Quotes About Hope

Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, an Elamite, said to Ezra: “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the people of the land, yet in spite of this, there is hope for Israel.

Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah. So I questioned them about the remnant of the Jews who had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

They are Your servants and Your people. You redeemed them by Your great power and mighty hand.

Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned down. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we will no longer be a disgrace.”

I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me, and what the king had said to me. “Let us start rebuilding,” they replied, and they set their hands to this good work.

before his associates and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore the wall by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?”

Hear us, O God, for we are despised. Turn their scorn back upon their own heads, and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity.

Meanwhile, the people of Judah said: “The strength of the laborer fails, and there is so much rubble that we will never be able to rebuild the wall.”

After I had made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

Wherever you hear the sound of the horn, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us!”

Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt.

You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt; You heard their cry at the Red Sea.

You in Your great compassion did not forsake them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud never turned away from guiding them on their path; and by the night the pillar of fire illuminated the way they should go.

But in Your great compassion, You did not put an end to them; nor did You forsake them, for You are a gracious and compassionate God.

So here we are today as slaves in the land You gave our fathers to enjoy its fruit and goodness—here we are as slaves!

In every province to which the kingís command and edict came, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and lamented, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

Mordecai also gave Hathach a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for the destruction of the Jews, to show and explain to Esther, urging her to approach the king, implore his favor, and plead before him for her people.

he sent back to her this reply: “Do not imagine that because you are in the kingís palace you alone will escape the fate of all the Jews.

“Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!”

For how could I bear to see the disaster that would befall my people? How could I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?”

For the Jews it was a time of light and gladness, of joy and honor.

On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the kingís command and edict were to be executed. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but their plan was overturned and the Jews overpowered those who hated them.

Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha,