Then the king said, “Who is that in the courtyard?” Now Haman had come to the outer courtyard of the palace to suggest that the king hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had constructed for him.

“As for the diseased person who has the infection, ¹  his clothes must be torn, the hair of his head must be unbound, he must cover his mustache, ²  and he must call out ‘Unclean! Unclean!’

“‘The high ¹  priest – who is greater than his brothers, on whose head the anointing oil is poured, who has been ordained ²  to wear the priestly garments – must neither dishevel the hair of his head nor tear his garments. ³ 

Though at this time your ropes are slack, ¹  the mast is not secured, ²  and the sail ³  is not unfurled, at that time you will divide up a great quantity of loot; ⁴  even the lame will drag off plunder. ⁵ 

The king of Babylon will become paralyzed with fear ¹  when he hears news of their coming. ²  Anguish will grip him, agony like that of a woman giving birth to a baby. ³ 

whose ¹  trust ²  is in something futile, ³  whose security is a spider’s web. ⁴ 

The heavens reveal his iniquity; the earth rises up against him.

He ¹  draws near to the place of corruption, and his life to the messengers of death. ² 

Do you know about the balancing ¹  of the clouds, that wondrous activity of him who is perfect in knowledge?

I do not associate ¹  with deceitful men, or consort ²  with those who are dishonest. ³ 

ז (Zayin) Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.

On the poplars in her midst we hang our harps,

My child, do not let them ¹  escape from your sight; safeguard sound wisdom and discretion. ² 

The one who goes about gossiping ¹  reveals secrets; therefore do not associate ²  with someone who is always opening his mouth. ³ 

Do not make friends with an angry person, ¹  and do not associate with a wrathful person,

A fool lets fly with all his temper, ¹  but a wise person keeps it back. ² 

For this reason all hands hang limp, ¹  every human heart loses its courage. ² 

For there is more to life than food, and more to the body than clothing.

You are to make for the hanging five posts of acacia wood and overlay them with gold, and their hooks will be ¹  gold, and you are to cast five bronze bases for them. ² 

Esther replied, “If the king is so inclined, let the Jews who are in Susa be permitted to act tomorrow also according to today’s law, and let them hang the ten sons of Haman on the gallows.”