נַ֫עַר

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.

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.

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

…the Sabeans swooped down 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: “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!”

…when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

Indeed, like wild donkeys in the desert, the poor go to work foraging for food; the wasteland is food for their children.

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

…the young men saw me and withdrew, and the old men rose to their feet.

I once was young and now am old, yet never have I seen the righteous abandoned or their children begging for bread.

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word.

…young men and maidens, old and young together.

To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young,

I saw among the simple, I noticed among the youths, a young man lacking judgment,

Even a young man is known by his actions—whether his conduct is pure and upright.

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

Do not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die.

A rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.

Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.

“I will make mere lads their leaders, and children will rule over them.”

The people will oppress one another, man against man, neighbor against neighbor; the young will rise up against the old, and the base against the honorable.

For before the boy knows enough to reject evil and choose good, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.

For before the boy knows how to cry ‘Father’ or ‘Mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria.”

The remaining trees of its forests will be so few that a child could count them.

The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat; the calf and young lion and fatling will be together, and a little child will lead them.

Their bows will dash young men to pieces; they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb; they will not look with pity on the children.

…so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old alike, naked and barefoot, with bared buttocks—to Egypt’s shame.

…who replied, “Tell your master that this is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid of the words you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall.

No longer will a nursing infant live but a few days, or an old man fail to live out his years. For the youth will die at a hundred years, and he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed.

“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!”

But the LORD told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ For to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak.

With you I shatter man and woman; with you I shatter the old man and the youth; with you I shatter the young man and the maiden.

Both young and old lie together in the dust of the streets. My young men and maidens have fallen by the sword. You have slain them in the day of Your anger; You have slaughtered them without compassion.

Young men toil at millstones; boys stagger under loads of wood.

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.

…and said to him, “Run and tell that young man: ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the multitude of men and livestock within it.