4 Hear, O our God, for we are being treated with contempt,+ and make their reproach return on their own heads,+ and give them over as plunder in a land of captivity.

15 So the wall was completed on the 25th day of Eʹlul,* in 52 days.

16 As soon as all our enemies heard of it and all the surrounding nations saw it, they became greatly ashamed,*+ and they realized that it was with our God’s help that this work had been done.

13 When Haʹman related to his wife Zeʹresh+ and to all his friends everything that had happened to him, his wise men and his wife Zeʹresh said to him: “If Morʹde·cai, before whom you have started to fall, is of Jewish descent,* you will not prevail against him; you will surely fall before him.”

5 The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them; they did whatever they wanted to those hating them.+

“Tear it down! Tear it down to its foundations!”+

3 In that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy* stone to all the peoples. All those who lift it are sure to be severely injured;+ and all the nations of the earth will be gathered against her.+