Her

Esther still had not revealed her lineage or her people, just as Mordecai had instructed. She obeyed Mordecai’s command, as she had done under his care.

When Esther’s maidens and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, the queen was overcome with distress. She sent clothes for Mordecai to wear instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them.

Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs appointed to her, and she dispatched him to Mordecai to learn what was troubling him and why.

Mordecai also gave Hathach a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for the destruction of the Jews, to show and explain to Esther, urging her to approach the king, implore his favor, and plead before him for her people.

Mordecai also gave Hathach a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for the destruction of the Jews, to show and explain to Esther, urging her to approach the king, implore his favor, and plead before him for her people.

…he sent back to her this reply: “Do not imagine that because you are in the king’s palace you alone will escape the fate of all the Jews.

On the third day, Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace across from the king’s quarters. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal courtroom, facing the entrance.

That same day King Xerxes awarded Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai entered the king’s presence because Esther had revealed his relation to her.

“You speak as a foolish woman speaks,” he told her. “Should we accept from God only good and not adversity?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

…then may my own wife grind grain for another, and may other men sleep with her.

Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear and her cubs?

“Do you know when mountain goats give birth? Have you watched the doe bear her fawn?

For she leaves her eggs on the ground and lets them warm in the sand.

She treats her young harshly, as if not her own, with no concern that her labor was in vain.

She treats her young harshly, as if not her own, with no concern that her labor was in vain.

She treats her young harshly, as if not her own, with no concern that her labor was in vain.

For God has deprived her of wisdom; He has not endowed her with understanding.

For God has deprived her of wisdom; He has not endowed her with understanding.

Yet when she proudly spreads her wings, she laughs at the horse and its rider.

All glorious is the princess in her chamber; her gown is embroidered with gold.

All glorious is the princess in her chamber; her gown is embroidered with gold.

In colorful garments she is led to the king; her virgin companions are brought before you.

God is within her; she will not be moved. God will help her when morning dawns.

God is within her; she will not be moved. God will help her when morning dawns.

God is in her citadels; He has shown Himself to be a fortress.

As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the LORD of Hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish her forever. Selah

March around Zion, encircle her, count her towers,

March around Zion, encircle her, count her towers,

…consider her ramparts, tour her citadels, that you may tell the next generation.

…consider her ramparts, tour her citadels, that you may tell the next generation.

Though you lie down among the sheepfolds, the wings of the dove are covered with silver, and her feathers with shimmering gold.”

Envoys will arrive from Egypt; Cush will stretch out her hands to God.

Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she places her young near Your altars, O LORD of Hosts, my King and my God.

And it will be said of Zion: “This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High Himself will establish her.”

And it will be said of Zion: “This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High Himself will establish her.”

You will rise up and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show her favor—the appointed time has come.

For Your servants delight in her stones and take pity on her dust.

For Your servants delight in her stones and take pity on her dust.

…where the birds build their nests; the stork makes her home in the cypresses.

He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother to her children. Hallelujah!

He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother to her children. Hallelujah!

As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are on the LORD our God until He shows us mercy.

I will bless her with abundant provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread.

I will bless her with abundant provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread.

I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints will sing out in joy.

I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints will sing out in joy.

Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square;

…in the main concourse she cries aloud, at the city gates she makes her speech:

…who abandons the partner of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God.

…who abandons the partner of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God.

For her house sinks down to death, and her tracks to the departed spirits.

For her house sinks down to death, and her tracks to the departed spirits.

None who go to her return or negotiate the paths of life.

…for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold.

She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire compares with her.

Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.

Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.

All her ways are pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful.

All her ways are pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful.

She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who lay hold of her are blessed.

She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who lay hold of her are blessed.

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.

Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.

Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.

Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil,

Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to Sheol.

Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to Sheol.

She does not consider the path of life; she does not know that her ways are unstable.

Keep your path far from her; do not go near the door of her house,

Keep your path far from her; do not go near the door of her house,

A loving doe, a graceful fawn—may her breasts satisfy you always; may you be captivated by her love forever.

A loving doe, a graceful fawn—may her breasts satisfy you always; may you be captivated by her love forever.

Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes.

Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes.

Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes.

So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.

…crossing the street near her corner, strolling down the road to her house,

…crossing the street near her corner, strolling down the road to her house,

She is loud and defiant; her feet do not remain at home.

With her great persuasion she entices him; with her flattering lips she lures him.

With her great persuasion she entices him; with her flattering lips she lures him.

He follows her on impulse, like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding into a trap,

Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths.

Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths.

For she has brought many down to death; her slain are many in number.

Her house is the road to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death.

Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?

On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand.

For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.

Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out her seven pillars.

Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out her seven pillars.

She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.

She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.

She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.

She has sent out her maidservants; she calls out from the heights of the city.

She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the heights of the city,

But they do not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but she who causes shame is like decay in his bones.

Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.