The counsel of Haman. ESTHER. Mordecai is honoured. that I shall prepare for them, and I will do which the king useth to wear, and the horse to-morrow as the king hath said. that the king rideth upon, and the crown 9 Then went Haman forth that day royal which is set upon his head: joyful and with a glad heart: but when 9 And let this apparel and horse be deHaman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, livered to the hand of one of the king's that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he most noble princes, that they may array was full of indignation against Mordecai. the man withal whom the king delighteth 10 Nevertheless, Haman refrained him- to honour, and bring him on horseback self: and when he came home, he sent and through the street of the city, and proclaim called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife. before him, Thus shall it be done to the 11 And Haman told them of the glory man whom the king delighteth to honour. of his riches, and the multitude of his chil- 10 Then the king said to Haman, Make dren, and all the things wherein the king haste, and take the apparel and the horse, had promoted him, and how he had ad- as thou hast said, and do even so to Morvanced him above the princes and servants decai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's of the king. gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. 12 Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to-morrow am I invited unto her also with the king. 13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate. 11 Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour. 12 And Mordecai came again to the 14 Then said Zeresh his wife and all king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house his friends unto him, Let a gallows be mourning, and having his head covered. made of fifty cubits high, and to-morrow 13 And Haman told Zeresh his wife and speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may all his friends every thing that had befallen be hanged thereon: then go thou in mer- him. Then said his wise men and Zerily with the king unto the banquet. And resh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the seed of the Jews, before whom thou the gallows to be made. hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him. N CHAP. VI. On that night could not the king sleep:14 And while they were yet talking with of records of the Chronicles; and they hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet were read before the king. that Esther had prepared. CHAP. VII. 2 And it was found written, that Mor So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. decai had told of Bighana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on 2 And the king said again to Esther on the king Ahasuerus. the second day at the banquet of wine, What 3 And the king said, What honour and is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall dignity hath been done to Mordecai for be granted thee: and what is thy request? this? Then said the king's servants that and it shall be performed, even to the half ministered unto him, There is nothing of the kingdom. done for him. 3 Then Esther the queen answered and 4 And the king said, Who is in the court? said, If I have found favour in thy sight, (Now Haman was come into the outward O king, and if it please the king, let my court of the king's house, to speak unto life be given me at my petition, and my the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows people at my request: that he had prepared for him.) 4 For we are sold, I and my people, to 5 And the king's servants said unto him, be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. Behold, Haman standeth in the court. But if we had been sold for bond-men and And the king said, Let him come in. bond-women, I had held my tongue, al6 So Haman came in. And the king though the enemy could not countervail said unto him, What shall be done unto the king's damage. the man whom the king delighteth to ho- 5 Then the king Ahasuerus answered nour?(Now Haman thought in his heart, and said unto Esther the queen, Who is To whom would the king delight to do he, and where is he, that durst presume in honour more than to myself?) his heart to do so? 7 And Haman answered the king, For 6 And Esther said, The adversary and the man whom the king delighteth to enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Hahonour, 3 Let the royal apparel be brought queen. man was afraid before the king and the He is advanced. CHAP. VIII, IX. The joy of the Jews. 7 T And the king arising from the ban- 9 Then were the king's scribes called quet of wine in his wrath went into the at that time in the third month, that is, the palace-garden and Haman stood up to month Sivan, on the three and twentieth make request for his life to Esther the day thereof; and it was written, accordqueen; for he saw that there was evil de-ing to all that Mordecai commanded, unto termined against him by the king. the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the 8 Then the king returned out of the pa- deputies and rulers of the provinces which lace-garden into the place of the banquet are from India unto Ethiopia, a hundred of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the twenty and seven provinces, unto every bed whereon Esther was. Then said the province according to the writing thereof, king, Will he force the queen also before and unto every people after their language, me in the house? As the word went out of and to the Jews according to their writing, the king's mouth, they covered Haman's and according to their language. 10 And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' face. 9 And Harbonah, one of the chamber-name, and scaled it with the king's ring, lains, said before the king, Behold also the and sent letters by posts on horseback, gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman and riders on mules, camels, and young had made for Mordecai, who had spoken dromedaries: good for the king, standeth in the house of 11 Wherein the king granted the Jews Haman. Then the king said, Hang him which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, 10 So they hanged Haman on the gal- to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, lows that he had prepared for Mordecai. all the power of the people and province Then was the king's wrath pacified. that would assault them, both little ones CHAP. VIII. and women, and to take the spoil of them thereon. ON N that day did the king Ahasuerus for a prey, give the house of Haman, the Jews' 12 Upon one day in all the provinces of enemy, unto Esther the queen. And Mor-king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirdecai came before the king; for Esther had teenth day of the twelfth month, which is' the month Adar. told what he was unto her. 2 And the king took off his ring which 13 The copy of the writing for a comhe had taken from Haman, and gave it un- mandment to be given in every province to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai was published unto all people, and that over the house of Haman. the Jews should be ready against that day 3 T And Esther spake yet again before to avenge themselves on their enemies. the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews. 14 So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the 4 Then the king held out the golden palace. sceptre towards Esther. So Esther arose, 15 And Mordecai went out from the and stood before the king, presence of the king in royal apparel of 5 And said, If it please the king, and blue and white, and with a great crown of if I have found favour in his sight, and the gold, and with a garment of fine linen, thing seem right before the king, and I be and purple and the city of Shushan repleasing in his eyes, let it be written to joiced, and was glad: reverse the letters devised by Haman the 16 The Jews had light, and gladness, son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he and joy, and honour. wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces: 17 And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's command6 For how can I endure to see the evil ment and his decree came, the Jews had that shall come unto my people? or how joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. can I endure to see the destruction of my And many of the people of the land bekindred? came Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell CHAP. IX. 7 ¶ Then the king Ahasuerus said unto upon them. Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of NOW in the twelfth month, that is, the Haman, and him they have hanged upon month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the same, when the king's commandment the Jews. and his decree drew near to be put in exe 8 Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh cution, in the day that the enemies of the you, in the king's name, and seal it with Jews hoped to have power over them, the king's ring for the writing which is (though it was turned to the contrary, that written in the king's name, and sealed the Jews had rule over them that hated with the king's ring, may no man reverse. them ;) The Jews slay their enemies. ESTHER. They establish a festival. 2 The Jews gathered themselves toge-thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and ther in their cities throughout all the pro- on the fifteenth day of the same they restvinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand ed, and made it a day of feasting and on such as sought their hurt and no man gladness. could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people. 3 And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. 4 For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater. 5 Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them. 6 And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men. 7 And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha, 8 And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha, 9 And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha, 10 The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand. 11 On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king. 19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another. 20 ¶ And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far, 21 To establish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly, 22 As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor. 23 And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them; 24 Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, (that is, the lot,) to consume them, and to destroy them; 12 T And the king said unto Esther the 25 But when Esther came before the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed king, he commanded by letters that his five hundred men in Shushan the palace, wicked device, which he devised against and the ten sons of Haman; what have the Jews, should return upon his own head, they done in the rest of the king's pro-and that he and his sons should be hanged vinces? now what is thy petition? and it on the gallows. shall be granted thee: or what is thy re- 26 Wherefore they called these days quest further? and it shall be done. Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them, 13 Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do to-morrow also according unto this day's decree, and let Ha- 27 The Jews ordained, and took upon man's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows. them, and upon their seed, and upon all 14 And the king commanded it so to be such as joined themselves unto them, so done and the decree was given at Shu- as it should not fail, that they would keep shan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons. these two days according to their writing, 15 For the Jews that were in Shushan and according to their appointed time evegathered themselves together on the four-ry year; every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed. teenth day also of the month Adar, and 28 And that these days should be reslew three hundred men at Shushan; but membered and kept throughout every geon the prey they laid not their hand. neration, every family, every province, and 16 But the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey, 29 Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this 17 On the thirteenth day of the month second letter of Purim. Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the 30 And he sent the letters unto all the same rested they, and made it a day of Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven feasting and gladness. provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth, 18 But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day 31 To confirm these days of Purim in Satan appears before God. their times appointed, according as Mor- 2 And all the acts of his power and of decai the Jew and Esther the queen had his might, and the declaration of the greatenjoined them, and as they had decreed ness of Mordecai, whereunto the king adfor themselves and for their seed, the mat-vanced him, are they not written in the ters of the fastings and their cry. book of the chronicles of the kings of Me 32 And the decree of Esther confirmed dia and Persia? these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book. CHAP. X. 3 For Mordecai the Jew was next unto_king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude ND the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his upon the land, and upon the isles people, and speaking peace to all his of the sea. Iseed. A CHAP. I. I The Book of JOB. HERE was a man in the land of Uz, was perfect and upright, and one that 2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. 12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only Satan went forth from the presence of the 13 ¶ And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and 3 His substance also was seven thou-drinking wine in their eldest brother's sand sheep, and three thousand camels, house: and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five 14 And there came a messenger unto hundred she-asses, and a very great Job, and said, The oxen were ploughing, household; so that this man was the great- and the asses feeding beside them: est of all the men of the east. 4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. I 15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and only am escaped alone to tell thee. 16 While he was yet speaking, there 5 And it was so, when the days of their came also another, and said, The fire of feasting were gone about, that Job sent God is fallen from heaven, and hath burnand sanctified them, and rose up early in ed up the sheep and the servants, and conthe morning, and offered burnt-offerings sumed them; and I only am escaped alone according to the number of them all for to tell thee. Job said, It may be that my sons have 17 While he was yet speaking, there sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. came also another, and said, The ChalThus did Job continually. 6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. deans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence 18 While he was yet speaking, there comest thou? Then Satan answered the came also another, and said, Thy LORD, and said, From going to and fro in sons and thy daughters were eating and the earth, and from walking up and down drinking wine in their eldest brother's in it. house: 8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast 19 And behold, there came a great wind thou considered my servant Job, that there from the wilderness, and smote the four is none like him in the earth, a perfect corners of the house, and it fell upon the and an upright man, one that feareth God, young men, and they are dead; and I onand escheweth evil? ly am escaped alone to tell thee. 9 Then Satan answered the LORD,and 20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, said, Doth Job fear God for nought? and shaved his head, and fell down upon 10 Hast not thou made a hedge about the ground, and worshipped, him, and about his house, and about all 21 And said, Naked came I out of my that he hath on every side? thou hast bless- mother's womb, and naked shall I return ed the work of his hands, and his substance thither: The LORD gave, and the LORD is increased in the land. hath taken away; blessed be the name of 11 But put forth thine hand now, and the LORD. touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. 22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. Job smitten with biles. CHAP. II. JOB. He curses the day of his birth. 1 4 Let that day be darkness; let not God AGAIN there was a day when the sons regard it from above, neither let the light of God came to present themselves shine upon it. before the LORD, and Satan came also 5 Let darkness and the shadow of death among them to present himself before the stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the LORD. blackness of the day terrify it. 2 And the LORD said unto Satan, From 6 As for that night, let darkness seize whence comest thou? And Satan answer-jupon it; let it not be joined unto the days ed the LORD, and said, From going to and of the year; let it not come into the numfro in the earth, and from walking up and ber of the months. down in it. 7 Lo, let that night be solitary; let no joyful voice come therein. 8 Let them curse it that curse the day, 9 Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day. 3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and who are ready to raise up their mourning. an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. 4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. 5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. 6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. 7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore biles from the sole of his foot unto his 10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What! shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. 10 Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes. 11 Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly? 12 Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck? 13 For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest 14 With kings and counsellors of the earth, which built desolate places for themselves; 15 Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver: 16 Or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light. I 17 There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest. 18 There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor. 19 The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master. 11 Now when Job's three friends 20 Wherefore is light given to him that heard of all this evil that was come upon is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul; him, they came every one from his own 21 Which long for death, but it cometh place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad not; and dig for it more than for hid treathe Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: sures; for they had made an appointment together 22 Which rejoice exceedingly, and are to come to mourn with him, and to com- glad, when they can find the grave? fort him. 23 Why is light given to a man whose 12 And when they lifted up their eyes way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in? afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up 24 For my sighing cometh before I eat, their voice, and wept; and they rent every and my roarings are poured out like the one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon waters. their heads toward heaven. 13 So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great. CHAP. III. 25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. 26 I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came. CHAP. IV. HEN Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, 2 If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking? 3 Behold, thou hast instructed many, |