Faith vs Fear

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   <div class="book bkEST">
      <div class="chapter ch2" data-usfm="EST.2.1+EST.2.2+EST.2.3+EST.2.4+EST.2.5+EST.2.6+EST.2.7+EST.2.8+EST.2.9+EST.2.10+EST.2.11+EST.2.12+EST.2.13+EST.2.14+EST.2.15+EST.2.16+EST.2.17+EST.2.18+EST.2.19+EST.2.20+EST.2.21+EST.2.22+EST.2.23">
         <div class="p"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="EST.2.1"><span class="label">1</span><span class="content">Later when King Xerxes&#8217; fury had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what he had decreed about her. </span></span><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="EST.2.2"><span class="label">2</span><span class="content">Then the king&#8217;s personal attendants proposed, &#8220;Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king. </span></span><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="EST.2.3"><span class="label">3</span><span class="content">Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king&#8217;s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them. </span></span><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="EST.2.4"><span class="label">4</span><span class="content">Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.&#8221; This advice appealed to the king, and he followed it.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="EST.2.4"></span><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="EST.2.5"><span class="label">5</span><span class="content">Now there was in the citadel of Susa a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, </span></span><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="EST.2.6"><span class="label">6</span><span class="content">who had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, among those taken captive with Jehoiachin</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class="body"><span class="fr">2:6 </span><span class="ft">Hebrew </span><span class="fqa">Jeconiah, </span><span class="ft">a variant of </span><span class="fq">Jehoiachin</span></span></span><span class="content"> king of Judah. </span></span><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="EST.2.7"><span class="label">7</span><span class="content">Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="EST.2.7"></span><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="EST.2.8"><span class="label">8</span><span class="content">When the king&#8217;s order and edict had been proclaimed, many young women were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king&#8217;s palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem. </span></span><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="EST.2.9"><span class="label">9</span><span class="content">She pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king&#8217;s palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="EST.2.9"></span><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="EST.2.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content">Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so. </span></span><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="EST.2.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">Every day he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="EST.2.11"></span><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="EST.2.12"><span class="label">12</span><span class="content">Before a young woman&#8217;s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. </span></span><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="EST.2.13"><span class="label">13</span><span class="content">And this is how she would go to the king: Anything she wanted was given her to take with her from the harem to the king&#8217;s palace. </span></span><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="EST.2.14"><span class="label">14</span><span class="content">In the evening she would go there and in the morning return to another part of the harem to the care of Shaashgaz, the king&#8217;s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and summoned her by name.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="EST.2.14"></span><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="EST.2.15"><span class="label">15</span><span class="content">When the turn came for Esther (the young woman Mordecai had adopted, the daughter of his uncle Abihail) to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king&#8217;s eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her. </span></span><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="EST.2.16"><span class="label">16</span><span class="content">She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal residence in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="EST.2.16"></span><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="EST.2.17"><span class="label">17</span><span class="content">Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. </span></span><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="EST.2.18"><span class="label">18</span><span class="content">And the king gave a great banquet, Esther&#8217;s banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality.</span></span></div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">Mordecai Uncovers a Conspiracy</span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="EST.2.18"></span><span class="verse v19" data-usfm="EST.2.19"><span class="label">19</span><span class="content">When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king&#8217;s gate. </span></span><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="EST.2.20"><span class="label">20</span><span class="content">But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as Mordecai had told her to do, for she continued to follow Mordecai&#8217;s instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="EST.2.20"></span><span class="verse v21" data-usfm="EST.2.21"><span class="label">21</span><span class="content">During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king&#8217;s gate, Bigthana</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class="body"><span class="fr">2:21 </span><span class="ft">Hebrew </span><span class="fqa">Bigthan, </span><span class="ft">a variant of </span><span class="fq">Bigthana</span></span></span><span class="content"> and Teresh, two of the king&#8217;s officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. </span></span><span class="verse v22" data-usfm="EST.2.22"><span class="label">22</span><span class="content">But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. </span></span><span class="verse v23" data-usfm="EST.2.23"><span class="label">23</span><span class="content">And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were impaled on poles. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.</span></span></div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
   <div class="book bkPRO">
      <div class="chapter ch31" data-usfm="PRO.31.10+PRO.31.11+PRO.31.12+PRO.31.13+PRO.31.14+PRO.31.15+PRO.31.16+PRO.31.17+PRO.31.18+PRO.31.19+PRO.31.20+PRO.31.21+PRO.31.22+PRO.31.23+PRO.31.24+PRO.31.25+PRO.31.26+PRO.31.27+PRO.31.28+PRO.31.29+PRO.31.30+PRO.31.31">
         <div class="q1"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="PRO.31.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content"> </span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class="body"><span class="fr">31:10 </span><span class="ft">Verses 10-31 are an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.</span><span class="ft"> </span></span></span><span class="content">A wife of noble character who can find?</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="PRO.31.10"><span class="content">She is worth far more than rubies.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="PRO.31.10"></span><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="PRO.31.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">Her husband has full confidence in her</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="PRO.31.11"><span class="content">and lacks nothing of value.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="PRO.31.11"></span><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="PRO.31.12"><span class="label">12</span><span class="content">She brings him good, not harm,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="PRO.31.12"><span class="content">all the days of her life.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="PRO.31.12"></span><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="PRO.31.13"><span class="label">13</span><span class="content">She selects wool and flax</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="PRO.31.13"><span class="content">and works with eager hands.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="PRO.31.13"></span><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="PRO.31.14"><span class="label">14</span><span class="content">She is like the merchant ships,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="PRO.31.14"><span class="content">bringing her food from afar.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="PRO.31.14"></span><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="PRO.31.15"><span class="label">15</span><span class="content">She gets up while it is still night;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="PRO.31.15"><span class="content">she provides food for her family</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="PRO.31.15"><span class="content">and portions for her female servants.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="PRO.31.15"></span><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="PRO.31.16"><span class="label">16</span><span class="content">She considers a field and buys it;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="PRO.31.16"><span class="content">out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="PRO.31.16"></span><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="PRO.31.17"><span class="label">17</span><span class="content">She sets about her work vigorously;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="PRO.31.17"><span class="content">her arms are strong for her tasks.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="PRO.31.17"></span><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="PRO.31.18"><span class="label">18</span><span class="content">She sees that her trading is profitable,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="PRO.31.18"><span class="content">and her lamp does not go out at night.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="PRO.31.18"></span><span class="verse v19" data-usfm="PRO.31.19"><span class="label">19</span><span class="content">In her hand she holds the distaff</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v19" data-usfm="PRO.31.19"><span class="content">and grasps the spindle with her fingers.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v19" data-usfm="PRO.31.19"></span><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="PRO.31.20"><span class="label">20</span><span class="content">She opens her arms to the poor</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="PRO.31.20"><span class="content">and extends her hands to the needy.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="PRO.31.20"></span><span class="verse v21" data-usfm="PRO.31.21"><span class="label">21</span><span class="content">When it snows, she has no fear for her household;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v21" data-usfm="PRO.31.21"><span class="content">for all of them are clothed in scarlet.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v21" data-usfm="PRO.31.21"></span><span class="verse v22" data-usfm="PRO.31.22"><span class="label">22</span><span class="content">She makes coverings for her bed;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v22" data-usfm="PRO.31.22"><span class="content">she is clothed in fine linen and purple.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v22" data-usfm="PRO.31.22"></span><span class="verse v23" data-usfm="PRO.31.23"><span class="label">23</span><span class="content">Her husband is respected at the city gate,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v23" data-usfm="PRO.31.23"><span class="content">where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v23" data-usfm="PRO.31.23"></span><span class="verse v24" data-usfm="PRO.31.24"><span class="label">24</span><span class="content">She makes linen garments and sells them,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v24" data-usfm="PRO.31.24"><span class="content">and supplies the merchants with sashes.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v24" data-usfm="PRO.31.24"></span><span class="verse v25" data-usfm="PRO.31.25"><span class="label">25</span><span class="content">She is clothed with strength and dignity;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v25" data-usfm="PRO.31.25"><span class="content">she can laugh at the days to come.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v25" data-usfm="PRO.31.25"></span><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="PRO.31.26"><span class="label">26</span><span class="content">She speaks with wisdom,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="PRO.31.26"><span class="content">and faithful instruction is on her tongue.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="PRO.31.26"></span><span class="verse v27" data-usfm="PRO.31.27"><span class="label">27</span><span class="content">She watches over the affairs of her household</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v27" data-usfm="PRO.31.27"><span class="content">and does not eat the bread of idleness.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v27" data-usfm="PRO.31.27"></span><span class="verse v28" data-usfm="PRO.31.28"><span class="label">28</span><span class="content">Her children arise and call her blessed;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v28" data-usfm="PRO.31.28"><span class="content">her husband also, and he praises her:</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v28" data-usfm="PRO.31.28"></span><span class="verse v29" data-usfm="PRO.31.29"><span class="label">29</span><span class="content">&#8220;Many women do noble things,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v29" data-usfm="PRO.31.29"><span class="content">but you surpass them all.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v29" data-usfm="PRO.31.29"></span><span class="verse v30" data-usfm="PRO.31.30"><span class="label">30</span><span class="content">Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v30" data-usfm="PRO.31.30"><span class="content">but a woman who fears the </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content"> is to be praised.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v30" data-usfm="PRO.31.30"></span><span class="verse v31" data-usfm="PRO.31.31"><span class="label">31</span><span class="content">Honor her for all that her hands have done,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v31" data-usfm="PRO.31.31"><span class="content">and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.</span></span></div>
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