8,758 verses contain “wit” (in the KJV: 6,860, in the BSB: 5,613) — showing 3,201–3,300
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And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters.
And next to them, Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of the other half-district of Jerusalem, made repairs, with the help of his daughters.
But it came to pass, that when
Sanballat, and
Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the
Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very
wroth,
When
Sanballat and
Tobiah, together
with the Arabs,
Ammonites, and Ashdodites, heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they were
furious,
Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
So I stationed men behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the
vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families
with their swords, spears, and bows.
They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens,
with those that
laded, every one
with one of his hands wrought in the work, and
with the other hand held a weapon.
who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other.
For the builders, every one had his sword
girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the
trumpet was by me.
And each of the builders worked
with his sword
strapped at his side. But the
trumpeter stayed beside me.
Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one
with his servant
lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labour on the day.
At that time I also said to the people, “Let every man and his servant
spend the night inside Jerusalem, so that they can stand guard by night and work by day.”
So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing.
So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the guards with me changed out of our clothes; each carried his weapon, even to go for water.
Then I consulted
with myself, and I
rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact
usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.
and after serious thought I
rebuked the nobles and officials, saying, “You are exacting
usury from your own brothers!” So I called a large assembly against them
Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the
hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.
Please restore to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses, along
with the percentage of the money, grain, new wine, and oil that you have been
assessing them.”
Then sent
Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time
with an open letter in his hand;
The fifth time,
Sanballat sent me this same message by his young servant, who had in his hand an unsealed letter
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!”
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.
Who came
with Zerubbabel, Jeshua,
Nehemiah,
Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani,
Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number, I say, of the men of the people of Israel was this;
accompanied by
Zerubbabel, Jeshua,
Nehemiah,
Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani,
Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. This is the count of the men of Israel:
And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest
with Urim and
Thummim.
The governor ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest to
consult the
Urim and
Thummim.
So the priests, and the Levites, and the
porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the
Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities; and when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities.
So the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, and temple servants, along with some of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns. And by the seventh month the Israelites had settled in their towns.
And
Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear
with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.
On the first day of the seventh month,
Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could
listen and understand.
And
Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered,
Amen,
Amen,
with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD
with their faces to the ground.
Then
Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and
with their hands
uplifted, all the people said, “
Amen,
Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD
with their faces to the ground.
And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto
Ezra the
scribe, even to understand the words of the law.
On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along
with the priests and Levites, gathered around
Ezra the
scribe to study the words of the Law.
Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them.
On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing
sackcloth,
with dust on their heads.
Then stood up upon the stairs, of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and
cried with a loud voice unto the LORD their God.
And the Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani—stood on the raised platform and
cried out in a loud voice to the LORD their God.
Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.
You alone are the LORD. You created the heavens, the highest heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all things, and the host of heaven worships You.
And foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest a covenant
with him to give the land of the
Canaanites, the
Hittites, the
Amorites, and the
Perizzites, and the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give it, I say, to his seed, and hast performed thy words; for thou art righteous:
You found his heart faithful before You, and made a covenant
with him to give the land of the
Canaanites and
Hittites, of the
Amorites and
Perizzites, of the Jebusites and Girgashites— to give it to his descendants. You have kept Your promise, because You are righteous.
And shewedst signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land: for thou knewest that they dealt proudly against them. So
didst thou get thee a name, as it is this day.
You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the people of his land, for You knew they had acted
with arrogance against our fathers. You made a name for
Yourself that endures to this day.
Moreover thou leddest them in the day by a
cloudy pillar; and in the night by a
pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go.
You led them
with a
pillar of cloud by day and a
pillar of fire by night, to light for them the way in which they should travel.
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.
Thou gavest also thy good spirit to
instruct them, and
withheldest not thy
manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their
thirst.
You gave Your good Spirit to
instruct them. You did not
withhold Your
manna from their mouths, and You gave them water for their
thirst.
So the children went in and possessed the land, and thou subduedst before them the inhabitants of the land, the
Canaanites, and gavest them into their hands,
with their kings, and the people of the land, that they might do
with them as they would.
So their descendants went in and possessed the land; You subdued before them the
Canaanites dwelling in the land. You delivered into their hands the kings and peoples of the land, to do
with them as they wished.
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.
Yet many years
didst thou
forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy spirit in thy prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands.
You were patient
with them for many years, and Your Spirit
admonished them through Your prophets. Yet they would not
listen, so You gave them into the hands of the
neighboring peoples.
For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.
For even while they were in their kingdom,
with the abundant goodness that You had given them, and in the
spacious and fertile land that You had set before them, they would not serve You or turn from their wicked ways.
And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it.
In view of all this, we make a binding agreement, putting it in writing and sealing it with the names of our leaders, Levites, and priests.”
And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the
porters, the singers, the
Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding;
“The rest of the people—the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants, and all who had separated themselves from the people of the land to obey the Law of God—along with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand,
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.
Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly
with the third part of a
shekel for the service of the house of our God;
We also place ourselves under the obligation to
contribute a third of a
shekel yearly for the service of the house of our God:
And the priest the son of Aaron shall be
with the Levites, when the Levites take
tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the
tithe of the
tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the
treasure house.
A priest of Aaron’s line is to
accompany the Levites when they collect the tenth, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of these
tithes to the storerooms of the treasury in the house of our God.
Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, to
wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the
Nethinims, and the children of Solomon’s servants.
These are the heads of the provinces who settled in Jerusalem. (In the villages of Judah, however, each lived on his own property in their towns—the Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon’s servants—
And the residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance.
The rest of the Israelites, with the priests and Levites, were in all the villages of Judah, each on his own inheritance.
The temple servants lived on the hill of Ophel, with Ziha and Gishpa over them.
And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjath-arba, and in the villages thereof, and at Dibon, and in the villages thereof, and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages thereof,
As for the villages with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba, Dibon, Jekabzeel, and their villages;
The children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at
Michmash, and Aija, and
Bethel, and in their villages,
The descendants of Benjamin from Geba lived in
Michmash, Aija, and
Bethel with its villages;
Now these are the priests and the Levites that went up
with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah,
Ezra,
Now these are the priests and Levites who went up
with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and
with Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah,
Ezra,
Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, which was over the
thanksgiving, he and his brethren.
The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who,
with his associates, led the songs of
thanksgiving.
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.
And at the
dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the
dedication with gladness, both
with thanksgivings, and
with singing,
with cymbals,
psalteries, and
with harps.
And certain of the priests’ sons
with trumpets; namely,
Zechariah the son of
Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of
Asaph:
and some of the priests
with trumpets, and also
Zechariah son of
Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of
Asaph,
And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani,
with the musical instruments of David the man of God, and
Ezra the
scribe before them.
and his associates—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani—
with the musical instruments prescribed by David the man of God.
Ezra the
scribe led the
procession.
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 the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai,
Zechariah, and Hananiah,
with trumpets;
as well as the priests
with their
trumpets—Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai,
Zechariah, and Hananiah—
And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and
Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and
Elam, and Ezer. And the singers
sang loud,
with Jezrahiah their
overseer.
and also Maaseiah, Shemaiah,
Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah,
Elam, and Ezer. Then the choirs
sang out under the direction of Jezrahiah.
Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and
rejoiced: for God had made them
rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children
rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even
afar off.
On that day they offered great sacrifices,
rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also
rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from
afar.
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.
Because they met not the children of Israel
with bread and
with water, but
hired Balaam against them, that he should
curse them:
howbeit our God turned the
curse into a blessing.
because they had not met the Israelites
with food and water, but had
hired Balaam to call down a
curse against them (although our God had turned the
curse into a blessing).
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.
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.
So I
rebuked the officials and asked, “Why has the house of God been neglected?” Then I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts,
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.
I appointed as treasurers over the storerooms Shelemiah the priest,
Zadok the
scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites,
with Hanan son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, to assist them, because they were considered
trustworthy. They were responsible for distributing the supplies to their fellow Levites.
In those days saw I in Judah some
treading winepresses 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.
In those days I saw people in Judah
treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on
donkeys, along
with wine, grapes, and figs. All kinds of goods were being brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I
warned them against selling food on that day.
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?
Then I
rebuked the nobles of Judah and asked, “What is this evil you are doing—
profaning the Sabbath day?
So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware
lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.
Once or twice, the merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem,
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.
I
rebuked them and called down curses on them. I beat some of these men and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath before God and said, “You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or for
yourselves!
And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.
I also arranged for contributions of wood at the appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, with favor.
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:
In the third year of his reign,
Xerxes held a feast for all his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia and Media were there, along
with the nobles and princes of the provinces.
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.
Hangings of white and blue linen were fastened
with cords of fine white and purple material to silver rings on the marble pillars. Gold and silver couches were arranged on a mosaic
pavement of
porphyry, marble, mother-of-
pearl, and other costly stones.
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.
Beverages were served in an
array of goblets of gold, each
with a different design, and the royal wine flowed freely, according to the king’s
bounty.
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—
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.
to bring Queen Vashti before him, wearing her royal crown, to display her beauty to the people and officials. For she was beautiful to behold.
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.
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:
Then the king consulted the wise men who knew the times, for it was customary for him to
confer with the experts in law and justice.
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?”
And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:
The king and his princes were pleased
with this counsel; so the king did as Memucan had
advised.
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.
He had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon among those taken
captive with Jeconiah king of Judah.
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.
And the young woman pleased him and obtained his favor, so he quickly provided her
with beauty treatments and the special diet. He assigned to her seven select maidservants from the palace and transferred her
with them to the best place in the
harem.
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.
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.
When the young woman would go to the king, she was given whatever she requested to take
with her from the
harem to the king’s palace.
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.
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.
After these events, King
Xerxes honored
Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite,
elevating him to a position above all the princes who were
with him.
And when
Haman saw that
Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was
Haman full of wrath.
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.
“Keep your money,” said the king to
Haman. “These people are given to you to do
with them as you please.”
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.
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.
And the letters were sent by couriers to each of the royal provinces
with the order to destroy, kill, and
annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—and to
plunder their possessions on a single day, the
thirteenth day of
Adar, the
twelfth month.
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;
When
Mordecai learned of all that had happened, he
tore his clothes, put on
sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the middle of the city,
wailing loudly and bitterly.
And came even before the king’s gate: for none might enter into the king’s gate clothed
with sackcloth.
But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because the law prohibited
anyone wearing
sackcloth from entering that gate.
When
Esther’s maidens and eunuchs came and told her about
Mordecai, the queen was overcome
with distress. She sent clothes for
Mordecai to wear instead of his
sackcloth, but he would not accept them.
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.
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.
His wife Zeresh and all his friends told him, “Have them build a
gallows fifty cubits high, and ask the king in the morning to have
Mordecai hanged on it. Then go to the
banquet with the king and enjoy
yourself.” The advice pleased
Haman, and he had the
gallows constructed.
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:
have them bring a royal
robe that the king himself has worn and a horse on which the king himself has
ridden—one
with a royal crest placed on its 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.
Let the
robe and the horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them
array the man the king wants to honor and
parade him on the horse through the city square,
proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man whom the king is delighted to honor!’”
And
Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But
Haman hasted to his house
mourning, and having his head covered.
Then
Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But
Haman rushed home,
with his head covered in grief.
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.
While they were still speaking
with Haman, the king’s eunuchs arrived and
rushed him to the
banquet that
Esther had prepared.
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.
And once again,
Esther addressed the king. She fell at his feet
weeping and
begged him to
revoke the evil scheme of
Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against 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.
Now you may write in the king’s name as you please regarding the Jews, and seal it
with the royal
signet ring. For a decree that is written in the name of the king and sealed
with the royal
signet ring cannot be
revoked.”
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:
Mordecai wrote in the name of King
Xerxes and sealed it
with the royal
signet ring. He sent the documents by mounted couriers riding on swift horses
bred from the royal mares.
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.
Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal garments of blue and white,
with a large gold crown and a purple
robe of fine linen. And the city of
Susa shouted and
rejoiced.