The Jews Destroy Their Enemies

(A)Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, (B)on the thirteenth day of the same, (C)when the king's command and edict were about to be carried out, (D)on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them. (E)The Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could stand against them, (F)for the fear of them had fallen on all peoples. All the officials of the provinces and (G)the satraps and the governors and the royal agents also helped the Jews, for the fear of Mordecai had fallen on them. For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces, for the man Mordecai grew (H)more and more powerful. The Jews struck all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and did as they pleased to those who hated them. In Susa the citadel itself the Jews killed and destroyed 500 men, and also killed Parshandatha and Dalphon and Aspatha and Poratha and Adalia and Aridatha and Parmashta and Arisai and Aridai and Vaizatha, 10 (I)the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, (J)the enemy of the Jews, (K)but they laid no hand on the plunder.

11 That very day the number of those killed in Susa the citadel was reported to the king. 12 And the king said to Queen Esther, “In Susa the citadel the Jews have killed and destroyed 500 men and also the ten sons of Haman. What then have they done in the rest of the king's provinces! (L)Now what is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what further is your request? It shall be fulfilled.” 13 And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the Jews who are in Susa be allowed (M)tomorrow also to do according to this day's edict. And let the ten sons of Haman be hanged on the gallows.”[a] 14 So the king commanded this to be done. A decree was issued in Susa, and the ten sons of Haman were hanged. 15 The Jews who were in Susa gathered also on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and they killed 300 men in Susa, but they laid no hands on the plunder.

16 (N)Now the rest of the Jews who were in the king's provinces also (O)gathered to defend their lives, and got relief from their enemies and killed 75,000 of those who hated them, but they laid no hands on the plunder. 17 This was (P)on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested and made that a day of feasting and gladness. 18 But the Jews who were in Susa gathered (Q)on the thirteenth day and on the fourteenth, and rested (R)on the fifteenth day, making that a day of feasting and gladness. 19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, who live in (S)the rural towns, hold the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day for gladness and feasting, as (T)a holiday, and (U)as a day on which they send gifts of food to one another.

The Feast of Purim Inaugurated

20 And Mordecai recorded these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, 21 obliging them to keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same, year by year, 22 as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into (V)a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and gifts to the poor.

23 So the Jews accepted what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them. 24 For Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, (W)the enemy of all the Jews, (X)had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and (Y)had cast Pur (that is, cast lots), to crush and to destroy them. 25 But when it came before the king, he gave orders in writing (Z)that his evil plan that he had devised against the Jews (AA)should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. 26 Therefore they called these days Purim, after the term (AB)Pur. Therefore, because of all that was written in (AC)this letter, and of what they had faced in this matter, and of what had happened to them, 27 the Jews firmly obligated themselves and their offspring and (AD)all who joined them, that without fail they would keep (AE)these two days according to what was written and at the time appointed every year, 28 that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, in every clan, province, and city, and that these days of Purim should never fall into disuse among the Jews, nor should the commemoration of these days cease among their descendants.

29 Then Queen Esther, (AF)the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew gave full written authority, confirming (AG)this second letter about Purim. 30 Letters were sent to all the Jews, (AH)to the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, in words of peace and truth, 31 that these days of Purim should be observed at their appointed seasons, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther obligated them, and as they had obligated themselves and their offspring, with regard to (AI)their fasts and their lamenting. 32 The command of Esther confirmed these practices of (AJ)Purim, and it was recorded in writing.

The Greatness of Mordecai

10 King Ahasuerus imposed tax on the land and on (AK)the coastlands of the sea. And all the acts of his power and might, and the full account of the high honor of Mordecai, (AL)to which the king advanced him, are they not written in (AM)the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? For Mordecai the Jew was (AN)second in rank to King Ahasuerus, and he was great among the Jews and popular with the multitude of his brothers, for he (AO)sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people.

Job's Character and Wealth

There was a man in the land of (AP)Uz whose name was (AQ)Job, and that man was (AR)blameless and upright, one who (AS)feared God and (AT)turned away from evil. There were born to him (AU)seven sons and three daughters. He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all (AV)the people of the east. His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and (AW)consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and (AX)offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and (AY)cursed[b] God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.

Satan Allowed to Test Job

Now there was a day when (AZ)the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and (BA)Satan[c] also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From (BB)going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you (BC)considered my (BD)servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, (BE)a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put (BF)a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have (BG)blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But (BH)stretch out your hand and (BI)touch all that he has, and he will (BJ)curse you (BK)to your face.” 12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Satan Takes Job's Property and Children

13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, 14 and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and (BL)the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants[d] with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, (BM)“The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, (BN)“The Chaldeans formed (BO)three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, (BP)“Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, 19 and behold, a great wind came across (BQ)the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

20 Then Job arose and (BR)tore his (BS)robe and (BT)shaved his head (BU)and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, (BV)“Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I (BW)return. The Lord (BX)gave, and the Lord has taken away; (BY)blessed be the name of the Lord.”

22 (BZ)In all this Job did not sin or charge God with (CA)wrong.

Satan Attacks Job's Health

Again (CB)there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. And the Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still (CC)holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him (CD)without reason.” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. But (CE)stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will (CF)curse you to your face.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.”

So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with loathsome (CG)sores from (CH)the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took (CI)a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in (CJ)the ashes.

Then his wife said to him, “Do you still (CK)hold fast your integrity? (CL)Curse God and die.” 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the (CM)foolish women would speak. (CN)Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?”[e] (CO)In all this Job did not (CP)sin with his lips.

Job's Three Friends

11 Now when Job's three (CQ)friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz (CR)the Temanite, Bildad (CS)the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to (CT)show him sympathy and comfort him. 12 And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they (CU)tore their robes and sprinkled (CV)dust on their heads toward heaven. 13 And they sat with him on the ground (CW)seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.

Job Laments His Birth

After this Job (CX)opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. And Job said:

(CY)“Let the day perish on which I was born,
    and the night that said,
    ‘A man is conceived.’
Let that day be darkness!
    May God above not seek it,
    nor light shine upon it.
Let gloom and (CZ)deep darkness claim it.
    Let clouds dwell upon it;
    let the blackness of the day terrify it.
That night—let thick darkness seize it!
    Let it not rejoice among the days of the year;
    let it not come into the number of the months.
Behold, let that night be barren;
    let no joyful cry enter it.
Let those curse it who curse the day,
    who are ready to rouse up (DA)Leviathan.
Let the stars of its dawn be dark;
    let it hope for light, but have none,
    nor see (DB)the eyelids of the morning,
10 because it did not shut the doors of my mother's womb,
    nor hide trouble from my eyes.

11 “Why (DC)did I not die at birth,
    come out from the womb and expire?
12 Why did (DD)the knees receive me?
    Or why the breasts, that I should nurse?
13 For then I would have lain down and been quiet;
    I would have slept; then I would have been at rest,
14 with kings and counselors of the earth
    who (DE)rebuilt ruins for themselves,
15 or with princes who had gold,
    who filled their houses with silver.
16 Or why was I not as a hidden (DF)stillborn child,
    as infants who never see the light?
17 There the wicked cease from troubling,
    and there the weary are at (DG)rest.
18 There the prisoners are at ease together;
    they hear not the voice of (DH)the taskmaster.
19 The small and the great are there,
    and the slave is free from his master.

20 “Why is light given to him who is in misery,
    and life to (DI)the bitter in soul,
21 who (DJ)long for death, but it comes not,
    and dig for it more than for (DK)hidden treasures,
22 who rejoice exceedingly
    and are glad when they find the grave?
23 Why is light given to a man whose (DL)way is hidden,
    whom God has (DM)hedged in?
24 For my sighing comes (DN)instead of[f] my bread,
    and my (DO)groanings are poured out like water.
25 (DP)For the thing that I fear comes upon me,
    and what I dread befalls me.
26 I am not at ease, nor am I quiet;
    I have no rest, but trouble comes.”

Footnotes

  1. Esther 9:13 Or wooden beam; also verse 25 (see note on 2:23)
  2. Job 1:5 The Hebrew word bless is used euphemistically for curse in 1:5, 11; 2:5, 9
  3. Job 1:6 Hebrew the Accuser or the Adversary; so throughout chapters 1–2
  4. Job 1:15 Hebrew the young men; also verses 16, 17
  5. Job 2:10 Or disaster; also verse 11
  6. Job 3:24 Or like; Hebrew before

On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar,(A) the edict commanded by the king was to be carried out. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but now the tables were turned and the Jews got the upper hand(B) over those who hated them.(C) The Jews assembled in their cities(D) in all the provinces of King Xerxes to attack those determined to destroy them. No one could stand against them,(E) because the people of all the other nationalities were afraid of them. And all the nobles of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and the king’s administrators helped the Jews,(F) because fear of Mordecai had seized them.(G) Mordecai(H) was prominent(I) in the palace; his reputation spread throughout the provinces, and he became more and more powerful.(J)

The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them,(K) and they did what they pleased to those who hated them. In the citadel of Susa, the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men. They also killed Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai and Vaizatha, 10 the ten sons(L) of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews.(M) But they did not lay their hands on the plunder.(N)

11 The number of those killed in the citadel of Susa was reported to the king that same day. 12 The king said to Queen Esther, “The Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men and the ten sons of Haman in the citadel of Susa. What have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? Now what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? It will also be granted.”(O)

13 “If it pleases the king,” Esther answered, “give the Jews in Susa permission to carry out this day’s edict tomorrow also, and let Haman’s ten sons(P) be impaled(Q) on poles.”

14 So the king commanded that this be done. An edict was issued in Susa, and they impaled(R) the ten sons of Haman. 15 The Jews in Susa came together on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, and they put to death in Susa three hundred men, but they did not lay their hands on the plunder.(S)

16 Meanwhile, the remainder of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces also assembled to protect themselves and get relief(T) from their enemies.(U) They killed seventy-five thousand of them(V) but did not lay their hands on the plunder.(W) 17 This happened on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting(X) and joy.

18 The Jews in Susa, however, had assembled on the thirteenth and fourteenth, and then on the fifteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy.

19 That is why rural Jews—those living in villages—observe the fourteenth of the month of Adar(Y) as a day of joy and feasting, a day for giving presents to each other.(Z)

Purim Established

20 Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, 21 to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar 22 as the time when the Jews got relief(AA) from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration.(AB) He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food(AC) to one another and gifts to the poor.(AD)

23 So the Jews agreed to continue the celebration they had begun, doing what Mordecai had written to them. 24 For Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite,(AE) the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them and had cast the pur(AF) (that is, the lot(AG)) for their ruin and destruction.(AH) 25 But when the plot came to the king’s attention,[a] he issued written orders that the evil scheme Haman had devised against the Jews should come back onto his own head,(AI) and that he and his sons should be impaled(AJ) on poles.(AK) 26 (Therefore these days were called Purim, from the word pur.(AL)) Because of everything written in this letter and because of what they had seen and what had happened to them, 27 the Jews took it on themselves to establish the custom that they and their descendants and all who join them should without fail observe these two days every year, in the way prescribed and at the time appointed. 28 These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city. And these days of Purim should never fail to be celebrated by the Jews—nor should the memory of these days die out among their descendants.

29 So Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail,(AM) along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter concerning Purim. 30 And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews in the 127 provinces(AN) of Xerxes’ kingdom—words of goodwill and assurance— 31 to establish these days of Purim at their designated times, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had decreed for them, and as they had established for themselves and their descendants in regard to their times of fasting(AO) and lamentation.(AP) 32 Esther’s decree confirmed these regulations about Purim, and it was written down in the records.

The Greatness of Mordecai

10 King Xerxes imposed tribute throughout the empire, to its distant shores.(AQ) And all his acts of power and might, together with a full account of the greatness of Mordecai,(AR) whom the king had promoted,(AS) are they not written in the book of the annals(AT) of the kings of Media and Persia? Mordecai the Jew was second(AU) in rank(AV) to King Xerxes,(AW) preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.(AX)

Prologue

In the land of Uz(AY) there lived a man whose name was Job.(AZ) This man was blameless(BA) and upright;(BB) he feared God(BC) and shunned evil.(BD) He had seven sons(BE) and three daughters,(BF) and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys,(BG) and had a large number of servants.(BH) He was the greatest man(BI) among all the people of the East.(BJ)

His sons used to hold feasts(BK) in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified.(BL) Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering(BM) for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned(BN) and cursed God(BO) in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.

One day the angels[b](BP) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan[c](BQ) also came with them.(BR) The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”(BS)

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job?(BT) There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God(BU) and shuns evil.”(BV)

“Does Job fear God for nothing?”(BW) Satan replied. 10 “Have you not put a hedge(BX) around him and his household and everything he has?(BY) You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.(BZ) 11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has,(CA) and he will surely curse you to your face.”(CB)

12 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has(CC) is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”(CD)

Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters(CE) were feasting(CF) and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing(CG) nearby, 15 and the Sabeans(CH) attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens(CI) and burned up the sheep and the servants,(CJ) and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans(CK) formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters(CL) were feasting(CM) and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind(CN) swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead,(CO) and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!(CP)

20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe(CQ) and shaved his head.(CR) Then he fell to the ground in worship(CS) 21 and said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
    and naked I will depart.[d](CT)
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;(CU)
    may the name of the Lord be praised.”(CV)

22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.(CW)

On another day the angels[e](CX) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them(CY) to present himself before him. And the Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”(CZ)

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.(DA) And he still maintains his integrity,(DB) though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”(DC)

“Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has(DD) for his own life. But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones,(DE) and he will surely curse you to your face.”(DF)

The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands;(DG) but you must spare his life.”(DH)

So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.(DI) Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.(DJ)

His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity?(DK) Curse God and die!”(DL)

10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish[f] woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”(DM)

In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.(DN)

11 When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite,(DO) Bildad the Shuhite(DP) and Zophar the Naamathite,(DQ) heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him.(DR) 12 When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him;(DS) they began to weep aloud,(DT) and they tore their robes(DU) and sprinkled dust on their heads.(DV) 13 Then they sat on the ground(DW) with him for seven days and seven nights.(DX) No one said a word to him,(DY) because they saw how great his suffering was.

Job Speaks

After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.(DZ) He said:

“May the day of my birth perish,
    and the night that said, ‘A boy is conceived!’(EA)
That day—may it turn to darkness;
    may God above not care about it;
    may no light shine on it.
May gloom and utter darkness(EB) claim it once more;
    may a cloud settle over it;
    may blackness overwhelm it.
That night—may thick darkness(EC) seize it;
    may it not be included among the days of the year
    nor be entered in any of the months.
May that night be barren;
    may no shout of joy(ED) be heard in it.
May those who curse days[g] curse that day,(EE)
    those who are ready to rouse Leviathan.(EF)
May its morning stars become dark;
    may it wait for daylight in vain
    and not see the first rays of dawn,(EG)
10 for it did not shut the doors of the womb on me
    to hide trouble from my eyes.

11 “Why did I not perish at birth,
    and die as I came from the womb?(EH)
12 Why were there knees to receive me(EI)
    and breasts that I might be nursed?
13 For now I would be lying down(EJ) in peace;
    I would be asleep and at rest(EK)
14 with kings and rulers of the earth,(EL)
    who built for themselves places now lying in ruins,(EM)
15 with princes(EN) who had gold,
    who filled their houses with silver.(EO)
16 Or why was I not hidden away in the ground like a stillborn child,(EP)
    like an infant who never saw the light of day?(EQ)
17 There the wicked cease from turmoil,(ER)
    and there the weary are at rest.(ES)
18 Captives(ET) also enjoy their ease;
    they no longer hear the slave driver’s(EU) shout.(EV)
19 The small and the great are there,(EW)
    and the slaves are freed from their owners.

20 “Why is light given to those in misery,
    and life to the bitter of soul,(EX)
21 to those who long for death that does not come,(EY)
    who search for it more than for hidden treasure,(EZ)
22 who are filled with gladness
    and rejoice when they reach the grave?(FA)
23 Why is life given to a man
    whose way is hidden,(FB)
    whom God has hedged in?(FC)
24 For sighing(FD) has become my daily food;(FE)
    my groans(FF) pour out like water.(FG)
25 What I feared has come upon me;
    what I dreaded(FH) has happened to me.(FI)
26 I have no peace,(FJ) no quietness;
    I have no rest,(FK) but only turmoil.”(FL)

Footnotes

  1. Esther 9:25 Or when Esther came before the king
  2. Job 1:6 Hebrew the sons of God
  3. Job 1:6 Hebrew satan means adversary.
  4. Job 1:21 Or will return there
  5. Job 2:1 Hebrew the sons of God
  6. Job 2:10 The Hebrew word rendered foolish denotes moral deficiency.
  7. Job 3:8 Or curse the sea