And Esther spoke again to the king, falling down at his feet, and implored him with tears to take away the evil of Haman the Agagite, and the plans which he had devised against the Jews.

Why do the nations rage, and the peoples devise a vain thing?

The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers take counsel together, against Jehovah and against His anointed, saying,

He devises wickedness on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not despise evil.

Your tongue devises destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

Woe to the rebellious children, says Jehovah, who take counsel, but not of Me; and who pour out drink offerings, but not of My Spirit; that they sweep away sin after sin;

No one calls for justice, nor does anyone plead for truth; they trust in vanity and speak lies. They conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity.

I will go to the great men, and will speak to them; for they have known the way of Jehovah and the judgment of their God. But these have broken the yoke together and have torn off the bonds!

Then they said, Come and let us devise schemes against Jeremiah. For the Law shall not perish from the priest, nor wisdom from the wise, nor the Word from the prophet. Come and let us strike him with the tongue, and let us not pay attention to any of his words.

Woe to those who devise wickedness and do evil on their beds! In the morning light they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand.

And they covet and seize fields and houses, and carry them away. And they oppress a man and his household, even a man and his inheritance.