Bible in 90 Days

¹⁵ In those days, I saw those who trod wine presses on the Sabbath in Judah, and who brought in sheaves, and who also loaded donkeys with wine, grapes, and figs, and all burdens, and brought them into Jerusalem on the Sabbath Day. And I protested to them on the day that they sold provisions.

¹⁶ Men of Tyre also dwelt there, who brought fish and all wares and sold to the children of Judah in Jerusalem on the Sabbath.

¹⁷ Then I reproved the rulers of Judah, and said to them, “What evil thing is this that you do, and break the Sabbath Day?

¹⁸ “Did not your fathers do the same, and our God brought all this plague upon us and upon this city? Yet you increase the wrath upon Israel in breaking the Sabbath!”

¹⁹ And when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded to shut the gates, and charged that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. And I set some of my servants at the gates, so that there would be no burden brought in on the Sabbath Day.

²⁰ So, the traders and merchants of all kinds of goods remained once or twice all night outside Jerusalem.

²¹ And I reproved them, and said to them, “Why do you stay all night around the wall? If you do it again, I will lay hands on you!” From that time, they no longer came on the Sabbath.

²² And I said to the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath Day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and pardon me according to Your great mercy.

²³ Also in those days, I saw Jews who married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab.

²⁴ And half their children spoke in the language of Ashdod and could not speak in the Jews’ language (and according to the language of the people), but of other people.

²⁵ Then I reproved them and cursed them and struck some of them and pulled out their hair and took an oath from them by God, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons. Nor shall you take of their daughters to your sons or for yourselves.

²⁶ “Did not Solomon, the king of Israel, sin by these things? Yet, there was no king like him among many nations. For he was beloved by his God. And God had made him king over Israel. Yet, strange women caused him to sin.

²⁷ “Shall we then obey you, to do all this great evil, and to transgress against our God, to marry strange wives?”

²⁸ And of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the High Priest, was the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite. But I chased him from me.

²⁹ Remember them, O my God, who defile the Priesthood and the Covenant of the Priesthood, and of the Levites.

³⁰ Then I cleansed them from all strangers and appointed the duties of the priests and of the Levites (each one in his service),

³¹ and for the offering of the wood at the times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, in goodness.

1 In the days of Ahasuerus (This is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over 127 provinces,

² in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his throne, which was in the palace of Shushan),

³ in the third year of his reign, he made a feast for all his princes and his servants—even the power of Persia and Media—and to the captains and governors of the provinces which were before him.

⁴ So that he might show the riches and glory of his kingdom, and the honor of his great majesty for many days, even 180 days.

⁵ And when these days had expired, the king made a feast to all the people who were found in the palace of Shushan (both great and small) for seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace,

⁶ under a hanging of white, green, and blue cloths, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple, in silver rings, and pillars of marble. The beds were of gold and of silver, upon a pavement of porphyry and marble and alabaster and blue color.

⁷ And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, and changed vessel after vessel, and royal wine in abundance, according to the power of the king.

⁸ And the drinking was voluntary. For so the king had ordered all the officers of his house: that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.

⁹ The Queen Vashti also made a feast for the women in the royal house of King Ahasuerus.

¹⁰ On the seventh day, when the King was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas (the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of king Ahasuerus)

¹¹ to bring Queen Vashti before the king with the crown royal, so that he might show the people and the princes her beauty; for she was fair to look upon.

¹² But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s word which he had given in charge to the eunuchs. Therefore, the king was very angry, and his wrath kindled in him.

¹³ Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for so was the King’s manner towards all who knew the law and the judgment—

¹⁴ and closest to him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia, and Media—who saw the king’s face and sat the first in the kingdom),

¹⁵ “What shall we do to Queen Vashti according to the law, because she did not do according to the word of King Ahasuerus, by the commission of the eunuchs?”

¹⁶ Then Memucan answered before the king and the princes, “The Queen Vashti has not only done evil against the king, but against all the princes, and against all the people who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.

¹⁷ For the act of the queen shall become known to all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their own eyes, and shall say, ‘The King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the Queen to be brought in before him, but she did not come.’

¹⁸ “So shall the princesses of Persia and Media say this day to all the king’s princes when they hear of the act of the queen. Thus shall there be much spitefulness and wrath.

¹⁹ “If it please the king, let a royal decree proceed from him; and let it be written among the statutes of Persia and Media. And let it not be transgressed that Vashti come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate to someone who is better than she.

²⁰ “And when the decree of the king, which shall be made, shall be published throughout all his kingdom (though it be great), all the women shall give their husbands honor, both great and small.”

²¹ And this saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan.

²² For he sent letters into all the provinces of the king, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people in their own language, so that every man should rule his own house; and so that he would publish it in the language of that same people.

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

² And the king’s servants who ministered to him, said, “Let them seek beautiful young virgins for the king.

³ “And let the king appoint officers through all the provinces of his kingdom. And let them gather all the beautiful young virgins to the palace of Shushan, into the house of the women, under the hand of Hegai (the king’s eunuch, keeper of the women), to give them their things for purification.

⁴ “And the maid who shall please the king, let her reign in the place of Vashti.” And this pleased the king; and he did so.

⁵ In the city of Shushan, there was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai (the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a man of Benjamin),

⁶ who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity that was carried away with Jeconiah, King of Judah (whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel had carried away).

⁷ And he nourished Hadassah (that is, Esther), his uncle’s daughter; for she had neither father nor mother. And the maid was fair and beautiful to look on. And after the death of her father and her mother, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.

⁸ And when the king’s commandment and his decree were published, and many maids were brought together to the palace of Shushan under the hand of Hegai, Esther was also brought to the king’s house under the hand of Hegai, the keeper of the women.

⁹ And the maid pleased him; and she found favor in his sight. Therefore, he caused her things for purification to be given to her speedily, as well as her things and seven comely maids to be given to her out of the king’s house. And he gave her and her maids charge of the best in the house of the women.

¹⁰ But Esther did not reveal her people and her kindred. For Mordecai had told her that she should not tell it.

¹¹ And Mordecai walked before the court of the women’s house every day, to find out if Esther did well, and what would become of her.

¹² And after she had completed twelve months of the purification process (including six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors), every maid came, in turn, to go in to King Ahasuerus.

¹³ And thus went the maids to the king. Whatever she required was given to her (when she would go from the women’s house to the king’s house).

¹⁴ In the evening, she went. And the next day, she returned to the second house of the women, under the hand of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch, who kept the concubines. If she did not please the king, was no longer called by name nor came in to the king.

¹⁵ Now, when the turn of Esther (the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter) came to go in to the king, she desired nothing but what Hegai, the king’s eunuch, the keeper of the women said. And Esther found favor in the sight of all those who looked on her.

¹⁶ So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his house royal, in the tenth month (which is the month Tebeth), in the seventh year of his reign.

¹⁷ And the king loved Esther above all the women; and she found grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the crown of the kingdom upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

¹⁸ Then the king made a great feast for all his princes and his servants (which was the “Feast of Esther”) and gave rest to the provinces, and gifts, according to the power of a king.

¹⁹ And when the virgins were gathered a second time, then Mordecai sat in the king’s gate.

²⁰ Esther had not yet revealed her kindred nor her people, as Mordecai had charged her; for Esther obeyed Mordecai, as when she was brought up by him.

²¹ In those days when Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh (who kept the door) were angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.

²² And the thing was known to Mordecai; and he told it to Queen Esther. And Esther told the king thereof in Mordecai’s name. And when inquisition was made, it was found to be so. Therefore, they were both hanged on a tree. And it was written in the Book of the Chronicles, before the king.

3 After these things, King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and exalted him, and set his seat above all the princes who were with him.

² And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed their knees and paid homage to Haman (for the king had so commanded concerning him). But Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage.

³ Then, the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you transgress the king’s commandment?”

⁴ And even though they spoke daily to him, he would not listen. Therefore, they told Haman, to see how Mordecai’s words would stand (for he had told them that he was a Jew).

⁵ And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow to him, nor did he pay homage to him, then Haman was full of anger.

⁶ Now, he thought it wasn’t enough just to lay hands on Mordecai. And because they had told him Mordecai was a Jew, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even all the people of Mordecai.

⁷ In the first month (that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus), they cast Pur (that is, a lot) before Haman—every day of every month—until the twelfth month (that is the month Adar).

⁸ Then, Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a people, scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom. And their laws are different from all other people; and they do not observe the king’s laws. Therefore, it is not to the king’s profit to put up with them.

⁹ “If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed; and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those who are in charge of this business, to bring it into the king’s treasury.”

¹⁰ Then the king took his ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ adversary.

¹¹ And the king said to Haman, “Let the silver and the people be yours to do with as it pleases you.”

¹² Then, on the thirteenth day of the first month, the king’s scribes were called. And all that Haman commanded was written to the king’s officers and to the captains who were over every province and to the rulers of every people, and to every province according to its writing and to every people according to their language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s ring.

¹³ And the letters were sent by couriers into all the king’s provinces: to root out, to kill and to destroy all the Jews— both young and old, children and women—on one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (which is the month Adar) and to take the plunder as a possession.

¹⁴ The contents of the writing was that there should be given a commandment in all provinces, and published to all people, that they should be ready for that day.

¹⁵ And the couriers, compelled by the king’s commandment, went forth. And the commandment was given in the palace at Shushan. And the king and Haman sat, drinking. But the city of Shushan was in confusion.

4 Now when Mordecai perceived all that was done, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the middle of the city and cried with a great and bitter cry.

² And he came as far as the king’s gate; but he could not enter, being clothed with sackcloth.

³ And in every province and place where the king’s charge and his commission came, there was great sorrow among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and mourning. And many lay in sackcloth and in ashes.

⁴ Then, Esther’s maids and her eunuchs came and told it to her. Therefore, the queen was very troubled; and she sent garments to clothe Mordecai, so he could remove his sackcloth. But he refused it.

⁵ Then Esther called Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs whom he had appointed to serve her and gave him a commandment to go and ask Mordecai what this was and why it was.

⁶ So, Hathach went out to Mordecai, into the street which was before the king’s gate.

⁷ And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and of the sum of the silver that Haman had promised to pay into the King’s treasuries, to destroy the Jews.

⁸ Also, he gave him the copy of the edict that was given at Shushan (to destroy them), so that he might show it to Esther and inform her, and to charge her that she should go and petition the king and make supplication for her people before him.

⁹ So, when Hathach came, he told Esther the words of Mordecai.

¹⁰ Then, Esther said to Hathach, and commanded him to say to Mordecai,

¹¹ “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know of the king’s law stating that whoever, man or woman, comes to the king (into the inner court) who has not been called there, shall die. The only exception is him to whom the king holds out the golden rod. He may live. Now I have not been called to come to the king in the last thirty days.”

¹² And they told Mordecai of Esther’s words.

¹³ And Mordecai sent word to Esther, saying, “Don’t think you shall escape any more than the rest of the Jews just because you live in the king’s house.

¹⁴ For if you remain silent at this time, comfort and deliverance shall appear to the Jews out of another place. And you and your father’s house shall perish. And who knows whether you have come to power for such a time as this?”

¹⁵ Then, Esther commanded an answer to Mordecai,

¹⁶ “Go and assemble all the Jews who are found in Shushan, and fast for me. And do not eat or drink for three days and nights. I and my maids will also fast. Then I will go in to the King, which is not according to the law. And if I die, I die.”

¹⁷ So, Mordecai went his way and did everything that Esther had commanded him.

5 And on the third day, Esther put on her royal apparel and stood in the court of the king’s palace within, in front of the king’s rooms. And the king sat upon his royal throne, in the king’s palace, opposite the gate of the house.

² And when the king saw Esther the Queen standing in the court, she found favor in his sight. And the king held out the golden scepter that was in his hand. So, Esther drew near and touched the top of the scepter.

³ Then the king said to her, “What’s wrong, Queen Esther? And what is your request? It shall be given to you, even up to half of the kingdom.”

⁴ Then Esther said, “If it please the king, let the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”

⁵ And the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, so that he may do as Esther has said.” So, the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

⁶ And the king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, “What is your petition, so that it may be given to you? And what is your request? It shall be performed even up to half of the kingdom.”

⁷ Then Esther answered, “My petition, and my request is:

⁸ If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to give me my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them; and I will do as the king says tomorrow.”

⁹ Then, that same day, Haman went out joyful and with a glad heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, and that he did not stand or move for him, then Haman was full of indignation at Mordecai.

¹⁰ Nevertheless, Haman controlled himself. And when he came home, he sent for his friends and Zeresh, his wife.

¹¹ And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the promotions the king had given him, and how that he had set him above the princes and servants of the king.

¹² Haman also said, “Even Esther the Queen let no man except me come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared. And tomorrow she has called us to her again.

¹³ But all this is unsatisfying as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”

¹⁴ Then Zeresh, his wife, and all his friends said to him, “Let them make a hanging tree 75 feet high, and tomorrow ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then you shall go joyfully with the king to the banquet.” And that pleased Haman. So, he had the hanging tree made.

6 That night, the king did not sleep. And he commanded that the Book of the Records be brought, and the Chronicles. And they were read before the king.

² Then, it was found written what Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.

³ Then the king said, “What honor and dignity has been given to Mordecai for this?” And the king’s servants said, “Nothing.”

⁴ And the king said, “Who is in the court?” (Now Haman had come into the inner court of the king’s house to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the tree that he had prepared for him).

⁵ And the king’s servants said to him, “Behold, Haman stands in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.”

⁶ And when Haman came in, the king said to him, “What shall be done for the man whom the king will honor?” Then Haman thought in his heart, “To whom would the king do honor more than to me?”

⁷ And Haman answered the king, “The man whom the king would honor,

⁸ “should be brought the royal apparel which the king used to wear, and the horse that the king used to ride on, with the crown royal set upon his head.

⁹ “And let the clothing and the horse be delivered by the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes. And let them dress the man whom the king will honor and have him ride upon the horse through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, ‘This is what is done for the man whom the king will honor.’”

¹⁰ Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry, take the clothing and the horse, and do as you have said for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Let nothing be left out of all that you have spoken.”

¹¹ So Haman took the clothing and the horse, and dressed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, “This is what is done for the man whom the king will honor!”

¹² And Mordecai came back to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried home, mourning, with his head covered.

¹³ And Haman told Zeresh, his wife, and all his friends, all that had happened to him. Then his wise men and Zeresh, his wife, said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish origin, you shall not prevail against him, but shall surely fall before him.”

¹⁴ And while they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs came and quickly brought Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

7 So, the king and Haman came to banquet with Queen Esther.

² And the king repeated to Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, “What is your petition, Queen Esther that it may be given to you? And what is your request? It shall be done, even up to the half of the kingdom.”

³ And Esther the Queen answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given to me at my petition, and my people at my request.

⁴ “For we are sold —I and my people —to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. If we were merely sold as servants and handmaids, I would have held my tongue, for it would not have been worth the king’s time.”

⁵ Then king Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, “Who is he? And where is he who presumes to do this?”

⁶ And Esther said, “The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman.” Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.

⁷ And the king arose from the banquet of wine in his wrath and went into the palace garden. But Haman stood up to beg Queen Esther for his life. For he saw that the king intended to do him harm.

⁸ And when the king came out of the palace garden into the house again, where they had been drinking wine, Haman had fallen upon the bed where Esther sat. Therefore, the King said, “Will he also force himself on the queen before me in the house?!” As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.

⁹ And Harbonah, one of the eunuchs, said in the presence of the king, “Behold, a hanging tree still stands at Haman’s house, 75 feet high, which Haman had prepared for Mordecai, who spoke well of the king.” Then the King said, “Hang him on it.”

¹⁰ So they hanged Haman on the tree that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the King’s wrath was pacified.

8 That same day, King Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman, the adversary of the Jews, to Queen Esther. And Mordecai came before the king (for Esther had told him what he was to her).

² And the king took off his ring which he had taken from Haman and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

³ And Esther spoke to the king again and fell down at his feet, weeping, and begged him to reverse the wickedness of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had imagined against the Jews.

⁴ And the king held out the golden scepter toward Esther. Then Esther arose and stood before the king,

⁵ And said, “If it please the king —and if I have found favor in his sight, and the thing is acceptable before the king, and I please him —let it be written that the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces, may be revoked.

⁶ “For how can I suffer and see the evil that shall come to my people? Or how can I suffer and see the destruction of my kindred?”

⁷ And King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, whom they have hanged upon the tree, because he laid hands upon the Jews.

⁸ “Also, write for the Jews as you like, in the King’s name; and seal it with the King’s ring.” (for the writings written in the King’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may not be revoked)

⁹ At that same time, the king’s scribes were called, on the twenty-third day of the third month (that is, the month Sivan). And it was written according to all as Mordecai commanded, to the Jews and to the princes, and captains and rulers of the provinces which were from India to Ethiopia (a hundred and twenty-seven provinces), to every province according to its writing and to every people according to their speech, and to the Jews according to their writing and according to their language.

¹⁰ And he wrote in King Ahasuerus’s name, and sealed it with the king’s ring. And he sent letters, by couriers on horseback and by riders of royal steeds.

¹¹ In these, the king granted the Jews (in whatever cities they were) to gather themselves together and to stand for their life —to root out, to slay and to destroy all the power of the people and of the province that attacked them, both children and women, and to plunder their goods —

¹² upon one day, in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (which is the month Adar).

¹³ The copy of the writing was to be given as a decree in all and every province, and published among all the people, so that the Jews would be ready for that day, to avenge themselves on their enemies.

¹⁴ So the couriers rode upon royal steeds and went forth with speed to execute the king’s commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan, the palace.

¹⁵ And Mordecai went out from the king in royal apparel of blue, and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple. And the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.

¹⁶ And to the Jews came light and joy and gladness, and honor.

¹⁷ Also, in all and every province, and in all and every city and place where the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was joy and gladness to the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.

9 So, in the twelfth month (which is the month Adar), upon the thirteenth day of the same, when the execution of the king’s commandment and his decree drew near, on the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them (but it had ended differently, for the Jews had rule over those who hated them),

² the Jews gathered themselves together into their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, to lay hand on those who had sought their hurt. And no man could withstand them, for the fear of them fell upon all people.

³ And all the rulers of the provinces, and the princes, and the captains, and the officers of the king, exalted the Jews. For the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.

⁴ For Mordecai was great in the king’s house; and the report of him went through all the provinces. For this man, Mordecai, grew greater and greater.

⁵ Thus, the Jews struck all their enemies with strokes of the sword and slaughter and destruction and did what they would to those who hated them.

⁶ And at Shushan, the palace, the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men,

⁷ including Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha,

⁸ and Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,

⁹ and Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha,

¹⁰ the ten sons of Haman, the son of Hammedatha, the adversary of the Jews. But they did not lay their hands on the plunder.

¹¹ That same day, the number of those who were killed was reported to the king, to the palace of Shushan.

¹² And the king said to Queen Esther, “The Jews have killed in Shushan, the palace, and destroyed five hundred men, including the ten sons of Haman. What have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? And what is your petition, so that it may be given to you? Or, moreover, what is your request, so that it may be performed?”

¹³ Then Esther said, “If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Shushan to do again tomorrow according to today’s decree: that they may hang Haman’s ten sons upon the tree.

¹⁴ And the king charged to do so. And the decree was given at Shushan. And they hanged Haman’s ten sons.

¹⁵ So the Jews who were in Shushan assembled themselves upon the fourteenth day of the month, Adar, and killed three hundred men in Shushan. But they did not lay their hands on the plunder.

¹⁶ And the rest of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces assembled themselves and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and killed 75,000 of those who hated them. But they did not lay their hands on the plunder.

¹⁷ They did this on the thirteenth day of the month, Adar, and rested the fourteenth day. And they kept it as a day of feasting and joy.

¹⁸ But, the Jews who were in Shushan assembled themselves on the thirteenth day, and on the fourteenth. And they rested on the fifteenth and kept it as a day of feasting and joy.

¹⁹ Therefore, the Jews of the villages, who dwelt in the un-walled towns, kept the fourteenth day of the month, Adar, with joy and feasting, a joyful holiday. And everyone sent presents to his neighbor.

²⁰ And Mordecai wrote these words and sent letters to all the Jews who were through all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far,

²¹ establishing that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month, Adar, and the fifteenth day, every year,

²² as the days when the Jews rested from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning into a joyful day, to keep as days of feasting and joy, and for everyone to send presents to his neighbor, and gifts to the poor.

²³ And the Jews promised to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written to them,

²⁴ because Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, all the Jews’ adversary, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur (that is, a lot) to consume and destroy them.

²⁵ And when she came before the king, he commanded by letters, “Let this wicked plan which he imagined against the Jews turn upon his own head; and let them hang him and his sons on the tree.”

²⁶ Therefore, they called these days Purim (from the name, Pur). And because of all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen besides this, and of that which had come unto them,

²⁷ the Jews also ordained and promised —for them and for their seed, and for all that joined unto them —that they would not fail to observe these two days every year, according to their writing and according to their season,

²⁸ and that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation and every family and every province and every city. And these days of Purim should not fail among the Jews, and the memorial of them should not perish from their seed.

²⁹ And Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew wrote with all authority, to confirm this letter of Purim a second time.

³⁰ And he sent letters to all the Jews (to the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus) with words of peace and truth,

³¹ to confirm these days of Purim, according to their seasons, as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the Queen had appointed them, and as they had promised for themselves and for their seed with fasting and prayer.

³² And the decree of Esther confirmed these words of Purim and was written in the Book.

10 And King Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea.

² And all the acts of his power and of his might and the declaration of the dignity of Mordecai with which the king magnified him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia?

³ For Mordecai the Jew was second to King Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted among the multitude of his brothers. He procured the wealth of his people and spoke peaceably to all his seed.

1 There was a man in the land of Uz, called Job. And this man was an upright and just man, one who feared God and turned away from evil.

² And he had seven sons and three daughters.

³ Also, the number of his livestock were seven thousand sheep and three thousand camels and five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred female donkeys. And his family was very great, so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the East.

⁴ And his sons went and banqueted in their houses, each on his day, and sent and called their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

⁵ And when the days of their banqueting had completed their cycle, Job sent, and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning and offered Burnt Offerings, according to the number of them all. For Job thought, “It may be that my sons have sinned and blasphemed God in their hearts.” Thus did Job every day.

⁶ Now, on a day when the children of God came and stood before the LORD, Satan also came among them.

⁷ Then the LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” And Satan answered the LORD, saying, “From going to and fro on the Earth. And from walking in it.”

⁸ And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you not considered My servant, Job, how no one is like him on the Earth, an upright and just man, one who fears God and turns away from evil?”

⁹ Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?”

¹⁰ “Haven’t You made a hedge around him and around his house and around all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands. And his possessions have increased in the land.

¹¹ “But now, stretch out Your Hand and touch all that he has, to see if he will not blaspheme You to Your Face.”

¹² Then the LORD said to Satan, “Lo, all that he has is in your hand. Only, you shall not stretch out your hand upon him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.

¹³ And on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house,

¹⁴ there came a messenger to Job, and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding in their places,

¹⁵ “and the Sabeans came violently and took them. Indeed, they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword. But only I have escaped, alone, to tell you.”

¹⁶ And while he was still speaking, another came, and said, “The fire of God has fallen from the sky and has burnt up the sheep and the servants and devoured them. But only I have escaped, alone, to tell you.”

¹⁷ And while he was still speaking, another came, and said, “The Chaldeans appointed three bands and attacked the camels, and have taken them, and have killed the servants with the edge of the sword. But only I have escaped, alone, to tell you.”

¹⁸ And while he was still speaking, another came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house,

¹⁹ “and behold, there came a great wind from beyond the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, which fell upon the children and they are dead. And only I have escaped, alone, to tell you.”

²⁰ Then Job arose and tore his garment and shaved his head and fell down upon the ground and worshipped,

²¹ and said, “Naked I came out of my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The LORD has given. And the LORD has taken it. Blessed be the Name of the LORD.”

²² In all this, Job did not sin or blame God foolishly.

2 And one day, the children of God came and stood before the LORD. And Satan also came among them and stood before the LORD.

² Then the LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” And Satan answered the LORD, and said, “From going to and fro on the Earth, and from walking in it.”

³ And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you not considered My servant, Job, how no one is like him on the Earth, an upright and just man, one who fears God and turns away from evil? For he still continues in his uprightness, although you moved Me against him, to destroy him without cause.”

⁴ And Satan answered the LORD, and said, “Skin for skin! And all that a man has, he will give for his life.

⁵ “But now, stretch out Your Hand and touch his bones and his flesh, to see if he will not blaspheme You to Your Face.”

⁶ Then the LORD said to Satan, “Lo, he is in your hand. But preserve his life.”

⁷ So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD, and struck Job with painful boils, from the sole of his foot to the top of his head.

⁸ And he took a potsherd to scrape himself. And he sat down among the ashes.

⁹ Then his wife said to him, “Do you still continue in your uprightness? Blaspheme God and die!”

¹⁰ But he said to her, “You speak like a foolish woman. What? Shall we receive good from the Hand of God, and not receive misery?” In all this, Job did not sin with his lips.

¹¹ Now, when Job’s three friends heard of all this calamity that had come upon him, they came, everyone from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had agreed together to come to lament with him, and to comfort him.

¹² So, when they lifted up their eyes from far off, they did not know him. Therefore, they lifted up their voices and wept. And every one of them tore his garment and sprinkled dust upon his head, toward the sky.

¹³ So they sat by him, upon the ground, for seven days and seven nights. And no one spoke a word to him. For they saw that the grief was very great.

3 Afterward, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.

² And Job cried out, and said,

³ “Let the day on which I was born perish, and the night when it was said, ‘There is a male child conceived.’

⁴ “Let that day be darkness. Do not let God seek it from above or let the light shine upon it.

⁵ “Let darkness, and the shadow of death, stain it. Let the cloud remain upon it. And let them make it fearful, as a bitter day.

⁶ “Let darkness possess that night. Do not let it be joined to the days of the year or let it come into the count of the months.

⁷ “Yea, let that night be desolate! And let no joy be in it!

⁸ “Let those who curse the day, curse it (being ready to renew their mourning).

⁹ “Let the stars of that twilight be dim through the darkness of it. Let it look for light but have none. Nor let it see the dawning of the day,

¹⁰ “because it did not shut up the doors of my mother’s womb or hide sorrow from my eyes.

¹¹ “Why did I not die at birth? Or why did I not die when I came out of the womb?

¹² “Why did the knees prevent me? And why did I suck the breasts?

¹³ “For I would now have lain down and been quiet. I would have slept then, and been at rest

¹⁴ “with the kings and counselors of the Earth, who have built themselves desolate places,

¹⁵ “or with the princes who had gold and have filled their houses with silver.

¹⁶ “Or, why was I not hidden, as a stillborn birth, or as infants who have not seen the light?

¹⁷ “There the wicked have ceased from tyranny. And there those who labored valiantly are at rest.

¹⁸ “The prisoners rest together, not hearing the voice of the oppressor.

¹⁹ “The small and great are there. And the servant is free from his master.

²⁰ “Why is the light given to him who is in misery, and life to those who have heavy hearts,

²¹ “who long for death? And if it does not come, they will search for it even more than treasures,

²² “who rejoice exceedingly and are glad when they can find the grave.

²³ “Why is the light given to the man whose way is hidden, and whom God has hedged in?

²⁴ “For my sighing comes before I eat. And my roarings are poured out like the water.

²⁵ “For the thing I feared has come upon me. And the thing that I was afraid of has come to me.

²⁶ “I had no peace. Nor had I quietness. Nor had I rest. Yet trouble has come.”

4 Then Eliphaz, the Temanite, answered and said,

² “If we try to commune with you, will you grow weary? But who can withhold himself from speaking?

³ “Behold, you have taught many, and have strengthened weary hands.

⁴ “Your words have upheld him who was falling. And you have strengthened weak knees.

⁵ “But now it has come upon you, and you grow weary. It touches you, and you are troubled.

⁶ “Is not this your fear, your confidence, your patience and uprightness of your ways?

⁷ “Please remember, whoever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright destroyed?

⁸ “As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow wickedness reap the same.

⁹ “With the blast of God they perish. And with the breath of His Nostrils are they consumed.

¹⁰ “The roaring of the Lion, and the voice of the Lioness, and the teeth of the Lion’s whelps are broken.

¹¹ “The Lion perishes for lack of prey. And the Lion’s whelps are scattered.

¹² “But a thing was brought to me secretly. And my ear has received a little of it.

¹³ “In the thoughts of the visions of the night, when sleep falls on men,

¹⁴ “fear came upon me, and dread, which made all my bones tremble.

¹⁵ “And the wind passed before me, and made the hairs of my flesh stand up.

¹⁶ “Then, one stood. And I did not know his face, an image before my eyes. In silence, I heard a voice,

¹⁷ “‘Shall man be more just than God? Or shall a man be more pure than his Maker?

¹⁸ ‘Behold, he found no steadfastness in his servants, and laid folly upon his angels.

¹⁹ ‘How much more in those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which shall be destroyed before the moth?

²⁰ ‘They are destroyed from the morning to the evening. They perish forever, without regard.

²¹ ‘Does not their excellence go away with them? Do they not die without wisdom?’”

5 “Call out now, if any will answer you. And to which of the saints will you turn?

² “Doubtless, anger kills the foolish and envy slays the idiot.

³ “I have seen the foolish well-rooted. And suddenly I cursed his habitation.

⁴ “His children shall be far from salvation. And they shall be destroyed in the gate. And no one shall deliver them.

⁵ “The hungry shall eat up his harvest. Indeed, they shall take it from among the thorns. And the thirsty shall drink up their wealth.

⁶ “For misery does not come forth from the dust. Nor does affliction spring out of the earth.

⁷ “But man is born to toil, as the sparks fly upward.

⁸ “But I would inquire of God, and turn my talk to God,

⁹ “Who does great things, and unsearchable, marvelous things without number.

¹⁰ “He gives rain upon the earth, and pours water upon the streets,

¹¹ “and sets those who are low up on high, so that the sorrowful may be exalted to salvation.

¹² “He scatters the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot accomplish that which they undertake.

¹³ “He takes the wise in their craftiness. And the counsel of the wicked is made foolish.

¹⁴ “They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope at noon as in the night.

¹⁵ “But He saves the poor from the sword, from their mouth and from the hand of the violent man,

¹⁶ “so that the poor has hope. But iniquity shall shut her mouth.

¹⁷ “Behold, blessed is the man whom God corrects. Therefore, do not refuse the discipline of the Almighty.

¹⁸ “For He makes the wound and binds it up. He strikes, and His Hands make whole.

¹⁹ “He shall deliver you in six troubles. And in the seventh, misery shall not touch you.

²⁰ “In famine He shall deliver you from death, and in battle from the power of the sword.

²¹ “You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue. And you shall not be afraid of destruction when it comes.

²² “You shall laugh at destruction and dearth, and shalt not be afraid of the beast of the Earth.

²³ “For the stones of the field shall be in league with you. And the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.

²⁴ “And you shall know that peace is in your tent. And you shall visit your habitation, and shall not sin.

²⁵ “You shall also perceive that your seed shall be great, and your posterity as the grass of the earth.

²⁶ “You shall go to your grave at a full age, as a stack of grain comes in due season.

²⁷ “Lo, thus have we examined it. And so it is. Hear this and know it for yourself.”

6 But Job answered and said,

² “Oh that my grief was well-weighed, and that my miseries were laid with it on the scale!

³ “For it would now be heavier than the sand of the sea. Therefore, my words have been rash.

⁴ “For the arrows of the Almighty are in me. My spirit drinks up their poison. The terrors of God fight against me.

⁵ “Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass? Or does the ox bellow when he has fodder?

⁶ “That which is unsavory, shall it be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

⁷ “Such things my soul refused to touch, like food that made me ill.

⁸ “Oh that I might have my desire, and that God would grant me the thing that I long for:

⁹ “that is, that God would destroy me, that He would let His Hand go and cut me off.

¹⁰ “Then I would still have comfort (though I burn with sorrow, Him not sparing) because I have not denied the Words of the Holy One.

¹¹ “What strength do I have, that I should hope? Or what is my end if I should prolong my life?

¹² “Is my strength the strength of stones? Is my flesh of bronze?

¹³ “Is it not so, that there is no help in me, and that strength is taken from me?

¹⁴ “He who is in misery ought to be comforted by his neighbor. But men have forsaken the fear of the Almighty.

¹⁵ “My brothers have deceived me as a brook. As the rising of the rivers, they pass away,

¹⁶ “which are black with ice and wherein the snow is hidden.

¹⁷ “But in time they are dried up with heat and are consumed. And when it is hot, they vanish from their places.

¹⁸ “They depart from their way and course. They vanish and perish.

¹⁹ “Those who went to Tema, considered them. Those who went to Sheba, waited for them.

²⁰ “They were confounded. When they were confident, they came there and were embarrassed.

²¹ “Surely, now, you are like that. You have seen my fearful plague and are afraid.

²² “Did I say, ‘Bring to me,’ or ‘Give a reward to me from your substance,’

²³ “or ‘Deliver me from the enemy’s hand,’ or ‘Ransom me out of the hand of tyrants?’

²⁴ “Teach me, and I will hold my tongue. And cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

²⁵ “How steadfast are the words of righteousness! And what can any of you justly prove?

²⁶ “Do you plan to reprove words, so that the talk of the afflicted should be as the wind?

²⁷ “You make your wrath fall upon the fatherless, and dig a pit for your friend.

²⁸ “Now, therefore, be content to look at me. For I will not lie to your face.

²⁹ “Relent, please. Let there be no iniquity. Relent, I say, and you shall still see my righteousness. Is there iniquity on my tongue? Does not my mouth discern desire?”

7 “Is there not an appointed time for man upon Earth? And are not his days as the days of a hired servant?

² “As a servant longs for the shade, and as a hireling looks for the end of his work,

³ “so I have inherited months of emptiness. And painful nights have been appointed to me.

⁴ “If I lie down, I say, ‘When shall I arise, and the night be over?’ For I’ve had enough of tossing to and fro until dawn.

⁵ “My flesh is clothed with worms and filthiness of the dust. My skin is broken and has become loathsome.

⁶ “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle. And they are spent without hope.

⁷ “Remember that my life is but a breath. My eye shall not return to see pleasure.

⁸ “The eye that has seen me, shall see me no more. Your eyes are upon me, and I shall be no longer.

⁹ “As the cloud vanishes and goes away, so he who goes down to the grave shall come up no more.

¹⁰ “He shall return no more to his house. Nor shall his place know him anymore.

¹¹ “Therefore, I will not restrain my mouth, but will speak in the trouble of my spirit, and muse in the bitterness of my mind.

¹² “Am I a sea or a dragon, that You keep me under guard?

¹³ “When I say, ‘My couch shall relieve me. My bed shall bring comfort in my meditation,’

¹⁴ “then You scare me with dreams, and astonish me with visions.

¹⁵ “Therefore, my soul chooses to be strangled and to die, rather than to be in my bones.

¹⁶ “I abhor it. I would not live forever. Spare me, then. For my days are without meaning.

¹⁷ “What is man, that You magnify him, and that You set Your Heart upon him,

¹⁸ “and visit him every morning, and test him every moment?

¹⁹ “How long will it be before You depart from me? You will not leave me alone while I can swallow my spittle.

²⁰ “I have sinned. What did I do to You, O You, Preserver of men? Why have You set me against Yourself, so that I am a burden to myself?

²¹ “And why do You not pardon my trespass, and take away my iniquity? For now, I shall sleep in the dust. And if You seek me in the morning, I shall no longer be.”