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For my people and I have been sold out to destruction, death, and annihilation. If we had merely been sold as menservants and maidservants, I would have held my peace, because no such distress would justify burdening the king."

In his fury, the king arose from drinking his wine and went to the palace garden, while Haman stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life, for he realized the king was planning a terrible fate for him.

Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said: "There is a gallows fifty cubits high at Haman's house. He had it built for Mordecai, who gave the report that saved the king." "Hang him on it!" declared the king.

So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the fury of the king subsided.

For how could I bear to see the disaster that would befall my people? How could I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?"

Now you may write in the king's name as you please regarding the Jews, and seal it with the royal signet ring. For a decree that is written in the name of the king and sealed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked."

For the Jews it was a time of light and gladness, of joy and honor.

For Mordecai exercised great power in the palace, and his fame spread throughout the provinces as he became more and more powerful.

This is why the rural Jews, who live in the villages, observe the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day of joy and feasting. It is a holiday for sending gifts to one another.

For Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them and had cast the Pur (that is, the lot) to crush and destroy them.

For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews and highly favored by his many kinsmen, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.

And when the days of feasting were over, Job would send for his children to purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for all of them. For Job thought, "Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." This was Job's regular practice.

Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil."

Satan answered the LORD, "Does Job fear God for nothing?

Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him-blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil. He still retains his integrity, even though you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause."

"Skin for skin!" Satan replied. "A man will give up all he owns in exchange for his life.

Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights, but no one spoke a word to him because they saw how intense his suffering was.

May its morning stars grow dark; may it wait in vain for daylight; may it not see the breaking of dawn.

For that night did not shut the doors of the womb to hide the sorrow from my eyes.

For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest