Esther 10

New International Version

The Greatness of Mordecai

10 King Xerxes imposed tribute throughout the empire, to its distant shores.^(A) ²And all his acts of power and might, together with a full account of the greatness of Mordecai,^(B) whom the king had promoted,^(C) are they not written in the book of the annals^(D) of the kings of Media and Persia? ³Mordecai the Jew was second^(E) in rank^(F) to King Xerxes,^(G) preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.^(H)

Psalm 136:10-26

New International Version

¹⁰to him who struck down the firstborn^(A) of Egypt
His love endures forever.
¹¹and brought Israel out^(B) from among them
His love endures forever.
¹²with a mighty hand^(C) and outstretched arm;^(D)
His love endures forever.

¹³to him who divided the Red Sea^[a]^(E) asunder
His love endures forever.
¹⁴and brought Israel through^(F) the midst of it,
His love endures forever.
¹⁵but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;^(G)
His love endures forever.

¹⁶to him who led his people through the wilderness;^(H)
His love endures forever.

¹⁷to him who struck down great kings,^(I)
His love endures forever.
¹⁸and killed mighty kings^(J)—
His love endures forever.
¹⁹Sihon king of the Amorites^(K)
His love endures forever.
²⁰and Og king of Bashan^(L)—
His love endures forever.
²¹and gave their land^(M) as an inheritance,^(N)
His love endures forever.
²²an inheritance^(O) to his servant Israel.^(P)
His love endures forever.

²³He remembered us^(Q) in our low estate
His love endures forever.
²⁴and freed us^(R) from our enemies.^(S)
His love endures forever.
²⁵He gives food^(T) to every creature.
His love endures forever.

²⁶Give thanks^(U) to the God of heaven.^(V)
His love endures forever.^(W)

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Footnotes

Psalm 136:13 Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verse 15

Revelation 2:1-11

New International Version

To the Church in Ephesus

2 “To the angel^[a] of the church in Ephesus^(A) write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand^(B) and walks among the seven golden lampstands.^(C) ²I know your deeds,^(D) your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested^(E) those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.^(F) ³You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name,^(G) and have not grown weary.

⁴Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.^(H) ⁵Consider how far you have fallen! Repent^(I) and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand^(J) from its place. ⁶But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans,^(K) which I also hate.

⁷Whoever has ears, let them hear^(L) what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious,^(M) I will give the right to eat from the tree of life,^(N) which is in the paradise^(O) of God.

To the Church in Smyrna

⁸“To the angel of the church in Smyrna^(P) write:

These are the words of him who is the First and the Last,^(Q) who died and came to life again.^(R) ⁹I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich!^(S) I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not,^(T) but are a synagogue of Satan.^(U) ¹⁰Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you,^(V) and you will suffer persecution for ten days.^(W) Be faithful,^(X) even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.^(Y)

¹¹Whoever has ears, let them hear^(Z) what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.^(AA)

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