Esau’s Lost Hope

Now it happened, as soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.

Turn back, my daughters, go—for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons,

For we are aliens and pilgrims before You, As were all our fathers; Our days on earth are as a shadow, And without hope.

And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, spoke up and said to Ezra, “We have trespassed against our God, and have taken pagan wives from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope in Israel in spite of this.

The Jews Destroy Their Tormentors

Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day, the time came for the king’s command and his decree to be executed. On the day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, the opposite occurred, in that the Jews themselves overpowered those who hated them.

Is not your reverence your confidence? And the integrity of your ways your hope?

So the poor have hope, And injustice shuts her mouth.

“What strength do I have, that I should hope? And what is my end, that I should prolong my life?

The caravans of Tema look, The travelers of Sheba hope for them.

“My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, And are spent without hope.

So are the paths of all who forget God; And the hope of the hypocrite shall perish,

And you would be secure, because there is hope; Yes, you would dig around you, and take your rest in safety.

But the eyes of the wicked will fail, And they shall not escape, And their hope—loss of life!”

“For there is hope for a tree, If it is cut down, that it will sprout again, And that its tender shoots will not cease.

As water wears away stones, And as torrents wash away the soil of the earth; So You destroy the hope of man.

Where then is my hope? As for my hope, who can see it?

He breaks me down on every side, And I am gone; My hope He has uprooted like a tree.

For what is the hope of the hypocrite, Though he may gain much, If God takes away his life?

“If I have made gold my hope, Or said to fine gold, ‘You are my confidence’;

Indeed, any hope of overcoming him is false; Shall one not be overwhelmed at the sight of him?

The Hope of the Faithful, and the Messiah’s Victory

A Michtam of David.

Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.

Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the Lord.

A horse is a vain hope for safety; Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy,