Not

When the people of the land bring merchandise or any kind of grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we will not buy from them on a Sabbath or holy day. Every seventh year we will let the fields lie fallow and will cancel every debt.

For the Israelites and the Levites are to bring the contributions of grain, new wine, and oil to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary are kept and where the ministering priests, the gatekeepers, and the singers stay. Thus we will not neglect the house of our God.”

…because they had not met the Israelites with food and water, but had hired Balaam to call down a curse against them (although our God had turned the curse into a blessing).

While all this was happening, I was not in Jerusalem, because I had returned to Artaxerxes king of Babylon in the thirty-second year of his reign. Some time later I obtained leave from the king

I also learned that because the portions for the Levites had not been given to them, all the Levites and singers responsible for performing the service had gone back to their own fields.

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.

Did not your forefathers do the same things, so that our God brought all this disaster on us and on this city? And now you are rekindling His wrath against Israel by profaning the Sabbath!”

When the evening shadows began to fall on the gates of Jerusalem, just before the Sabbath, I ordered that the gates be shut and not opened until after the Sabbath. I posted some of my servants at the gates so that no load could enter on the Sabbath day.

…but I warned them, “Why are you camping in front of the wall? If you do it again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on, they did not return on the Sabbath.

Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or of the other peoples, but could not speak the language of Judah.

I rebuked them and called down curses on them. I beat some of these men and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath before God and said, “You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves!

Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel—yet foreign women drew him into sin.

Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel—yet foreign women drew him into sin.

And in the presence of the king and his princes, Memucan replied, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king, but all the princes and the peoples in all the provinces of King Xerxes.

For the conduct of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes ordered Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she did not come.’

And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah (that is, Esther), the daughter of his uncle, because she did not have a father or mother. The young woman was lovely in form and appearance, and when her father and mother had died, Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter.

Esther did not reveal her people or her lineage, because Mordecai had instructed her not to do so.

Esther did not reveal her people or her lineage, because Mordecai had instructed her not to do so.

She would go there in the evening, and in the morning she would return to a second harem under the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he delighted in her and summoned her by name.

Now Esther was the daughter of Abihail, the uncle from whom Mordecai had adopted her as his own daughter. And when it was her turn to go to the king, she did not ask for anything except what Hegai, the king’s trusted official in charge of the harem, had advised. And Esther found favor in the eyes of everyone who saw 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.

All the royal servants at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, because the king had commanded that this be done for him. But Mordecai would not bow down or pay homage.

Day after day they warned him, but he would not comply. So they reported it to Haman to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, since he had told them he was a Jew.

When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or pay him homage, he was filled with rage.

Then Haman informed King Xerxes, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples of every province of your kingdom. Their laws are different from everyone else’s, and they do not obey the king’s laws. So it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them.

Then Haman informed King Xerxes, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples of every province of your kingdom. Their laws are different from everyone else’s, and they do not obey the king’s laws. So it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them.

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.

“All the royal officials and the people of the king’s provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned—that he be put to death. Only if the king extends the gold scepter may that person live. But I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the past thirty days.”

…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.

“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!”

That day Haman went out full of joy and glad of heart. At the king’s gate, however, he saw Mordecai, who did not rise or tremble in fear at his presence. And Haman was filled with rage toward Mordecai.

“Hurry,” said the king to Haman, “and do just as you proposed. Take the robe and the horse to Mordecai the Jew, who is sitting at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything that you have suggested.”

Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened. His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has begun, is Jewish, you will not prevail against him—for surely you will fall before him.”

They killed these ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

On the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, the Jews in Susa came together again and put to death three hundred men there, but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

The rest of the Jews in the royal provinces also assembled to defend themselves and rid themselves of their enemies. They killed 75,000 who hated them, but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

…the Jews bound themselves to establish the custom that they and their descendants and all who join them should not fail to celebrate these two days at the appointed time each and every year, according to their regulation.

These days should be remembered and celebrated by every generation, family, province, and city, so that these days of Purim should not fail to be observed among the Jews, nor should the memory of them fade from their descendants.

And all of Mordecai’s powerful and magnificent accomplishments, together with the full account of the greatness to which the king had raised him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia?

Have You not placed a hedge on every side around him and his household and all that he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.

“Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “Everything he has is in your hands, but you must not lay a hand on the man himself.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

In all this, Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing.

“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.

“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.

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.

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.

Why did I not perish at birth; why did I not die as I came from the womb?

Why did I not perish at birth; why did I not die as I came from the womb?

Or why was I not hidden like a stillborn child, like an infant who never sees daylight?

The captives enjoy their ease; they do not hear the voice of the oppressor.

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

I am not at ease or quiet; I have no rest, for trouble has come.”

Is your reverence not your confidence, and the uprightness of your ways your hope?

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

Are not their tent cords pulled up, so that they die without wisdom?’

For distress does not spring from the dust, and trouble does not sprout from the ground.

For distress does not spring from the dust, and trouble does not sprout from the ground.

Blessed indeed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

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

You will laugh at destruction and famine, and need not fear the beasts of the earth.

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

Reconsider; do not be unjust. Reconsider, for my righteousness is at stake.

Is there iniquity on my tongue? Can my mouth not discern malice?

“Is not man consigned to labor on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired hand?

“Is not man consigned to labor on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired hand?

As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so he who goes down to Sheol does not come back up.

Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

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

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.”

Will they not teach you and tell you, and speak from their understanding?

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

Behold, God does not reject the blameless, nor will He strengthen the hand of evildoers.

If one wished to contend with God, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.

He commands the sun not to shine; He seals off the stars.

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

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

God does not restrain His anger; the helpers of Rahab cower beneath Him.

For even if I were right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.

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

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

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

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

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

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

…though You know that I am not guilty, and there is no deliverance from Your hand?

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

If I sinned, You would take note, and would not acquit me of my iniquity.

Are my days not few? Withdraw from me, that I may have a little comfort,

Surely He knows the deceit of men. If He sees iniquity, does He not take note?

But I also have a mind; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these?

But I also have a mind; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these?

Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?

Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes its food?

What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.

Would His majesty not terrify you? Would the dread of Him not fall upon you?

Would His majesty not terrify you? Would the dread of Him not fall upon you?

Only grant these two things to me, so that I need not hide from You:

Withdraw Your hand from me, and do not let Your terror frighten me.

Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.