“This is what King Sennacherib of Assyria says: ‘Why are you so confident that you remain in Jerusalem while it is under siege?

In his pain Manasseh asked the Lord his God for mercy and truly humbled himself before the God of his ancestors.

In those days the aristocrats of Judah repeatedly sent letters to Tobiah, and responses from Tobiah were repeatedly coming to them.

So Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter about Purim.

I will teach you about the power of God; What is on the Almighty’s mind I will not conceal.

Yet you have battered us, leaving us a heap of ruins overrun by wild dogs; you have covered us with darkness.

For the music director; a psalm of David. Listen to me, O God, as I offer my lament! Protect my life from the enemy’s terrifying attacks.

For God will deliver Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah, and his people will again live in them and possess Zion.

I gloat in triumph over those who tried to ambush me; I hear the defeated cries of the evil foes who attacked me.

O Lord, shelter me from the power of the wicked! Protect me from violent men, who plan to knock me over.

The wicked will be captured by his own iniquities, and he will be held by the cords of his own sin.

It is better to live on a corner of the housetop than in a house in company with a quarrelsome wife.

This is the interpretation of the words: As for mene – God has numbered your kingdom’s days and brought it to an end.

For I will remove the names of the Baal idols from your lips, so that you will never again utter their names!”

Don’t you realize the Lord’s day of judgment will bring darkness, not light – gloomy blackness, not bright light?

I will leave in your midst a humble and meek group of people, and they will find safety in the Lord’s presence.

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, that he should betray Jesus.

On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses.