Job 5

1 Wherefore having learned this, and seeing one nation in opposition to all mankind using perverse laws, and going against our commandments, and disturbing the peace and concord of the provinces subject to us, 2 We have commanded that all whom Aman shall mark out, who is chief over all the provinces, and second after the king, and whom we honour as a father, shall be utterly destroyed by their enemies, with their wives and children, and that none shall have pity on them, on the fourteenth day of the twelfth month Adar of this present year: 3 That these wicked men going down to hell in one day, may restore to our empire the peace which they had disturbed. 4 But Mardochai besought the Lord, remembering all his works, 5 And said: O Lord, Lord, almighty king, for all things are in thy power, and there is none that can resist thy will, if thou determine to save Israel. 6 Thou hast made heaven and earth and all things that are under the cope of heaven. 7 Thou art Lord of all, and there is none that can resist thy majesty. 8 Thou knowest all things, and thou knowest that it was not out of pride and or any desire of glory, that I refused to worship the proud Aman, 9 (For I would willingly and readily for the salvation of Israel have kissed even the steps of his feet,) 10 But I feared lest I should transfer the honour of my God to a man, and lest I should adore any one except my God. 11 And now, O Lord, O king, O God of Abraham, have mercy on thy people, because our enemies resolve to destroy us, and extinguish thy inheritance. 12 Despise not thy portion, which thou hast redeemed for thyself out of Egypt. 13 Hear my supplication, and be merciful to thy lot and inheritance, and turn our mourning into joy, that we may live and praise thy name, O Lord, and shut not the mouths of them that sing to thee. 14 And all Israel with like mind and supplication cried to the Lord, because they saw certain death hanging over their heads. 16 Queen Esther also, fearing the danger that was at hand, had recourse to the Lord. 17 And when she had laid away her royal apparel, she put on garments suitable for weeping and mourning: instead of divers precious ointments, she covered her head with ashes and dung, and she humbled her body with fasts: and all the places in which before she was accustomed to rejoice, she filled with her torn hair. 18 And she prayed to the Lord the God of Israel, saying: O my Lord, who alone art our king, help me a desolate woman, and who have no other helper but thee. 19 My danger is in my hands. 20 I have heard of my father that thou, O Lord, didst take Israel from among all nations, and our fathers from all their predecessors, to possess them as an everlasting inheritance, and thou hast done to them as thou hast promised. 21 We have sinned in thy sight, and therefore thou hast delivered us into the hands of our enemies: 22 For we have worshipped their gods. Thou art just, O Lord. 23 And now they are not content to oppress us with most hard bondage, but attributing the strength of their hands to the power of their idols, 24 They design to change thy promises, and destroy thy inheritance, and shut the mouths of them that praise thee, and extinguish the glory of thy temple and altar, 25 That they may open the mouths of Gentiles, and praise the strength of idols, and magnify for ever a carnal king. 26 Give not, O Lord, thy sceptre to them that are not, lest they laugh at our ruin: but turn their counsel upon themselves, and destroy him that hath begun to rage against us. 27 Remember, O Lord, and shew thyself to us in the time of our tribulation, and give me boldness, O Lord, king of gods, and of all power: