so that they may be offering incense to the God of heaven and may be praying for the good fortune of the king and his family.

the son of Shecaniah; from the descendants of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him were enrolled by genealogy 150 men;

from the descendants of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan, and with him 110 men;

All these had taken foreign wives, and some of them also had children by these women.

The king responded, “What is it you are seeking?” Then I quickly prayed to the God of heaven

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

“But they – our ancestors – behaved presumptuously; they rebelled and did not obey your commandments.

and his colleagues who were exceptional men – 128. The officer over them was Zabdiel the son of Haggedolim.

And the gatekeepers: Akkub, Talmon and their colleagues who were guarding the gates – 172.

The traders and sellers of all kinds of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem once or twice.

So the Jews committed themselves to continue what they had begun to do and to what Mordecai had written to them.

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

Then his wife said to him, “Are you still holding firmly to your integrity? Curse God, and die!”

Let those who curse the day curse it – those who are prepared to rouse Leviathan.

But now the same thing comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are terrified.

They are destroyed between morning and evening; they perish forever without anyone regarding it.

“Call now! Is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?

I myself have seen the fool taking root, but suddenly I cursed his place of residence.

His children are far from safety, and they are crushed at the place where judgment is rendered, nor is there anyone to deliver them.

he sets the lowly on high, that those who mourn are raised to safety.