"I was a fatherto the needy,And I investigatedthe casewhich I did not know.
Now when his masterheardthe wordsof his wife,whichshe spoketo him, saying,"Thisis whatyour slavedidto me," his angerburned.
Then the kingsaidto the woman,"Goto your house,and I will giveordersconcerningyou."
He was bringingup Hadassah,that is Esther,his uncle'sdaughter,for she hadnofatherormother.Now the youngladywas beautifulof formand face,and when her fatherand her motherdied,Mordecaitookher as his own daughter.
"They pushthe needyasidefrom the road;The poorof the landare made to hidethemselves altogether.
"Have I not weptfor the one whose lifeis hard?Was not my soulgrievedfor the needy?
(But from my youthhe grewup with me as with a father,And from infancyI guidedher),
"Have the menof my tentnot said,'Whocan findone who has not been satisfiedwith his meat'?
"The alienhas not lodgedoutside,[For] I have openedmy doorsto the traveler.
"Beholdyou have admonishedmany,And you have strengthenedweakhands.
A fatherof the fatherlessand a judgefor the widows,Is Godin His holyhabitation.
They judgedthe peopleat alltimes;the difficultdisputethey would bringto Moses,but everyminordisputethey themselves would judge.
It is the gloryof Godto conceala matter,But the gloryof kingsis to searchout a matter.
The righteousis concernedfor the rightsof the poor,The wickeddoes not understand[such] concern.
And I will clothehim with your tunicAnd tieyour sashsecurelyabout him. I will entrusthim with your authority,And he will becomea fatherto the inhabitantsof Jerusalemand to the houseof Judah.
Thereforebe imitatorsof God,as belovedchildren;
then you shall investigateand searchout and inquirethoroughly.Ifit is true [and] the matterestablishedthat thisabominationhas been doneamongyou,
Pureand undefiledreligionin the sightof [our] Godand Fatheris this:to visitorphansand widowsin their distress,[and] to keeponeselfunstainedby the world.
