ESTHER.

3 And the king faid, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then faid the king's fervants that miniflered unto him, There is nothing2 And the king faid again unto Efther, done for him. on the fecond day, at the banquet of wine, 4 And the king faid, Who is in the What is thy petition, queen Esther? And court? Now Hamian was come into the it fhall be granted thee: and, What is thy outward court of the king's houfe to speak requeft? and it shall be performed, even into the king to hang Mordecai on the to the half of the kingdom. gallows that he had prepared for him

6 So Haman came in. And the king faid unto him, What thall be done unto 4 For we are fold, I and my people, to the man whom the king delighteth to be deftroyed, to be flain, and to perish. honour Now Taman thought in his But if we had been fold for bondinen and heart, To whom would the king delight bondwomen, I had held my tongue, alto do honour more than to myfelf? though the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.

Haman banged.

Chap. viii. ix.

Mordecal's honour. 429 And the king arifing from the ban-which is written in the king's name, and quet of wine in his wrath went into the fealed with the king's ring, may no man palace garden and Haman ftood up to reverie.

make request for his life to Efther the 9 Then were the king's fcribes called queen; for he faw that there was evil de-at that time in the third month, that is, termined against him by the king. the month Sivan, on the three and twen

8 Then the king returned out of the tieth day thereof; and it was written acpalace garden into the place of the ban-cording to all that Mordecai command, quet of wine; and Haman was fallen up-¦ed unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, on the bed whereon Elther was Then and the deputies and rulers of the provfaid the king, Will he force the queen alfo inces which are from India unto Ethiobefore me in the houfe? As the word pia, an hundred twenty and seven provwent out of the king's mouth, they covinces, unto every province according to ered Haman's face. the writing thereof, and unto every peo, 9 And Harbonah, one of the chamber-ple after their language, and to the Jews lains, faid before the king, Behold alfo, according to their writing, and according the gallows fifty cubits high, which Ha- to their language. man had made for Mordecai, who had Spoken good for the king, ftandeth in the houfe of Haman. Then the king faid, Hang him thereon.

10 And he wrote in the king Ahafuerus's name, and fealed it with the king's ring, and fent letters by posts on horfe back, and riders on mules, camels, and

10 So they hanged Haman on the gal-young dromedaries: lows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.

CHAP. VIII.

1 Mordecai advanced. Abafuerus grant eth to the Jews to defend themselves. 15 Mordecai's bonour, and the Jews' joy ON that day did the king Ahafuerus give the houfe of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Efther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Efther had told what he was unto her.

11 Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themfelves together, and to stand for their life, to deftiov, to flay, and to caufe to perish, all the power of the people and province that would affault them, borb little ones and women, and to take the (poil of them for a prey,

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

2 And the king took off his ring which he had taken from Haman, and gave it 13 The copy of the writing for a comunto Mordecai. And Ether fet Morde-mandment to be given in every province, cai over the houfe of Haman. was published unto all people, and that the Jews fhould be ready against that day to avenge themfelves on their enemies.

S And Efther fpake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and befought him with tears to put away the mifchief of Haman the Agagite,and his device that he had devised against the Jews. 4 Then the king held out the golden fceptre toward Ether. So Efther arofe, and stood before the king,

5 And faid, Ifit pleate the king, and if I have found favour in his fight, and the thing feem right before the king, and I be pleating in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters deviled by Haman, the fon of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to deftroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces:

6 For, How can I endure to fee the evil that fha come unto my people? or, How can I endure to fee the deftruction of my kindred?

7¶Then the king Ahafuerus faid unto Efther the queen and to Mordecai the! Jew, Behold, I have given Efther the houfe of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.

14. So the pofts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being haftened and preffed on by the king's commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.

15 ¶ And Mordecai went out from the prefence 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.

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

17 And in every province, and in every city, whitherfoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladnefs, a feaft and a good day. And many of the people of the land be came Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.

1

CHAP. IX.

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

NOW in the twelfth month, that is, 8 Write ye alfo for the Jews, as it lik-the month Adar, on the thirteenth eth you, in the king's name, and feal it day of the fame, when the king's comwith the king's ring: for the writing mandment and his decree drew near to

be

430 The Jews flay their enemies, ESTHER. with the ten fons of Haman. be put in execution, in the day that the 17 On the thirteenth day of the month enemies of the Jews hoped to have power Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the over them, (though it was turned to the fame refted they, and made it a day of contrary, that the Jews had rule over feafting and gladness. them that hated them ;)

18 But the Jews that were at Shushan 2 The Jews gathered themselves to- affembled together on the thirteenth day gether in their cities throughout all the thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; provinces of the king Ahafuerus, to lay and on the fifteenth day of the fame they hand on fuch as fought their hurt and refted, and made it a day of feafting and no man could withffand them for the gladness : fear of them fell upon all people.

19 Therefore the Jews of the villages 3 And all the rulers of the provinces, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made and the lieutenants,and the deputies, and the fourteenth day of the month Adar officers of the king, helped the Jews; be- a day of gladness and feafting, and a caufe the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.good day, and of fending portions one to 4 For Mordecai was great in the king's another. houfe, and his fame went out throughout 20 And Mordecai wrote these things, all the provinces; for this man Mordecai and fent letters unto all the Jews that waxed greater and greater. were in all the provinces of the king Ahafuerus, both nigh and far,

5 Thus the Jews fmote all their enemies with the ftroke of the fword, and flaughter, and deftruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them. 6 And in Shushan the palace, the Jews flew and destroyed five hundred men. 7 And Parthandatha, and Dalphon,and Afpatha,

And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,

9 And Parmahta, and Arifai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha,

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

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

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

22 As the days wherein the Jews refted from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from forrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day that they fhould make them days of feafting and joy, and of fending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.

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

24 Because Haman the fon of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devifed against the Jews to deftroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to confume them, and to deftroy them;

12 And the king faid unto Efther the queen, The Jews have flain and defroyed five hundred men in Shufhan the palace, 25 But when Efther came before the and the ten fons of Haman; What have king, he commanded by letters that his they done in the rest of the king's prov-wicked device, which he devised against inces? Now, What is thy petition and it the Jews fhould return upon his own head, fhall be granted thee: or, What is thy and that he and his fons should be hanged request further? and it fhall be done. on the gallows.

is Then faid Ether, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shufhan, to do tomorrow alfo according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten fons be hanged upon the gallows.

14 And the king commanded it fo to be done and the decree was given at Shufhan; and they hanged Haman's ten fons. 15 For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themfelves together on the fourteenth day alfo of the month Adar, and flew three hundred men at Shuthan; but on the prey they laid not their hand.

26 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 feen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them,

27 The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their feed, and upon all fuch as joined themfelves unto them, fo as it should not fail, that they would keep thefe two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year;

28 And that thefe days bould be re15 But the other Jews that were in the membered and kept throughout every king's provinces gathered themfelves to-generation, every family, every province gether, and ftood for their lives, and had and every city; and that thefe days of reft from their enemies, and flew of their Purim thould not fail from among the foes feventy and five thoufand, but they Jews, nor the memorial of them perish laid not their hands on the prey : from their feed.

29 Then

29 Then Efther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, 1 Abafuerus's greatness. 3 Mordecai's wrote with all authority, to confirm this fecond letter of Purim.

THE BOOK OF JOB.

17 While he was yet fpeaking, there came alfo another, and faid, The Chal7 And the LORD faid unto Satan, deans made out three bands, and fell upWhence comeft thou? Then Satan an- on the camels, and have carried them a fwered the LORD, and faid, from going way, yea, and flain the fervants with the to and fro in the earth, and from walk-jedge of the fword; and I only am escaing up and down in it. ped alone to tell thee.

8 And the LORD faid unto Satan, Hast 18 While he was yet fpeaking, there thou confidered my fervant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and efcheweth evil?

432 Job Smitten with boils.

He curferb the day of his birib er to come to mourn with him, and to comfort him.

јов. upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am efcaped alone to tell

thee.

20 Then Job arofe, and rent his mantle, and fhaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21 And faid, Naked came out of my mother's womb, and naked fhall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; bleffed be the name of the LORD.

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

CHAP. I.

1 Satan appearing again before God, ob
sainetb further leave to tempt Job
He jmite h bim with fore boils. 9 Job
reproveth his wife moving him to curse
God.

AGAIN there was a day when the fons of God came to prefent themselves before the LORD, and Satan came alfo among them to prefent himself before the LORD. 2 And the LORD faid unto Satan, From whence comeft thou? And Satan anfwered the LORD, and faid, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

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

4 And Satan anfwered the LORD, and faid, Skin for fkin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.

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

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

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

CHAP III.

1 Job curfeth the day and fervices of bis birth. 13 The cafe of death. AFTER this opened Job his mouth, and curfed his day.

2 And Job fpake and faid,

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

4 Let that day be darknefs: let not God regard it from above, neither let the light mine upon it.

5 Let darknefs and the fhadow of death, ftain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.

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

7 Lo, let that night be folitary, let no joy ful voice come therein.

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

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

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

11 Why died I not from the womb 6 And the LORD faid unto Satan, Be-Why did I not give up the ghoft when I hold, he is in thine hand; but fave his came out of the belly?

life.

12 Why did the knees prevent me?

7 So went Satan forth from the pref-or, Why the breafts that I thould fuck? ence of the LORD, and fmote Job with fore boils from the fole of his foot unto his crown.

8 And he took him a potfnerd to fcrape himself withal; and he fat down among the ashes.

9 Then faid his wife unto him, Ďost thou ftill retain thine integrity God, and die.

Curfe

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

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

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

16 Or as an hidden untimely birth I 10 But he faid unto her, Thou speakeft had not been; as infants which never as one of the foolish women fpeaketh.faw light.

What! Shall we receive good at the hand 17 There the wicked céafe from troub of God, and, Shall we not receive evil?ling; and there the weary be at reft. In all this did not Job fin with his lips. 18 There the prifoners reft together; 11 Now when Job's three friends heard they hear not the voice of the oppreffor. 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 togeth-in foul;

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

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

21 Which