Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.

You gave me life and favor, and your intervention watched over my spirit.

Do not those who devise evil go astray? But those who plan good exhibit faithful covenant love.

The one who pursues righteousness and love finds life, bounty, and honor.

Surely your goodness and faithfulness will pursue me all my days, and I will live in the Lord’s house for the rest of my life.

But the Lord continually shows loyal love to his faithful followers, and is faithful to their descendants,

Then I said, “Please, O LORD God of heaven, great and awesome God, who keeps his loving covenant with those who love him and obey his commandments,

“The Lord who rules over all said, ‘Exercise true judgment and show brotherhood and compassion to each other.

They refused to obey and did not recall your miracles that you had performed among them. Instead, they rebelled and appointed a leader to return to their bondage in Egypt. But you are a God of forgiveness, merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and unfailing in your loyal love. You did not abandon them,

And the king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she met with his loving approval more than all the other young women. So he placed the royal high turban on her head and appointed her queen in place of Vashti.