Judg 9:7, 20, 56-57, Est 3, 4:6, 9, Psa 12:8, 15:4, Pro 26:3, 28:16 | ESV | STEP | When it was told to Jotham , he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim and cried aloud and said to them, Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem , that God may listen to you.

7 When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on top of ^aMount Gerizim and cried aloud and said to them, “Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem, that God may listen to you.

Judges 9:20

20 But if not, ^blet fire come out from Abimelech and devour the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the leaders of Shechem and from Beth-millo and devour Abimelech.”

Judges 9:56-57

56 ^cThus God returned the evil of Abimelech, which he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers. 57 And God also made all the evil of the men of Shechem return on their heads, and upon them came ^dthe curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.

Esther 3

Haman Plots Against the Jews

1 After these things King Ahasuerus ^epromoted Haman ^fthe Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, ^gand advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him. 2 And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. ^hBut Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage. 3 Then the king’s servants who were ⁱat the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you transgress ^jthe king’s command?” 4 And when they spoke to him day after day and he would not listen to them, they told Haman, in order to see whether Mordecai’s words would stand, for he had told them that he was a Jew. 5 And when Haman saw that ^kMordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman was ^lfilled with fury. 6 But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.

7 In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, ^mthey cast Pur (that is, they cast lots) before Haman day after day; and they cast it month after month till the twelfth month, which is ⁿthe month of Adar. 8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. ^oTheir laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king’s laws, so that it is not to the king’s profit to tolerate them. 9 If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents ^{▼▼A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms} of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king’s business, that they may put it into the king’s treasuries.” 10 ^qSo the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman ^rthe Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, ^sthe enemy of the Jews. 11 And the king said to Haman, “The money is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you.”

12 ^tThen the king’s scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and an edict, according to all that Haman commanded, was written to the king’s ^usatraps and to the governors over all the provinces and to the officials of all the peoples, ^vto every province in its own script and every people in its own language. It was written ^win the name of King Ahasuerus ^xand sealed with the king’s signet ring. 13 Letters were sent ^yby couriers to all the king’s provinces with instruction ^zto destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, ^aain one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, ^aband to plunder their goods. 14 ^acA copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province by proclamation to all the peoples to be ready for that day. 15 ^adThe couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in Susa the citadel. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, ^aebut the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.

Esther 4:6

6 Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate,

Esther 4:9

9 And Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said.

Psalms 12:8

8 On every side the wicked prowl,
as vileness is exalted among the children of man.

Psalms 15:4

4 ^afin whose eyes a vile person is despised,
but who honors those who fear the Lord;
who ^agswears to his own hurt and does not change;

Proverbs 26:3

3 ^ahA whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
and ^aia rod for the back of fools.

Proverbs 28:16

16 A ruler who ^ajlacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,
but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.