Nehemiah 9:35   (Read all of Nehemiah 9)

Even while they were in their kingdom, enjoying your great goodness to them in the spacious and fertile land you gave them, they did not serve you or turn from their evil ways.

Nehemiah 9:36   (Read all of Nehemiah 9)

"But see, we are slaves today, slaves in the land you gave our ancestors so they could eat its fruit and the other good things it produces.

Nehemiah 9:37   (Read all of Nehemiah 9)

Because of our sins, its abundant harvest goes to the kings you have placed over us. They rule over our bodies and our cattle as they please. We are in great distress.

Nehemiah 13:17   (Read all of Nehemiah 13)

I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them, "What is this wicked thing you are doing-desecrating the Sabbath day?

Nehemiah 13:18   (Read all of Nehemiah 13)

Didn't your ancestors do the same things, so that our God brought all this calamity on us and on this city? Now you are stirring up more wrath against Israel by desecrating the Sabbath."

Nehemiah 13:21   (Read all of Nehemiah 13)

But I warned them and said, "Why do you spend the night by the wall? If you do this again, I will arrest you." From that time on they no longer came on the Sabbath.

Nehemiah 13:22   (Read all of Nehemiah 13)

Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and go and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this also, my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love.

Nehemiah 13:25   (Read all of Nehemiah 13)

I rebuked them and called curses down on them. I beat some of the men and pulled out their hair. I made them take an oath in God's name and said: "You are not to give your daughters in marriage to their sons, nor are you to take their daughters in marriage for your sons or for yourselves.

Nehemiah 13:27   (Read all of Nehemiah 13)

Must we hear now that you too are doing all this terrible wickedness and are being unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women?"

Esther 2:2   (Read all of Esther 2)

Then the king's personal attendants proposed, "Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king.

Esther 2:3   (Read all of Esther 2)

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's eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them.

Esther 2:4   (Read all of Esther 2)

Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti." This advice appealed to the king, and he followed it.

Esther 2:7   (Read all of Esther 2)

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.

Esther 2:8   (Read all of Esther 2)

When the king'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's palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem.

Esther 2:12   (Read all of Esther 2)

Before a young woman'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.

Esther 2:15   (Read all of Esther 2)

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's eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her.

Esther 3:3   (Read all of Esther 3)

Then the royal officials at the king's gate asked Mordecai, "Why do you disobey the king's command?"

Esther 3:8   (Read all of Esther 3)

Then Haman said to King Xerxes, "There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king's laws; it is not in the king's best interest to tolerate them.

Esther 3:11   (Read all of Esther 3)

"Keep the money," the king said to Haman, "and do with the people as you please."

Esther 4:13   (Read all of Esther 4)

he sent back this answer: "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape.

Esther 4:14   (Read all of Esther 4)

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?"

Esther 4:16   (Read all of Esther 4)

"Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."

Esther 5:3   (Read all of Esther 5)

Then the king asked, "What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you."

Esther 5:6   (Read all of Esther 5)

As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, "Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted."