Then the king's servants, who were in the king's gate, said to Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?

But he scorned to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had made known to him the people of Mordecai; therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were in all the kingdom of Ahasuerus the people of Mordecai.

Then were the king's scribes called, in the first month, on the thirteenth day of the month, and there was written according to all that Haman commanded unto the king's satraps, and to the governors over every province, and to the princes of every people; to every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people according to their language: in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.

And the letters were sent by couriers into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, upon the thirteenth of the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.

On that night sleep fled from the king. And he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.

While they were yet talking with him, the king's chamberlains came, and hasted to bring Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

Then were the king's scribes called at that time, in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded, to the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governors, and the princes of the provinces which are from India even to Ethiopia, a hundred and twenty-seven provinces, to every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people according to their language, and to the Jews according to their writing and according to their language.

stating that the king granted the Jews that were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that might assault them, their little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,

On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the fortress was brought before the king.

And the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but they laid not their hand on the prey.

And the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their life, and had rest from their enemies; and they slew of them that hated them seventy-five thousand (but they laid not their hand on the prey),

But the Jews that were at Shushan gathered themselves together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and joy.

And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters to all the Jews near and far that were in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus,

And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters.

And it was so, when the days of the feasting were gone about, that Job sent and hallowed them; and he rose up early in the morning, and offered up burnt-offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their brother, the firstborn.

And there came a messenger to Job and said, The oxen were ploughing, and the asses feeding beside them;

While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their brother, the firstborn;

If a word were essayed to thee, wouldest thou be grieved? But who can refrain from speaking?

Remember, I pray thee, who that was innocent has perished? and where were the upright cut off?

Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!

Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.

If I justified myself, mine own mouth would condemn me; were I perfect, he would prove me perverse.

Were I perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

If I were wicked, woe unto me! and righteous, I will not lift up my head, being so full of shame, and beholding mine affliction; --

Who is he that contendeth with me? For if I were silent now, I should expire.

I also could speak as ye: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could join together words against you, and shake my head at you;

Oh that there were arbitration for a man with +God, as a son of man for his friend!

They that come after shall be astonished at his day, as they that went before them were affrighted.

Oh would that my words were written! oh that they were inscribed in a book!

That with an iron style and lead they were graven in the rock for ever!

His bones were full of his youthful strength; but it shall lie down with him in the dust.

The clods of the valley are sweet unto him; and every man followeth suit after him, as there were innumerable before him.

Who were carried off before the time, whose foundation was overflowed with a flood;

Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when +God preserved me;

When my steps were bathed in milk, and the rock poured out beside me rivers of oil! ...

Did not I weep for him whose days were hard? was not my soul grieved for the needy?

If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my lambs;

But Elihu had waited till Job had finished speaking, because they were older than he.

They were amazed, they answered no more; words failed them.

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

Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were not with intelligence.

Whereupon were the foundations thereof sunken? or who laid its corner-stone,

She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers; her labour is in vain, without her concern.

And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.

Jehovah looked down from the heavens upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.

There were they in great fear; for God is in the generation of the righteous.

Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When Jehovah turneth again the captivity of his people, Jacob shall be glad, Israel shall rejoice.

And the beds of the waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were uncovered at thy rebuke, Jehovah, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me; for they were mightier than I.

For all his ordinances were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me;

I pursued mine enemies, and overtook them; and I turned not again till they were consumed.

I crushed them, and they were not able to rise: they fell under my feet.

They cried unto thee, and were delivered; they confided in thee, and were not confounded.

By the word of Jehovah were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

They looked unto him, and were enlightened, and their faces were not confounded.

But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I chastened my soul with fasting, and my prayer returned into mine own bosom:

The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

They saw, so they marvelled; they were troubled, they fled in consternation:

If I were hungry, I would not tell thee; for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.

God looked down from the heavens upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.

There were they in great fear, where no fear was; for God scattereth the bones of him that encampeth against thee. Thou hast put them to shame, for God hath despised them.

Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God turneth again the captivity of his people, Jacob shall be glad, Israel shall rejoice.

He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle against me: for there were many about me.

Smooth were the milky words of his mouth, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet are they drawn swords.

God maketh the solitary into families; those that were bound he bringeth out into prosperity: but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

But as for me, my feet were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slipped;

The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they trembled, yea, the depths were troubled:

And they did eat, and were well filled; for that they lusted after, he brought to them.

They were not alienated from their lust, their meat was yet in their mouths,

For their heart was not firm toward him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.

And he remembered that they were flesh, a breath that passeth away and cometh not again.

And he led them safely, so that they were without fear; and the sea covered their enemies.

The fire consumed their young men, and their maidens were not praised in nuptial song;

The mountains were covered with its shadow, and the branches thereof were like cedars of God;

I removed his shoulder from the burden; his hands were freed from the basket.

Who were destroyed at Endor; they became as dung for the ground.

Before the mountains were brought forth, and thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from eternity to eternity thou art God.

Zion heard, and rejoiced; and the daughters of Judah were glad, because of thy judgments, O Jehovah.

When they were a few men in number, of small account, and strangers in it.

And they served their idols; and they were a snare unto them:

And they were defiled with their works, and went a-whoring in their doings.

And their enemies oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.

Often did he deliver them; but as for them they provoked him by their counsel, and they were brought low by their iniquity.

Oh that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!

{A Song of degrees.} When Jehovah turned the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

My bones were not hidden from thee when I was made in secret, curiously wrought in the lower parts of the earth.

Thine eyes did see my unformed substance, and in thy book all my members were written; during many days were they fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

Let them praise the name of Jehovah, for he it is that commanded, and they were created:

By his knowledge the deeps were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.

for she hath cast down many wounded, and all slain by her were strong.

When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no fountains abounding with water.

Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth;

rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and my delights were with the sons of men.

Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? It hath been already in the ages which were before us.

Say not, How is it that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

And I have also seen the wicked buried and going away; and such as had acted rightly went from the holy place, and were forgotten in the city. This also is vanity.

Look not upon me, because I am black; Because the sun hath looked upon me. My mother's children were angry with me: They made me keeper of the vineyards; Mine own vineyard have I not kept.

Return, return, O Shulamite; Return, return, that we may look upon thee. What would ye look upon in the Shulamite? As it were the dance of two camps.

Seraphim were standing above him: each had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he flew.