[In the second year of reign of Artaxerxes the great king, on the first [day] of Nisan, Mordecai the [son] of Jair, the [son] of Shimei, the [son] of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Jew dwelling in the city of Susa, a great man, serving in the king's palace, saw a vision. Now he was of the captivity which Nebuchaznezzar king of Babylon had carried captive from Jerusalem, with Jeconiah the king of Judea. And this [was] his dream: Behold, voices and a noise, thunders and an earthquake, and tumult upon the earth. And behold, two great serpents came forth, both ready for conflict, and there came from them a great voice, and by their voice of every nation was prepared for battle, even to fight against the nation of the just. And behold, a day of darkness and blackness, tribulation and anguish, affliction and great tumult upon the earth. And all the righteous nation was troubled, fearing their own afflictions; and they prepared to die, and cried to God. And from their cry there came as it were a great river from a little fountain, [even] much water. And light and the sun arose, and the lowly were exalted, and devoured the honorable. And Mordecai, who had seen this vision and what God designed to do, having awoke, kept in his heart, and desired by all means to interpret it, even till night. And Mordecai rested quiet in the palace with Gabatha and Tharrha, the king's two chamberlains, eunuchs who guarded the palace. And he heard their reasonings and searched out their plans, and learned that they were preparing to lay hands on King Artaxerxes. And he informed the king concerning them. And the king examined the two chamberlains, and they confessed, and were executed. And the king wrote these things for a memorial; also Mordecai wrote concerning these matters. And the king commanded Mordecai to attend in the palace, and gave him gifts for this service. And Haman the son of Hammedatha the Bugaean was honorable in the sight of the king, and he endeavored to hurt Mordecai and his people, because of the two eunuchs of the king.] [ 1:1] And it came to pass after these things in the days of Artaxerxes (this Artaxerxes ruled over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces from India),

So the king's recorders were called in the first month, on the thirteenth [day], and they wrote as Haman commanded to the captains and governors in every province, from India even to Ethiopia, to a hundred and twenty-seven provinces, and to the rulers of the nations according to their [many] languages, in the name of King Artaxerxes.

And he came, and behold, Eli was upon the seat by the gate looking along the way, for his heart was greatly alarmed for the ark of God. And the man entered into the city to bring news, and the city cried out.

And Eli heard the sound of the cry, and said, What is the voice of this cry? And the men hastened and went in, and reported to Eli.

And the messengers came to Gibeah to Saul, and they spoke the words into the ears of the people; and all the people lifted up their voice, and wept.

Therefore I said, Let me alone, I will weep bitterly; labor not to comfort me for the breach of the daughter of my people.

And the Lord, the Lord of hosts, called in that day for weeping, and lamentation, and baldness, and for girding with sackcloth;

And it came to pass, when King Hezekiah heard [it, that] he tore his clothes, and put on sackcloth, and went up to the house of the Lord.

Today is a day of affliction, and reproach, and rebuke, and anger; for the pangs have come upon the travailing [woman], but she has not the strength to bring forth.

and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Then the king said to the servants, 'Tie him up hands and feet, take him away, and cast [him] into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

And cast the useless servant into the darkness outside. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

I have not chosen this fast, nor [such] a day for a man to afflict his soul; although you should bend down your neck as a ring, and spread under you sackcloth and ashes, neither thus shall you call a fast acceptable.

And I set my face toward the Lord God, to seek [Him] diligently by prayer and supplications, with fasting and sackcloth.