Some time later King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, exalting him and setting his position above that of all the officials who were with him.

If it is a matter of strength, most certainly he is the strong one! And if it is a matter of justice, he will say, ‘Who will summon me?’

If a land has been given into the hand of a wicked man, he covers the faces of its judges; if it is not he, then who is it?

May the evil deeds of the wicked come to an end! But make the innocent secure, O righteous God, you who examine inner thoughts and motives!

How long must I worry, and suffer in broad daylight? How long will my enemy gloat over me?

I have not failed to tell about your justice; I spoke about your reliability and deliverance; I have not neglected to tell the great assembly about your loyal love and faithfulness.

Appear in your majesty and be victorious! Ride forth for the sake of what is right, on behalf of justice! Then your right hand will accomplish mighty acts!

The nobles of the nations assemble, along with the people of the God of Abraham, for God has authority over the rulers of the earth. He is highly exalted!

when you deliver my life from death. You keep my feet from stumbling, so that I might serve God as I enjoy life.

May he send help from heaven and deliver me from my enemies who hurl insults! (Selah) May God send his loyal love and faithfulness!

As smoke is driven away by the wind, so you drive them away. As wax melts before fire, so the wicked are destroyed before God.

Yes, he struck a rock and water flowed out, streams gushed forth. But can he also give us food? Will he provide meat for his people?”

Then you spoke through a vision to your faithful followers and said: “I have energized a warrior; I have raised up a young man from the people.

A psalm. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he performs amazing deeds! His right hand and his mighty arm accomplish deliverance.

Even when I must walk in the midst of danger, you revive me. You oppose my angry enemies, and your right hand delivers me.

He has made his people victorious, and given all his loyal followers reason to praise – the Israelites, the people who are close to him. Praise the Lord!

There was once a small city with a few men in it, and a mighty king attacked it, besieging it and building strong siege works against it.

“These people have rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah and melt in fear over Rezin and the son of Remaliah.

Indeed this is what the Lord told me. He took hold of me firmly and warned me not to act like these people:

to keep the poor from getting fair treatment, and to deprive the oppressed among my people of justice, so they can steal what widows own, and loot what belongs to orphans.