Esther 2 Cross References - NHEB

¹ After these things, when the wrath of King Achashyerosh was pacified, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her. ² Then the king's servants who served him said, "Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king. ³ Let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the beautiful young virgins to the citadel of Shushan, to the women's house, to the custody of Hegai the king's eunuch, keeper of the women. Let cosmetics be given them; ⁴ and let the maiden who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti." The thing pleased the king, and he did so. ⁵ There was a certain Jew in the citadel of Shushan, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite, ⁶ who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. ⁷ He brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter; for she had neither father nor mother. The maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter. ⁸ So it happened, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together to the citadel of Shushan, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken into the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. ⁹ The maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness from him. He quickly gave her cosmetics and her portions of food, and the seven choice maidens who were to be given her out of the king's house. He moved her and her maidens to the best place in the women's house. ¹⁰ Esther had not made known her people nor her relatives, because Mordecai had instructed her that she should not make it known. ¹¹ Mordecai walked every day in front of the court of the women's house, to find out how Esther did, and what would become of her. ¹² Each young woman's turn came to go in to King Achashyerosh after her purification for twelve months (for so were the days of their purification accomplished, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet fragrances and with preparations for beautifying women). ¹³ The young woman then came to the king like this: whatever she desired was given her to go with her out of the women's house to the king's house. ¹⁴ In the evening she went, and on the next day she returned into the second women's house, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch, who kept the secondary wives. She came in to the king no more, unless the king delighted in her, and she was called by name. ¹⁵ Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, came to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's eunuch, the keeper of the women, advised. Esther obtained favor in the sight of all those who looked at her. ¹⁶ So Esther was taken to King Achashyerosh into his royal house in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. ¹⁷ The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. ¹⁸ Then the king made a great feast for all his officials and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he proclaimed a holiday in the provinces, and gave gifts according to the king's bounty. ¹⁹ When the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting in the King's Gate. ²⁰ Esther had not yet made known her relatives nor her people, as Mordecai had commanded her; for Esther obeyed Mordecai, like she did when she was brought up by him. ²¹ In those days, while Mordecai was sitting in the King's Gate, two of the king's eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, who were doorkeepers, were angry, and sought to lay hands on the King Achashyerosh. ²² This thing became known to Mordecai, who informed Esther the queen; and Esther informed the king in Mordecai's name. ²³ When this matter was investigated, and it was found to be so, they were both hanged on a tree; and it was written in the book of the chronicles in the king's presence.

¹² But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by the eunuchs. Therefore the king was very angry, and his anger burned in him. ¹³ Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for it was the king's custom to consult those who knew law and judgment; ¹⁴ and the next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven officials of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and sat first in the kingdom), ¹⁵ "What shall we do to the queen Vashti according to law, because she has not done the bidding of the King Achashyerosh by the eunuchs?" ¹⁶ Memucan answered before the king and the officials, "Vashti the queen has not done wrong to just the king, but also to all the officials and to all the people who are in all the provinces of the King Achashyerosh. ¹⁷ For this deed of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to show contempt for their husbands, when it is reported, 'King Achashyerosh commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she did not come.' ¹⁸ Today, the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen's deed will tell all the king's officials. This will cause much contempt and wrath. ¹⁹ If it please the king, let a royal commandment go from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it cannot be altered, that Vashti may never again come before King Achashyerosh; and let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she. ²⁰ When the king's decree which he shall make is published throughout all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will give their husbands honor, both great and small." ²¹ And this advice pleased the king and the officials, and the king did according to the word of Memucan:

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

¹⁴ Then the king, when he heard these words, was very displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him. And he labored until the going down of the sun to rescue him. ¹⁵ Then these men assembled together to the king, and said to the king, "Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no decree nor statute which the king establishes may be changed." ¹⁶ Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spoke and said to Daniel, "Your God whom you serve continually, he will deliver you." ¹⁷ A stone was brought, and placed on the opening of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. ¹⁸ Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were instruments of music brought before him. And his sleep fled from him.

¹⁴ It happened that when Abram had come into Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.

² Therefore his servants said to him, "Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin. And let her attend the king, and care for him; and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may keep warm."

¹⁰ On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcass, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of Achashyerosh the king,

¹⁴ and the next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven officials of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and sat first in the kingdom),

¹⁴ While they were yet talking with him, the king's eunuchs came, and hurried to bring Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

¹ Now it happened in the days of Achashyerosh (this is Achashyerosh who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty-seven provinces), ² that in those days, when the King Achashyerosh sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,

⁸ So it happened, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together to the citadel of Shushan, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken into the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. ⁹ The maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness from him. He quickly gave her cosmetics and her portions of food, and the seven choice maidens who were to be given her out of the king's house. He moved her and her maidens to the best place in the women's house.

¹² Each young woman's turn came to go in to King Achashyerosh after her purification for twelve months (for so were the days of their purification accomplished, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet fragrances and with preparations for beautifying women). ¹³ The young woman then came to the king like this: whatever she desired was given her to go with her out of the women's house to the king's house. ¹⁴ In the evening she went, and on the next day she returned into the second women's house, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch, who kept the secondary wives. She came in to the king no more, unless the king delighted in her, and she was called by name. ¹⁵ Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, came to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's eunuch, the keeper of the women, advised. Esther obtained favor in the sight of all those who looked at her.

¹⁸ In that day the LORD will take away the beauty of their anklets, the headbands, the crescent necklaces, ¹⁹ the earrings, the bracelets, the veils, ²⁰ the headdresses, the ankle chains, the sashes, the perfume bottles, the charms, ²¹ the signet rings, the nose rings, ²² the fine robes, the capes, the cloaks, the purses, ²³ the hand mirrors, the fine linen garments, the tiaras, and the shawls.

⁴ He said to him, "Why, son of the king, are you so sad from day to day? Won't you tell me?" Amnon said to him, "I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister." ⁵ Jonadab said to him, "Lie down on your bed, and pretend to be sick. When your father comes to see you, tell him, 'Please let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and dress the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it from her hand.'" ⁶ So Amnon lay down and faked being sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, "Please let my sister Tamar come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand."

²¹ Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Go in to your father's secondary wives, that he has left to keep the house. Then all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong." ²² So they spread Absalom a tent on the top of the house; and Absalom went in to his father's secondary wives in the sight of all Israel. ²³ The counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

⁴ The saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

²¹ And this advice pleased the king and the officials, and the king did according to the word of Memucan:

⁹ If it pleases the king, let it be written that they be destroyed; and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who are in charge of the king's business, to bring it into the king's treasuries." ¹⁰ The king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.

⁶ But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced among them and pleased Herod.

¹⁶ So the last will be first, and the first last; for many are called, but few are chosen."

¹⁴ For many are called, but few chosen."

¹ Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor.

⁵ When king David came to Bahurim, look, a man of the family of the house of Saul came out, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera. He came out, and cursed still as he came.

² that in those days, when the King Achashyerosh sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,

³ Let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the beautiful young virgins to the citadel of Shushan, to the women's house, to the custody of Hegai the king's eunuch, keeper of the women. Let cosmetics be given them;

² All the king's servants who were in the King's Gate bowed down, and paid homage to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or pay him homage. ³ Then the king's servants, who were in the King's Gate, said to Mordecai, "Why do you disobey the king's commandment?" ⁴ Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily to him, and he did not listen to them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's reason would stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew. ⁵ When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down, nor pay him homage, Haman was full of wrath. ⁶ But he scorned the thought of laying hands on Mordecai alone, for they had made known to him Mordecai's people. Therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Achashyerosh, even Mordecai's people.

¹ Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal clothing, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, next to the king's house. The king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, next to the entrance of the house.

³ For Mordecai the Jew was next to King Achashyerosh, and great among the Jews, and accepted by the multitude of his brothers, seeking the good of his people, and speaking peace to all his descendants.

⁶ So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers; and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.

¹⁴ He carried away all Jerusalem, and all the officials, and all the mighty men of valor, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and the smiths; none remained, except the poorest sort of the people of the land. ¹⁵ He carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon; and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the chief men of the land, carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.

⁹ Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD. ¹⁰ At the return of the year king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of the LORD, and made Zedekiah his relative king over Judah and Jerusalem.

²⁰ He carried those who had escaped from the sword away to Babylon; and they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:

²⁴ As I live," says the LORD, "though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet on my right hand, yet would I pluck you there;

²⁸ Is this man Coniah a despised broken vessel? Is he a vessel in which none delights? Why are they cast out, he and his descendants, and cast into a land that they do not know?

¹ The LORD showed me, and look, two baskets of figs set before the LORD's temple, after that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and the officials of Judah, with the craftsmen and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.

⁵ And now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you into Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are.

¹¹ to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the royal crown, to show the people and the officials her beauty; for she was beautiful.

¹⁵ Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, came to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's eunuch, the keeper of the women, advised. Esther obtained favor in the sight of all those who looked at her.

⁷ 'Look, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle shall come to you, saying, "Buy my field that is in Anathoth; for the right of redemption is yours to buy it."' ⁸ So Hanamel my uncle's son came to me in the court of the guard according to the word of the LORD, and said to me, "Please buy my field that is in Anathoth, which is in the land of Benjamin; for the right of inheritance is yours, and the redemption is yours; buy it for yourself.' Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD. ⁹ I bought the field that was in Anathoth of Hanamel my uncle's son, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver. ¹⁰ I subscribed the deed, and sealed it, and called witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances. ¹¹ So I took the deed of the purchase, both that which was sealed, containing the terms and conditions, and that which was open; ¹² and I delivered the deed of the purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the presence of Hanamel my cousin, and in the presence of the witnesses who subscribed the deed of the purchase, before all the Jews who sat in the court of the guard.

⁶ Now among these were, of the people of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. ⁷ The prince of the eunuchs gave names to them: to Daniel he gave the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

¹⁸ "And I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters," says the Lord of hosts.

⁴ And fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

¹ See what kind of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God; and we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know him.

²¹ But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him kindness and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

⁵⁰ and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions in which they have transgressed against you; and give them compassion before those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them

⁶ this Ezra went up from Babylon: and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God on him.

⁸ and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple, for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into." The king granted my requests, because of the good hand of my God on me.

¹² Each young woman's turn came to go in to King Achashyerosh after her purification for twelve months (for so were the days of their purification accomplished, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet fragrances and with preparations for beautifying women).

⁴⁶ He made them also to be pitied by all those who carried them captive.

⁷ When a man's ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

⁹ Now God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs.

¹⁰ and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. He made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

⁷ He brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter; for she had neither father nor mother. The maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.

²⁰ Esther had not yet made known her relatives nor her people, as Mordecai had commanded her; for Esther obeyed Mordecai, like she did when she was brought up by him.

⁸ Haman said to King Achashyerosh, "There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom, and their laws are different than other people's. They do not keep the king's laws. Therefore it is not for the king's profit to allow them to remain.

¹³ Then Mordecai asked them return answer to Esther, "Do not think to yourself that you will escape in the king's house any more than all the Jews. ¹⁴ For if you remain silent now, then relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Who knows if you haven't come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

⁴ For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondservants and bondmaids, I would have held my peace, although the adversary could not have compensated for the king's loss."

¹⁶ "Look, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be cunning as snakes and innocent as doves.

¹ Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

¹⁴ So he said to him, "Go now, see whether it is well with your brothers and well with the flock, and report back to me." So he sent him from the Valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.

¹⁸ and bring these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and see how your brothers are doing, and bring back news."

¹³ The young woman then came to the king like this: whatever she desired was given her to go with her out of the women's house to the king's house. ¹⁴ In the evening she went, and on the next day she returned into the second women's house, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch, who kept the secondary wives. She came in to the king no more, unless the king delighted in her, and she was called by name.

³⁶ After some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return now and visit our brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing."

¹⁷ I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

⁶ Who is this who comes up from the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all spices of the merchant?

⁹ You went to the king with oil, and increased your perfumes, and sent your ambassadors far off, and debased yourself even to Sheol.

³⁷ And look, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of ointment. ³⁸ Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

⁴ that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor, ⁵ not in the passion of lust, even as the nations who do not know God;

¹⁹ The young man did not delay to do this thing, because he was delighted with Jacobʼs daughter. Now he was the most important of anyone in his fatherʼs house.

¹⁴ It shall be, if you are not pleased with her, then you must let her go where she wants; but you may not sell her for money or treat her as a commodity, since you have had relations with her.

¹¹ "All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, know, that whoever, whether man or woman, comes to the king into the inner court without being called, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except those to whom the king might hold out the golden scepter, that he may live. I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days."

¹ But now thus says the LORD who created you, Jacob, and he who formed you, Israel: "Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are mine.

⁴ For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel my chosen, I have called you by your name. I have surnamed you, though you have not known me.

⁴ And you shall no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall your land any more be termed Desolate: but you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married. ⁵ For just as a young man marries a virgin, so your sons shall marry you; and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so your God will rejoice over you.

⁷ He brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter; for she had neither father nor mother. The maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter. ⁸ So it happened, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together to the citadel of Shushan, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken into the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.

²⁹ Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority to confirm this second letter of Purim.

⁹ My dove, my perfect one, is unique. She is her mother's only daughter. She is the favorite one of her who bore her. The daughters saw her, and called her blessed; the queens and the secondary wives, and they praised her.

¹⁰ I am a wall, and my breasts like towers, then I was in his eyes like one who found peace.

⁸ He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.

¹ After these things, when the wrath of King Achashyerosh was pacified, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.

⁹ Then the king's scribes were called at that time, in the third month Sivan, on the twenty-third day of the month; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governors and officials of the provinces which are from India to Ethiopia, one hundred twenty-seven provinces, to every province according to its writing, and to every people in their language, and to the Jews in their writing, and in their language.

⁸ He raises up the poor out of the dust. He lifts up the needy from the dunghill, To make them sit with princes, and inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD's. He has set the world on them.

¹⁴ For if you remain silent now, then relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Who knows if you haven't come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

⁶ For neither from the east, nor from the west, nor yet from the south, comes exaltation. ⁷ But God is the judge. He puts down one, and lifts up another.

⁷ He raises up the poor out of the dust. Lifts up the needy from the ash heap; ⁸ that he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.

²⁴ All the trees of the field shall know that I, the LORD, have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish; I, the LORD, have spoken and have done it.'"

⁴⁸ for he has looked at the humble state of his servant girl. For look, from now on all generations will call me blessed. ⁴⁹ For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. ⁵⁰ His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him. ⁵¹ He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. ⁵² He has put down princes from their thrones. And has exalted the lowly.

²² Laban gathered together all the people of the place, and gave a feast.

¹⁰ His father went down to the woman, and Samson made a feast there, since young men used to do so. ¹¹ It happened, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him. ¹² Samson said to them, "Let me now put forth a riddle to you. If you can explain it to me within the seven days of the feast, and figure it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing. ¹³ But if you can't explain it to me, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing." And they said to him, "Propose your riddle, we want to hear it." ¹⁴ He said to them, "Out of the eater came forth food. Out of the strong came forth sweetness." They couldn't in three days declare the riddle. ¹⁵ And it happened on the fourth day, that they said to Samson's wife, "Entice your husband, that he may tell us the riddle, lest we burn you and your father's house with fire. Did you invite us here to impoverish us?" ¹⁶ Samson's wife wept before him, and said, "You just hate me, and do not love me. You have put forth a riddle to the children of my people, and haven't told it me." And he said to her, "Look, I haven't told it to my father or my mother, and shall I tell you?" ¹⁷ She wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it happened on the seventh day, that he told her, because she pressed him hard; and she told the riddle to the children of her people.

⁸ Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let the young men find favor in your eyes; for we come in a good day. Please give whatever comes to your hand, to your servants, and to your son David.'"

¹¹ So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, "Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be grieved."

³ in the third year of his reign, he made a feast for all his officials and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him. ⁴ He displayed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even one hundred eighty days. ⁵ When these days were fulfilled, the king made a seven day feast for all the people who were present in Shushan the palace, both great and small, in the court of the garden of the king's palace.

⁷ They gave them drinks in golden vessels of various kinds, including royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king.

²² as the days in which the Jews had rest from their enemies, and the month which was turned to them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending presents of food to one another, and gifts to the needy.

¹¹ Go forth, you daughters of Zion, and see king Solomon, with the crown with which his mother has crowned him, in the day of his weddings, in the day of the gladness of his heart.

¹ I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride. I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, friends. Drink, yes, drink abundantly, beloved.

² "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son,

⁸ "When you are invited by anyone to a marriage feast, do not sit in the best seat, since perhaps someone more honorable than you might be invited by him,

¹⁰ Those who dwell on the earth rejoice over them, and they will be glad. They will give gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

⁹ He said to me, "Write, 'Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'" He said to me, "These are true words of God."

³ Let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the beautiful young virgins to the citadel of Shushan, to the women's house, to the custody of Hegai the king's eunuch, keeper of the women. Let cosmetics be given them; ⁴ and let the maiden who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti." The thing pleased the king, and he did so.

²¹ In those days, while Mordecai was sitting in the King's Gate, two of the king's eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, who were doorkeepers, were angry, and sought to lay hands on the King Achashyerosh.

² All the king's servants who were in the King's Gate bowed down, and paid homage to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or pay him homage. ³ Then the king's servants, who were in the King's Gate, said to Mordecai, "Why do you disobey the king's commandment?"

¹³ Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the King's Gate."

¹⁰ Esther had not made known her people nor her relatives, because Mordecai had instructed her that she should not make it known.

¹ Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ² "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with a promise: ³ "that it may be well with you, and that you may live long in the land."

⁵ The sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbaal, as he took his rest at noon. ⁶ And look, the doorkeeper of the house had been sifting wheat, and she became drowsy and fell asleep. And Rechab and his brother Baanah slipped by.

¹¹ David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, "Look, my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeks my life. How much more this Benjamite, now? Leave him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD has invited him.

²⁵ Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah; and he reigned over Israel two years. ²⁶ He did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin. ²⁷ Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha struck him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon.

⁹ His servant Zimri, commander of half his chariots, conspired against him. Now he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, who was over the household in Tirzah.

²² It happened, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, "Is it peace, Jehu?" He answered, "What peace, so long as the prostitution of your mother Jezebel and her witchcraft abound?" ²³ Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, "There is treason, Ahaziah." ²⁴ Jehu drew his bow with his full strength, and shot Joram between his arms; and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot.

²⁰ His servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and struck Joash at the house of Millo, on the way that goes down to Silla.

²³ The servants of Amon conspired against him, and put the king to death in his own house.

² It was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who were doorkeepers, who had tried to lay hands on the King Achashyerosh.

¹⁰ You are he who gives salvation to kings, who rescues David, his servant, from the deadly sword.

¹ On that night, the king couldn't sleep. He commanded the book of records of the chronicles to be brought, and they were read to the king. ² It was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who were doorkeepers, who had tried to lay hands on the King Achashyerosh.

²⁰ Do not curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and do not curse the rich in your bedchamber: for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.

¹² When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. ¹³ There were more than forty people who had made this conspiracy. ¹⁴ They came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, "We have bound ourselves under a great curse, to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. ¹⁵ Now therefore, you with the council inform the commanding officer that he should bring him down to you, as though you were going to judge his case more exactly. We are ready to kill him before he comes near." ¹⁶ But Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks and told Paul. ¹⁷ Paul summoned one of the centurions, and said, "Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to tell him." ¹⁸ So he took him, and brought him to the commanding officer, and said, "Paul, the prisoner, summoned me and asked me to bring this young man to you, who has something to tell you." ¹⁹ The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, "What is it that you have to tell me?" ²⁰ And he said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they intended to inquire somewhat more thoroughly concerning him. ²¹ Therefore do not yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you." ²² So the commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, "Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me."

³³ Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God. How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out.

⁴ each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.

¹⁹ Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head from off you, and impale you on a pole, and the birds will eat your flesh off you."

²² but he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them.

²² If a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be put to death, and you hang him on a tree; ²³ his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him the same day; for everyone who hangs on a tree is cursed by God; that you do not defile your land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance.

²⁹ He hanged the king of Ai on a tree until the evening, and at the sundown Joshua commanded, and they took his body down from the tree, and threw it at the entrance of the gate of the city, and raised a great heap of stones on it that remains to this day.

¹⁴ Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, "Let a gallows be made seventy-three feet eight inches high, and in the morning speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on it. Then go in merrily with the king to the banquet." This pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.

² All the acts of his power and of his might, and the full account of the greatness of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?

¹⁶ Then those who feared the LORD spoke one with another; and the LORD listened, and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for those who feared the LORD, and who honored his name.