And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.


Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.


Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.


And I made treasurers over the treasuries, 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 counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.


Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.


In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.


There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.


Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?


Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.


And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.


So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.


Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath.


And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.


In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:


And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.


And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.


Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.


Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?


And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me.


Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.


Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;


And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.


Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)


That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,


In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:


When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.


And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace;


Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble.


And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king.


And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.


Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.


On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,


To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.


But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.


Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment:


And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)


What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?


And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.


For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.


Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.


If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.


And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.


And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:


For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people.


After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.


Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:


And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them:


And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.


Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;


Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.


And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.


So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.


And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.


Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.


And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.


Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)


Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house.


In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.


Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.


So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.


And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.


Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.


And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.


Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.


In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.


And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name.


And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.


After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.


And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.


Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?


Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.


And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.


And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.


In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.


And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.


If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.


And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.


And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.


Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.


And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.


The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.


The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.


When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;


And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.


And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.


So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not.


Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.


So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate.


And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.


Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.


And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.


Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;


All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.


And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.


Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.


For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?


Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,


Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.


Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.


And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.


Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.


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


Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.


And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.


Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is;


If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king hath said.


Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.


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


And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.


Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king.


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


Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and tomorrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.


On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.


And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.


And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.


And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.


And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.


So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?


And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour,


Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head:


And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.


Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou has spoken.


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


And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.


And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.


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


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


Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:


For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.


Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?


And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.


And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.


Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.


And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.


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


And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.


And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.


Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,


And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces:


For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?


Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.


Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.


Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.


And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:


Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,


Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.


The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.


So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.


And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.


The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.


And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.


Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;)


The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.


And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.


For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.


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.


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


And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha,


And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,


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


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


On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king.


And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king's provinces? now what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done.


Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do tomorrow also according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.


And the king commanded it so to be done: and the decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons.


For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand.


But the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,


On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.


But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof; and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.


Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.


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


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


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.


And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;


Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;


But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.


Wherefore they called these days 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,


The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year;


And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed.


Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim.


And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,


To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.


And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.


And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea.


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


For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.


There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.


And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.


His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.


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.


And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.


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


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


And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?


Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?


Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.


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


And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.


And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:


And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:


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


While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.


While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans 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.


While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:


And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.


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


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


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


Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.


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


And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.


And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.


But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.


And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.


So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.


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


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


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


Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.


And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.


So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.


After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.


And Job spake, and said,


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


Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.


Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.


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.


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


Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.


Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day:


Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.


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


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


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


With kings and counsellers of the earth, which built desolate places for themselves;


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


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


There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.


There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor.


The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master.


Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;


Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;


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


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


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


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


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


Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,


If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?


Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.


Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.


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


Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?


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


Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.


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


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


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


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


In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,


Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.


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


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,


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


Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:


How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?


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


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


Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the saints wilt thou turn?


For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.


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


His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them.


Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh it even out of the thorns, and the robber swalloweth up their substance.


Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground;


Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.


I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:


Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number:


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


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


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


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


They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night.


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


But Job answered and said,


Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!


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


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.


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


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


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


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


Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!


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.


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.


The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.


They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.


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


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


Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?


Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.


How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?


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


Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.


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


Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.


Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?


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


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


So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.


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.


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


O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.


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


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


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.


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


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


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


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


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


What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?


And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?


How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?


I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?


And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.


Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,


How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?


Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?


If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;


If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;


If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.


Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.


For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:


(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)


Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?


Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?


Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.


So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:


Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web.


He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.


He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.


His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.


If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.


Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.


Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:


Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.


They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.


Then Job answered and said,


I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?


If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.


He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?


Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.


Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.


Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.


Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.


Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.


Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.


Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.


Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?


If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.


How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?


Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.


If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.


For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.


He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.


If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?


If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.


Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.


This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.


If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.


The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?


Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.


They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.


If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:


I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.


If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?


If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;


Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.


For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.


Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.


Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:


Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.


My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.


I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.


Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?


Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth?


Are thy days as the days of man? are thy years as man's days,


That thou inquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin?


Thou knowest that I am not wicked; and there is none that can deliver out of thine hand.


Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me.


Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again?


Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?


Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews.


Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.


And these things hast thou hid in thine heart: I know that this is with thee.


If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.


If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction;


For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion: and again thou shewest thyself marvellous upon me.


Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thine indignation upon me; changes and war are against me.


Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!


I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.


Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,


Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;


A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.


Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,


Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?


Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?


For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.


But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;


And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.


Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?


It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?


The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.


If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?


For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?


For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt.


If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;


If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.


For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:


Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:


And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.


And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.


Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.


But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.


And Job answered and said,


No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.


But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?


I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.


He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.


The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.


But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:


Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.


Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?


In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.


Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?


With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.


With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.


Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.


Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.


With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.


He leadeth counsellers away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.


He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.


He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.


He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.


He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.


He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.


He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.


He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.


They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.


Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.


What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.


Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.


But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.


O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.


Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.


Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?


Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?


Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?


He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.


Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?


Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.


Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.


Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?


Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.


He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.


Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.


Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.


Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.


Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.


Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.


Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.


How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.


Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?


Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?


For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.


Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.


And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.


Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.


He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.


And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?


Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.


Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;


Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.


For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.


Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;


Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.


But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?


As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:


So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.


O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!


If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.


Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.


For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?


My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity.


And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place.


The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.


Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.


His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.


But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.


Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,


Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?


Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?


Yea, thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God.


For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.


Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testify against thee.


Art thou the first man that was born? or wast thou made before the hills?


Hast thou heard the secret of God? and dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself?


What knowest thou, that we know not? what understandest thou, which is not in us?


With us are both the grayheaded and very aged men, much elder than thy father.


Are the consolations of God small with thee? is there any secret thing with thee?


Why doth thine heart carry thee away? and what do thy eyes wink at,


That thou turnest thy spirit against God, and lettest such words go out of thy mouth?


What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?


Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.


How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?


I will shew thee, hear me; and that which I have seen I will declare;


Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hid it:


Unto whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger passed among them.


The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor.


A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.


He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, and he is waited for of the sword.


He wandereth abroad for bread, saying, Where is it? he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.


Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid; they shall prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle.


For he stretcheth out his hand against God, and strengtheneth himself against the Almighty.


He runneth upon him, even on his neck, upon the thick bosses of his bucklers:


Because he covereth his face with his fatness, and maketh collops of fat on his flanks.


And he dwelleth in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabiteth, which are ready to become heaps.


He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he prolong the perfection thereof upon the earth.


He shall not depart out of darkness; the flame shall dry up his branches, and by the breath of his mouth shall he go away.


Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence.


It shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch shall not be green.


He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and shall cast off his flower as the olive.


For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.


They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit.


I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.


Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?


I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.


But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.


Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?


But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.


And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.


He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.


They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.


God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.


I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.


His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.


He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.


I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.


My face is foul with weeping, and my eyelids is the shadow of death;


Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.


O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.


Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.


My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.


O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!


When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.


My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.


Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?


Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?


For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.


He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.


He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.


Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.


Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.


The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.


But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.


My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.


They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.


If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.


I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou are my mother, and my sister.


And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?


They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.


How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.


Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight?


He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?


Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine.


The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him.


The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down.


For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare.


The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him.


The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way.


Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet.


His strength shall be hungerbitten, and destruction shall be ready at his side.


It shall devour the strength of his skin: even the firstborn of death shall devour his strength.


His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors.


It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his: brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.


His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off.


His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street.


He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings.


They that come after him shall be astonied at his day, as they that went before were affrighted.


Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God.


How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?


These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me.


And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.


If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach:


Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net.


Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.


He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.


He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.


He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.


He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies.


His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle.


He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me.


My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.


They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight.


I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth.


My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's sake of mine own body.


Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me.


All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.


My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.


Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.


Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?


Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!


That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!


For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:


And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:


Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.


But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?


Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.


Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.


I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.


Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,


That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?


Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;


Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?


He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.


The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.


His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.


His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.


Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;


Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:


Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.


He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.


He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him.


He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.


That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.


Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;


Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.


There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.


In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.


When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.


He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.


It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.


All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.


The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.


The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.


This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.


Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.


Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.


As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?


Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.


Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.


Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?


Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.


Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.


They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.


They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.


They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.


Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.


What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?


Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.


How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.


They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.


God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.


His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.


For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?


Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.


One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.


His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.


And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.


They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.


Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.


For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?


Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,


That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.


Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?


Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.


The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.


How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?


Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?


Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him that thou makest thy ways perfect?


Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?


Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?


For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.


Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.


But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it.


Thou has sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.


Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee;


Or darkness, that thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee.


Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!


And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?


Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.


Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?


Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:


Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?


Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.


The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.


Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth.


Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.


Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.


If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.


Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.


Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver.


For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.


Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.


Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.


When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.


He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.


Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.


Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!


I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.


I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.


Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.


There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.


Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:


On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:


But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.


My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.


Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.


But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.


For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.


Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.


For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:


Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.


Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?


Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof.


They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge.


They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together.


Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children.


They reap every one his corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked.


They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold.


They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.


They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor.


They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry;


Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.


Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them.


They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.


The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief.


The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face.


In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light.


For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.


He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards.


Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned.


The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree.


He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow.


He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life.


Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways.


They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn.


And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?


Dominion and fear are with him, he maketh peace in his high places.


Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his light arise?


How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?


Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight.


How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?


How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?


How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?


To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?


Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.


Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.


He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.


He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.


He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it.


He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.


The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.


He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.


By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.


Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?


Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,


As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul;


All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;


My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.


God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.


My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.


Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.


For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?


Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?


Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?


I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.


Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye thus altogether vain?


This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty.


If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.


Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep.


Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;


He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.


He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth that the keeper maketh.


The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he is not.


Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night.


The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: and as a storm hurleth him out of his place.


For God shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand.


Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it.


Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone.


He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.


The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men.


As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire.


The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold.


There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen:


The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it.


He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots.


He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing.


He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light.


But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?


Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.


The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.


It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.


It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.


The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.


No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.


The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.


Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?


Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.


Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.


God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.


For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;


To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.


When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:


Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out.


And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.


Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;


When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;


As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;


When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;


When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;


When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!


The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.


The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.


The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.


When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:


Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.


The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.


I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.


I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.


I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.


And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.


Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.


My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.


My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.


Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.


After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.


And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.


If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.


I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.


But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.


Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished?


For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste.


Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their meat.


They were driven forth from among men, (they cried after them as after a thief;)


To dwell in the clifts of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.


Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together.


They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth.


And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword.


They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.


Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me.


Upon my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction.


They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no helper.


They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me.


Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud.


And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me.


My bones are pierced in me in the night season: and my sinews take no rest.


By the great force of my disease is my garment changed: it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat.


He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes.


I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not.


Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me.


Thou liftest me up to the wind; thou causest me to ride upon it, and dissolvest my substance.


For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.


Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, though they cry in his destruction.


Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor?


When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness.


My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented me.


I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried in the congregation.


I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.


My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.


My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep.


I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?


For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?


Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?


Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?


If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;


Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.


If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;


Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.


If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door;


Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.


For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.


For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.


If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;


What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?


Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?


If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;


Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;


(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;)