and she looked, and, behold, the king stood by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains and the trumpets by the king; and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew trumpets; the singers also played musical instruments, and led the singing of praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes, and said, "Treason! treason!"

Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds who were set over the army, and said to them, "Bring her out between the ranks; and whoever follows her, let him be slain with the sword." For the priest said, "Don't kill her in the Yahweh's house."

So they made way for her. She went to the entrance of the horse gate to the king's house; and they killed her there.

and said to them, "You shall not bring in the captives here: for you purpose that which will bring on us a trespass against Yahweh, to add to our sins and to our trespass; for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel."

So Hilkiah, and they whom the king [had commanded], went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she lived in Jerusalem in the second quarter;) and they spoke to her to that effect.

then they drew near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of fathers' [houses], and said to them, "Let us build with you; for we seek your God, as you do; and we sacrifice to him since the days of Esar Haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here."

to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the royal crown, to show the people and the princes her beauty; for she was beautiful.

"If it please the king, let a royal commandment go from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it cannot be altered, that Vashti may never again come before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she.

After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus was pacified, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.

He brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter; for she had neither father nor mother. The maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.

The maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness from him. He quickly gave her cosmetics and her portions of food, and the seven choice maidens who were to be given her out of the king's house. He moved her and her maidens to the best place in the women's house.

Esther had not made known her people nor her relatives, because Mordecai had instructed her that she should not make it known.

Mordecai walked every day in front of the court of the women's house, to find out how Esther did, and what would become of her.

Each young woman's turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after her purification for twelve months (for so were the days of their purification accomplished, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet fragrances and with preparations for beautifying women).

The young woman then came to the king like this: whatever she desired was given her to go with her out of the women's house to the king's house.

In the evening she went, and on the next day she returned into the second women's house, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch, who kept the concubines. She came in to the king no more, unless the king delighted in her, and she was called by name.

Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, came to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's eunuch, the keeper of the women, advised. Esther obtained favor in the sight of all those who looked at her.

The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

Esther had not yet made known her relatives nor her people, as Mordecai had commanded her; for Esther obeyed Mordecai, like she did when she was brought up by him.

Esther's maidens and her eunuchs came and told her this, and the queen was exceedingly grieved. She sent clothing to Mordecai, to replace his sackcloth; but he didn't receive it.

Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs, whom he had appointed to attend her, and commanded him to go to Mordecai, to find out what this was, and why it was.

He also gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given out in Shushan to destroy them, to show it to Esther, and to declare it to her, and to urge her to go in to the king, to make supplication to him, and to make request before him, for her people.

Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal clothing, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, next to the king's house. The king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, next to the entrance of the house.

Then the king asked her, "What would you like, queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you even to the half of the kingdom."

Haman also said, "Yes, Esther the queen let no man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and tomorrow I am also invited by her together with the king.

On that day, King Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman, the Jews' enemy, to Esther the queen. Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was to her.

But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job didn't sin with his lips.

So the poor has hope, and injustice shuts her mouth.

then let my wife grind for another, and let others sleep with her.

(no, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, her have I guided from my mother's womb);

oh that I had one to hear me! (behold, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me); let the accuser write my indictment!

and said, 'Here you may come, but no further. Here your proud waves shall be stayed?'

Can you lead forth the constellations in their season? Or can you guide the Bear with her cubs?

Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go? Do they report to you, 'Here we are?'

For she leaves her eggs on the earth, warms them in the dust,

She deals harshly with her young ones, as if they were not hers. Though her labor is in vain, she is without fear,

because God has deprived her of wisdom, neither has he imparted to her understanding.

"Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars, and stretches her wings toward the south?

For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither like the green herb.

The princess inside is all glorious. Her clothing is interwoven with gold.

She shall be led to the king in embroidered work. The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to you.

God is in her midst. She shall not be moved. God will help her at dawn.

God has shown himself in her citadels as a refuge.

Walk about Zion, and go around her. Number its towers.

Mark well her bulwarks. Consider her palaces, that you may tell it to the next generation.

Day and night they prowl around on its walls. Malice and abuse are also within her.

Destructive forces are within her. Threats and lies don't depart from her streets.

while you sleep among the campfires, the wings of a dove sheathed with silver, her feathers with shining gold.

When the Almighty scattered kings in her, it snowed on Zalmon.

Princes shall come out of Egypt. Ethiopia shall hurry to stretch out her hands to God.

Raise a song, and bring here the tambourine, the pleasant lyre with the harp.

Yes, the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young, near your altars, Yahweh of Armies, my King, and my God.

Yes, of Zion it will be said, "This one and that one was born in her;" the Most High himself will establish her.

You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for it is time to have pity on her. Yes, the set time has come.

For your servants take pleasure in her stones, and have pity on her dust.

He settles the barren woman in her home, as a joyful mother of children. Praise Yah!

My soul has had her dwelling too long with him who hates peace.

Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress; so our eyes look to Yahweh, our God, until he has mercy on us.

"This is my resting place forever. Here I will live, for I have desired it.

I will abundantly bless her provision. I will satisfy her poor with bread.

Her priests I will also clothe with salvation. Her saints will shout aloud for joy.

Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.

She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:

If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures:

To deliver you from the strange woman, even from the foreigner who flatters with her words;

who forsakes the friend of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God:

for her house leads down to death, her paths to the dead.

None who go to her return again, neither do they attain to the paths of life:

For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.

She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.

Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor.

Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.

She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.

Don't forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.

Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor, when you embrace her.

Take firm hold of instruction. Don't let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.

For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil,

Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to Sheol.

She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn't know it.

Remove your way far from her. Don't come near the door of her house,

A loving doe and a graceful deer -- let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love.

Go to the ant, you sluggard. Consider her ways, and be wise;

provides her bread in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.

Don't lust after her beauty in your heart, neither let her captivate you with her eyelids.

So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife. Whoever touches her will not be unpunished.

that they may keep you from the strange woman, from the foreigner who flatters with her words.

passing through the street near her corner, he went the way to her house,

She is loud and defiant. Her feet don't stay in her house.

With persuasive words, she led him astray. With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him.

He followed her immediately, as an ox goes to the slaughter, as a fool stepping into a noose.

Don't let your heart turn to her ways. Don't go astray in her paths,

for she has thrown down many wounded. Yes, all her slain are a mighty army.

Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the rooms of death.

Doesn't wisdom cry out? Doesn't understanding raise her voice?

Wisdom has built her house. She has carved out her seven pillars.

She has prepared her meat. She has mixed her wine. She has also set her table.

She has sent out her maidens. She cries from the highest places of the city:

"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,

She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,

"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here." as for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,