing?'

It is higher than the heavens -- what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol -- what can you know?

What you know, I know also; I am not inferior to you!

"Refrain from talking with me so that I may speak; then let come to me what may.

What do you know that we don't know? What do you understand that we don't understand?

What is man that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?

"I will explain to you; listen to me, and what I have seen, I will declare,

what wise men declare, hiding nothing, from the tradition of their ancestors,

Let him not trust in what is worthless, deceiving himself; for worthlessness will be his reward.

"I have heard many things like these before. What miserable comforters are you all!

Will there be an end to your windy words? Or what provokes you that you answer?

Total darkness waits to receive his treasures; a fire which has not been kindled will consume him and devour what is left in his tent.

Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain if we were to pray to him?'

For what is his interest in his home after his death, when the number of his months has been broken off?

"Yes, I know what you are thinking, the schemes by which you would wrong me.

No one denounces his conduct to his face; no one repays him for what he has done.

But you have said, 'What does God know? Does he judge through such deep darkness?

They were saying to God, 'Turn away from us,' and 'What can the Almighty do to us?'

I would know with what words he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.

For what hope does the godless have when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?

I will teach you about the power of God; What is on the Almighty's mind I will not conceal.

what he stores up a righteous man will wear, and an innocent man will inherit his silver.

He has searched the sources of the rivers and what was hidden he has brought into the light.

Moreover, the strength of their hands -- what use was it to me? Men whose strength had perished;

What then would be one's lot from God above, one's heritage from the Almighty on high?

then what will I do when God confronts me in judgment; when he intervenes, how will I respond to him?

If I have refused to give the poor what they desired, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite spoke up: "I am young, but you are elderly; that is why I was fearful, and afraid to explain to you what I know.

It is not the aged who are wise, nor old men who understand what is right.

Therefore I say, 'Listen to me. I, even I, will explain what I know.'

I too will answer my part, I too will explain what I know.

If there is an angel beside him, one mediator out of a thousand, to tell a person what constitutes his uprightness;

That person sings to others, saying: 'I have sinned and falsified what is right, but I was not punished according to what I deserved.

Let us evaluate for ourselves what is right; let us come to know among ourselves what is good.

What man is like Job, who drinks derision like water!

"If you have understanding, listen to this, hear what I have to say.

Teach me what I cannot see. If I have done evil, I will do so no more.'

Is it your opinion that God should recompense it, because you reject this? But you must choose, and not I, so tell us what you know.

But you say, 'What will it profit you,' and, 'What do I gain by not sinning?'

If you sin, how does it affect God? If your transgressions are many, what does it do to him?

If you are righteous, what do you give to God, or what does he receive from your hand?

then he reveals to them what they have done, and their transgressions, that they were behaving proudly.

Who has prescribed his ways for him? Or said to him, 'You have done what is wicked'?

Tell us what we should say to him. We cannot prepare a case because of the darkness.

On what were its bases set, or who laid its cornerstone --

"In what direction does light reside, and darkness, where is its place,

In what direction is lightning dispersed, or the east winds scattered over the earth?

After the Lord had spoken these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "My anger is stirred up against you and your two friends, because you have not spoken about me what is right, as my servant Job has.

So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job will intercede for you, and I will respect him, so that I do not deal with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken about me what is right, as my servant Job has."

So the Lord restored what Job had lost after he prayed for his friends, and the Lord doubled all that had belonged to Job.

So now, you kings, do what is wise; you rulers of the earth, submit to correction!

You men, how long will you try to turn my honor into shame? How long will you love what is worthless and search for what is deceptive? (Selah)

For the music director, to be accompanied by wind instruments; a psalm of David. Listen to what I say, Lord! Carefully consider my complaint!

O Lord my God, if I have done what they say, or am guilty of unjust actions,

Of what importance is the human race, that you should notice them? Of what importance is mankind, that you should pay attention to them,

Sing praises to the Lord, who rules in Zion! Tell the nations what he has done!

Yes, the wicked man boasts because he gets what he wants; the one who robs others curses and rejects the Lord.

When the foundations are destroyed, what can the godly accomplish?"

May the Lord rain down burning coals and brimstone on the wicked! A whirlwind is what they deserve!

For the music director; by David. Fools say to themselves, "There is no God." They sin and commit evil deeds; none of them does what is right.

Everyone rejects God; they are all morally corrupt. None of them does what is right, not even one!

Whoever lives a blameless life, does what is right, and speaks honestly.

Make a just decision on my behalf! Decide what is right!

I call to you for you will answer me, O God. Listen to me! Hear what I say!

They will come and tell about his saving deeds; they will tell a future generation what he has accomplished.

May he show the humble what is right! May he teach the humble his way!

I have asked the Lord for one thing -- this is what I desire! I want to live in the Lord's house all the days of my life, so I can gaze at the splendor of the Lord and contemplate in his temple.

Pay them back for their evil deeds! Pay them back for what they do! Punish them!

"What profit is there in taking my life, in my descending into the Pit? Can the dust of the grave praise you? Can it declare your loyalty?