8 Alfo he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to defroy them, to fhew it unto Efther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that the thould go in unto the king, to make fupplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.

9 And Hatach came and told Efther the words of Mordecai.

10 Again Efther fpake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;

11 All the king's fervants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whofoever, whether man or woman, thall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, ex. cept fuch to whom the king thall hold out the golden fceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.

12 And they told to Mordecai Efther's words. 13 Then Mordecai commanded to anfwer Father, Think pot with thyself that thou fhalt efcape in the king's houfe more than all the Jews.

14 For if thou altogether holdeft thy peace at this time, then hall there enlargement and deliverance arife to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's houfe fhall be deftroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for fuch a time as this?

15 Then Ffther bade them return Mordecai this anfwer,

16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are prefent in Shuthan, and taft ye for me, and neither cat nor drink three days, night or day: I alfo and my maidens will fart like. wife; and fo will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law; and if 1 perith, I perish.

17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Efther had commanded him.

N

CHAP. V.

Faber, obtaining the king's favour, inviteth the king and Haman to a banquet. OW it came to país on the third day, that Efther put on her royal apparel, and flood in the inner court of the king's houte, over against the king's house: and the king fat upon his royal throne in the royal houfe, over against the gate of the house.

2 And it was fo, when the king faw Either the queen standing in the court, that the obtained favour in his fight: and the king held out to Efther the golden fceptre that was in his hand. So Efther drew near, and touched the top of the fceptre.

Then faid the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Efther and what is thy requeft? it fhall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.

4 And Efther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.

5 Then the king faid, Caufe Haman to make haite, that he may do as Either hath faid. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Either had prepare.

6 And the king faid unto Efther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition and it shall

Ether's banquet.

be granted thee: and what is thy requeft ? even to the half of the kingdom it thall be perform. ed.

7 Then answered Efther, and faid, My peti tion and my request is;

8 If I have found favour in the fight of the king, and if it pleafe the king to grant my petition, and to perform my requeft, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I fhall prepare for them, and I will do to-morrow as the king hath faid.

9 Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman faw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indigna. tion againft Mordecai.

10 Nevertheless, Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zereth his wife.

11 And Haman told them of the glory of 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 fervants of the king.

12 Haman faid moreover, Yea, Ether the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that the had prepared but myself; and to-morrow am I invited unto her auto with the king.

13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, fo long as I fee Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.

14 Then faid Zerefh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to-morrow 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.

CHAP. VI.

Mordecai bonoured.

Haman hanged.

10 Then the king faid to Haman, Make hafte, and take the apparel and the horfe, as thou hast faid, and do even fo to Mordecai the Jew, that fitteth at the king's gate; let nothing fail of all that thou haft spoken.

11 Then took Haman the apparel and the borie, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the ftreet of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus fhall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.

12¶And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hafted to his houfe mourn ing, and having his head covered.

13 And Haman told Zereth his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then faid his wife meg and Zerefa his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the feed of the Jews, before whom thou haft begun to fall, thou fhalt not prevail against him, but thalt furely fall before him.

14 And while they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hatted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Either had prepared.

CHAP. VI.

1 Efter fucth for her own life and her penples. The king causeth Haman to he banged on bis man galiotus.

O the king and Haman came to banquet with
Either the queen.

2 And the king said again unto Efther on the fecond day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Ether? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it fhall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.

3 Then Efther the queen answered and faid, If I have found favour in thy fight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my re. quest:

4 For we are fold, I and my people, to be deftroyed, to be flain, and to perith. But it we had been fold for bondmen and bond women, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.

Then the king Ahafuerus anfwered and faid unto Either the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durft prefume in his heart to do fo?

6 And Efther faid, The adverfary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.

And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden and Haman ftood up to make requeft for his life to Either the queen; for he law that there was evil determined against him by the king.

8 Then the king returned out of the paJace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Efther was. Then faid the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out o the

9 And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, faid before the king, Behold alfo, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, tandeth in the houfe of Haman. Then the king faid, Hang him thereon.

10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified. CHAP. VIII.

Mordecai is advanced. ↑ Ahajuerus grant. eth to the Jews to defend themselves. 15 Mordecai's honour, and the Jews'joy.

that day did the king Ahasuerus give the houfe of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Efther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Efther had told what he was unto her.

2 And the king took off his ring which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mor. decai. And Either fet Mordecai over the house of Haman.

3 And Father fpake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and befought him with tears to put away the mifchief of Ha. man the Agagite, and his device that he hai devifed againit the Jews.

4 Then the king held out the golden fceptre toward Efther. So Either arofe, and ttood be. fore the king,

5 And fald, If it pleafe the king, and if I have found favour in his fight, and the thing feem right before the king, and I be pleafing in his eyes, let it be written to re. verfe the letters devifed by Haman the fon of Hammedatha the Agagite which he wrote to destroy the Jews which age in all the king's provinces.

6 For how can I endure to fee the evil that fhall come unto my people? or how can I en dure to see the deftruction of my kindred?

7 Then the king Ahafuerus faid unto Ether the queen, and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Either the house of Ha. man, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.

8 Write ye alfo for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and feal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and fealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse,

9 Then were the king's fcribes called at that time in the third month, (that 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 lieutenants, and the depu fies and rulers of the provinces, which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twen ty and feven 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 to their language.

10 And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus's name, and fealed it with the king's ring; and fent letters by poll on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:

11 Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themfelves to gether, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to flay, and to caule to perith, all the power of the people and province that would af

The Jews flay their enemies.

CHAP. IX.

The Jews lay their enemies, with the ten fons of Haman. 20 The two days of Purim are made feftival.

Now the twelfth hirteenth day of the

in month, that is

fame, 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 power over them, though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;)

2 The Jews gathered ther felves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahafuerus, to lay hand on fuch as fought their hurt; and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.

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 houfe, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.

5 Thus the Jews fmote all their enemies with the ftroke of the fword, and flaughter, and deftruction, and did what they would unto thofe that hated them.

6 And in Shufhan the palace the Jews and destroyed five hundred men.

flew

7 And Parthandathia, and Dalphon, and Afpatha,

8 And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha, 9 And Parmahta, and Arifai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha,

to The ten fons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, flew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand.

11 On that day the number of thofe that were Main in Shuthan the palace was brought before the king.

12 And the king faid unto Efther the queen, The Jews have flain and destroyet five hundred men in Shufhan the palace, and

The feat of Purim. the ten fons of Haman; what have they don in the rest of the king's provinces? Now what is thy petition? and it thall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done.

13 Then faid Efther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shuthan to do to-morrow alfo according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten fons be hanged upon the gallo'vs.

14 And the king commanded it fo to be done; and the decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten fons.

15 For the Jews that were in Shuthan ga thered themselves together on the fourteenth day alfo of the month Adar, and flew three hundred men at Shuchan; but on the prey they laid not their hand.

16 But the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themfelves together, and food for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and flew of their foes feventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,

17 On the thirteenth day of the month Adar and on the fourteenth day of the fame rested they, and made it a day of fealing and glad. nefs.

18 But the Jews that were at Shufhan af fembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fif teenth day of the fame they reled, and made it a day of feafting and gladnefs.

Therefore

dwelt in to the Jews of the villages, that

teenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feafting, and a good day, and offending por. tions one to another.

20 And Mordecai wrote thefe things, and fent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far,

21 To ftablift this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the fame, yearly,

22. As the days wherein the Jews refted. from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from forrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they fhould make them days of featting and joy, and of fending 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 Becaufe Haman the fon of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devifed against the Jews to destroy them, and. had caft Pur, that is, the lot, to confume them, and to destroy them:

25 But when Efiber came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, thould re turn upon his own head, and that he and his fons fhould be hanged on the gallows.

26 Wherefore they called thefe days Purim, after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had feen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them,

27 The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their feed, and upon all fuch as joined themselves unto them, fo as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days

Satan's malice.

for their feed, the matters of the faftings and their cry.

32 And the decree of Efther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book. СНАР. Х.

1 Abafuerus bis greatness. 3 Mordecai's ad

vancement.

AND the king Ahafuerus laid a tribute apon the land, and upon the idles of the fea.

2 And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chroni cles of the kings of Media and Perfia?

3 For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahafuerus, and great among the Jews, and ac cepted of the multitude of his brethren, fecking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace toall his feed.

CHAP. I.

4 And his funs went and feafted in their houfes, every one his day; and fent and called for their three fifters to eat and to drink with them.

5 And it was fo, when the days of their feating were gone about, that Job fent and fanctified them, and rofe up early in the morning, and offered burnt-offerings according to the number of them all: for job faid, It may be that my fons have finned, and curfed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continual. ly,

6 Now there was a day when the fons of God came to prefent themselves before the LORD, and Satan came alfo among them.

7 And the LORD faid unto Satan, Whence comeit thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and faid, From going 'o and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in

it.

8 And the LORD faid unto Satan, Haft thou confidered my fervant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and efcheweth evil?

Then Satan anfwered the LORD, and faid, Doth Job fear God for nought?

10 Haft not thou made an hedge about him, and about his houfe, and about all that he hath on every fide? Thou haft bleffed the work of his hands, and his fubftance is increased in the land:

1 But put forth thine hand now, and touch

all that he hath, and he will curfe thee to thy face.

So

12 And the LORD faid unto Satan, Be. hold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine band. Satan went forth from the prefence of the LORD.

13 And there was a day, when his fons and his daughters were eating and drinking. wine in their eldest brother's houfe:

14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and faid, The oxen were ploughing, and the affes feeding beside them;

15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have flain the fervants with the edge of the fword; and I only am efcaped alone to tell thee.

16 While he was yet speaking, there came alfo another, and faid, The fire of God is fallens from heaven, and hath burnt up the theep, and the fervants, and confumed them; and I only am efcaped alone to tell thee.

17 While he was yet fpeaking, there came alfo another, and faid, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and flain the fervants with the edge of the fword; and I only am efcaped alone to tell thee.

18 While he was yet fpeaking, there came alfo another, and faid, Thy fons and thy daugh ters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and fmote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am efcaped alone.

to tell thee.

20 Then Job arofe, and rent his mantle, and. haved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,

21 And Jaid, Naked came out of my mother's womb, and naked thall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; bleffed be the name of the LORD,

22 In all this Job finned not, nor charged God foolishly.

CHAP. II.

1 Satan, appearing again before God, obtaine eth further leave to tempt Job: 7 befmite

3 And the LORD faid unto Satan, Haft thou confidered my fervant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and efcheweth evil and itill he holdeth faft his integrity, although thon movedft me against him to deftroy him without cause.

4 And Satan anfwered the LORD, and faid, 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 curfe thee to thy face.

6 And the LORD faid unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but fave his life.

7 So went Satan forth from the prefence of the LORD, and fmote Job with fore boils, from the fole of his foot unto his

crown.

8 And he took him a pot herd to ferape himself withal; and he fat down among the afhes.

9 Then faid his wife unto him, Doft shou Atill retain thine integrity? Curfe God, and die.

10 But he faid unto her, Thou fpeakeft as one of the foolish women fpeaketh. What? fhall we receive good at the hand of God, and thall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job fin with his lips.

11 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: for they had made an ap. pointment together to come to mourn with him, and to comfort him.

12 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 fprinkled duff upon their heads to. ward heaven.

13 So they fat down with him upon the ground feven days and feven nights, and none Ipake a word unto him: for they faw that his grief was very great.

CHA P. III.

1 Fob curfeth the day and fervices of his hirth. 13 The cafe of death. 20 He complaineth of life, because of his anguife.

FTER this opened job his mouth, and

A curfed his day.

2 And Job fpake, and said,

3 Let the day perith wherein I was born, and the night in which it was faid, There is a man child conceived.

4 Let that day be darkness; let not God re. gard it from above, neither let the light thine upon it.

5 Let darkness and the fhadow of death ftain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the black. nefs of the day terrify it.

6 As for that night, let darkness feize upon It; let it not be joined unto the days of the

Eliphas reproveth kim. year; let it not come into the number of the

months.

7 Lo, let that night be folitary; let no joyful voice come therein.

8 Let them curfe it that curfe the day, who are ready to raife up their mourning.

9 Let the ftars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; nei. ther let it fee the dawning of the day:

10 Because it fhut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid forrow from mine eyes.

11 Why died I not from the womb? Why did I not give up the ghoft when I came out of the belly?

12 Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breafts that I should fuck?

13 For now thould I have lien ftill, and been quiet, I thould have dept: then had I been at reft,

14 With kings and counfellors of the earth, which built defolate places for themfelves;

15 Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houfes with filver:

16 Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never faw light.

17 There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at reft."

18 There the prifoners reft together; they hear not the voice of the oppreffor.

19 The fmall and great are there; and the fervant is free from his master.

20 Wherefore is light given to him that is in mifery, and life unto the bitter in foul;

21 Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid trea. fures;

22 Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad when they can find the grave?

23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?

24 For my fighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters.

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 fafety, neither had I reft, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came. CHAP. IV.

Eliphaz reproveth Fob for want of religion The teacheth God's judgments to be not for the righteous, but for the wicked: 12 bis fearful vision, to bumble the excellencies of creatures before God.

HEN Eliphaz the Temanite answered and

Tfaid,

2 If we affay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? But who can withhold himfelf from speaking?

3 Behola, thou haft inftructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.

4 Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou haft ftrengthened the feeble knees.

5 But now it is come upon thee, and thou fainteft; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.

6 Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightnefs of thy ways!

7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever pe rithed, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?

8 Even as I have feen, they that plough ini. quity, and fow wickedness, reap the fame. 9 By the blaft of God they perith, and by