Study Desk

But when Esther came before the king, he issued a decree causing Haman's evil plot to backfire, and Haman and his sons were impaled on a sharpened pole.

King Xerxes imposed a tribute throughout his empire, even to the distant coastlands.

His great achievements and the full account of the greatness of Mordecai, whom the king had promoted, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Media and Persia.

Mordecai the Jew became the prime minister, with authority next to that of King Xerxes himself. He was very great among the Jews, who held him in high esteem, because he continued to work for the good of his people and to speak up for the welfare of all their descendants.

When these celebrations ended—sometimes after several days—Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, "Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts." This was Job's regular practice.

You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is!

Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship.

Then the Lord asked Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you urged me to harm him without cause."

Satan replied to the Lord , "Skin for skin! A man will give up everything he has to save his life.

But reach out and take away his health, and he will surely curse you to your face!"

"All right, do with him as you please," the Lord said to Satan. "But spare his life."

Job scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery as he sat among the ashes.

His wife said to him, "Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die."

Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words.

At last Job spoke, and he cursed the day of his birth.

Rich and poor are both there, and the slave is free from his master.

A breath from God destroys them. They vanish in a blast of his anger.

"If God does not trust his own angels and has charged his messengers with foolishness,

For though he wounds, he also bandages. He strikes, but his hands also heal.

For the Almighty has struck me down with his arrows. Their poison infects my spirit. God's terrors are lined up against me.