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And as they drank their wine, the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.”

If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, may the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”

His wife Zeresh and all his friends told him, “Have them build a gallows fifty cubits high, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and enjoy yourself.” The advice pleased Haman, and he had the gallows constructed.

And there it was found recorded that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the eunuchs who guarded the king’s entrance, when they had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.

…and as they drank their wine on that second day, the king asked once more, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.”

…and as they drank their wine on that second day, the king asked once more, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.”

Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, grant me my life as my petition, and the lives of my people as my request.

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.

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.

The king removed the signet ring he had recovered from Haman and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed Mordecai over the estate of Haman.

“If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if I have found favor in his sight, and the matter seems proper to the king, and I am pleasing in his sight, may an order be written to revoke the letters that the scheming Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces.

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.”

Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes and sealed it with the royal signet ring. He sent the documents by mounted couriers riding on swift horses bred from the royal mares.

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

…who said to Queen Esther, “In the citadel of Susa the Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men, including Haman’s ten sons. What have they done in the rest of the royal provinces? Now what is your petition? It will be given to you. And what further do you request? It will be fulfilled.”

…who said to Queen Esther, “In the citadel of Susa the Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men, including Haman’s ten sons. What have they done in the rest of the royal provinces? Now what is your petition? It will be given to you. And what further do you request? It will be fulfilled.”

Esther replied, “If it pleases the king, may the Jews in Susa also have tomorrow to carry out today’s edict, and may the bodies of Haman’s ten sons be hanged on the gallows.”

This was done on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested, making it a day of feasting and joy.

The Jews in Susa, however, had assembled on the thirteenth and the fourteenth days of the month. So they rested on the fifteenth day, making it a day of feasting and joy.

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.

But when it came before the king, he commanded by letter that the wicked scheme which Haman had devised against the Jews should come back upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

“Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan. “From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.”

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “The fire of God fell from heaven. It burned and consumed the sheep and the servants, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

…when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

“Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan. “From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.”

“May the day of my birth perish, and the night it was said, ‘A boy is conceived.’

If only that day had turned to darkness! May God above disregard it; may no light shine upon it.

If only that day had turned to darkness! May God above disregard it; may no light shine upon it.

May darkness and gloom reclaim it, and a cloud settle over it; may the blackness of the day overwhelm it.

May darkness and gloom reclaim it, and a cloud settle over it; may the blackness of the day overwhelm it.

May darkness and gloom reclaim it, and a cloud settle over it; may the blackness of the day overwhelm it.

If only darkness had taken that night away! May it not appear among the days of the year; may it never be entered in any of the months.

If only darkness had taken that night away! May it not appear among the days of the year; may it never be entered in any of the months.

Behold, may that night be barren; may no joyful voice come into it.

May it be cursed by those who curse the day—those prepared to rouse Leviathan.

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

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

…who long for death that does not come, and search for it like hidden treasure,

But now trouble has come upon you, and you are weary. It strikes you, and you are dismayed.

Now a word came to me secretly; my ears caught a whisper of it.

It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance; a form loomed before my eyes, and I heard a whispering voice:

The hungry consume his harvest, taking it even from the thorns, and the thirsty pant after his wealth.

You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, and will not fear havoc when it comes.

Indeed, we have investigated, and it is true! So hear it and know for yourself.”

Indeed, we have investigated, and it is true! So hear it and know for yourself.”

For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas—no wonder my words have been rash.

It still brings me comfort, and joy through unrelenting pain, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

The caravans of Tema look for water; the travelers of Sheba hope to find it.

He leans on his web, but it gives way; he holds fast, but it does not endure.

He leans on his web, but it gives way; he holds fast, but it does not endure.

If he is uprooted from his place, it will disown him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’

“Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a mortal be righteous before God?

If it is a matter of strength, He is indeed mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him?

If it is a matter of strength, He is indeed mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him?

Even if I were righteous, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would declare me guilty.

It is all the same, and so I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’

The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He blindfolds its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?

The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He blindfolds its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?

Then I would speak without fear of Him. But as it is, I am on my own.

Does it please You to oppress me, to reject the work of Your hands and favor the schemes of the wicked?

For you will forget your misery, recalling it only as waters gone by.

Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; let the fish of the sea inform you.

Would it be well when He examined you? Could you deceive Him as you would deceive a man?

For there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender shoots will not fail.

For there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender shoots will not fail.

…at the scent of water it will bud and put forth twigs like a sapling.

If his sons receive honor, he does not know it; if they are brought low, he is unaware.

It will be paid in full before his time, and his branch will not flourish.

Even if I speak, my pain is not relieved, and if I hold back, how will it go away?

You have bound me, and it has become a witness; my frailty rises up and testifies against me.

Will it go down to the gates of Sheol? Will we go down together into the dust?”

It devours patches of his skin; the firstborn of death devours his limbs.

…then understand that it is God who has wronged me and drawn His net around me.

Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he conceals it under his tongue,

…though he cannot bear to let it go and keeps it in his mouth,

…though he cannot bear to let it go and keeps it in his mouth,

He swallows wealth but vomits it out; God will force it from his stomach.

He swallows wealth but vomits it out; God will force it from his stomach.

He must return the fruit of his labor without consuming it; he cannot enjoy the profits of his trading.

When he has filled his stomach, God will vent His fury upon him, raining it down on him as he eats.

It is drawn out of his back, the gleaming point from his liver. Terrors come over him.

It is said that God lays up one’s punishment for his children. Let God repay the man himself, so he will know it.

It is said that God lays up one’s punishment for his children. Let God repay the man himself, so he will know it.

Does it delight the Almighty that you are righteous? Does He profit if your ways are blameless?

Is it for your reverence that He rebukes you and enters into judgment against you?

…while the land belonged to a mighty man, and a man of honor lived on it.

…it is so dark you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.

But it was He who filled their houses with good things; so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.

The righteous see it and are glad; the innocent mock them:

He covers the face of the full moon, spreading over it His cloud.

Surely all of you have seen it for yourselves. Why then do you keep up this empty talk?

The east wind carries him away, and he is gone; it sweeps him out of his place.

It hurls itself against him without mercy as he flees headlong from its power.

It claps its hands at him and hisses him out of his place.

Food may come from the earth, but from below it is transformed as by fire.

No bird of prey knows that path; no falcon’s eye has seen it.

Proud beasts have never trodden it; no lion has ever prowled over it.

Proud beasts have never trodden it; no lion has ever prowled over it.

No man can know its value, nor is it found in the land of the living.

The ocean depths say, ‘It is not in me,’ while the sea declares, ‘It is not with me.’