Me

I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may letters be given to me for the governors west of the Euphrates, so that they will grant me safe passage until I reach Judah.

I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may letters be given to me for the governors west of the Euphrates, so that they will grant me safe passage until I reach Judah.

And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house I will occupy.” And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.

And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house I will occupy.” And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.

Then I went to the governors west of the Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.

I set out at night with a few men. I did not tell anyone what my God had laid on my heart to do for Jerusalem. The only animal with me was the one on which I was riding.

Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal under me to get through;

I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me, and what the king had said to me. “Let us start rebuilding,” they replied, and they set their hands to this good work.

I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me, and what the king had said to me. “Let us start rebuilding,” they replied, and they set their hands to this good work.

And each of the builders worked with his sword strapped at his side. But the trumpeter stayed beside me.

So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the guards with me changed out of our clothes; each carried his weapon, even to go for water.

Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah, from his twentieth year until his thirty-second year (twelve years total), neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor.

The governors before me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them bread and wine plus forty shekels of silver. Their servants also oppressed the people. But I did not do this, because of my fear of God.

Each day one ox, six choice sheep, and some fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine was provided. But I did not demand the food allotted to the governor, because the burden on the people was so heavy.

Remember me favorably, O my God, for all that I have done for this people.

Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were planning to harm me.

Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were planning to harm me.

Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave the same reply.

The fifth time, Sanballat sent me this same message by his young servant, who had in his hand an unsealed letter

But I replied, “Should a man like me run away? Should one like me go into the temple to save his own life? I will not go!”

But I replied, “Should a man like me run away? Should one like me go into the temple to save his own life? I will not go!”

I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would sin by doing as he suggested, so they could give me a bad name in order to discredit me.

He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would sin by doing as he suggested, so they could give me a bad name in order to discredit me.

He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would sin by doing as he suggested, so they could give me a bad name in order to discredit me.

O my God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the other prophets who tried to intimidate me.

Moreover, these nobles kept reporting to me Tobiah’s good deeds, and they relayed my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.

Moreover, these nobles kept reporting to me Tobiah’s good deeds, and they relayed my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.

The two thanksgiving choirs then stood in the house of God, as did I, along with the half of the officials accompanying me,

Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out my deeds of loving devotion for the house of my God and for its services.

Then I instructed the Levites to purify themselves and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this as well, O my God, and show me mercy according to Your abundant loving devotion.

Then I instructed the Levites to purify themselves and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this as well, O my God, and show me mercy according to Your abundant loving devotion.

Even one of the sons of Jehoiada son of Eliashib the high priest had become a son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I drove him away from me.

I also arranged for contributions of wood at the appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, with favor.

“Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!”

“What is more,” Haman added, “Queen Esther invited no one but me to join the king at the banquet she prepared, and I am invited back tomorrow along with the king.

Yet none of this satisfies me as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”

Haman entered, and the king asked him, “What should be done for the man whom the king is delighted to honor?” Now Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king be delighted to honor more than me?”

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 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. He still retains his integrity, even though you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.”

Why were there knees to receive me, and breasts that I should be nursed?

I sigh when food is put before me, and my groans pour out like water.

For the thing I feared has overtaken me, and what I dreaded has befallen me.

For the thing I feared has overtaken me, and what I dreaded has befallen me.

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

…fear and trembling came over me and made all my bones shudder.

For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.

For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.

My soul refuses to touch them; they are loathsome food to me.

…that God would be willing to crush me, to unleash His hand and cut me off!

…that God would be willing to crush me, to unleash His hand and cut me off!

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

Is there any help within me now that success is driven from me?

Is there any help within me now that success is driven from me?

Have I ever said, ‘Give me something; offer me a bribe from your wealth;

Have I ever said, ‘Give me something; offer me a bribe from your wealth;

…deliver me from the hand of the enemy; redeem me from the grasp of the ruthless’?

…deliver me from the hand of the enemy; redeem me from the grasp of the ruthless’?

Teach me, and I will be silent. Help me understand how I have erred.

Teach me, and I will be silent. Help me understand how I have erred.

But now, please look at me. Would I lie to your face?

So I am allotted months of futility, and nights of misery are appointed to me.

The eye that beholds me will no longer see me. You will look for me, but I will be no more.

The eye that beholds me will no longer see me. You will look for me, but I will be no more.

The eye that beholds me will no longer see me. You will look for me, but I will be no more.

Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep, that You must keep me under guard?

When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint,

…then You frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions,

…then You frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions,

I loathe my life! I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.

Will You never look away from me, or leave me alone to swallow my spittle?

Will You never look away from me, or leave me alone to swallow my spittle?

If I have sinned, what have I done to You, O watcher of mankind? Why have You made me Your target, so that I am a burden to You?

Why do You not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For soon I will lie down in the dust; You will seek me, but I will be no more.”

Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; were He to move, I would not recognize Him.

If I summoned Him and He answered me, I do not believe He would listen to my voice.

For He would crush me with a tempest and multiply my wounds without cause.

He does not let me catch my breath, but overwhelms me with bitterness.

He does not let me catch my breath, but overwhelms me with bitterness.

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

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

I would still dread all my sufferings; I know that You will not acquit me.

…then You would plunge me into the pit, and even my own clothes would despise me.

…then You would plunge me into the pit, and even my own clothes would despise me.

For He is not a man like me, that I can answer Him, that we can take each other to court.

Let Him remove His rod from me, so that His terror will no longer frighten me.

Let Him remove His rod from me, so that His terror will no longer frighten me.

I will say to God: Do not condemn me! Let me know why You prosecute me.

I will say to God: Do not condemn me! Let me know why You prosecute me.

I will say to God: Do not condemn me! Let me know why You prosecute me.

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

Your hands shaped me and altogether formed me. Would You now turn and destroy me?

Your hands shaped me and altogether formed me. Would You now turn and destroy me?

Your hands shaped me and altogether formed me. Would You now turn and destroy me?

Please remember that You molded me like clay. Would You now return me to dust?

Please remember that You molded me like clay. Would You now return me to dust?

Did You not pour me out like milk, and curdle me like cheese?

Did You not pour me out like milk, and curdle me like cheese?

You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews.

You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews.