his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. 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 tomorrow also am I invited by her 13 together with the king. Yet all this

availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's 14 gate. Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a 1gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and 'in the morning speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

61 On that night could not the king sleep; and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles, and they were read before the king. ? And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, 'of those that kept the door, who 'had' sought to lay hands on the king 3 Ahasuerus. And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him. And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had 5 prepared for him. And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the 6 king said, Let him come in. So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman 'said in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself? 1°And Haman said unto the king,

For the man whom the king delight(8) eth to honour, let royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and 'on' the head of which 'a' crown royal is set: and let 'the' apparel and the horse be delivered to

the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and 'cause him to ride on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour. 10 Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of 11 all that thou hast spoken. Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and Icaused him to ride through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delight12 eth to honour. And Mordecai came

again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house, mourning and 13) having his head covered. And Haman recounted unto! Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai, before whom thou hast begun to fall, be of the seed of the Jews, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him. (14 °While they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared. 71 So the king and Haman came to (2) banquet with Esther the queen. And

the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be per3 formed. Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at 4 my request: for we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my 'peace', although the 'adversary! could not have compensated for the king's damage. 5 Then spake the king Ahasuerus and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst

6 presume in his heart to do so? And Esther said, 'An' adversary and 'an' enemy, leven' this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the 7) king and the queen. And the king Jarose in his wrath from the banquet of wine land went into the palace garden and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the 8 king. Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the couch whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he leven1 force the queen before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered 9) Haman's face. Then said Harbonah,

one of the chamberlains that were before the king, Behold also, the 1gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman 'hath' made for Mordecai, who 'spake good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. And the king said, 10 Hang him thereon. So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.

81

On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto 2 her. And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Ha3 man.

And Esther spake yet again before 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 4) devised against the Jews. Then the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre. So Esther arose, and stood 5 before the king. And she said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's 6 provinces: for how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to

1 Heb. tree.

2 Or, Iconcerning

see the destruction of my kindred? 7 °Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews. * 8 °Write ye also to the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, 9 may no man reverse. Then were the king's scribes called at that time, in the third month, which is the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the 'satraps1, and the governors' and 'princes of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according 10) to their language. And he wrote in the name of king Ahasuerus', and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, riding on swift steeds that were used in the king's service, bred 11 of the stud': wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, 'their little ones and women, and to take the spoil of 12 them for a prey, upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month 13 Adar. A copy of the writing, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published unto all the peoples', and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. 14 So the posts that rode upon swift steeds that were used in the king's service went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment; and the decree was given out 15 in Shushan the palace. And Mordecai went forth from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue

▲ Or, to be given out for a decree

and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a robe of fine linen and purple and the city of Shushan 16 shouted and was glad. The Jews

had light and gladness, and joy and 17) honour. And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had gladness and joy, a feast and a good day. And many 'from among the 'peoples' of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews Iwas fallen' upon them.

91 Now in the twelfth month, 'which' is the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have rule over them; whereas it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated 2 them; the Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them 'was fallen' 3 upon all the peoples'. And all the 'princes of the provinces, and the Isatraps, and the governors, and they that did the 'king's business', helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai was fallen' upon them. 1 °For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went 'forth throughout all the provinces: for 'the man Mordecai waxed greater and 5 greater. And the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and with slaughter and destruction, and did what they would 6 unto them that hated them. And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men. 1 °And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and 8 Aspatha, and Poratha, and Adalia, 9 and Aridatha, and Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vaizatha', 10) the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the 'Jews' enemy, slew they; but on the spoil they laid not 11 their hand. On that day the number

of those that were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the 12 king. And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what 'then have they done in the rest of the king's provinces ! Now what is thy petition? and it shall

be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done. 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 Haman's ten sons be hanged 14 upon the gallows. And the king commanded it so to be done: and 'a' decree was given 'out in Shushan; and 15 they hanged Haman's ten sons.

And

the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men in' Shushan; but on the spoil they laid not their hand. 16)And 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 them that hated them' seventy and five thousand; but on the spoil they laid not their 'hand'. 17) This was done on the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and 18 gladness. But the Jews that were

in Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and 19 gladness. Therefore 'do' the Jews of the villages, that 'dwell' in the unwalled towns, make the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to

20

another.

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 enjoin them that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the 22 same, yearly, as the days wherein the Jews had rest from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to gladness', and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to 23 the poor. And the Jews undertook

to do as they had begun, and as Mor24 decai had written unto them; °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

IX. 1 that..power.. though; king.. fell; 4 out.. this; 5 Thus.. prey; 16 But.. their foes..hands

is, the lot, to consume them, and to 25 destroy them; but when the matter came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he had' devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head; and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. 26 °Wherefore they called these days Purim, after the name of Pur. Therefore because of all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and 'that' 27 which had come unto them, the Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to 'the' writing thereof, and according to 'the' appointed time thereof', every year; 28 and that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of 29 them perish from their seed. Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote

with all authority to confirm this (30 second letter of Purim. And he sent letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words 31) of peace and truth, to confirm these days of Purim in their appointed times, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had ordained' for themselves and for their seed, ain' the matter of the fastings and their 32 cry. And the commandment of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.

10 1 And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the 2 isles of the sea. And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the 'full account' of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of 3 Media and Persia? °For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren; seeking the 'good' of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.

1*1

THERE was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. 2 And there were born unto him seven 3 sons and three daughters. His 'substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children' of the 4 east. And his sons went and held a feast in the house of each one upon his day; and they sent and called for their three sisters to eat and

5 to drink with them. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were

*6

gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and renounced God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came 7 also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up

* 8 and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my

6 Or, Iblasphemed So ver. 11, ch. ii. 5, 9. 7 That is, the Adversary.

. their; 30 (the); 31 decreed .. matters;

servant Job? "for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, 9 and escheweth evil. Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job 10 fear God for nought? Hast not thou made lan' hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath, on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance Il is increased in the land. "But put

forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will 'renounce' 12 thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

13

And 'it fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's 14 house, that there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside 15 them: and the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped 16 alone to tell thee. "While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath 'burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped (17 alone to tell thee. "While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have taken them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone 18 to tell thee. "While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest 19 brother's house: and, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only 20 am escaped alone to tell thee. Then

Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon 21 the ground, and worshipped;

and

he said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be

1 Or, that 2 Or, cattle Heb. hand.

VERSION OF 1611. carried; 22 foolishly.

Heb. Sheba. 5 Heb. young men.

22 the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God 'with foolishness'.

2*1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present 2 himself before the LORD. And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walk*3) ing up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil: and he still 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 5 hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will 6 renounce thee to thy face. ° And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; only spare his 7) life. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his (8 foot unto his crown. And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat among the ashes. 9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still hold fast thine integrity? 10 renounce! God, and die. 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.

(11

о

Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: and they made an appointment together to come to 'be12 moan' him and to comfort him. And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. 13 So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights,

(had)..mourn with; 12 lift. = [22]