זֶה

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

On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth, with dust on their heads.

You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the people of his land, for You knew they had acted with arrogance against our fathers. You made a name for Yourself that endures to this day.

Even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and when they committed terrible blasphemies,

So now, our God, the great and mighty and awesome God who keeps His gracious covenant, do not view lightly all the hardship that has come upon us, and upon our kings and leaders, our priests and prophets, our ancestors and all Your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until today.

Now before this, Eliashib the priest, a relative of Tobiah, had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God

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

Then I rebuked the nobles of Judah and asked, “What is this evil you are doing—profaning the Sabbath day?

This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard about the queen’s conduct will say the same thing to all the king’s officials, resulting in much contempt and wrath.

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.

A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued in every province and published to all the people, so that they would be ready on that day.

Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs appointed to her, and she dispatched him to Mordecai to learn what was troubling him and why.

“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.”

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

The king inquired, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this act?” “Nothing has been done for him,” replied the king’s attendants.

Then King Xerxes spoke up and asked Queen Esther, “Who is this, and where is the one who would devise such a scheme?”

Esther replied, “The adversary and enemy is this wicked man—Haman!” And Haman stood in terror before the king and queen.

A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued in every province and published to all the people, so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “The fire of God fell from heaven. It burned and consumed the sheep and the servants, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels, and took them away. They put the servants to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

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,

“Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan. “From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.”

Since I am already found guilty, why should I labor in vain?

Do You open Your eyes to one like this? Will You bring him into judgment before You?

Listen to me and I will inform you. I will describe what I have seen,

Surely such is the dwelling of the wicked and the place of one who does not know God.”

Ten times now you have reproached me; you shamelessly mistreat me.

All my best friends despise me, and those I love have turned against me.

This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the inheritance God has appointed him.”

One man dies full of vigor, completely secure and at ease.

Yet another man dies in the bitterness of his soul, having never tasted prosperity.

Surely all of you have seen it for yourselves. Why then do you keep up this empty talk?

This is the wicked man’s portion from God—the heritage the ruthless receive from the Almighty.

But where can wisdom be found, and where does understanding dwell?

From where, then, does wisdom come, and where does understanding dwell?

Be careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to affliction.

“Who is this who obscures My counsel by words without knowledge?

Where is the way to the home of light? Do you know where darkness resides,

In which direction is the lightning dispersed, or the east wind scattered over the earth?

You asked, ‘Who is this who conceals My counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.

Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face, O God of Jacob. Selah

Who is this King of Glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

Who is He, this King of Glory? The LORD of Hosts—He is the King of Glory. Selah

Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the path chosen for him.