The king'sheartis [like] channelsof waterin the handof the LORD;He turnsit whereverHe wishes.
The mindof manplanshis way,But the LORDdirectshis steps.
Man'sstepsare [ordained] by the LORD,Howthen can manunderstandhis way?
And they observedthe Feastof UnleavenedBreadsevendayswith joy,for the LORDhad caused them to rejoice,and had turnedthe heartof the kingof Assyriatowardthem to encouragethem in the workof the houseof God,the Godof Israel.
and rescuedhim from allhis afflictions,and grantedhim favorand wisdomin the sightof Pharaoh,kingof Egypt,and he madehim governoroverEgyptand allhis household.
The plansof the heartbelong to man,But the answerof the tongueis from the LORD.
"Allthe inhabitantsof the earthare accountedas nothing,But He doesaccordingto His willin the hostof heavenAnd [among] the inhabitantsof earth;And noone can wardoffHis handOr sayto Him, 'Whathave You done?'
He also madethem [objects] of compassionIn the presenceof alltheir captors.
"Behold,I will dosomethingnew,Nowit will springforth;Will you not be awareof it? I will evenmakea roadwayin the wilderness,Riversin the desert.
He turnedtheir heartto hateHis people,To dealcraftilywith His servants.
Then the kingsaidto me, "Whatwould you request?"So I prayedto the Godof heaven.
"OLord,I beseechYou, may Your earbe attentiveto the prayerof Your servantand the prayerof Your servantswho delightto revereYour name,and makeYour servantsuccessfultodayand granthim compassionbeforethisman."Now I was the cupbearerto the king.
You brokeopenspringsand torrents;You driedup ever-flowingstreams.
"[It is I] who saysto the depthof the sea,'Be driedup!' And I will makeyour riversdry.
Morethanthe soundsof manywaters,[Than] the mightybreakersof the sea,The LORDon highis mighty.
The sixth[angel] pouredout his bowlon the greatriver,the Euphrates;and its waterwas driedup, sothat the waywould be preparedfor the kingsfrom the east.
Thenthe third[angel] pouredout his bowlinto the riversand the springsof waters;and they becameblood.
Whatails you, O sea,that you flee?O Jordan,that you turnback?
The sealookedand fled;The Jordanturnedback.
"Takehim and lookafterhim, and donothingharmfulto him, but ratherdealwith him justas he tellsyou."
"But I will hardenPharaoh'sheartthat I may multiplyMy signsand My wondersin the landof Egypt.
"By the waythat he came,by the same he will return,and he shall not cometo thiscity,"' declaresthe LORD.
Now in the firstyearof Cyruskingof Persia,in order to fulfillthe wordof the LORDby the mouthof Jeremiah,the LORDstirredup the spiritof Cyruskingof Persia,so that he senta proclamationthroughout allhis kingdom,and also[put it] in writing,saying:
"ThussaysCyruskingof Persia,'The LORD,the Godof heaven,has givenme allthe kingdomsof the earthand He has appointedme to buildHim a housein Jerusalem,whichis in Judah.
and a letterto Asaphthe keeperof the king'sforest,that he may giveme timberto makebeamsfor the gatesof the fortresswhichis by the temple,for the wallof the cityand for the houseto whichI will go."And the kinggranted[them] to me because the goodhandof my God[was] on me.
The kinglovedEsthermorethanallthe women,and she foundfavorand kindnesswith him morethanallthe virgins,so that he setthe royalcrownon her headand madeher queeninsteadof Vashti.
