When they took out the silver that had been brought to the Lord’s temple, Hilkiah the priest found the law scroll the Lord had given to Moses.

and the rest of nations whom the great and noble Ashurbanipal ¹  deported and settled in the cities ²  of Samaria and other places in Trans-Euphrates. ³ 

We therefore are informing the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, you will not retain control ¹  of this portion of Trans-Euphrates.”

The king sent the following response: “To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues who live in Samaria and other parts of Trans-Euphrates: Greetings! ¹ 

Powerful kings have been over Jerusalem who ruled throughout the entire Trans-Euphrates ¹  and who were the beneficiaries of ²  tribute, custom, and toll.

Then they presented the decrees of the king to the king’s satraps and to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, who gave help to the people and to the temple of God.

it was found written that Mordecai had disclosed that Bigthana ¹  and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the entrance, had plotted to assassinate ²  King Ahasuerus.

“But turn, all of you, ¹  and come ²  now! ³  I will not find a wise man among you.

He has blocked ¹  my way so I cannot pass, and has set darkness ²  over my paths.

It emerges from the distant horizon, ¹  and goes from one end of the sky to the other; ²  nothing can escape ³  its heat.

For his anger lasts only a brief moment, and his good favor restores one’s life. ¹  One may experience sorrow during the night, but joy arrives in the morning. ² 

He brings an end to wars throughout the earth; ¹  he shatters ²  the bow and breaks ³  the spear; he burns ⁴  the shields with fire. ⁵ 

You answer our prayers by performing awesome acts of deliverance, O God, our savior. ¹  All the ends of the earth trust in you, ²  as well as those living across the wide seas. ³ 

He turned the sea into dry land; ¹  they passed through the river on foot. ²  Let us rejoice in him there! ³ 

You allowed men to ride over our heads; we passed through fire and water, but you brought us out into a wide open place. ¹ 

to the one who rides through the sky from ancient times! ¹  Look! He thunders loudly. ² 

He shouted at ¹  the Red Sea and it dried up; he led them through the deep water as if it were a desert.

He executes judgment ¹  against ²  the nations; he fills the valleys with corpses; ³  he shatters their heads over the vast battlefield. ⁴ 

when he gave the sea his decree that the waters should not pass over his command, ¹  when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

When I tried ¹  to gain ²  wisdom and to observe the activity ³  on earth – even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night ⁴  –