5,405 verses contain “com” (in the KJV: 4,378, in the BSB: 3,179) — showing 1,801–1,900
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But if ye turn unto me, and keep my
commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the
uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.
but if you return to Me and keep and practice My
commandments, then even if your exiles have been banished to the
farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for My Name.’
Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah;
I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may letters be given to me for the governors west of the Euphrates, so that they will grant me safe passage until I reach Judah.
But when
Sanballat the Horonite and
Tobiah the
Ammonite official heard about this, they were deeply disturbed that someone had
come to seek the well-being of the Israelites.
Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.
Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned down. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we will no longer be a disgrace.”
And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they
fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the
rubbish which are burned?
before his associates and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore the wall by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they
complete it in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of
rubble?”
And
conspired all of them together to
come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.
And our
adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we
come in the midst among them, and
slay them, and cause the work to cease.
And our enemies said, “Before they know or see a thing, we will come into their midst, kill them, and put an end to the work.”
And I was very
angry when I heard their cry and these words.
When I heard their outcry and these
complaints, I became extremely
angry,
That
Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying,
Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “
Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were
planning to
harm me.
And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?
So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it to go down to you?”
And thou hast also appointed prophets to
preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words.
Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.
and you have even appointed prophets in Jerusalem to
proclaim on your behalf: ‘There is a king in Judah.’ Soon these rumors will reach the ears of the king. So
come, let us
confer together.”
Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will
come to
slay thee;
yea, in the night will they
come to
slay thee.
Later, I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his house. He said: “Let us meet at the house of God inside the temple. Let us shut the temple doors because they are coming to kill you— by night they are coming to kill you!”
So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month
Elul, in fifty and two days.
So the wall was
completed in fifty-two days, on the twenty-fifth of
Elul.
That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.
Then I put my brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem, along with Hananiah the commander of the fortress, because he was a faithful man who feared God more than most.
And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto
Ezra the
scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had
commanded to Israel.
At that time all the people gathered together in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked
Ezra the
scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had
commanded for Israel.
And they found written in the law which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month:
And they found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month.
And all the congregation of them that were
come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of
Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great
gladness.
The whole assembly who had returned from exile made booths and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of
Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated like this. And there was great
rejoicing.
Thou camest down also upon mount
Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and
commandments:
You came down on Mount
Sinai and spoke with them from heaven. You gave them just ordinances, true laws, and good statutes and
commandments.
And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant:
You revealed to them Your holy Sabbath and gave them commandments and statutes and laws through Your servant Moses.
But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and
hardened their necks, and
hearkened not to thy
commandments,
But they and our fathers became
arrogant and stiff-necked and did not obey Your
commandments.
And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou
didst among them; but
hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their
bondage: but thou art a God ready to
pardon,
gracious and
merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.
They refused to
listen and failed to remember the wonders You performed among them. They
stiffened their necks and appointed a leader to return them to their
bondage in Egypt. But You are a
forgiving God,
gracious and
compassionate, slow to anger and rich in loving devotion, and You did not
forsake them.
Yea, when they had made them a
molten calf, and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations;
Even when they cast for themselves an image of a
calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and when they
committed terrible blasphemies,
Yet thou in thy
manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the
pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the
pillar of fire by night, to
shew them light, and the way wherein they should go.
You in Your great
compassion did not
forsake them in the wilderness. By day the
pillar of cloud never turned away from guiding them on their path; and by the night the
pillar of fire
illuminated the way they should go.
Nevertheless they were
disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and
slew thy prophets which
testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.
But they were
disobedient and rebelled against You; they
flung Your law behind their backs. They killed Your prophets, who had
admonished them to return to You. They
committed terrible blasphemies.
Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who
vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they
cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and according to thy
manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies.
So You delivered them into the hands of enemies who
oppressed them, and in their time of distress they
cried out to You. From heaven You heard them, and in Your great
compassion You gave them deliverers who saved them from the hands of their enemies.
But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee: therefore leftest thou them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned, and
cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and many times
didst thou deliver them according to thy
mercies;
But as soon as they had rest, they again did evil in Your sight. So You abandoned them to the hands of their enemies, who had dominion over them. When they
cried out to You again, You heard from heaven, and You delivered them many times in Your
compassion.
And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and
hearkened not unto thy
commandments, but
sinned against thy judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and
hardened their neck, and would not hear.
You
admonished them to turn back to Your law, but they were
arrogant and disobeyed Your
commandments. They
sinned against Your ordinances, by which a man will live if he practices them. They
stubbornly shrugged their shoulders; they
stiffened their necks and would not obey.
Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day.
So now, our God, the great and mighty and
awesome God who keeps His
gracious covenant, do not view lightly all the
hardship that has
come upon us, and upon our kings and leaders, our priests and prophets, our ancestors and all Your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until
today.
Our kings and leaders and priests and fathers did not obey Your law or
listen to Your
commandments and warnings that You gave them.
They
clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a
curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the
commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;
hereby join with their noble brothers and
commit themselves with a
sworn oath to follow the Law of God given through His servant Moses and to carefully obey all the
commandments, ordinances, and statutes of the LORD our Lord.
For it was the king’s commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day.
For there was a
command from the king concerning the singers, an
ordinance regulating their daily
activities.
And the chief of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise and to give
thanks, according to the
commandment of David the man of God, ward over against ward.
The leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua son of Kadmiel, along with their associates, who stood across from them to give praise and
thanksgiving as one section alternated with the other, as prescribed by David the man of God.
Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great
companies of them that gave
thanks,
whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate:
Then I brought the leaders of Judah up on the wall, and I appointed two great
thanksgiving choirs. One was to proceed along the top of the wall to the right, toward the Dung Gate.
And the other
company of them that gave
thanks went over against them, and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces even unto the broad wall;
The second
thanksgiving choir proceeded to the left, and I followed it with half the people along the top of the wall, past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall,
So stood the two
companies of them that gave
thanks in the house of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me:
The two
thanksgiving choirs then stood in the house of God, as did I, along with the half of the officials accompanying me,
And both the singers and the
porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the
purification, according to the
commandment of David, and of Solomon his son.
They performed the service of their God and the service of
purification, along with the singers and gatekeepers, as David and his son Solomon had prescribed.
On that day they read in the book of Moses in the
audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the
Ammonite and the
Moabite should not
come into the congregation of God for ever;
At that time the Book of Moses was read
aloud in the hearing of the people, and in it they found the passage stating that no
Ammonite or
Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,
And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where
aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the
frankincense, and the vessels, and the
tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was
commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the
porters; and the offerings of the priests.
and had prepared for
Tobiah a large room where they had previously stored the grain offerings, the
frankincense, the temple articles, and the
tithes of grain, new wine, and oil prescribed for the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, along with the contributions for the priests.
Then I
commanded, and they
cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the
frankincense.
Then I ordered that the rooms be
purified, and I had the articles of the house of God restored to them, along with the grain offerings and
frankincense.
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.
When the evening shadows began to fall on the gates of Jerusalem, just before the Sabbath, I ordered that the gates be shut and not opened until after the Sabbath. I posted some of my servants at the gates so that no load could enter on the Sabbath day.
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.
Then I
instructed the Levites to
purify themselves and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this as well, O my God, and show me mercy according to Your abundant loving devotion.
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.
By order of the king, no limit was placed on the drinking, and every official of his household was to serve each man whatever he desired.
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,
On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was
merry with wine, he ordered the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas—
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.
Queen Vashti, however, refused to
come at the king’s
command brought by his eunuchs. And the king became
furious, and his anger burned within him.
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?
“According to law,” he asked, “what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey the
command of King
Xerxes delivered by the eunuchs?”
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.
For the conduct of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to
despise their husbands and say, ‘King
Xerxes ordered Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she did not
come.’
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.
So if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree, and let it be recorded in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be
repealed, that Vashti shall never again enter the presence of King
Xerxes, and that her royal position shall be given to a woman better than she.
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 king
appoint commissioners in each province of his kingdom to
assemble all the beautiful young women into the
harem at the citadel of
Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s
eunuch in charge of the women, and let them be given beauty treatments.
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.
When the king’s
command and edict had been proclaimed, many young women gathered at the citadel of
Susa under the care of Hegai.
Esther was also taken to the palace and placed under the care of Hegai, the
custodian of the women.
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;)
In the twelve months before her turn to go to King
Xerxes, the
harem regulation required each young woman to receive beauty treatments with oil of
myrrh for six months, and then with perfumes and cosmetics for another six months.
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.
Now
Esther was the daughter of Abihail, the uncle from whom
Mordecai had adopted her as his own daughter. And when it was her turn to go to the king, she did not ask for anything except what Hegai, the king’s trusted official in charge of the
harem, had
advised. And
Esther found favor in the eyes of
everyone who saw her.
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.
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.
All the royal servants at the king’s gate bowed down and paid
homage to
Haman, because the king had
commanded that this be done for him. But
Mordecai would not bow down or pay
homage.
Then the king’s servants, which were in the king’s gate, said unto
Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king’s
commandment?
Then the royal servants at the king’s gate asked
Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the
command of the king?”
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.
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.
On the
thirteenth day of the first month, the royal
scribes were summoned and the order was written exactly as
Haman commanded the royal satraps, the governors of each province, and the officials of each people, in the
script of each province and the language of every people. It was written in the name of King
Xerxes and sealed with the royal
signet ring.
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.
A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued in every province and published to all the people, so that they would be ready on 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.
The couriers left,
spurred on by the king’s
command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of
Susa. Then the king and
Haman sat down to drink, but the city of
Susa was in confusion.
In every province to which the king’s
command and edict came, there was great
mourning among the Jews. They fasted,
wept, and
lamented, and many lay in
sackcloth and ashes.
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.
Then
Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs appointed to her, and she
dispatched him to
Mordecai to learn what was troubling him and why.
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.
“All the royal officials and the people of the king’s provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned—that he be put to death. Only if the king extends the gold
scepter may that person live. But I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the past thirty days.”
Then
Mordecai commanded to answer
Esther, Think not with
thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.
he sent back to her this reply: “Do not imagine that because you are in the king’s palace you alone will escape the fate of 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?
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and
deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows if perhaps you have
come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
So
Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that
Esther had
commanded him.
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.
“If it pleases the king,”
Esther replied, “may the king and
Haman come today to the
banquet I have prepared for the king.”
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 to
morrow as the king hath said.
If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and
fulfill my request, may the king and
Haman come tomorrow to the
banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”
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.
“What is more,”
Haman added, “Queen
Esther invited no one but me to join the king at the
banquet she prepared, and I am invited back
tomorrow along with the king.
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.
That night sleep escaped the king; so he ordered the Book of Records, the Chronicles, to be brought in and read to 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.
“Who is in the court?” the king asked. Now
Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to ask the king to
hang Mordecai on the
gallows 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 the king’s attendants answered him, “
Haman is there, standing in the court.” “Bring him in,” ordered the king.
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?
For how could I bear to see the
disaster that would
befall my people? How could I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?”
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.
At once the royal
scribes were summoned, and on the twenty-third day of the third month (the month of
Sivan), they recorded all of
Mordecai’s orders to the Jews and to the satraps, governors, and princes of the 127 provinces from India to
Cush—writing to each province in its own
script, to every people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own
script and language.
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.
A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued in every province and published to all the people, so that the Jews would be ready on 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.
The couriers
rode out in
haste on their royal horses, pressed on by the
command of the king. And the edict was also issued in the citadel of
Susa.
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.
In every province and every city, wherever the king’s edict and decree reached, there was joy and
gladness among the Jews, with feasting and
celebrating. And many of the people of the land themselves became Jews, because the fear of the Jews had fallen 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;)
On the
thirteenth day of the
twelfth month, the month of
Adar, the king’s
command and edict were to be executed. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but their plan was overturned and the Jews overpowered those who
hated them.
And the king
commanded it so to be done: and the decree was given at
Shushan; and they
hanged Haman’s ten sons.
So the king
commanded that this be done. An edict was issued in
Susa, and they
hanged the ten sons of
Haman.
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.
But when it came before the king, he
commanded by letter that the wicked scheme which
Haman had devised against the Jews should
come back 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,
Therefore these days are called
Purim, from the word
Pur. Because of all the instructions in this letter, and because of all they had seen and experienced,
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.
in order to
confirm these days of
Purim at their appointed time, just as
Mordecai the
Jew and Queen
Esther had established them and had
committed themselves and their descendants to the times of fasting and
lamentation.
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.
“Where have you
come from?” said the LORD to
Satan. “From
roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.”
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.
“Where have you
come from?” said the LORD to
Satan. “From
roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.”
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.
Now when Job’s three friends—Eliphaz the Temanite,
Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite—heard about all this
adversity that had
come upon him, each of them came from his home, and they met together to go and
sympathize with Job and
comfort him.
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.
If only darkness had taken that night away! May it not appear among the days of the year; may it never be entered in any of the months.
Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein.
Behold, may that night be barren; may no joyful voice come into it.
Which long for death, but it
cometh not; and
dig for it more than for
hid treasures;
who long for death that does not
come, and search for it like hidden
treasure,
For my
sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters.
I
sigh when food is put before me, and my groans pour out like water.
For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
For the thing I feared has overtaken me, and what I
dreaded has
befallen me.
I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.
I am not at ease or quiet; I have no rest, for trouble has come.”
“If one ventures a word with you, will you be
wearied? Yet who can keep from speaking?
But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
But now trouble has
come upon you, and you are
weary. It strikes you, and you are dismayed.
Although
affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither
doth trouble spring out of the ground;
For distress does not spring from the dust, and trouble does not
sprout from the ground.
I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:
However, if I were you, I would appeal to God and lay my cause before Him—
Thou shalt be
hid from the
scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it
cometh.
You will be hidden from the
scourge of the tongue, and will not fear
havoc when it
comes.
Thou shalt
come to thy grave in a full age, like as a
shock of corn
cometh in in his season.
You will
come to the grave in full
vigor, like a
sheaf of grain gathered in season.
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.
It still brings me
comfort, and joy through
unrelenting pain, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
The troops of Tema looked, the
companies of
Sheba waited for them.
The caravans of Tema look for water; the travelers of
Sheba hope to find it.