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Then all the men of Iudah and Beniamin, gathered themselues together vnto Ierusalem, within three dayes: it was the ninth moneth, on the twentieth day of the moneth, and all the people sate in the streete of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great raine.

Neuertheles, we made our prayer vnto our God, and set a watch against them, day and night, because of them.

Some also there were that saide, We haue morgaged our landes, vineyards and houses, that we might buy corne, because of the dearth.

Also I said, It is not good that yee doe: ought yee not to walke in the feare of our God, because of the reproch of the heathen our enemies?

But the former gouernours that had bene before me, were chargeable vnto the people, and had taken of them bread, and wine, beside fourtie shekels of siluer, yea euen their seruants bare rule ouer the people: but so did not I, because of the feare of God.

Now that which was prepared for me daily, was one oxe, and sixe choice sheepe; also foules were prepared for mee, and once in ten dayes, store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the gouernour, because the bondage was heauy vpon this people.

For there were many in Iudah sworne vnto him: because hee was the sonne in law of Shechaniah the sonne of Arah, and his sonne Iohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam, the sonne of Berechiah.

And all the people went their way to eate, and to drinke, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had vnderstood the wordes that were declared vnto them.

And it yeeldeth much increase vnto the kings, whom thou hast set ouer vs, because of our sinnes: also they haue dominion ouer our bodies, and ouer our cattell, at their pleasure; and wee are in great distresse.

And because of all this, wee make a sure couenant, and write it, and our Princes, Leuites, and Priestes, seale vnto it.

Because they met not the children of Israel with bread, and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.

Remember them, O my God, because they haue defiled the Priesthood, and the couenant of the Priesthood, and of the Leuites.

What shall wee doe vnto the Queene Uasthi, according to law, because she hath not performed the commandement of the king Ahasuerus, by the chamberlens?

Then the king Ahasuerus said vnto Esther the Queene, and to Mordecai the Iewe, Behold, I haue giuen Esther the house of Haman, and him they haue hanged vpon the gallowes, because hee layde his hand vpon the Iewes.

And all the rulers of the prouinces, and the Lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Iewes: because the feare of Mordecai fell vpon them.

Because Haman the sonne of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemie of all the Iewes, had deuised against the Iewes to destroy them, and had cast Pur (that is, the lot) to consume them, and to destroy them.

Because it shut not vp the doores of my mothers wombe, nor hid sorrowe from mine eyes.

They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.

(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our dayes vpon earth are a shadow.)

Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that passe away: