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Then the king consulted the wise men who knew the times, for it was customary for him to confer with the experts in law and justice.

“According to law,” he asked, “what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey the command of King Xerxes delivered by the eunuchs?”

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

He had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon among those taken captive with Jeconiah king of Judah.

And the young woman pleased him and obtained his favor, so he quickly provided her with beauty treatments and the special diet. He assigned to her seven select maidservants from the palace and transferred her with them to the best place in the harem.

And the young woman pleased him and obtained his favor, so he quickly provided her with beauty treatments and the special diet. He assigned to her seven select maidservants from the palace and transferred her with them to the best place in the harem.

In the twelve months before her turn to go to King Xerxes, the harem regulation required each young woman to receive beauty treatments with oil of myrrh for six months, and then with perfumes and cosmetics for another six months.

In the twelve months before her turn to go to King Xerxes, the harem regulation required each young woman to receive beauty treatments with oil of myrrh for six months, and then with perfumes and cosmetics for another six months.

When the young woman would go to the king, she was given whatever she requested to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace.

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.

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

“Keep your money,” said the king to Haman. “These people are given to you to do with them as you please.”

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 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.

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.

“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.

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.

…have them bring a royal robe that the king himself has worn and a horse on which the king himself has ridden—one with a royal crest placed on its head.

Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief.

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

So the king and Haman went to dine with Esther the queen,

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.”

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.

Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal garments of blue and white, with a large gold crown and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.

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.

So Queen Esther daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter concerning Purim.

So Queen Esther daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter concerning Purim.

And Mordecai sent letters with words of peace and truth to all the Jews in the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Xerxes,

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?

Job’s sons would take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them.

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

On another day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before Him.

So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and infected Job with terrible boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.

Now when Job’s three friends—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite—heard about all this adversity that had come upon him, each of them came from his home, and they met together to go and sympathize with Job and comfort him.

Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights, but no one spoke a word to him because they saw how intense his suffering was.

…with kings and counselors of the earth, who built for themselves cities now in ruins,

…or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver.

…or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver.

“If one ventures a word with you, will you be wearied? Yet who can keep from speaking?

If God puts no trust in His servants, and He charges His angels with error,

For you will have a covenant with the stones of the field, and the wild animals will be at peace with you.

For you will have a covenant with the stones of the field, and the wild animals will be at peace with you.

“If only my grief could be weighed and placed with my calamity on the scales.

My flesh is clothed with worms and encrusted with dirt; my skin is cracked and festering.

My flesh is clothed with worms and encrusted with dirt; my skin is cracked and festering.

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

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

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with a shout of joy.

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with a shout of joy.

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

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.

If I should wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,

If I should wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,

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.

“Truly then you are the people with whom wisdom itself will die!

Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life.

Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life.

You, however, smear with lies; you are all worthless physicians.

Since his days are determined and the number of his months is with You, and since You have set limits that he cannot exceed,

“Does a wise man answer with empty counsel or fill his belly with the hot east wind?

“Does a wise man answer with empty counsel or fill his belly with the hot east wind?

Should he argue with useless words or speeches that serve no purpose?

…rushing headlong at Him with a thick, studded shield.

Though his face is covered with fat and his waistline bulges with flesh,

Though his face is covered with fat and his waistline bulges with flesh,

Let him not deceive himself with trust in emptiness, for emptiness will be his reward.

They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb is pregnant with deceit.”

But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would bring relief.

His anger has torn me and opposed me; He gnashes His teeth at me. My adversary pierces me with His eyes.

They open their mouths against me and strike my cheeks with contempt; they join together against me.

He breaks me with wound upon wound; He rushes me like a mighty warrior.

My face is red with weeping, and deep shadows ring my eyes;

Oh, that a man might plead with God as he pleads with his neighbor!

Oh, that a man might plead with God as he pleads with his neighbor!

My eyes have grown dim with grief, and my whole body is but a shadow.

Yet a righteous one holds to his way, and the one with clean hands grows stronger.

“How long will you torment me and crush me with your words?

He has blocked my way so I cannot pass; He has veiled my paths with darkness.

I call for my servant, but he does not answer, though I implore him with my own mouth.

If you say, ‘Let us persecute him, since the root of the matter lies with him,’

The youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie down with him in the dust.

He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream.

Because his appetite is never satisfied, he cannot escape with his treasure.

Bear with me while I speak; then, after I have spoken, you may go on mocking.

His body is well nourished, and his bones are rich with marrow.

So how can you comfort me with empty words? For your answers remain full of falsehood.”

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

Reconcile now and be at peace with Him; thereby good will come to you.

I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.

Would He contend with me in His great power? No, He would certainly take note of me.

Then an upright man could reason with Him, and I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

From the city, men groan, and the souls of the wounded cry out, yet God charges no one with wrongdoing.

For to them, deep darkness is their morning; surely they are friends with the terrors of darkness!

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

It cannot be bought with gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver.