You are authorized ¹  by the king and his seven advisers to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your possession, ² 

to establish these days of Purim in their proper times, just as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had established, and just as they had established both for themselves and their descendants, matters pertaining to fasting and lamentation.

For forty years I was continually disgusted ¹  with that generation, and I said, ‘These people desire to go astray; ²  they do not obey my commands.’ ³ 

I also thought to myself, “It is ¹  for the sake of people, ²  so God can clearly ³  show ⁴  them that they are like animals.

You made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool – but you did not trust in ¹  the one who made it; ²  you did not depend on ³  the one who formed it long ago!

Then a stone was brought and placed over the opening ¹  to the den. The king sealed ²  it with his signet ring and with those ³  of his nobles so that nothing could be changed with regard to Daniel.

You also do this: You cover the altar of the Lord with tears ¹  as you weep and groan, because he no longer pays any attention to the offering nor accepts it favorably from you.

Now it was for this very purpose ¹  that the gospel was preached to those who are now dead, ²  so that though ³  they were judged in the flesh ⁴  by human standards ⁵  they may live spiritually ⁶  by God’s standards. ⁷ 

when an individual becomes guilty with regard to one of these things ¹  he must confess how he has sinned, ² 

They cast lots to determine their responsibilities – oldest as well as youngest, teacher as well as student. ¹ 

They cast lots, both young and old, according to their families, to determine which gate they would be responsible for. ¹ 

I cry out to you, ¹  but you do not answer me; I stand up, ²  and you only look at me. ³ 

“For God speaks, the first time in one way, the second time in another, though a person does not perceive ¹  it.

Teach me what I cannot see. ¹  If I have done evil, I will do so no more.’

Take heed, do not turn to evil, for because of this you have been tested ¹  by affliction.

He humbles princes; ¹  the kings of the earth regard him as awesome. ² 

Then they say, “The Lord does not see this; the God of Jacob does not take notice of it.” ¹ 

He will not consider ¹  any compensation; ²  he will not be willing, even if you multiply the compensation. ³ 

I spelled out my law for him in great detail, but they regard it as something totally unknown ¹  to them!

But he did not answer even one accusation, so that the governor was quite amazed.