Maman is advanced.

Chap, iii, iv. 16 So Either was taken unto king Ahasuerus Into his houfe royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the feventh year of his reign.

17 And the king loved Efther above all the women, and the obtained grace and favour in his fight more than all the virgins; fo that he fet the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vaihti.

18 Then the king made a great feaft unto all his princes and his fervants, even Ether's feait; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.

19 And when the virgins were gathered to gether the fecond time, then Mordecai fat in the king's gate.

20 Fither had not yet thewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her; for Efther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when the was brought up with him.

21 In thofe days while Mordecai fat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Tereth, of thofe which kept the door, were wroth, and fought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.

22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Efther the queen; and Eft her certified the king thereof in Mordecai's

name.

23 And when inquifition 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.

СНАР. 111. Haman advanced by the king, and defpifed by Mordecai, feeketh revenge upon all the Jews. A FTER these things did king Ahafuerus promote Haman, the fon of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and fet his feat above all the princes that were with him.

2 And all the king's fervants, that were in

The decree against the Feast.

of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverfe from all people, neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to fuffer them.

9 If it pleafe the king, let it be written that they may be deftroyed; and I will pay ten thousand talents of filver to the hands of thofe that have the charge of the bufinefs, to bring it into the king's treafuries.

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

11 And the king faid unto Haman, The filver is given to thee, the people alfo, to do with them as it feemeth good to thee.

12 Then were the king's fcribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written, according to all that Ha man 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 fealed with the king's ring.

13 And the letters were fent by potts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to caufe 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 fpoil of them for a prey.

14 The copy of the writing for a command. ment to be given in every province was pub. lished unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.

15 The pofts went out, being haftened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shufhan the palace. And the king and Haman fat down to drink; but the city Shufhan was perplexed.

CHAP. IV

1 Mordecai and the Jews mourn. 15 Ether appointeth a faft.

HEN Mordecai perceived all that was

the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Ha-W done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and

man: for the king had fo commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did bim reverence.

3 Then the king's fervants, which were in the king's gate, faid unto Mordecai, Why tranfgreffeft thou the king's commandment?

4 Now it came to pafs, when they fpake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to fee whether Mordecai's matters would ftand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.

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

6 And he thought fcorn to lay hands on Mor. decai alone; for they had thewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman fought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people

of Mordecai.

7 In the firft month, that is the month Nifan, in the twelfth year of king Ahafuerus, they caft Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from menth to month, to the twelfth month, that is the month Adar.

8 And Haman faid unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people fcattered abroad and difperfed among the people in all the provinces

put on fackcloth with athes, and went out into the midft of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;

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

3 And in every province, whitherfoever the king's commandnient and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fafting, and weeping, and wailing; and many layin fackcloth and afhes.

4 So Either's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen ex. ceedingly grieved; and the tent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his fackcloth from him: but he received it not.

5 Then called Efther 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.

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

7 And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the fum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to

the

Haman's pride.

ESTHER.

the king's treafuries for the Jews, to deftroy

them:

8 Alfo he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shufhan to deftroy them, to fhew it unto Efther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that the fhould go in unto the king, to make fupplica. tion unto him, and to make request before him for her people.

9 And Hatach came and told Efther the words of Mordecai.

10 Again Efther fpake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;

II All the king's fervants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whofoever, whether man or woman, fhall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except fuch to whom the king fhall hold out the golden fceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king thefe thirty days.

12 And they told to Mordecai Efther's words. 13 Then Mordecai commanded to anfwer Efther, Think not with thyself that thou fhalt efcape in the king's house more than all the Jews.

14 For if thou altogether holdeft thy peace at this time, then hall there enlargement and deliverance arife to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's houfe thall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for fuch a time as this?

15

Then Efther bade them return Mordecai this anfwer, 16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are prefent in Shufhan, and faft ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I alfo and my maidens will faft likewife; and fo will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Efther had commanded him.

CHAP. V.

Efiber, obtaining the king's favour, inviteth the king and Haman to a banquet.

NOW it came to pafs on the third day, that Ffther put on her royal apparel, ani ftood In the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's houfe: and the king fat upon his royal throne in the royal houfe, over against the gate of the houfe.

2 And it was fo, when the king faw Efther the queen standing in the court, that the ob. fained favour in his fight: and the king held out to Efther the golden fceptre that was in his band. So ERher drew near, and touched the top of the fceptre.

3 Then faid the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Ether? and what is thy requeft? it thall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.

4 And Efther anfwered, If it feem good unto the king, let the king and Hamman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for

him.

5 Then the king faid, Caufe Haman to make hafte, that he may do as Etner hath faid. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Either had prepared.

6And the king faid unto Efther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it fhall

Esther's banquet.

be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.

7 Then answered Efther, and faid, My petition and my request is;

8 If I have found favour in the fight of the king, and if it pleafe the king to grant my petition, and to perform my requeft, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I fhall prepare for them, and I will do to-morrow as the king hath faid.

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

10 Nevertheless, Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he fent and called for his triends, and Zerefh his wife.

11 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 fervants of the king.

12 idaman faid moreover, Yea, Efther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that the had prepared but myself; and to-morrow am I invited unto her alfo with the king.

13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, fo long as I fee Mordecai the Jew fitting at the king's gate.

14 Then faid Zereth his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to-morrow 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 pleafed Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

CHAP. VI.

1 Abajuerus rewardeth Mordecai: 11 Hamam dheth him bonour.

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.

2 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 fought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.

3 And the king faid, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then faid the king's fervants that miniftered unto him, There is nothing done for him.

4 And the king faid, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's houfe, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had pre. pared for him.

5 And the king's fervants faid unto him, Behold, Haman ftandeth in the court. And the king faid, Let him come in.

6 So Haman came in. And the king faid unto him, What fhall 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' myfelf?

7 And Haman anfwered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour,

8 Let the royal apparel be brought which the king feth to wear, and the horie that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is fe: upon his head

9 And

Mordecai honoured.

Chap. vil, vill.

Haman banged.

9 And let this apparel and horse be delivered king's mouth, they covered Haman's face to the hand of one of the king's moft noble princes, that they may array the man withat whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horfeback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus thall it be done to the man whom the king delight eth to honour.

10 Then the king faid to Haman, Make halte, and take the appa: and the horie, as thou haut faid, and do even fo to Mordecai the Jew, that fitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou haft fpoken.

II Then took Haman the apparel and the

horie, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horfeback through the ftreet of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus fhall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.

12 And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hafted to his houfe mourn ing, and having his head covered.

13 And Haman told Zereth his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then faid his wife men and Zereth nis wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the feed of the Jews, before whom thou hatt begun to fall, thou fhalt not prevail against him, but thalt furely

fall before him.

Efther the queen.

2 And the king faid again unto Ffther on the fecond day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Either? and it fhall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it hall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.

3 Then Efther the queen answered and faid, If I have found favour in thy fight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my requeft:

4 For we are fold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be flain, and to perith. But if we had been fold for bondmen and bond women, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.

5Then the king Ahafuerus answered and faid unto Either the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durft prefame in his heart to do fo?

6 And Efther faid, The adversary and enemy it this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.

7And the kingfing from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden and Hamas ftood up to make request for his lite to Either the queen; for he faw that there was evil determined against him by the king.

8 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 Estiver was. Then faid the king, Will he force the queen alfo before me in the house? As the word went out of the

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

10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified. CHAP. VIII.

1 Mordecai is advanced. 7 Abafuerus granteth to the Teas to defend themselves. 1S Mordecai's bonour, and the Jews' joy.

house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto N that day did the king Ahasuerus give the Either the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Efther bad told what he was unto her.

2 And the king took off his ring which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mor decal. And Efther fet Mordecai over the house of Haman.

3 And Father 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 devifed againit the Jews.

4 Then the king held out the golden fceptre toward Either. So Either arose, and flood be. fore the king,

5 And faid, If it pleafe 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 reverfe the letters devifed by Haman the fon of Hammedatha the Agagite which he wrote

to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's

provinces.

6 For how can I endure to fee the evil that thall come unto my people? or how can I en. dure to see the deftruction of my kindred?

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

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

9 Then were the king's fcribes 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 depu tics and rulers of the provinces, which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twea ty and feven 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.

10 And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus's name, and fealed it with the king's ring; and fent letters by poft on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young drome laries:

11 Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themfelves together, and to find for their life, to destroy, to flay, and to caufe to perith, all the power of the people and province that would af

fault

ESTHER.

Nmonth Adar, on the thirteenth day of the dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the four

Job's uprightness.

Chap. 1.

Satan's malice.

Bccording to their writing, and recording to for their feed, the matters of the faftings and their appointed time every year; their cry.

28 And that tefe days bould be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that thefe days of Purim fhould not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perith from their feed.

Then Efther the the daughter of

33 And the decree of Efther confirmed these matters of Purim ; and it was written in the book. СНАР. Х.

I Abafuerus his greatness. 3 Mordecai's ad

vancement.

ND the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon

Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with A the land, and pou the ines of tribute

all authority, to confirm this fecond letter of Purim.

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

31 To confirm thefe days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Efther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves, and

CHAP. I.

2 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 chroni cles of the kings of Media and Persia?

3 For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahafuerus, and great among the Jews, and ac cepted of the multitude of his brethren, feeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his feed.

The Book of JO B.

1 The uprightness of Job; his wealth; his religious care for his children: 6 Satan, appearing before God, obtaineth leave to tempt bim.

THERE was a man in the land of Uz, whofe name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and efchewed evil.

2 And there were born unto him feven fons and three daughters.

3 His fubitance alfo was feven thousand theep, and three thoufand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred the affes, and a very great houfehold; fo that this man was the greateft of all the men of the

caft.

4 And his fons went and feafted in their houfes, every one his day; and fent and called for their three fifters to eat and to drink with them.

And it was fo, when the days of their feafting were gone about, that Job fent and fanctified them, and rofe up early in the morning, and offered burnt-offerings accord ing to the number of them all: for job faid, It may be that my fons have finned, and curfed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

6 Now there was a day when the fons of God came to prefent themselves before the LORD, and Satan came alfo among them.

7 And the LORD faid unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan anfwered the LORD, and faid, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in

it.

8 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?

9 Tuen Satan answered the LORD, and faid, Doth Job fear Goll for nought?

10 Haft not thou made an hedge about him, and about his houfe, and about all that he hath on every fide? Thou haft bleffed the work of his hands, and his fubftance is increafed in the land:

11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch

all that he hath, and he will curfe thee to thy face.

12 And the LORD faid unto Satan, Be hold, 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.

13¶ And there was a day, when his fons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldeft brother's houfe:

14 And there came a meffenger unto Job, and faid, The oxen were ploughing, and the affes feeding befide them;

15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have flain the fervants with the edge of the fword; and I only am efcaped alone to tell thee.

16 While he was yet fpeaking, there came alfo another, and faid, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burnt up the sheep, and the fervants, and confumed them; and I only am efcaped alone to tell thee.

17 While he was yet fpeaking, there came affo another, and faid, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and flain the fervants with the edge of the fword; and I only am efcaped alone to tell thee.

18 While he was yet fpeaking, there came alfo another, and faid, Thy fons and thy daugh ters were eating and drinking wine in their eldeft brother's house:

19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and fmote the four corners of the houfe, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am eicaped 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 aid, Naked came 1 out of my mother's womb, and naked fhall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; bleifed be the name of the LORD.

22 In all this Job finned nof, nor charged God foolishly.

CHA P. II.

1 Satan, appearing again before God, obtain eth further leave to tempt Job; 9 be fuiterb