Nehemiah 11 - Job 17
New King James Version
The People Dwelling in Jerusalem
11 Now the leaders of the people dwelt at Jerusalem; the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to dwell in Jerusalem, (A)the holy city, and nine-tenths were to dwell in other cities. 2 And the people blessed all the men who (B)willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.
3 (C)These are the heads of the province who dwelt in Jerusalem. (But in the cities of Judah everyone dwelt in his own possession in their cities—Israelites, priests, Levites, (D)Nethinim, and (E)descendants of Solomon’s servants.) 4 Also (F)in Jerusalem dwelt some of the children of Judah and of the children of Benjamin.
The children of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the children of (G)Perez; 5 and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Col-Hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni. 6 All the sons of Perez who dwelt at Jerusalem were four hundred and sixty-eight valiant men.
7 And these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah; 8 and after him Gabbai and Sallai, nine hundred and twenty-eight. 9 Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer, and Judah the son of [a]Senuah was second over the city.
10 (H)Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, and Jachin; 11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, was the leader of the house of God. 12 Their brethren who did the work of the house were eight hundred and twenty-two; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah, 13 and his brethren, heads of the fathers’ houses, were two hundred and forty-two; and Amashai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, 14 and their brethren, mighty men of valor, were one hundred and twenty-eight. Their overseer was Zabdiel [b]the son of one of the great men.
15 Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; 16 (I)Shabbethai and (J)Jozabad, of the heads of the Levites, had the oversight of (K)the business outside of the [c]house of God; 17 Mattaniah the son of [d]Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, the leader who began the thanksgiving with prayer; Bakbukiah, the second among his brethren; and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. 18 All the Levites in (L)the holy city were two hundred and eighty-four.
19 Moreover the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren who kept the gates, were one hundred and seventy-two.
20 And the rest of Israel, of the priests and Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, everyone in his inheritance. 21 (M)But the Nethinim dwelt in Ophel. And Ziha and Gishpa were over the Nethinim.
22 Also the overseer of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha, of the sons of Asaph, the singers in charge of the [e]service of the [f]house of God. 23 For (N)it was the king’s command concerning them that a [g]certain portion should be for the singers, a quota day by day. 24 Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the children of (O)Zerah the son of Judah, was (P)the[h] king’s deputy in all matters concerning the people.
The People Dwelling Outside Jerusalem
25 And as for the villages with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt in (Q)Kirjath Arba and its villages, Dibon and its villages, Jekabzeel and its villages; 26 in Jeshua, Moladah, Beth Pelet, 27 Hazar Shual, and Beersheba and its villages; 28 in Ziklag and Meconah and its villages; 29 in En Rimmon, Zorah, Jarmuth, 30 Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages; in Lachish and its fields; in Azekah and its villages. They dwelt from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom.
31 Also the children of Benjamin from Geba dwelt in Michmash, Aija, and Bethel, and their villages; 32 in Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah; 33 in Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim; 34 in Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat; 35 in Lod, Ono, and (R)the Valley of Craftsmen. 36 Some of the Judean divisions of Levites were in Benjamin.
The Priests and Levites(S)
12 Now these are the (T)priests and the Levites who came up with (U)Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: (V)Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amariah, [i]Malluch, Hattush, 3 [j]Shechaniah, [k]Rehum, [l]Meremoth, 4 Iddo, [m]Ginnethoi, (W)Abijah, 5 [n]Mijamin, [o]Maadiah, Bilgah, 6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah, 7 [p]Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah.
These were the heads of the priests and their brethren in the days of (X)Jeshua.
8 Moreover the Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah (Y)who led the thanksgiving psalms, he and his brethren. 9 Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, stood across from them in their duties.
10 Jeshua begot Joiakim, Joiakim begot Eliashib, Eliashib begot Joiada, 11 Joiada begot Jonathan, and Jonathan begot Jaddua.
12 Now in the days of Joiakim, the priests, the (Z)heads of the fathers’ houses were: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; 13 of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; 14 of [q]Melichu, Jonathan; of [r]Shebaniah, Joseph; 15 of [s]Harim, Adna; of [t]Meraioth, Helkai; 16 of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; 17 of Abijah, Zichri; the son of [u]Minjamin; of [v]Moadiah, Piltai; 18 of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan; 19 of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi; 20 of [w]Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; 21 of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; and of Jedaiah, Nethanel.
22 During the reign of Darius the Persian, a record was also kept of the Levites and priests who had been (AA)heads of their fathers’ houses in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua. 23 The sons of Levi, the heads of the fathers’ houses until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib, were written in the book of the (AB)chronicles.
24 And the heads of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers across from them, to (AC)praise and give thanks, (AD)group[x] alternating with group, (AE)according to the command of David the man of God. 25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers keeping the watch at the storerooms of the gates. 26 These lived in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of [y]Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah (AF)the governor, and of Ezra the priest, (AG)the scribe.
Nehemiah Dedicates the Wall
27 Now at (AH)the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, (AI)both with thanksgivings and singing, with cymbals and stringed instruments and harps. 28 And the sons of the singers gathered together from the countryside around Jerusalem, from the (AJ)villages of the Netophathites, 29 from the house of Gilgal, and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth; for the singers had built themselves villages all around Jerusalem. 30 Then the priests and Levites (AK)purified themselves, and purified the people, the gates, and the wall.
31 So I brought the leaders of Judah up on the wall, and appointed two large thanksgiving choirs. (AL)One went to the right hand on the wall (AM)toward the Refuse Gate. 32 After them went Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah, 33 and Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, 35 and some of the priests’ sons (AN)with trumpets—Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph, 36 and his brethren, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with (AO)the musical (AP)instruments of David the man of God. And Ezra the scribe went before them. 37 (AQ)By the Fountain Gate, in front of them, they went up (AR)the stairs of the (AS)City of David, on the stairway of the wall, beyond the house of David, as far as (AT)the Water Gate eastward.
38 (AU)The other thanksgiving choir went the opposite way, and I was behind them with half of the people on the wall, going past the (AV)Tower of the Ovens as far as (AW)the Broad Wall, 39 (AX)and above the Gate of Ephraim, above (AY)the Old Gate, above (AZ)the Fish Gate, (BA)the Tower of Hananel, the Tower of [z]the Hundred, as far as (BB)the Sheep Gate; and they stopped by (BC)the Gate of the Prison.
40 So the two thanksgiving choirs stood in the house of God, likewise I and the half of the rulers with me; 41 and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, [aa]Minjamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; 42 also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. The singers [ab]sang loudly with Jezrahiah the director.
43 Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard (BD)afar off.
Temple Responsibilities
44 (BE)And at the same time some were appointed over the rooms of the storehouse for the offerings, the firstfruits, and the (BF)tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions specified by the Law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who [ac]ministered. 45 Both the singers and the gatekeepers kept the charge of their God and the charge of the purification, (BG)according to the command of David and Solomon his son. 46 For in the days of David (BH)and Asaph of old there were chiefs of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47 In the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah all Israel gave the portions for the singers and the gatekeepers, a portion for (BI)each day. (BJ)They also [ad]consecrated holy things for the Levites, (BK)and the Levites consecrated them for the children of Aaron.
Principles of Separation(BL)
13 On that day (BM)they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people, and in it was found written (BN)that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever come into the assembly of God, 2 because they had not met the children of Israel with bread and water, but (BO)hired Balaam against them to curse them. (BP)However, our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3 So it was, when they had heard the Law, (BQ)that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.
The Reforms of Nehemiah
4 Now before this, (BR)Eliashib the priest, having authority over the storerooms of the house of our God, was allied with (BS)Tobiah. 5 And he had prepared for him a large room, (BT)where previously they had stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, the tithes of grain, the new wine and oil, (BU)which were commanded to be given to the Levites and singers and gatekeepers, and the offerings for the priests. 6 But during all this I was not in Jerusalem, (BV)for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Then after certain days I obtained leave from the king, 7 and I came to Jerusalem and discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in (BW)preparing a room for him in the courts of the [ae]house of God. 8 And it grieved me bitterly; therefore I threw all the household goods of Tobiah out of the room. 9 Then I commanded them to (BX)cleanse the rooms; and I brought back into them the articles of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense.
10 I also realized that the portions for the Levites had (BY)not been given them; for each of the Levites and the singers who did the work had gone back to (BZ)his field. 11 So (CA)I contended with the rulers, and said, (CB)“Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their place. 12 (CC)Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the storehouse. 13 (CD)And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouse Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah; and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were considered (CE)faithful, and their task was to distribute to their brethren.
14 (CF)Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for its services!
15 In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses (CG)on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, (CH)which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them about the day on which they were selling provisions. 16 Men of Tyre dwelt there also, who brought in fish and all kinds of goods, and sold them on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, “What evil thing is this that you do, by which you profane the Sabbath day? 18 (CI)Did not your fathers do thus, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.”
19 So it was, at the gates of Jerusalem, as it (CJ)began to be dark before the Sabbath, that I commanded the gates to be shut, and charged that they must not be opened till after the Sabbath. (CK)Then I posted some of my servants at the gates, so that no burdens would be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20 Now the merchants and sellers of all kinds of [af]wares [ag]lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice.
21 Then I warned them, and said to them, “Why do you spend the night [ah]around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you!” From that time on they came no more on the Sabbath. 22 And I commanded the Levites that (CL)they should cleanse themselves, and that they should go and guard the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day.
Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Your mercy!
23 In those days I also saw Jews who (CM)had married women of (CN)Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. 24 And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and could not speak the language of Judah, but spoke according to the language of one or the other people.
25 So I (CO)contended with them and [ai]cursed them, struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them (CP)swear by God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters as wives to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons or yourselves. 26 (CQ)Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, (CR)who was beloved of his God; and God made him king over all Israel. (CS)Nevertheless pagan women caused even him to sin. 27 Should we then hear of your doing all this great evil, (CT)transgressing against our God by marrying pagan women?”
28 And one of the sons (CU)of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was a son-in-law of (CV)Sanballat the Horonite; therefore I drove him from me.
29 (CW)Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and (CX)the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.
30 (CY)Thus I cleansed them of everything pagan. I also (CZ)assigned duties to the priests and the Levites, each to his service, 31 and to bringing (DA)the wood offering and the firstfruits at appointed times.
(DB)Remember me, O my God, for good!
The King Dethrones Queen Vashti
1 Now it came to pass in the days of (DC)Ahasuerus[aj] (this was the Ahasuerus who reigned (DD)over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, (DE)from India to Ethiopia), 2 in those days when King Ahasuerus (DF)sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in (DG)Shushan[ak] the [al]citadel, 3 that in the third year of his reign he (DH)made a feast for all his officials and servants—the powers of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the princes of the provinces being before him— 4 when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the splendor of his excellent majesty for many days, one hundred and eighty days in all.
5 And when these days were completed, the king made a feast lasting seven days for all the people who were present in [am]Shushan the [an]citadel, from great to small, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace. 6 There were white and blue linen curtains fastened with cords of fine linen and purple on silver rods and marble pillars; and the (DI)couches were of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of alabaster, turquoise, and white and black marble. 7 And they served drinks in golden vessels, each vessel being different from the other, with royal wine in abundance, (DJ)according to the [ao]generosity of the king. 8 In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had ordered all the officers of his household, that they should do according to each man’s pleasure.
9 Queen Vashti also made a feast for the women in the royal palace which belonged to King Ahasuerus.
10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, (DK)Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, 11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king, wearing her royal crown, in order to show her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was beautiful to behold. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs; therefore the king was furious, and his anger burned within him.
13 Then the king said to the (DL)wise men (DM)who understood the times (for this was the king’s manner toward all who knew law and justice, 14 those closest to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the (DN)seven princes of Persia and Media, (DO)who had access to the king’s presence, and who [ap]ranked highest in the kingdom): 15 “What shall we do to Queen Vashti, according to law, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus brought to her by the eunuchs?”
16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes: “Queen Vashti has not only wronged the king, but also all the princes, and all the people who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17 For the queen’s behavior will become known to all women, so that they will (DP)despise their husbands in their eyes, when they report, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in before him, but she did not come.’ 18 This very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media will say to all the king’s officials that they have heard of the behavior of the queen. Thus there will be excessive contempt and wrath. 19 If it pleases the king, let a royal [aq]decree go out from him, and let it be recorded in the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it will (DQ)not [ar]be altered, that Vashti shall come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she. 20 When the king’s decree which he will make is proclaimed throughout all his empire (for it is great), all wives will (DR)honor their husbands, both great and small.”
21 And the reply pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan. 22 Then he sent letters to all the king’s provinces, (DS)to each province in its own script, and to every people in their own language, that each man should (DT)be master in his own house, and speak in the language of his own people.
Esther Becomes Queen
2 After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus subsided, he remembered Vashti, (DU)what she had done, and what had been decreed against her. 2 Then the king’s servants who attended him said: “Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king; 3 and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather all the beautiful young virgins to [as]Shushan the [at]citadel, into the women’s quarters, under the custody of [au]Hegai the king’s eunuch, custodian of the women. And let beauty preparations be given them. 4 Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.”
This thing pleased the king, and he did so.
5 In [av]Shushan the [aw]citadel there was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of (DV)Kish, a Benjamite. 6 (DW)Kish[ax] had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been captured with [ay]Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. 7 And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, (DX)his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman was lovely and beautiful. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.
8 So it was, when the king’s command and decree were heard, and when many young women were (DY)gathered at [az]Shushan the [ba]citadel, under the custody of Hegai, that Esther also was taken to the king’s palace, into the care of Hegai the custodian of the women. 9 Now the young woman pleased him, and she obtained his favor; so he readily gave (DZ)beauty preparations to her, besides [bb]her allowance. Then seven choice maidservants were provided for her from the king’s palace, and he moved her and her maidservants to the best place in the house of the women.
10 (EA)Esther had not [bc]revealed her people or family, for Mordecai had charged her not to reveal it. 11 And every day Mordecai paced in front of the court of the women’s quarters, to learn of Esther’s welfare and what was happening to her.
12 Each young woman’s turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after she had completed twelve months’ preparation, according to the regulations for the women, for thus were the days of their preparation apportioned: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes and preparations for beautifying women. 13 Thus prepared, each young woman went to the king, and she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the women’s quarters to the king’s palace. 14 In the evening she went, and in the morning she returned to the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who kept the concubines. She would not go in to the king again unless the king delighted in her and called for her by name.
15 Now when the turn came for Esther (EB)the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his daughter, to go in to the king, she requested nothing but what Hegai the king’s eunuch, the custodian of the women, advised. And Esther (EC)obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her. 16 So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. 17 The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal (ED)crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 Then the king (EE)made a great feast, the Feast of Esther, for all his officials and servants; and he proclaimed a holiday in the provinces and gave gifts according to the [bd]generosity of a king.
Mordecai Discovers a Plot
19 When virgins were gathered together a second time, Mordecai sat within the king’s gate. 20 (EF)Now Esther had not revealed her family and her people, just as Mordecai had charged her, for Esther obeyed the command of Mordecai as when she was brought up by him.
21 In those days, while Mordecai sat within the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, [be]Bigthan and Teresh, doorkeepers, became furious and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 22 So the matter became known to Mordecai, (EG)who told Queen Esther, and Esther informed the king in Mordecai’s name. 23 And when an inquiry was made into the matter, it was confirmed, and both were hanged on a gallows; and it was written in (EH)the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king.
Haman’s Conspiracy Against the Jews
3 After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the (EI)Agagite, and (EJ)advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him. 2 And all the king’s servants who were (EK)within the king’s gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai (EL)would not bow or pay homage. 3 Then the king’s servants who were within the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you transgress the (EM)king’s command?” 4 Now it happened, when they spoke to him daily and he would not listen to them, that they told it to Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s words would stand; for Mordecai had told them that he was a Jew. 5 When Haman saw that Mordecai (EN)did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was (EO)filled with wrath. 6 But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead, Haman (EP)sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus—the people of Mordecai.
7 In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, (EQ)they cast Pur (that is, the lot), before Haman [bf]to determine the day and the [bg]month, [bh]until it fell on the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.
8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; (ER)their laws are different from all other people’s, and they do not keep the king’s laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain. 9 If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.”
10 So the king (ES)took (ET)his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the (EU)enemy of the Jews. 11 And the king said to Haman, “The money and the people are given to you, to do with them as seems good to you.”
12 (EV)Then the king’s scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and a decree was written according to all that Haman commanded—to the king’s satraps, to the governors who were over each province, to the officials of all people, to every province (EW)according to its script, and to every people in their language. (EX)In the name of King Ahasuerus it was written, and sealed with the king’s signet ring. 13 And the letters were (EY)sent by couriers into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, (EZ)in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and (FA)to plunder their [bi]possessions. 14 (FB)A copy of the document was to be issued as law in every province, being published for all people, that they should be ready for that day. 15 The couriers went out, hastened by the king’s command; and the decree was proclaimed in [bj]Shushan the [bk]citadel. So the king and Haman sat down to drink, but (FC)the city of Shushan was [bl]perplexed.
Esther Agrees to Help the Jews
4 When Mordecai learned all that had happened, [bm]he (FD)tore his clothes and put on sackcloth (FE)and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. He (FF)cried out with a loud and bitter cry. 2 He went as far as the front of the king’s gate, for no one might enter the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth. 3 And in every province where the king’s command and decree arrived, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
4 So Esther’s maids and eunuchs came and told her, and the queen was deeply distressed. Then she sent garments to clothe Mordecai and take his sackcloth away from him, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther called Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs whom he had appointed to attend her, and she gave him a command concerning Mordecai, to learn what and why this was. 6 So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square that was in front of the king’s gate. 7 And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and (FG)the sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries to destroy the Jews. 8 He also gave him (FH)a copy of the written decree for their destruction, which was given at [bn]Shushan, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her, and that he might command her to go in to the king to make supplication to him and plead before him for her people. 9 So Hathach returned and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a command for Mordecai: 11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that any man or woman who goes into (FI)the inner court to the king, who has not been called, (FJ)he has but one law: put all to death, except the one (FK)to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live. Yet I myself have not been (FL)called to go in to the king these thirty days.” 12 So they told Mordecai Esther’s words.
13 And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in [bo]Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for (FM)three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; (FN)and if I perish, I perish!”
17 So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded [bp]him.
Esther’s Banquet
5 Now it happened (FO)on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in (FP)the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the [bq]house. 2 So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that (FQ)she found favor in his sight, and (FR)the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter.
3 And the king said to her, “What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? (FS)It shall be given to you—up to half the kingdom!”
4 So Esther answered, “If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”
5 Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, that he may do as Esther has said.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6 At the banquet of wine (FT)the king said to Esther, (FU)“What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!”
7 Then Esther answered and said, “My petition and request is this: 8 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and [br]fulfill my request, then let the king and Haman come to the (FV)banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.”
Haman’s Plot Against Mordecai
9 So Haman went out that day (FW)joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, and (FX)that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless Haman (FY)restrained himself and went home, and he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh. 11 Then Haman told them of his great riches, (FZ)the multitude of his children, everything in which the king had promoted him, and how he had (GA)advanced him above the officials and servants of the king.
12 Moreover Haman said, “Besides, Queen Esther invited no one but me to come in with the king to the banquet that she prepared; and tomorrow I am again invited by her, along with the king. 13 Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
14 Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a (GB)gallows[bs] be made, [bt]fifty cubits high, and in the morning (GC)suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet.”
And the thing pleased Haman; so he had (GD)the gallows made.
The King Honors Mordecai
6 That night [bu]the king could not sleep. So one was commanded to bring (GE)the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written that Mordecai had told of [bv]Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, the doorkeepers who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 3 Then the king said, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?”
And the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”
4 So the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered (GF)the outer court of the king’s palace (GG)to suggest that the king hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
5 The king’s servants said to him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.”
And the king said, “Let him come in.”
6 So Haman came in, and the king asked him, “What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?”
Now Haman thought in his heart, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than (GH)me?” 7 And Haman answered the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, 8 let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and (GI)a horse on which the king has ridden, which has a royal [bw]crest placed on its head. 9 Then let this robe and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that he may array the man whom the king delights to honor. Then [bx]parade him on horseback through the city square, (GJ)and proclaim before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!’ ”
10 Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry, take the robe and the horse, as you have suggested, and do so for Mordecai the Jew who sits within the king’s gate! Leave nothing undone of all that you have spoken.”
11 So Haman took the robe and the horse, arrayed Mordecai and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!”
12 Afterward Mordecai went back to the king’s gate. But Haman (GK)hurried to his house, mourning (GL)and with his head covered. 13 When Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him, his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against (GM)him but will surely fall before him.”
14 While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs came, and hastened to bring Haman to (GN)the banquet which Esther had prepared.
Haman Hanged Instead of Mordecai
7 So the king and Haman went to dine with Queen Esther. 2 And on the second day, (GO)at the banquet of wine, the king again said to Esther, “What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!”
3 Then Queen Esther answered and said, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request. 4 For we have been (GP)sold, my people and I, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. Had we been sold as (GQ)male and female slaves, I would have held my tongue, although the enemy could never compensate for the king’s loss.”
5 So King Ahasuerus answered and said to Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who would dare presume in his heart to do such a thing?”
6 And Esther said, “The adversary and (GR)enemy is this wicked Haman!”
So Haman was terrified before the king and queen.
7 Then the king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden; but Haman stood before Queen Esther, pleading for his life, for he saw that evil was determined against him by the king. 8 When the king returned from the palace garden to the place of the banquet of wine, Haman had fallen across (GS)the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, “Will he also assault the queen while I am in the house?”
As the word left the king’s mouth, they (GT)covered Haman’s face. 9 Now (GU)Harbonah, one of the eunuchs, said to the king, “Look! (GV)The [by]gallows, fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke (GW)good on the king’s behalf, is standing at the house of Haman.”
Then the king said, “Hang him on it!”
10 So (GX)they (GY)hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath subsided.
Esther Saves the Jews
8 On that day King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther the house of Haman, the (GZ)enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told (HA)how he was related to her. 2 So the king took off (HB)his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai; and Esther appointed Mordecai over the house of Haman.
3 Now Esther spoke again to the king, fell down at his feet, and implored him with tears to counteract the evil of Haman the Agagite, and the scheme which he had devised against the Jews. 4 And (HC)the king held out the golden scepter toward Esther. So Esther arose and stood before the king, 5 and said, “If it pleases the king, and if I have found favor in his sight and the thing seems right to the king and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to revoke the (HD)letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to annihilate the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces. 6 For how can I endure to see (HE)the evil that will come to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my countrymen?”
7 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, “Indeed, (HF)I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows because he tried to lay his hand on the Jews. 8 You yourselves write a decree concerning the Jews, [bz]as you please, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s signet ring; for whatever is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring (HG)no one can revoke.”
9 (HH)So the king’s scribes were called at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day; and it was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded, to the Jews, the satraps, the governors, and the princes of the provinces (HI)from India to Ethiopia, one hundred and twenty-seven provinces in all, to every province (HJ)in its own script, to every people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language. 10 (HK)And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, sealed it with the king’s signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on horseback, riding on royal horses [ca]bred from swift steeds.
11 By these letters the king permitted the Jews who were in every city to (HL)gather together and protect their lives—to (HM)destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province that would assault them, both little children and women, and to plunder their possessions, 12 (HN)on one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of [cb]Adar. 13 (HO)A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province and published for all people, so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. 14 The couriers who rode on royal horses went out, hastened and pressed on by the king’s command. And the decree was issued in [cc]Shushan the [cd]citadel.
15 So Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of [ce]blue and white, with a great crown of gold and a garment of fine linen and purple; and (HP)the city of [cf]Shushan rejoiced and was glad. 16 The Jews had (HQ)light and gladness, joy and honor. 17 And in every province and city, wherever the king’s command and decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast (HR)and a holiday. Then many of the people of the land (HS)became Jews, because (HT)fear of the Jews fell upon them.
The Jews Destroy Their Tormentors
9 Now (HU)in the twelfth month, that is, the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day, (HV)the time came for the king’s command and his decree to be executed. On the day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, the opposite occurred, in that the Jews themselves (HW)overpowered those who hated them. 2 The Jews (HX)gathered together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who (HY)sought their harm. And no one could withstand them, (HZ)because fear of them fell upon all people. 3 And all the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and all those doing the king’s work, helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. 4 For Mordecai was great in the king’s palace, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces; for this man Mordecai (IA)became increasingly prominent. 5 Thus the Jews defeated all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, with slaughter and destruction, and did what they pleased with those who hated them.
6 And in (IB)Shushan[cg] the [ch]citadel the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men. 7 Also Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, 8 Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, 9 Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vajezatha— 10 (IC)the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews—they killed; (ID)but they did not lay a hand on the [ci]plunder.
11 On that day the number of those who were killed in [cj]Shushan the [ck]citadel [cl]was brought to the king. 12 And the king said to Queen Esther, “The Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the citadel, and the ten sons of Haman. What have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? Now (IE)what is your petition? It shall be granted to you. Or what is your further request? It shall be done.”
13 Then Esther said, “If it pleases the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Shushan to do again tomorrow (IF)according to today’s decree, and let Haman’s ten sons (IG)be hanged on the gallows.”
14 So the king commanded this to be done; the decree was issued in Shushan, and they hanged Haman’s ten sons.
15 And the Jews who were in [cm]Shushan (IH)gathered together again on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and killed three hundred men at Shushan; (II)but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.
16 The remainder of the Jews in the king’s provinces (IJ)gathered together and protected their lives, had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy-five thousand of their enemies; (IK)but they did not lay a hand on the plunder. 17 This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. And on the fourteenth of [cn]the month they rested and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
The Feast of Purim
18 But the Jews who were at [co]Shushan assembled together (IL)on the thirteenth day, as well as on the fourteenth; and on the fifteenth of [cp]the month they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. 19 Therefore the Jews of the villages who dwelt in the unwalled towns celebrated the fourteenth day of the month of Adar (IM)with gladness and feasting, (IN)as a holiday, and for (IO)sending presents to one another.
20 And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews, near and far, who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, 21 to establish among them that they should celebrate yearly the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar, 22 as the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of (IP)sending presents to one another and gifts to the (IQ)poor. 23 So the Jews accepted the custom which they had begun, as Mordecai had written to them, 24 because Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, (IR)had plotted against the Jews to annihilate them, and had cast Pur (that is, the lot), to consume them and destroy them; 25 but (IS)when [cq]Esther came before the king, he commanded by letter that [cr]this wicked plot which Haman had devised against the Jews should (IT)return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.
26 So they called these days Purim, after the name [cs]Pur. Therefore, because of all the words of (IU)this letter, what they had seen concerning this matter, and what had happened to them, 27 the Jews established and imposed it upon themselves and their descendants and all who would (IV)join them, that without fail they should celebrate these two days every year, according to the written instructions and according to the prescribed time, 28 that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city, that these days of Purim should not fail to be observed among the Jews, and that the memory of them should not perish among their descendants.
29 Then Queen Esther, (IW)the daughter of Abihail, with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this (IX)second letter about Purim. 30 And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews, to (IY)the one hundred and twenty-seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth, 31 to confirm these days of Purim at their appointed time, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had prescribed for them, and as they had decreed for themselves and their descendants concerning matters of their (IZ)fasting and lamenting. 32 So the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim, and it was written in the book.
Mordecai’s Advancement
10 And King Ahasuerus imposed tribute on the land and on (JA)the islands of the sea. 2 Now all the acts of his power and his might, and the account of the greatness of Mordecai, (JB)to which the king [ct]advanced him, are they not written in the book of the (JC)chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? 3 For Mordecai the Jew was (JD)second to King Ahasuerus, and was great among the Jews and well received by the multitude of his brethren, (JE)seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his [cu]countrymen.
Job and His Family in Uz
1 There was a man (JF)in the land of Uz, whose name was (JG)Job; and that man was (JH)blameless and upright, and one who (JI)feared God and [cv]shunned evil. 2 And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the [cw]people of the East.
4 And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and [cx]sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning (JJ)and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and (JK)cursed[cy] God in their hearts.” Thus Job did regularly.
Satan Attacks Job’s Character
6 Now (JL)there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and [cz]Satan also came among them. 7 And the Lord said to [da]Satan, “From where do you come?”
So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From (JM)going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you [db]considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and [dc]shuns evil?”
9 So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 (JN)Have You not [dd]made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? (JO)You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 (JP)But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely (JQ)curse[de] You to Your face!”
12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your [df]power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”
So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
Job Loses His Property and Children
13 Now there was a day (JR)when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house; 14 and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 when the [dg]Sabeans [dh]raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and [di]consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
17 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, (JS)“Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and suddenly a great wind came from [dj]across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
20 Then Job arose, (JT)tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he (JU)fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said:
(JV)“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The Lord (JW)gave, and the Lord has (JX)taken away;
(JY)Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
22 (JZ)In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.
Satan Attacks Job’s Health
2 Again (KA)there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?”
(KB)Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
3 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, (KC)a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he (KD)holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, (KE)to [dk]destroy him without cause.”
4 So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. 5 (KF)But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his (KG)bone and his flesh, and he will surely [dl]curse You to Your face!”
6 (KH)And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.”
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils (KI)from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself (KJ)while he sat in the midst of the ashes.
9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? [dm]Curse God and die!”
10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. (KK)Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (KL)In all this Job did not (KM)sin with his lips.
Job’s Three Friends
11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place—Eliphaz the (KN)Temanite, Bildad the (KO)Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come (KP)and mourn with him, and to comfort him. 12 And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and (KQ)sprinkled dust on his head toward heaven. 13 So they sat down with him on the ground (KR)seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.
Job Deplores His Birth
3 After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. 2 And Job [dn]spoke, and said:
3 “May(KS) the day perish on which I was born,
And the night in which it was said,
‘A male child is conceived.’
4 May that day be darkness;
May God above not seek it,
Nor the light shine upon it.
5 May darkness and (KT)the shadow of death claim it;
May a cloud settle on it;
May the blackness of the day terrify it.
6 As for that night, may darkness seize it;
May it not [do]rejoice among the days of the year,
May it not come into the number of the months.
7 Oh, may that night be barren!
May no joyful shout come into it!
8 May those curse it who curse the day,
Those (KU)who are ready to arouse Leviathan.
9 May the stars of its morning be dark;
May it look for light, but have none,
And not see the [dp]dawning of the day;
10 Because it did not shut up the doors of my mother’s womb,
Nor hide sorrow from my eyes.
11 “Why(KV) did I not die at birth?
Why did I not [dq]perish when I came from the womb?
12 (KW)Why did the knees receive me?
Or why the breasts, that I should nurse?
13 For now I would have lain still and been quiet,
I would have been asleep;
Then I would have been at rest
14 With kings and counselors of the earth,
Who (KX)built ruins for themselves,
15 Or with princes who had gold,
Who filled their houses with silver;
16 Or why was I not hidden (KY)like a stillborn child,
Like infants who never saw light?
17 There the wicked cease from troubling,
And there the [dr]weary are at (KZ)rest.
18 There the prisoners [ds]rest together;
(LA)They do not hear the voice of the oppressor.
19 The small and great are there,
And the servant is free from his master.
20 “Why(LB) is light given to him who is in misery,
And life to the (LC)bitter of soul,
21 Who (LD)long[dt] for death, but it does not come,
And search for it more than (LE)hidden treasures;
22 Who rejoice exceedingly,
And are glad when they can find the (LF)grave?
23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden,
(LG)And whom God has hedged in?
24 For my sighing comes before [du]I eat,
And my groanings pour out like water.
25 For the thing I greatly (LH)feared has come upon me,
And what I dreaded has happened to me.
26 I am not at ease, nor am I quiet;
I have no rest, for trouble comes.”
Eliphaz: Job Has Sinned
4 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
2 “If one attempts a word with you, will you become weary?
But who can withhold himself from speaking?
3 Surely you have instructed many,
And you (LI)have strengthened weak hands.
4 Your words have upheld him who was stumbling,
And you (LJ)have strengthened the [dv]feeble knees;
5 But now it comes upon you, and you are weary;
It touches you, and you are troubled.
6 Is not (LK)your reverence (LL)your confidence?
And the integrity of your ways your hope?
7 “Remember now, (LM)who ever perished being innocent?
Or where were the upright ever cut off?
8 Even as I have seen,
(LN)Those who plow iniquity
And sow trouble reap the same.
9 By the blast of God they perish,
And by the breath of His anger they are consumed.
10 The roaring of the lion,
The voice of the fierce lion,
And (LO)the teeth of the young lions are broken.
11 (LP)The old lion perishes for lack of prey,
And the cubs of the lioness are scattered.
12 “Now a word was secretly brought to me,
And my ear received a whisper of it.
13 (LQ)In disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night,
When deep sleep falls on men,
14 Fear came upon me, and (LR)trembling,
Which made all my bones shake.
15 Then a spirit passed before my face;
The hair on my body stood up.
16 It stood still,
But I could not discern its appearance.
A form was before my eyes;
There was silence;
Then I heard a voice saying:
17 ‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God?
Can a man be more pure than his Maker?
18 If He (LS)puts no trust in His servants,
If He charges His angels with error,
19 How much more those who dwell in houses of clay,
Whose foundation is in the dust,
Who are crushed before a moth?
20 (LT)They are broken in pieces from morning till evening;
They perish forever, with no one regarding.
21 Does not their own excellence go away?
They die, even without wisdom.’
Eliphaz: Job Is Chastened by God
5 “Call out now;
Is there anyone who will answer you?
And to which of the holy ones will you turn?
2 For wrath kills a foolish man,
And envy slays a simple one.
3 (LU)I have seen the foolish taking root,
But suddenly I cursed his dwelling place.
4 His sons are (LV)far from safety,
They are crushed in the gate,
And (LW)there is no deliverer.
5 Because the hungry eat up his harvest,
[dw]Taking it even from the thorns,
[dx]And a snare snatches their [dy]substance.
6 For affliction does not come from the dust,
Nor does trouble spring from the ground;
7 Yet man is (LX)born to [dz]trouble,
As the sparks fly upward.
8 “But as for me, I would seek God,
And to God I would commit my cause—
9 Who does great things, and unsearchable,
Marvelous things without number.
10 (LY)He gives rain on the earth,
And sends waters on the fields.
11 (LZ)He sets on high those who are lowly,
And those who mourn are lifted to safety.
12 (MA)He frustrates the devices of the crafty,
So that their hands cannot carry out their plans.
13 He catches the (MB)wise in their own craftiness,
And the counsel of the cunning comes quickly upon them.
14 They meet with darkness in the daytime,
And grope at noontime as in the night.
15 But (MC)He saves the needy from the sword,
From the mouth of the mighty,
And from their hand.
16 (MD)So the poor have hope,
And injustice shuts her mouth.
17 “Behold,(ME) happy is the man whom God corrects;
Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.
18 (MF)For He bruises, but He binds up;
He wounds, but His hands make whole.
19 (MG)He shall deliver you in six troubles,
Yes, in seven (MH)no evil shall touch you.
20 (MI)In famine He shall redeem you from death,
And in war from the [ea]power of the sword.
21 (MJ)You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue,
And you shall not be afraid of destruction when it comes.
22 You shall laugh at destruction and famine,
And (MK)you shall not be afraid of the (ML)beasts of the earth.
23 (MM)For you shall have a covenant with the stones of the field,
And the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.
24 You shall know that your tent is in peace;
You shall visit your dwelling and find nothing amiss.
25 You shall also know that (MN)your descendants shall be many,
And your offspring (MO)like the grass of the earth.
26 (MP)You shall come to the grave at a full age,
As a sheaf of grain ripens in its season.
27 Behold, this we have (MQ)searched out;
It is true.
Hear it, and know for yourself.”
Job: My Complaint Is Just
6 Then Job answered and said:
2 “Oh, that my grief were fully weighed,
And my calamity laid with it on the scales!
3 For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea—
Therefore my words have been rash.
4 (MR)For the arrows of the Almighty are within me;
My spirit drinks in their poison;
(MS)The terrors of God are arrayed (MT)against me.
5 Does the (MU)wild donkey bray when it has grass,
Or does the ox low over its fodder?
6 Can flavorless food be eaten without salt?
Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 My soul refuses to touch them;
They are as loathsome food to me.
8 “Oh, that I might have my request,
That God would grant me the thing that I long for!
9 That it would please God to crush me,
That He would loose His hand and (MV)cut me off!
10 Then I would still have comfort;
Though in anguish I would exult,
He will not spare;
For (MW)I have not concealed the words of (MX)the Holy One.
11 “What strength do I have, that I should hope?
And what is my end, that I should prolong my life?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones?
Or is my flesh bronze?
13 Is my help not within me?
And is success driven from me?
14 “To(MY) him who is [eb]afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend,
Even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15 (MZ)My brothers have dealt deceitfully like a brook,
(NA)Like the streams of the brooks that pass away,
16 Which are dark because of the ice,
And into which the snow vanishes.
17 When it is warm, they cease to flow;
When it is hot, they vanish from their place.
18 The paths of their way turn aside,
They go nowhere and perish.
19 The caravans of (NB)Tema look,
The travelers of (NC)Sheba hope for them.
20 They are (ND)disappointed[ec] because they were confident;
They come there and are confused.
21 For now (NE)you are nothing,
You see terror and (NF)are afraid.
22 Did I ever say, ‘Bring something to me’?
Or, ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth’?
23 Or, ‘Deliver me from the enemy’s hand’?
Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of oppressors’?
24 “Teach me, and I will hold my tongue;
Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25 How forceful are right words!
But what does your arguing prove?
26 Do you intend to rebuke my words,
And the speeches of a desperate one, which are as wind?
27 Yes, you overwhelm the fatherless,
And you (NG)undermine your friend.
28 Now therefore, be pleased to look at me;
For I would never lie to your face.
29 (NH)Yield now, let there be no injustice!
Yes, concede, my (NI)righteousness [ed]still stands!
30 Is there injustice on my tongue?
Cannot my [ee]taste discern the unsavory?
Job: My Suffering Is Comfortless
7 “Is there not (NJ)a time of hard service for man on earth?
Are not his days also like the days of a hired man?
2 Like a servant who [ef]earnestly desires the shade,
And like a hired man who eagerly looks for his wages,
3 So I have been allotted (NK)months of futility,
And wearisome nights have been appointed to me.
4 (NL)When I lie down, I say, ‘When shall I arise,
And the night be ended?’
For I have had my fill of tossing till dawn.
5 My flesh is (NM)caked with worms and dust,
My skin is cracked and breaks out afresh.
6 “My(NN) days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle,
And are spent without hope.
7 Oh, remember that (NO)my life is a breath!
My eye will never again see good.
8 (NP)The eye of him who sees me will see me no more;
While your eyes are upon me, I shall no longer be.
9 As the cloud disappears and vanishes away,
So (NQ)he who goes down to the grave does not come up.
10 He shall never return to his house,
(NR)Nor shall his place know him anymore.
11 “Therefore I will (NS)not restrain my mouth;
I will speak in the anguish of my spirit;
I will (NT)complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12 Am I a sea, or a sea serpent,
That You set a guard over me?
13 (NU)When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me,
My couch will ease my complaint,’
14 Then You scare me with dreams
And terrify me with visions,
15 So that my soul chooses strangling
And death rather than [eg]my body.
16 (NV)I loathe my life;
I would not live forever.
(NW)Let me alone,
For (NX)my days are but [eh]a breath.
17 “What(NY) is man, that You should exalt him,
That You should set Your heart on him,
18 That You should [ei]visit him every morning,
And test him every moment?
19 How long?
Will You not look away from me,
And let me alone till I swallow my saliva?
20 Have I sinned?
What have I done to You, (NZ)O watcher of men?
Why (OA)have You set me as Your target,
So that I am a burden [ej]to myself?
21 Why then do You not pardon my transgression,
And take away my iniquity?
For now I will lie down in the dust,
And You will seek me diligently,
But I will no longer be.”
Bildad: Job Should Repent
8 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
2 “How long will you speak these things,
And the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?
3 (OB)Does God subvert judgment?
Or does the Almighty pervert justice?
4 If (OC)your sons have sinned against Him,
He has cast them away [ek]for their transgression.
5 (OD)If you would earnestly seek God
And make your supplication to the Almighty,
6 If you were pure and upright,
Surely now He would [el]awake for you,
And prosper your rightful dwelling place.
7 Though your beginning was small,
Yet your latter end would (OE)increase abundantly.
8 “For(OF) inquire, please, of the former age,
And consider the things discovered by their fathers;
9 For (OG)we were born yesterday, and know [em]nothing,
Because our days on earth are a shadow.
10 Will they not teach you and tell you,
And utter words from their heart?
11 “Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?
Can the reeds flourish without water?
12 (OH)While it is yet green and not cut down,
It withers before any other plant.
13 So are the paths of all who (OI)forget God;
And the hope of the (OJ)hypocrite shall perish,
14 Whose confidence shall be cut off,
And whose trust is [en]a spider’s web.
15 (OK)He leans on his house, but it does not stand.
He holds it fast, but it does not endure.
16 He grows green in the sun,
And his branches spread out in his garden.
17 His roots wrap around the rock heap,
And look for a place in the stones.
18 (OL)If he is destroyed from his place,
Then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have not seen you.’
19 “Behold, this is the joy of His way,
And (OM)out of the earth others will grow.
20 Behold, (ON)God will not [eo]cast away the blameless,
Nor will He uphold the evildoers.
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughing,
And your lips with [ep]rejoicing.
22 Those who hate you will be (OO)clothed with shame,
And the dwelling place of the wicked [eq]will come to nothing.”
Job: There Is No Mediator
9 Then Job answered and said:
2 “Truly I know it is so,
But how can a (OP)man be (OQ)righteous before God?
3 If one wished to [er]contend with Him,
He could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.
4 (OR)God is wise in heart and mighty in strength.
Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?
5 He removes the mountains, and they do not know
When He overturns them in His anger;
6 He (OS)shakes the earth out of its place,
And its (OT)pillars tremble;
7 He commands the sun, and it does not rise;
He seals off the stars;
8 (OU)He alone spreads out the heavens,
And [es]treads on the [et]waves of the sea;
9 (OV)He made [eu]the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades,
And the chambers of the south;
10 (OW)He does great things past finding out,
Yes, wonders without number.
11 (OX)If He goes by me, I do not see Him;
If He moves past, I do not perceive Him;
12 (OY)If He takes away, [ev]who can hinder Him?
Who can say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’
13 God will not withdraw His anger,
(OZ)The allies of [ew]the proud lie prostrate beneath Him.
14 “How then can I answer Him,
And choose my words to reason with Him?
15 (PA)For though I were righteous, I could not answer Him;
I would beg mercy of my Judge.
16 If I called and He answered me,
I would not believe that He was listening to my voice.
17 For He crushes me with a tempest,
And multiplies my wounds (PB)without cause.
18 He will not allow me to catch my breath,
But fills me with bitterness.
19 If it is a matter of strength, indeed He is strong;
And if of justice, who will appoint my day in court?
20 Though I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me;
Though I were blameless, it would prove me perverse.
21 “I am blameless, yet I do not know myself;
I despise my life.
22 It is all one thing;
Therefore I say, (PC)‘He destroys the blameless and the wicked.’
23 If the scourge slays suddenly,
He laughs at the plight of the innocent.
24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked.
He covers the faces of its judges.
If it is not He, who else could it be?
25 “Now (PD)my days are swifter than a runner;
They flee away, they see no good.
26 They pass by like [ex]swift ships,
(PE)Like an eagle swooping on its prey.
27 (PF)If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,
I will put off my sad face and wear a smile,’
28 (PG)I am afraid of all my sufferings;
I know that You (PH)will not hold me innocent.
29 If I am condemned,
Why then do I labor in vain?
30 (PI)If I wash myself with snow water,
And cleanse my hands with [ey]soap,
31 Yet You will plunge me into the pit,
And my own clothes will [ez]abhor me.
32 “For (PJ)He is not a man, as I am,
That I may answer Him,
And that we should go to court together.
33 (PK)Nor is there any mediator between us,
Who may lay his hand on us both.
34 (PL)Let Him take His rod away from me,
And do not let dread of Him terrify me.
35 Then I would speak and not fear Him,
But it is not so with me.
Job: I Would Plead with God
10 “My (PM)soul loathes my life;
I will [fa]give free course to my complaint,
(PN)I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2 I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me;
Show me why You contend with me.
3 Does it seem good to You that You should oppress,
That You should despise the work of Your hands,
And smile on the counsel of the wicked?
4 Do You have eyes of flesh?
Or (PO)do You see as man sees?
5 Are Your days like the days of a mortal man?
Are Your years like the days of a mighty man,
6 That You should seek for my iniquity
And search out my sin,
7 Although You know that I am not wicked,
And there is no one who can deliver from Your hand?
8 ‘Your(PP) hands have made me and fashioned me,
An intricate unity;
Yet You would (PQ)destroy me.
9 Remember, I pray, (PR)that You have made me like clay.
And will You turn me into dust again?
10 (PS)Did You not pour me out like milk,
And curdle me like cheese,
11 Clothe me with skin and flesh,
And knit me together with bones and sinews?
12 You have granted me life and favor,
And Your care has preserved my spirit.
13 ‘And these things You have hidden in Your heart;
I know that this was with You:
14 If I sin, then (PT)You mark me,
And will not acquit me of my iniquity.
15 If I am wicked, (PU)woe to me;
(PV)Even if I am righteous, I [fb]cannot lift up my head.
I am full of disgrace;
(PW)See my misery!
16 If my head is exalted,
(PX)You hunt me like a fierce lion,
And again You show Yourself awesome against me.
17 You renew Your witnesses against me,
And increase Your indignation toward me;
Changes and war are ever with me.
18 ‘Why(PY) then have You brought me out of the womb?
Oh, that I had perished and no eye had seen me!
19 I would have been as though I had not been.
I would have been carried from the womb to the grave.
20 (PZ)Are not my days few?
Cease! (QA)Leave me alone, that I may take a little comfort,
21 Before I go to the place from which I shall not return,
(QB)To the land of darkness (QC)and the shadow of death,
22 A land as dark as darkness itself,
As the shadow of death, without any order,
Where even the light is like darkness.’ ”
Zophar Urges Job to Repent
11 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:
2 “Should not the multitude of words be answered?
And should [fc]a man full of talk be vindicated?
3 Should your empty talk make men [fd]hold their peace?
And when you mock, should no one rebuke you?
4 For you have said,
(QD)‘My doctrine is pure,
And I am clean in your eyes.’
5 But oh, that God would speak,
And open His lips against you,
6 That He would show you the secrets of wisdom!
For they would double your prudence.
Know therefore that (QE)God [fe]exacts from you
Less than your iniquity deserves.
7 “Can(QF) you search out the deep things of God?
Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?
8 They are higher than heaven—what can you do?
Deeper than [ff]Sheol—what can you know?
9 Their measure is longer than the earth
And broader than the sea.
10 “If(QG) He passes by, imprisons, and gathers to judgment,
Then who can [fg]hinder Him?
11 For (QH)He knows deceitful men;
He sees wickedness also.
Will He not then consider it?
12 For an (QI)empty-headed man will be wise,
When a wild donkey’s colt is born a man.
13 “If you would (QJ)prepare your heart,
And (QK)stretch out your hands toward Him;
14 If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away,
And (QL)would not let wickedness dwell in your tents;
15 (QM)Then surely you could lift up your face without spot;
Yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear;
16 Because you would (QN)forget your misery,
And remember it as waters that have passed away,
17 And your life (QO)would be brighter than noonday.
Though you were dark, you would be like the morning.
18 And you would be secure, because there is hope;
Yes, you would dig around you, and (QP)take your rest in safety.
19 You would also lie down, and no one would make you afraid;
Yes, many would court your favor.
20 But (QQ)the eyes of the wicked will fail,
And they shall not escape,
And (QR)their hope—[fh]loss of life!”
Job Answers His Critics
12 Then Job answered and said:
2 “No doubt you are the people,
And wisdom will die with you!
3 But I have [fi]understanding as well as you;
I am not (QS)inferior to you.
Indeed, who does not know such things as these?
4 “I(QT) am one mocked by his friends,
Who (QU)called on God, and He answered him,
The just and blameless who is ridiculed.
5 A [fj]lamp is despised in the thought of one who is at ease;
It is made ready for (QV)those whose feet slip.
6 (QW)The tents of robbers prosper,
And those who provoke God are secure—
In what God provides by His hand.
7 “But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you;
And the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
8 Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you;
And the fish of the sea will explain to you.
9 Who among all these does not know
That the hand of the Lord has done this,
10 (QX)In whose hand is the [fk]life of every living thing,
And the (QY)breath of [fl]all mankind?
11 Does not the ear test words
And the [fm]mouth taste its food?
12 Wisdom is with aged men,
And with [fn]length of days, understanding.
13 “With Him are (QZ)wisdom and strength,
He has counsel and understanding.
14 If (RA)He breaks a thing down, it cannot be rebuilt;
If He imprisons a man, there can be no release.
15 If He (RB)withholds the waters, they dry up;
If He (RC)sends them out, they overwhelm the earth.
16 With Him are strength and prudence.
The deceived and the deceiver are His.
17 He leads counselors away plundered,
And makes fools of the judges.
18 He loosens the bonds of kings,
And binds their waist with a belt.
19 He leads [fo]princes away plundered,
And overthrows the mighty.
20 (RD)He deprives the trusted ones of speech,
And takes away the discernment of the elders.
21 (RE)He pours contempt on princes,
And [fp]disarms the mighty.
22 He (RF)uncovers deep things out of darkness,
And brings the shadow of death to light.
23 (RG)He makes nations great, and destroys them;
He [fq]enlarges nations, and guides them.
24 He takes away the [fr]understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth,
And (RH)makes them wander in a pathless wilderness.
25 (RI)They grope in the dark without light,
And He makes them (RJ)stagger like a drunken man.
Job Defends Himself
13 “Behold, my eye has seen all this,
My ear has heard and understood it.
2 (RK)What you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
3 (RL)But I would speak to the Almighty,
And I desire to reason with God.
4 But you forgers of lies,
(RM)You are all worthless physicians.
5 Oh, that you would be silent,
And (RN)it would be your wisdom!
6 Now hear my reasoning,
And heed the pleadings of my lips.
7 (RO)Will you speak [fs]wickedly for God,
And talk deceitfully for Him?
8 Will you show partiality for Him?
Will you contend for God?
9 Will it be well when He searches you out?
Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man?
10 He will surely rebuke you
If you secretly show partiality.
11 Will not His [ft]excellence make you afraid,
And the dread of Him fall upon you?
12 Your platitudes are proverbs of ashes,
Your defenses are defenses of clay.
13 “Hold[fu] your peace with me, and let me speak,
Then let come on me what may!
14 Why (RP)do I take my flesh in my teeth,
And put my life in my hands?
15 (RQ)Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.
(RR)Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.
16 He also shall be my salvation,
For a (RS)hypocrite could not come before Him.
17 Listen carefully to my speech,
And to my declaration with your ears.
18 See now, I have prepared my case,
I know that I shall be (RT)vindicated.
19 (RU)Who is he who will contend with me?
If now I hold my tongue, I perish.
Job’s Despondent Prayer
20 “Only(RV) two things do not do to me,
Then I will not hide myself from You:
21 (RW)Withdraw Your hand far from me,
And let not the dread of You make me afraid.
22 Then call, and I will (RX)answer;
Or let me speak, then You respond to me.
23 How many are my iniquities and sins?
Make me know my transgression and my sin.
24 (RY)Why do You hide Your face,
And (RZ)regard me as Your enemy?
25 (SA)Will You frighten a leaf driven to and fro?
And will You pursue dry stubble?
26 For You write bitter things against me,
And (SB)make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
27 (SC)You put my feet in the stocks,
And watch closely all my paths.
You [fv]set a limit for the [fw]soles of my feet.
28 “Man[fx] decays like a rotten thing,
Like a garment that is moth-eaten.
Job Speaks of Life’s Woes
14 “Man who is born of woman
Is of few days and (SD)full of [fy]trouble.
2 (SE)He comes forth like a flower and fades away;
He flees like a shadow and does not continue.
3 And (SF)do You open Your eyes on such a one,
And (SG)bring [fz]me to judgment with Yourself?
4 Who (SH)can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?
No one!
5 (SI)Since his days are determined,
The number of his months is with You;
You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass.
6 (SJ)Look away from him that he may [ga]rest,
Till (SK)like a hired man he finishes his day.
7 “For there is hope for a tree,
If it is cut down, that it will sprout again,
And that its tender shoots will not cease.
8 Though its root may grow old in the earth,
And its stump may die in the ground,
9 Yet at the scent of water it will bud
And bring forth branches like a plant.
10 But man dies and [gb]is laid away;
Indeed he [gc]breathes his last
And where is (SL)he?
11 As water disappears from the sea,
And a river becomes parched and dries up,
12 So man lies down and does not rise.
(SM)Till the heavens are no more,
They will not awake
Nor be roused from their sleep.
13 “Oh, that You would hide me in the grave,
That You would conceal me until Your wrath is past,
That You would appoint me a set time, and remember me!
14 If a man dies, shall he live again?
All the days of my hard service (SN)I will wait,
Till my change comes.
15 (SO)You shall call, and I will answer You;
You shall desire the work of Your hands.
16 For now (SP)You number my steps,
But do not watch over my sin.
17 (SQ)My transgression is sealed up in a bag,
And You [gd]cover my iniquity.
18 “But as a mountain falls and crumbles away,
And as a rock is moved from its place;
19 As water wears away stones,
And as torrents wash away the soil of the earth;
So You destroy the hope of man.
20 You prevail forever against him, and he passes on;
You change his countenance and send him away.
21 His sons come to honor, and (SR)he does not know it;
They are brought low, and he does not perceive it.
22 But his flesh will be in pain over it,
And his soul will mourn over it.”
Eliphaz Accuses Job of Folly
15 Then (SS)Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
2 “Should a wise man answer with empty knowledge,
And fill [ge]himself with the east wind?
3 Should he reason with unprofitable talk,
Or by speeches with which he can do no good?
4 Yes, you cast off fear,
And restrain [gf]prayer before God.
5 For your iniquity teaches your mouth,
And you choose the tongue of the crafty.
6 (ST)Your own mouth condemns you, and not I;
Yes, your own lips testify against you.
7 “Are you the first man who was born?
(SU)Or were you made before the hills?
8 (SV)Have you heard the counsel of God?
Do you limit wisdom to yourself?
9 (SW)What do you know that we do not know?
What do you understand that is not in us?
10 (SX)Both the gray-haired and the aged are among us,
Much older than your father.
11 Are the consolations of God too small for you,
And the word spoken [gg]gently with you?
12 Why does your heart carry you away,
And [gh]what do your eyes wink at,
13 That you turn your spirit against God,
And let such words go out of your mouth?
14 “What(SY) is man, that he could be pure?
And he who is born of a woman, that he could be righteous?
15 (SZ)If God puts no trust in His saints,
And the heavens are not pure in His sight,
16 (TA)How much less man, who is abominable and filthy,
(TB)Who drinks iniquity like water!
17 “I will tell you, hear me;
What I have seen I will declare,
18 What wise men have told,
Not hiding anything received (TC)from their fathers,
19 To whom alone the [gi]land was given,
And (TD)no alien passed among them:
20 The wicked man writhes with pain all his days,
(TE)And the number of years is hidden from the oppressor.
21 [gj]Dreadful sounds are in his ears;
(TF)In prosperity the destroyer comes upon him.
22 He does not believe that he will (TG)return from darkness,
For a sword is waiting for him.
23 He (TH)wanders about for bread, saying, ‘Where is it?’
He knows (TI)that a day of darkness is ready at his hand.
24 Trouble and anguish make him afraid;
They overpower him, like a king ready for [gk]battle.
25 For he stretches out his hand against God,
And acts defiantly against the Almighty,
26 Running stubbornly against Him
With his strong, embossed shield.
27 “Though(TJ) he has covered his face with his fatness,
And made his waist heavy with fat,
28 He dwells in desolate cities,
In houses which no one inhabits,
Which are destined to become ruins.
29 He will not be rich,
Nor will his wealth (TK)continue,
Nor will his possessions overspread the earth.
30 He will not depart from darkness;
The flame will dry out his branches,
And (TL)by the breath of His mouth he will go away.
31 Let him not (TM)trust in futile things, deceiving himself,
For futility will be his reward.
32 It will be accomplished (TN)before his time,
And his branch will not be green.
33 He will shake off his unripe grape like a vine,
And cast off his blossom like an olive tree.
34 For the company of hypocrites will be barren,
And fire will consume the tents of bribery.
35 (TO)They conceive trouble and bring forth futility;
Their womb prepares deceit.”
Job Reproaches His Pitiless Friends
16 Then Job answered and said:
2 “I have heard many such things;
(TP)Miserable[gl] comforters are you all!
3 Shall [gm]words of wind have an end?
Or what provokes you that you answer?
4 I also could speak as you do,
If your soul were in my soul’s place.
I could heap up words against you,
And (TQ)shake my head at you;
5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth,
And the comfort of my lips would relieve your grief.
6 “Though I speak, my grief is not relieved;
And if I remain silent, how am I eased?
7 But now He has (TR)worn me out;
You (TS)have made desolate all my company.
8 You have shriveled me up,
And it is a (TT)witness against me;
My leanness rises up against me
And bears witness to my face.
9 (TU)He tears me in His wrath, and hates me;
He gnashes at me with His teeth;
(TV)My adversary sharpens His gaze on me.
10 They (TW)gape at me with their mouth,
They (TX)strike me reproachfully on the cheek,
They gather together against me.
11 God (TY)has delivered me to the ungodly,
And turned me over to the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at ease, but He has (TZ)shattered me;
He also has taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces;
He has (UA)set me up for His target,
13 His archers surround me.
He pierces my [gn]heart and does not pity;
He pours out my gall on the ground.
14 He breaks me with wound upon wound;
He runs at me like a [go]warrior.
15 “I have sewn sackcloth over my skin,
And (UB)laid my [gp]head in the dust.
16 My face is [gq]flushed from weeping,
And on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
17 Although no violence is in my hands,
And my prayer is pure.
18 “O earth, do not cover my blood,
And (UC)let my cry have no resting place!
19 Surely even now (UD)my witness is in heaven,
And my evidence is on high.
20 My friends scorn me;
My eyes pour out tears to God.
21 (UE)Oh, that one might plead for a man with God,
As a man pleads for his [gr]neighbor!
22 For when a few years are finished,
I shall (UF)go the way of no return.
Job Prays for Relief
17 “My spirit is broken,
My days are extinguished,
(UG)The grave is ready for me.
2 Are not mockers with me?
And does not my eye [gs]dwell on their (UH)provocation?
3 “Now put down a pledge for me with Yourself.
Who is he who (UI)will shake hands with me?
4 For You have hidden their heart from (UJ)understanding;
Therefore You will not exalt them.
5 He who speaks flattery to his friends,
Even the eyes of his children will (UK)fail.
6 “But He has made me (UL)a byword of the people,
And I have become one in whose face men spit.
7 (UM)My eye has also grown dim because of sorrow,
And all my members are like shadows.
8 Upright men are astonished at this,
And the innocent stirs himself up against the hypocrite.
9 Yet the righteous will hold to his (UN)way,
And he who has (UO)clean hands will be stronger and stronger.
10 “But please, (UP)come back again, [gt]all of you,
For I shall not find one wise man among you.
11 (UQ)My days are past,
My purposes are broken off,
Even the [gu]thoughts of my heart.
12 They change the night into day;
‘The light is near,’ they say, in the face of darkness.
13 If I wait for the grave as my house,
If I make my bed in the darkness,
14 If I say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’
And to the worm, ‘You are my mother and my sister,’
15 Where then is my (UR)hope?
As for my hope, who can see it?
16 Will they go down (US)to the gates of [gv]Sheol?
Shall we have (UT)rest together in the dust?”
Footnotes
- Nehemiah 11:9 Or Hassenuah
- Nehemiah 11:14 Or the son of Haggedolim
- Nehemiah 11:16 Temple
- Nehemiah 11:17 Or Michah
- Nehemiah 11:22 work
- Nehemiah 11:22 Temple
- Nehemiah 11:23 fixed share
- Nehemiah 11:24 Lit. at the king’s hand
- Nehemiah 12:2 Melichu, v. 14
- Nehemiah 12:3 Shebaniah, v. 14
- Nehemiah 12:3 Harim, v. 15
- Nehemiah 12:3 Meraioth, v. 15
- Nehemiah 12:4 Ginnethon, v. 16
- Nehemiah 12:5 Minjamin, v. 17
- Nehemiah 12:5 Moadiah, v. 17
- Nehemiah 12:7 Sallai, v. 20
- Nehemiah 12:14 Malluch, v. 2
- Nehemiah 12:14 Shechaniah, v. 3
- Nehemiah 12:15 Rehum, v. 3
- Nehemiah 12:15 Meremoth, v. 3
- Nehemiah 12:17 Mijamin, v. 5
- Nehemiah 12:17 Maadiah, v. 5
- Nehemiah 12:20 Sallu, v. 7
- Nehemiah 12:24 Lit. watch by watch
- Nehemiah 12:26 Jehozadak, 1 Chr. 6:14
- Nehemiah 12:39 Heb. Hammeah
- Nehemiah 12:41 Or Mijamin, v. 5
- Nehemiah 12:42 Lit. made their voice to be heard
- Nehemiah 12:44 Lit. stood
- Nehemiah 12:47 set apart
- Nehemiah 13:7 Temple
- Nehemiah 13:20 merchandise
- Nehemiah 13:20 spent the night
- Nehemiah 13:21 Lit. before
- Nehemiah 13:25 pronounced them cursed
- Esther 1:1 Generally identified with Xerxes I (485–464 b.c.)
- Esther 1:2 Or Susa
- Esther 1:2 Or fortified palace, and so elsewhere in the book
- Esther 1:5 Or Susa
- Esther 1:5 palace
- Esther 1:7 Lit. hand
- Esther 1:14 Lit. sat in first place
- Esther 1:19 Lit. word
- Esther 1:19 pass away
- Esther 2:3 Or Susa
- Esther 2:3 palace
- Esther 2:3 Heb. Hege
- Esther 2:5 Or Susa
- Esther 2:5 palace
- Esther 2:6 Lit. Who
- Esther 2:6 Jehoiachin, 2 Kin. 24:6
- Esther 2:8 Or Susa
- Esther 2:8 palace
- Esther 2:9 Lit. her portions
- Esther 2:10 Revealed the identity of
- Esther 2:18 Lit. hand
- Esther 2:21 Bigthana, Esth. 6:2
- Esther 3:7 Lit. from day to day and month to month
- Esther 3:7 LXX adds to destroy the people of Mordecai in one day; Vg. adds the nation of the Jews should be destroyed
- Esther 3:7 So with MT, Vg.; LXX and the lot fell on the fourteenth of the month
- Esther 3:13 LXX adds the text of the letter here
- Esther 3:15 Or Susa
- Esther 3:15 palace
- Esther 3:15 in confusion
- Esther 4:1 Lit. Mordecai
- Esther 4:8 Or Susa
- Esther 4:16 Or Susa
- Esther 4:17 LXX adds a prayer of Mordecai here
- Esther 5:1 LXX adds many extra details in vv. 1, 2
- Esther 5:8 Lit. to do
- Esther 5:14 Lit. tree or wood
- Esther 5:14 About 75 feet
- Esther 6:1 Lit. the king’s sleep fled away
- Esther 6:2 Bigthan, Esth. 2:21
- Esther 6:8 crown
- Esther 6:9 Lit. cause him to ride
- Esther 7:9 Lit. tree or wood
- Esther 8:8 Lit. as is good in your eyes
- Esther 8:10 Lit. sons of the swift horses
- Esther 8:12 LXX adds the text of the letter here
- Esther 8:14 Or Susa
- Esther 8:14 palace
- Esther 8:15 violet
- Esther 8:15 Or Susa
- Esther 9:6 Or Susa
- Esther 9:6 palace
- Esther 9:10 spoil
- Esther 9:11 Or Susa
- Esther 9:11 palace
- Esther 9:11 Lit. came
- Esther 9:15 Or Susa
- Esther 9:17 Lit. it
- Esther 9:18 Or Susa
- Esther 9:18 Lit. it
- Esther 9:25 Lit. she or it
- Esther 9:25 Lit. his
- Esther 9:26 Lit. Lot
- Esther 10:2 Lit. made him great
- Esther 10:3 Lit. seed. LXX, Vg. add a dream of Mordecai here; Vg. adds six more chapters
- Job 1:1 Lit. turned away from
- Job 1:3 Lit. sons
- Job 1:5 consecrate
- Job 1:5 Lit. blessed, but in an evil sense; cf. Job 1:11; 2:5, 9
- Job 1:6 Lit. the Adversary
- Job 1:7 Lit. the Adversary
- Job 1:8 Lit. set your heart on
- Job 1:8 Lit. turns away from
- Job 1:10 Protected him
- Job 1:11 Lit. bless, but in an evil sense; cf. Job 1:5
- Job 1:12 Lit. hand
- Job 1:15 Lit. Sheba; cf. Job 6:19
- Job 1:15 Lit. fell upon
- Job 1:16 destroyed
- Job 1:19 LXX omits across
- Job 2:3 Lit. consume
- Job 2:5 Lit. bless, but in an evil sense; cf. Job 1:5
- Job 2:9 Lit. Bless, but in an evil sense; cf. Job 1:5
- Job 3:2 Lit. answered
- Job 3:6 LXX, Syr., Tg., Vg. be joined
- Job 3:9 eyelids of the dawn
- Job 3:11 expire
- Job 3:17 Lit. weary of strength
- Job 3:18 are at ease
- Job 3:21 Lit. wait
- Job 3:24 Lit. my bread
- Job 4:4 Lit. bending
- Job 5:5 LXX They shall not be taken from evil men; Vg. And the armed man shall take him by violence
- Job 5:5 LXX The might shall draw them off; Vg. And the thirsty shall drink up their riches
- Job 5:5 wealth
- Job 5:7 labor
- Job 5:20 Lit. hand
- Job 6:14 Or despairing
- Job 6:20 Lit. ashamed
- Job 6:29 Lit. is in it
- Job 6:30 palate
- Job 7:2 Lit. pants for
- Job 7:15 Lit. my bones
- Job 7:16 Without substance, futile
- Job 7:18 attend to
- Job 7:20 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX, Jewish tradition to You
- Job 8:4 Lit. into the hand of their transgression
- Job 8:6 arise
- Job 8:9 Lit. not
- Job 8:14 Lit. a spider’s house
- Job 8:20 reject
- Job 8:21 Lit. shouts of joy
- Job 8:22 Lit. will not be
- Job 9:3 argue
- Job 9:8 walks
- Job 9:8 Lit. heights
- Job 9:9 Heb. Ash, Kesil, and Kimah
- Job 9:12 Lit. who can turn Him back?
- Job 9:13 Heb. rahab
- Job 9:26 Lit. ships of reeds
- Job 9:30 lye
- Job 9:31 loathe
- Job 10:1 Lit. leave on myself
- Job 10:15 Lit. will not
- Job 11:2 Lit. a man of lips
- Job 11:3 be silent
- Job 11:6 Lit. forgets some of your iniquity for you
- Job 11:8 The abode of the dead
- Job 11:10 restrain
- Job 11:20 Lit. the breathing out of life
- Job 12:3 Lit. a heart
- Job 12:5 Or disaster
- Job 12:10 Or soul
- Job 12:10 Lit. all flesh of men
- Job 12:11 palate
- Job 12:12 Long life
- Job 12:19 Lit. priests, but not in a technical sense
- Job 12:21 loosens the belt of
- Job 12:23 Lit. spreads out
- Job 12:24 Lit. heart
- Job 13:7 unrighteously
- Job 13:11 Lit. exaltation
- Job 13:13 Be silent
- Job 13:27 Lit. inscribe a print
- Job 13:27 Lit. roots
- Job 13:28 Lit. He
- Job 14:1 turmoil
- Job 14:3 LXX, Syr., Vg. him
- Job 14:6 Lit. cease
- Job 14:10 lies prostrate
- Job 14:10 expires
- Job 14:17 Lit. plaster over
- Job 15:2 Lit. his belly
- Job 15:4 meditation or complaint
- Job 15:11 Or a secret thing
- Job 15:12 Or why do your eyes flash
- Job 15:19 Or earth
- Job 15:21 Terrifying
- Job 15:24 attack
- Job 16:2 Troublesome
- Job 16:3 Empty words
- Job 16:13 Lit. kidneys
- Job 16:14 Vg. giant
- Job 16:15 Lit. horn
- Job 16:16 Lit. red
- Job 16:21 friend
- Job 17:2 Lit. lodge
- Job 17:10 So with some Heb. mss., LXX, Syr., Vg.; MT, Tg. all of them
- Job 17:11 desires
- Job 17:16 The abode of the dead
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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