The couriers went out, hastened by the king's command; and the decree was proclaimed in Shushan the citadel. So the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shushan was perplexed.

Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my people [as] they eat bread, And do not call on the LORD?

This [is] the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, And says, "I have done no wickedness."

Who drink wine from bowls, And anoint yourselves with the best ointments, But are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.

Then Midianite traders passed by; so [the brothers] pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty [shekels] of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.

Now the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh [and] captain of the guard.

And the Angel of the LORD said to her: "Behold, you [are] with child, And you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, Because the LORD has heard your affliction.

He shall be a wild man; His hand [shall be] against every man, And every man's hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren."

Abraham again took a wife, and her name [was] Keturah.

Jokshan begot Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim.

These [were] the sons of Ishmael and these [were] their names, by their towns and their settlements, twelve princes according to their nations.

(They dwelt from Havilah as far as Shur, which [is] east of Egypt as you go toward Assyria.) He died in the presence of all his brethren.

Then he took his brethren with him and pursued him for seven days' journey, and he overtook him in the mountains of Gilead.

The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites;

So he fled with all that he had. He arose and crossed the river, and headed toward the mountains of Gilead.

And their father Israel said to them, "If [it must be] so, then do this: Take some of the best fruits of the land in your vessels and carry down a present for the man -- a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds.

[Is there] no balm in Gilead, [Is there] no physician there? Why then is there no recovery For the health of the daughter of my people?