The Jews slay their enemies.

ESTHER.

They establish a festival.

2 The Jews gathered themselves toge- thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and ther in their cities throughout all the pro- on the fifteenth day of the same they restvinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand ed, and made it a day of feasting and on such as sought their hurt and no man gladness. could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.

:

19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made 3 And all the rulers of the provinces, the fourteenth day of the month Adara day and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and of gladness and feasting, and a good day, officers of the king helped the Jews; be- and of sending portions one to another. cause the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. 20 T And Mordecai wrote these things, 4 For Mordecai was great in the king's and sent letters unto all the Jews that were house, and his fame went out throughout in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, all the provinces: for this man Mordecai both nigh and far, waxed greater and greater.

5 Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them.

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

7 And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha,

8 And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,

9 And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha,

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

22 As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.

23 And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written

10 The ten sons of Haman the son of Ham-unto them; medatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; 24 Because Haman the son of Hammebut on the spoil laid they not their hand. datha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the 11 On that day the number of those that Jews, had devised against the Jews to dewere slain in Shushan the palace was stroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the brought before the king. lot, to consume them, and to destroy them; 12 ¶ And the king said unto Esther the 25 But when Esther came before the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed king, he commanded by letters that his five hundred men in Shushan the palace, wicked device, which he devised against and the ten sons of Haman; what have the Jews, should return upon his own head, they done in the rest of the king's pro-and that he and his sons should be hanged vinces? now what is thy petition? and it on the gallows. shall be granted thee: or what is thy re- 26 Wherefore they called these days quest further? and it shall be done. Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them,

13 Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do to-morrow also according unto this day's decree, and let Ha- 27 The Jews ordained, and took upon man's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows. them, and upon their seed, and upon all 14 And the king commanded it so to be such as joined themselves unto them, so done and the decree was given at Shu- as it should not fail, that they would keep shan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons. these two days according to their writing, 15 For the Jews that were in Shushan and according to their appointed time evegathered themselves together on the four-ry year;

teenth day also of the month Adar, and] 28 And that these days should be reslew three hundred men at Shushan; but membered and kept throughout every geon the prey they laid not their hand. neration, every family, every province, and 16 But the other Jews that were in every city; and that these days of Purim the king's provinces gathered themselves should not fail from among the Jews, nor the together, and stood for their lives, and had memorial of them perish from their seed. rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,

29 Then Esther the queen, the daugh ter of Abihail, aud Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim.

17 On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the 30 And he sent the letters unto all the same rested they, and made it a day of Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven feasting and gladness. provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,

18 But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day

31 To confirm these days of Purim in

Satan appears before God:

CHAP. I.

He obtains leave to tempt Job.

their times appointed, according as Mor- 2 And all the acts of his power and of decai the Jew and Esther the queen had his might, and the declaration of the greatenjoined them, and as they had decreed ness of Mordecai, whereunto the king adfor themselves and for their seed, the mat-vanced him, are they not written in the ters of the fastings and their cry. book of the Chronicles of the kings of Me32 And the decree of Esther confirmed dia and Persia? these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.

CHAP. X.

3 For Mordecai the Jew was next unto_king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude

AND the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his

upon the land, and upon the isles people, and speaking peace to all his of the sea.

CHAP. I.

seed.

¶ The Book of JOB.

12 And the LORD said unto Satan, BeT HERE was a man in the land of Uz, hold, all that he hath is in thy power; only whose name was Job; and that man upon himself put not forth thy hand. So was perfect and upright, and one that Satan went forth from the presence of the feared God, and eschewed evil. LORD.

2 And there were born unto him seven

sons and three daughters.

13 T And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and 3 His substance also was seven thou-drinking wine in their eldest brother's sand sheep, and three thousand camels, house :

and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five 14 And there came a messenger unto hundred she-asses, and a very great Job, and said, The oxen were ploughing, household; so that this man was the great- and the asses feeding beside them:

est of all the men of the east.

4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

16 While he was yet speaking, there 5 And it was so, when the days of their came also another, and said, The fire of feasting were gone about, that Job sent God is fallen from heaven, and hath burnand sanctified them, and rose up early in ed up the sheep and the servants, and conthe morning, and offered burnt-offerings sumed them; and I only am escaped alone according to the number of them all for to tell thee.

:

Job said, It may be that my sons have 17 While he was yet speaking, there sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. came also another, and said, The ChalThus did Job continually.

6 Now there was a day when the Sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

deans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence 18 While he was yet speaking, there comest thou? Then Satan answered the came also another, and said, Thy LORD, and said, From going to and fro in sons and thy daughters were eating and the earth, and from walking up and down drinking wine in their eldest brother's in it. house :

8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast 19 And behold, there came a great wind thou considered my servant Job, that there from the wilderness, and smote the four és none like him in the earth, a perfect corners of the house, and it fell upon the and an upright man, one that feareth God, young men, and they are dead; and I onand escheweth evil? ly am escaped alone to tell thee.

9 Then Satan answered the LORD and 20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, said, Doth Job fear God for nought? and shaved his head, and fell down upon

10 Hast not thou made a hedge about the ground, and worshipped, him, and about his house, and about all 21 And said, Naked came I out of my that he hath on every side? thou hast bless-mother's womb, and naked shall I return ed the work of his hands, and his substance thither: The LORD gave, and the LORD Is increased in the land. hath taken away; blessed be the name of

11 But put forth thy hand now, and the LORD. touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

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

He curses the day of his birth. 4 Let that day be darkness; let not God

AGAIN there was a day when the sons regard it from above, neither let the light of God came to present themselves shine upon it.

before the LORD, and Satan came also 5 Let darkness and the shadow of death among them to present himself before the stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the LORD. blackness of the day terrify it.

2 And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

6 As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year; let it not come into the number of the months.

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

8 Let them curse it that curse the day,

3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and who are ready to raise up their mourning. an upright man, one that feareth God, and 9 Let the stars of the twilight thereof be escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast dark; let it look for light, but have none; his integrity, although thou movedst me neither let it see the dawning of the day. against him, to destroy him without cause. 10 Because it shut not up the doors of 4 And Satan answered the LORD, and my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath mine eyes. will he give for his life.

Vby

11 Why died I not from the womb? 5 But put forth thy hand now, and why did I not give up the ghost when I touch his bone and his flesh, and he will came out of the belly? curse thee to the face.

6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thy hand; but save his life. 7 ¶ So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore biles from the sole of his foot unto his

crown.

8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.

9 T Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What! shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

12 Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?

13 For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest

14 With kings and counsellors of the earth, which built desolate places for them. selves;

15 Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver:

16 Or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light. 17 There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.

18 There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor. 19 The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master. 20 Wherefore is light given to him that

11 Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul; him, they came every one from his own 21 Which long for death, but it cometh place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad not; and dig for it more than for hid treathe Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: sures;

for they had made an appointment together 22 Which rejoice exceedingly, and are to come to mourn with him, and to com- glad, when they can find the grave? 23 Why is light given to a man whose

fort him.

12 And when they lifted up their eyes way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in? afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up 24 For my sighing cometh before I eat, their voice, and wept; and they rent every and my roarings are poured out like the one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon waters. their heads toward heaven.

25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.

26 I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came. CHAP. IV.

AFTER this opened Job his mouth,HEN Eliphaz the Temanite answered

2 And Job spake, and said,

and said,

2 If we assay to commune with thee, 3 Let the day perish wherein I was wilt thou be grieved? but who can withborn, and the night in which it was said, hold himself from speaking? There is a man child conceived. 3 Behold, thou hast instructed many,

The harm of inconsideration.

CHAP. V, VI. God to be sought in affliction.

and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. [the robber swalloweth up their substance. 4 Thy words have uphelden him that] 6 Although affliction cometh not forth was falling, and thou hast strengthened of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out the feeble knees. of the ground;

5 But now it is come upon thee, and 7 Yet man is born unto trouble, as the thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou sparks fly upward. art troubled.

8 I would seek unto God, and unto God

6 Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, would I commit my cause: thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?

9 Which doeth great things and un

7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever searchable; marvellous things without perished, being innocent? or where were number: the righteous cut off?

8 Even as I have seen, they that plough iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the

same.

9 By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.

10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.

11 The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad.

12 Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.

13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men, 14 Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.

15 Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:

16 It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,

17 Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his Maker?

18 Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly 19 How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?

20 They are destroyed from morning to evening; they perish for ever without any regarding it.

21 Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom. CHAP. V.

3I have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed his habitation.

4 His children are far from safety, and

10 Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields:

11 To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.

12 He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.

13 He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.

14 They meet with darkness in the day-time, and grope in the noon-day as in the night.

15 But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty.

16 So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.

17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:

18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.

19 He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.

20 In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword.

21 Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.

22 At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.

23 For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.

24 And thou shalt know that thy taber nacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin.

25 Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth.

26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.

27 Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good. CHAP. VI.

Job answered and said,

they are crushed in the gate, neither is BUT that my grief were thoroughly

there any to deliver them.

2

5 Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, weighed, and my calamity laid in the baand taketh it even out of the thorns, and lances together!"

Job wishes for death.

He excuses that desire. 27 Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.

JOB. 3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.

4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

5 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?

6. Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

7 The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.

8.Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

28 Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie.

29 Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteous

ness is in it.

30 Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things? CHAP. VII.

there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of a hireling?

2 As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as a hireling looketh for the reward of his work:

3 So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appoint

9 Even that it would please God to de-ed to me. stroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

10 Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

11 What is my strength, that I should hope? And what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?

12 Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?

13 Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?

14 To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;

16 Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:

17 What time they wax warm, they vanish when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

18 The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish. 19 The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them. 20 They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.

21 For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.

22 Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?

4 When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.

5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.

6 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope. 7 O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.

8 The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.

9 As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.

10 He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.

11 Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

12 Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?

13 When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;

14 Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:

15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.

16 I loathe it; I would not live always: let me alone; for my days are vanity.

17 What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set

23 Or, Deliver me from the enemy's thy heart upon him? hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?

18 And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment? 24 Teach me, and I will hold my 19 How long wilt thou not depart from tongue and cause me to understand me, nor let me alone till I swallow down wherein I have erred. my spittle?

25 How forcible are right words! but 20 I have sinned; what shall I do unto what doth your arguing reprove? thee, O thou Preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?

26 Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?

21 And why dost thou not pardon my