Mordecai was of high rank ¹  in the king’s palace, and word about him was spreading throughout all the provinces. His influence ²  continued to become greater and greater.

The wind goes to the south and circles around to the north; round and round ¹  the wind goes and on its rounds it returns. ² 

Whoever lives a blameless life, ¹  does what is right, and speaks honestly. ² 

He remembered ¹  that they were made of flesh, and were like a wind that blows past and does not return. ² 

A worthless and wicked person ¹  walks around saying perverse ²  things; ³ 

The one who conducts himself ¹  in integrity ²  will live ³  securely, but the one who behaves perversely ⁴  will be found out.

The one who goes about slandering others ¹  reveals ²  secrets, but the one who is trustworthy ³  conceals a matter.

The one who associates ¹  with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. ² 

The one who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord, ¹  but the one who is perverted in his ways ²  despises him.

Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity ¹  than one who is perverse in his speech ²  and is a fool. ³ 

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

A poor person ¹  who walks in his integrity is better than one who is perverse in his ways ²  even though ³  he is rich. ⁴ 

The one who walks blamelessly will be delivered, ¹  but whoever is perverse in his ways will fall ²  at once. ³ 

“Look,” said Esau, “I’m about to die! What use is the birthright to me?” ¹ 

When the sound of the horn grew louder and louder, ¹  Moses was speaking ²  and God was answering him with a voice. ³ 

But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light, ¹  growing brighter and brighter ²  until full day. ³ 

Suddenly he went ¹  after her like an ox that goes to the slaughter, like a stag prancing into a trapper’s snare ² 

May your mouth ¹  be like the best wine, flowing smoothly for my beloved, gliding gently over our lips as we sleep together. ² 

Because the storm was growing worse and worse, ¹  they said to him, “What should we do to you to make ²  the sea calm down ³  for us?”

Instead, they tried to row ¹  back to land, ²  but they were not able to do so ³  because the storm kept growing worse and worse. ⁴