Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

122 I was glad for the suggestion of going to Jerusalem, to the Temple of the Lord. ^2-3 Now we are standing here inside the crowded city. ⁴ All Israel—Jehovah’s people—have come to worship as the law requires, to thank and praise the Lord. ⁵ Look! There are the judges holding court beside the city gates, deciding all the people’s arguments.

⁶ Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper. ⁷ O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls and prosperity in your palaces. ⁸ This I ask for the sake of all my brothers and my friends who live here; ⁹ and may there be peace as a protection to the Temple of the Lord.

9 ^1-2 So on the 28th day of February, the day the two decrees of the king were to be put into effect—the day the Jews’ enemies had hoped to vanquish them, though it turned out quite to the contrary—the Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the king’s provinces to defend themselves against any who might try to harm them; but no one tried, for they were greatly feared. ³ And all the rulers of the provinces—the governors, officials, and aides—helped the Jews for fear of Mordecai; ⁴ for Mordecai was a mighty name in the king’s palace and his fame was known throughout all the provinces, for he had become more and more powerful.

⁵ But the Jews went ahead on that appointed day and slaughtered their enemies.

¹⁸ But the Jews at Shushan went on killing their enemies the second day also and rested the next day, with feasting and gladness. ¹⁹ And so it is that the Jews in the unwalled villages throughout Israel to this day have an annual celebration on the second day when they rejoice and send gifts to each other.

²⁰ Mordecai wrote a history of all these events and sent letters to the Jews near and far, throughout all the king’s provinces, ²¹ encouraging them to declare an annual holiday on the last two days of the month, ²² to celebrate with feasting, gladness, and the giving of gifts these historic days when the Jews were saved from their enemies, when their sorrow was turned to gladness and their mourning into happiness.

²³ So the Jews adopted Mordecai’s suggestion and began this annual custom

⁴ “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of these who want to murder you. They can only kill the body; they have no power over your souls. ⁵ But I’ll tell you whom to fear—fear God who has the power to kill and then cast into hell.

⁶ “What is the price of five sparrows? A couple of pennies? Not much more than that. Yet God does not forget a single one of them. ⁷ And he knows the number of hairs on your head! Never fear, you are far more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.

⁸ “And I assure you of this: I, the Messiah,^[a] will publicly honor you in the presence of God’s angels if you publicly acknowledge me here on earth as your Friend. ⁹ But I will deny before the angels those who deny me here among men. ¹⁰ (Yet those who speak against me^[b] may be forgiven—while those who speak against the Holy Spirit shall never be forgiven.)

¹¹ “And when you are brought to trial before these Jewish rulers and authorities in the synagogues, don’t be concerned about what to say in your defense, ¹² for the Holy Spirit will give you the right words even as you are standing there.”