There

…and I weighed out to them the contribution of silver and gold and the articles that the king, his counselors, his leaders, and all the Israelites there had offered for the house of our God.

So we arrived at Jerusalem and rested there for three days.

Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles, while I sat there in horror until the evening offering.

Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, an Elamite, said to Ezra: “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the people of the land, yet in spite of this, there is hope for Israel.

Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and walked to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. And while he stayed there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.

But there are many people here, and it is the rainy season. We are not able to stay out in the open. Nor is this the work of one or two days, for we have transgressed greatly in this matter.

And they told me, “The remnant who survived the exile are there in the province, in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”

…but if you return to Me and keep and practice My commandments, then even if your exiles have been banished to the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for My Name.’

After I had arrived in Jerusalem and had been there three days,

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;

Meanwhile, the people of Judah said: “The strength of the laborer fails, and there is so much rubble that we will never be able to rebuild the wall.”

Wherever you hear the sound of the horn, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us!”

About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews.

Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of the wall, and all my servants were gathered there for the work; we did not acquire any land.

There were 150 Jews and officials at my table, besides the guests from the surrounding nations.

…and you have even appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim on your behalf: ‘There is a king in Judah.’ Soon these rumors will reach the ears of the king. So come, let us confer together.”

Then I sent him this reply: “There is nothing to these rumors you are spreading; you are inventing them in your own mind.”

Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt.

The governor ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest to consult the Urim and Thummim.

The whole assembly that had returned from exile made booths and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated like this. And there was great rejoicing.

For there was a command from the king concerning the singers, an ordinance regulating their daily activities.

For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there were directors for the singers and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.

Additionally, men of Tyre who lived there were importing fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah in Jerusalem.

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.

In the third year of his reign, Xerxes held a feast for all his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia and Media were there, along with the nobles and princes of the provinces.

Now there was at the citadel of Susa a Jewish man from the tribe of Benjamin named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish.

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.

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.

In every province to which the king’s command and edict came, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and lamented, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

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.

So the king’s attendants answered him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” “Bring him in,” ordered 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.

In every province and every city, wherever the king’s edict and decree reached, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many of the people of the land themselves became Jews, because the fear of the Jews had fallen upon them.

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.

There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And this man was blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil.

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.”

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?

There the wicked cease from raging, and there the weary find rest.

There the wicked cease from raging, and there the weary find rest.

Both small and great are there, and the slave is freed from his master.

Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the white of an egg?

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

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

Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Do reeds flourish without water?

Nor is there a mediator between us, to lay his hand upon us both.

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

You will be secure, because there is hope, and you will look around and lie down in safety.

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

Is there no end to your long-winded speeches? What provokes you to continue testifying?

Though I cry out, ‘Violence!’ I get no response; though I call for help, there is no justice.

…then you should fear the sword yourselves, because wrath brings punishment by the sword, so that you may know there is a judgment.”

If I go east, He is not there, and if I go west, I cannot find Him.

Then there are those who rebel against the light, not knowing its ways or staying on its paths.

“Surely there is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.

…if the men of my house have not said, ‘Who is there who has not had his fill?’—

But there is a spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.

Yet if there is a messenger on his side, one mediator in a thousand, to tell a man what is right for him,

There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.

There they cry out, but He does not answer, because of the pride of evil men.

“Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you that there is more to be said on God’s behalf.

Then there comes a roaring sound; He thunders with His majestic voice. He does not restrain the lightning when His voice resounds.

He dwells on a cliff and lodges there; his stronghold is on a rocky crag.

From there he spies out food; his eyes see it from afar.

His young ones feast on blood; and where the slain are, there he is.”

For there is no mention of You in death; who can praise You from Sheol?

In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his schemes there is no God.

For the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good.

For the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good.

All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

There they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is in the company of the righteous.

They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—to the LORD, but He did not answer.

Be not far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.

“What gain is there in my bloodshed, in my descent to the Pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it proclaim Your faithfulness?

For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side. They conspire against me and plot to take my life.

Blessed is the man whose iniquity the LORD does not count against him, in whose spirit there is no deceit.

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD. An oracle is in my heart regarding the transgression of the wicked man: There is no fear of God before his eyes.

There the evildoers lie fallen, thrown down and unable to rise.

There is no soundness in my body because of Your anger; there is no rest in my bones because of my sin.

There is no soundness in my body because of Your anger; there is no rest in my bones because of my sin.

With Your hand You drove out the nations and planted our fathers there; You crushed the peoples and cast them out.

There is a river whose streams delight the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.

Trembling seized them there, anguish like a woman in labor.

For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath. A Maskil of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their ways are vile. There is no one who does good.

For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath. A Maskil of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their ways are vile. There is no one who does good.

All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

There they are, overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to fear. For God has scattered the bones of those who besieged you. You put them to shame, for God has despised them.

There they are, overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to fear. For God has scattered the bones of those who besieged you. You put them to shame, for God has despised them.

Then men will say, “There is surely a reward for the righteous! There is surely a God who judges the earth!”

Then men will say, “There is surely a reward for the righteous! There is surely a God who judges the earth!”

He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the waters on foot; there we rejoiced in Him.

You have ascended on high; You have led captives away. You have received gifts from men, even from the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there.

There is Benjamin, the youngest, ruling them, the princes of Judah in their company, the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.

I have sunk into the miry depths, where there is no footing; I have drifted into deep waters, where the flood engulfs me.

Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found no one.

May their place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in their tents.

For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah, that they may dwell there and possess it.

…saying, “God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for there is no one to rescue him.”

May there be an abundance of grain in the land; may it sway atop the hills. May its fruit trees flourish like the forests of Lebanon, the people of its cities like the grass of the field.

There are no signs for us to see. There is no longer any prophet. And none of us knows how long this will last.