20
For Thou hast made heaven and earth, and all the wondrous things under the heaven.
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Thou art Lord of all things, and there is no man that can resist Thee, who art the Lord.
22
Thou knowest all things; and Thou knowest, Lord, that it was neither in contempt nor pride, nor for any desire of glory that I did not bow down to proud Haman.
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For I could have been content with good will for the salvation of Israel, to kiss the soles of his feet.
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But I did this, that I might not prefer the glory of man above the glory of God; neither will I worship any but Thee, O God, neither will I do it in pride.
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And now, O Lord God and King, spare Thy people, for their eyes are upon us to bring us to nought; yea, they desire to destroy the inheritance that hath been Thine from the beginning.
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Despise not the portion, which Thou hast delivered out of Egypt for Thine own self.
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Hear my prayer, and be merciful unto Thine inheritance; turn our sorrow into joy, that we may live, O Lord, and praise Thy name; and destroy not the mouths of them that praise Thee, O Lord."
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All Israel in like manner cried most earnestly unto the Lord, because their death was before their eyes.
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Queen Esther also, being in fear of death, resorted unto the Lord,
30
and laid away her glorious apparel and put on the garments of anguish and mourning; and instead of precious ointments, she covered her head with ashes and dung; and she humbled her body greatly, and all the places of her joy she filled with her torn hair.