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And they found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month,

They captured fortified cities and fertile land and took houses full of all goods, wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled; they grew fat and delighted in Your great goodness.

But they were disobedient and rebelled against You; they flung Your law behind their backs. They killed Your prophets, who had admonished them to return to You. They committed terrible blasphemies.

You admonished them to turn back to Your law, but they were arrogant and disobeyed Your commandments. They sinned against Your ordinances, by which a man will live if he practices them. They turned a stubborn shoulder; they stiffened their necks and would not obey.

You were patient with them for many years, and Your Spirit admonished them through Your prophets. Yet they would not listen, so You gave them into the hands of the neighboring peoples.

For even while they were in their kingdom, with the abundant goodness that You had given them, and in the spacious and fertile land that You had set before them, they would not serve You or turn from their wicked ways.

Now these were the ones who sealed the document: Nehemiah the governor, son of Hacaliah, and also Zedekiah,

Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These were the priests.

Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in the holy city of Jerusalem, while the remaining nine were to dwell in their own towns.

The rest of the Israelites, with the priests and Levites, were in all the villages of Judah, each on his own inheritance.

Now the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica. He was one of Asaph’s descendants, who were the singers in charge of the service of the house of God.

Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. These were the leaders of the priests and their associates in the days of Jeshua.

The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who, with his associates, led the songs of thanksgiving.

In the days of Joiakim, these were the heads of the priestly families: of the family of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;

In the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua, during the reign of Darius the Persian, the heads of the families of the Levites and priests were recorded.

As for the descendants of Levi, the family heads up to the days of Johanan son of Eliashib were recorded in the Book of the Chronicles.

The leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua son of Kadmiel, along with their associates, who stood across from them to give praise and thanksgiving as one section alternated with the other, as prescribed by David the man of God.

Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates.

At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from all their homes and brought to Jerusalem to celebrate the joyous dedication with thanksgiving and singing, accompanied by cymbals, harps, and lyres.

The singers were also assembled from the region around Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites,

And on that same day men were appointed over the rooms that housed the supplies, contributions, firstfruits, and tithes. The portions specified by the Law for the priests and Levites were gathered into these storerooms from the fields of the villages, because Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who were serving.

And on that same day men were appointed over the rooms that housed the supplies, contributions, firstfruits, and tithes. The portions specified by the Law for the priests and Levites were gathered into these storerooms from the fields of the villages, because Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who were serving.

And on that same day men were appointed over the rooms that housed the supplies, contributions, firstfruits, and tithes. The portions specified by the Law for the priests and Levites were gathered into these storerooms from the fields of the villages, because Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who were serving.

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.

I appointed as treasurers over the storerooms Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, with Hanan son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, to assist them, because they were considered trustworthy. They were responsible for distributing the supplies to their fellow Levites.

I appointed as treasurers over the storerooms Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, with Hanan son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, to assist them, because they were considered trustworthy. They were responsible for distributing the supplies to their fellow Levites.

In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys, along with wine, grapes, and figs. All kinds of goods were being brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I warned them against selling food on that day.

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.

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.

Hangings of white and blue linen were fastened with cords of fine white and purple material to silver rings on the marble pillars. Gold and silver couches were arranged on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones.

Hangings of white and blue linen were fastened with cords of fine white and purple material to silver rings on the marble pillars. Gold and silver couches were arranged on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones.

Beverages were served in an array of goblets of gold, each with a different design, and the royal wine flowed freely, according to the king’s bounty.

His closest advisors were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who had personal access to the king and ranked highest in the kingdom.

The king and his princes were pleased with this counsel; so the king did as Memucan advised.

When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate.

After the report had been investigated and verified, both officials were hanged on the gallows. And all this was recorded in the Book of the Chronicles in the presence of the king.

After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him to a position above all the princes who were with him.

On the thirteenth day of the first month, the royal scribes were summoned and the order was written exactly as Haman commanded the royal satraps, the governors of each province, and the officials of each people, in the script of each province and the language of every people. It was written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with the royal signet ring.

And the letters were sent by couriers to each of the royal provinces with the order to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—and to plunder their possessions on a single day, the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month.

When Esther’s words were relayed to Mordecai,

While they were still speaking with Haman, the king’s eunuchs arrived and rushed him to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

At once the royal scribes were summoned, and on the twenty-third day of the third month (the month of Sivan), they recorded all of Mordecai’s orders to the Jews and to the satraps, governors, and princes of the 127 provinces from India to Cush—writing to each province in its own script, to every people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language.

On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the king’s command and edict were to be executed. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but their plan was overturned and the Jews overpowered those who hated them.

…as the days on which the Jews gained rest from their enemies and the month in which their sorrow turned to joy and their mourning into a holiday. He wrote that these were to be days of feasting and joy, of sending gifts to one another and to the poor.

So Esther’s decree confirmed these regulations about Purim, which were written into the record.

And when the days of feasting were over, Job would send for his children to purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for all of them. For Job thought, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.

One day, while Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

…a messenger came and reported to Job: “While the oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby,

…a messenger came and reported to Job: “While the oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby,

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

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

Your words have steadied those who stumbled; you have braced the knees that were buckling.

However, if I were you, I would appeal to God and lay my cause before Him—

If only my request were granted and God would fulfill my hope:

Though your beginnings were modest, your latter days will flourish.

For we were born yesterday and know nothing; our days on earth are but a shadow.

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.

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

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.

If I were to say, ‘I will forget my complaint and change my expression and smile,’

Were you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills?

Were you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills?

I could also speak like you if you were in my place; I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you.

I wish that my words were recorded and inscribed in a book,

They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a flood.

They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a flood.

By His breath the skies were cleared; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent.

…when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me,

…when my steps were bathed in cream and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!

The voices of the nobles were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.

They plucked mallow among the shrubs, and the roots of the broom tree were their food.

They were banished from among men, shouted at like thieves,

A senseless and nameless brood, they were driven off the land.

Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because the others were older than he.

If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath,

If only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man.

Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.

On what were its foundations set, or who laid its cornerstone,

Surely you know, for you were already born! And the number of your days is great!

Then the earth shook and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains trembled; they were shaken because He burned with anger.

The channels of the sea appeared, and the foundations of the world were exposed, at Your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.

I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back until they were consumed.

They cried out to You and were set free; they trusted in You and were not disappointed.

They cried out to You and were set free; they trusted in You and were not disappointed.

By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the stars by the breath of His mouth.

Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, but my prayers returned unanswered.

They saw and were astounded; they fled in terror.

Their graves are their eternal homes—their dwellings for endless generations—even though their lands were their namesakes.

If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and the fullness thereof.

The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You and swirled; even the depths were shaken.

Your path led through the sea, Your way through the mighty waters, but Your footprints were not to be found.

So they ate and were well filled, for He gave them what they craved.

Their hearts were disloyal to Him, and they were unfaithful to His covenant.

Their hearts were disloyal to Him, and they were unfaithful to His covenant.

He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return.

They turned back and were faithless like their fathers, twisted like a faulty bow.

Fire consumed His young men, and their maidens were left without wedding songs.

The mountains were covered by its shade, and the mighty cedars with its branches.