So allthe menof Judahand Benjaminassembledat Jerusalemwithin the threedays.It was the ninthmonthon the twentiethof the month,and allthe peoplesatin the opensquare[before] the houseof God,tremblingbecauseof this matterand the heavy rain.
Then Ezrathe prieststoodup and saidto them, "You have beenunfaithfuland have marriedforeignwivesaddingto the guiltof Israel.
"So nowlet us makea covenantwith our Godto putawayallthe wivesand their children,according to the counselof my lordand of those who trembleat the commandmentof our God;and let it be doneaccording to the law.
and that whoeverwould not comewithin threedays,according to the counselof the leadersand the elders,allhis possessionsshould be forfeitedand he himselfexcludedfrom the assemblyof the exiles.
Then everyonewho trembledat the wordsof the Godof Israelon accountof the unfaithfulnessof the exilesgatheredto me, and I satappalleduntilthe eveningoffering.
So Estherwas takento KingAhasuerusto his royalpalacein the tenthmonthwhichis the monthTebeth,in the seventhyearof his reign.
But the LORDis the true God;He is the livingGodand the everlastingKing.At His wraththe earthquakes,And the nationscannotendureHis indignation.
When He uttersHis voice,[there is] a tumultof watersin the heavens,And He causes the cloudsto ascendfrom the endof the earth;He makeslightningfor the rain,And bringsout the windfrom His storehouses.
Now the kingwas sittingin the winterhousein the ninthmonth,with [a fire] burningin the brazierbeforehim.
