So listen to what I, the Lord, have planned against Babylon, what I intend to do to the people who inhabit the land of Babylonia. ¹  Their little ones will be dragged off. I will completely destroy their land because of what they have done.

It so happened that when our adversaries heard that we were aware of these matters, ¹  God frustrated their intentions. Then all of us returned to the wall, each to his own work.

Then Esther again spoke with the king, falling at his feet. She wept and begged him for mercy, that he might nullify the evil of Haman the Agagite which he had intended against the Jews. ¹ 

They say, “Let him hurry, let him act quickly, ¹  so we can see; let the plan of the Holy One of Israel ²  take shape ³  and come to pass, then we will know it!”

But he does not agree with this, his mind does not reason this way, ¹  for his goal is to destroy, and to eliminate many nations. ² 

¹ Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that had been kept secret for long ages,

May those who seek my life be embarrassed and humiliated! May those who plan to harm me be turned back and ashamed! ¹ 

They encourage one another to carry out their evil deed. ¹  They plan how to hide ²  snares, and boast, ³  “Who will see them?” ⁴ 

They devise ¹  unjust schemes; they disguise ²  a well-conceived plot. ³  Man’s inner thoughts cannot be discovered. ⁴ 

O Lord, shelter me from the power ¹  of the wicked! Protect me from violent men, who plan to knock me over. ² 

who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father,

Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be encouraged by hearing news about you.

When he speaks of a new covenant, ¹  he makes the first obsolete. Now what is growing obsolete and aging is about to disappear. ² 

“Dominion ¹  and awesome might ²  belong to ³  God; he establishes peace in his heights. ⁴ 

I will have nothing to do with a perverse person; ¹  I will not permit ²  evil.

To impart ¹  shrewdness ²  to the morally naive, ³  and ⁴  a discerning ⁵  plan ⁶  to the young person. ⁷ 

A person ¹  plans his course, ²  but the Lord directs ³  his steps. ⁴ 

There is no wisdom and there is no understanding, and there is no counsel against ¹  the Lord. ² 

An honorable man makes honorable plans; his honorable character gives him security. ¹ 

Though the Lord desired to crush him and make him ill, once restitution is made, ¹  he will see descendants and enjoy long life, ²  and the Lord’s purpose will be accomplished through him.