I cried out to you, “Deliver me, so that I can keep ¹  your rules.”

I learned long ago that you ordained your rules to last. ¹ 

The enemies who chase me are numerous. ¹  Yet I do not turn aside from your rules.

I keep your precepts and rules, for you are aware of everything I do. ¹ 

May I ¹  live and praise you! May your regulations help me! ² 

Look, I have decreed: ¹  I will not keep silent, but will pay them back; I will pay them back exactly what they deserve, ² 

מ (Mem) Whose command was ever fulfilled ¹  unless the Lord ²  decreed it?

So I gave orders, ¹  and it was determined ²  that this city from long ago has been engaging in insurrection against kings. It has continually engaged in ³  rebellion and revolt.

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.

The word of the Lord came to me:

and all humanity ¹  will see the salvation of God.’” ² 

So now, look, the Lord has placed a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours; but the Lord has decreed disaster for you.”

So now, look, the Lord has placed a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours; but the Lord has decreed disaster for you.”

We inquired of those elders, asking them, ‘Who gave you the authority to rebuild this temple and to complete this structure?’

He established a rule ¹  in Jacob; he set up a law in Israel. He commanded our ancestors to make his deeds known to their descendants, ² 

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,

Instead we speak the wisdom of God, hidden in a mystery, that God determined before the ages for our glory.

Throughout every province and throughout every city where the king’s edict and his law arrived, the Jews experienced happiness and joy, banquets and holidays. Many of the resident peoples ¹  pretended ²  to be Jews, because the fear of the Jews had overcome them. ³ 

Make my son Solomon willing to obey your commands, rules, and regulations, and to complete building the palace for which I have made preparations.” ¹ 

At that time Tattenai governor of Trans-Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, and their colleagues came to them and asked, “Who gave you authority ¹  to rebuild this temple and to complete this structure?” ²