Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
16 But I will call unto God, and the Lord will save me.
17 Evening and morning, and at noon will I pray [a]and make a noise, and he will hear my voice.
18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for [b]many were with me.
19 God shall hear and afflict them, even he that reigneth of old, Selah: because they [c]have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
20 He [d]laid his hand upon such as be at peace with him, and he brake his covenant.
21 The words of his mouth were softer than butter, yet war was in his heart, his words were more gentle than oil, yet they were swords.
22 Cast thy [e]burden upon the Lord, and he shall nourish thee: he will not suffer the righteous to fall [f]forever.
23 And thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of corruption: the bloody, and deceitful men shall not live [g]half their days: but I will trust in thee.
7 And the king arose from the banquet of wine in his wrath, and went into the palace garden: but Haman stood up to make request for his life to the queen Esther: for he saw that there was a [a]mischief prepared for him of the king.
8 And when the king came again out of the palace garden, into the house where they drank wine, Haman was [b]fallen upon the bed whereon Esther sat: therefore the King said, Will he force the Queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the King’s mouth, they [c]covered Haman’s face.
9 And Harbonah one of the eunuchs, said in the presence of the King, Behold, there standeth yet the tree in Haman’s house fifty cubits high, which Haman had prepared for Mordecai, that spake [d]good for the king. Then the King said, Hang him thereon.
10 So they hanged Haman on the tree, that he had prepared for Mordecai: then was the King’s wrath pacified.
8 1 After the death of Haman was Mordecai exalted. 14 Comfortable letters are sent unto the Jews.
1 The same day did King Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the adversary of the Jews, unto the Queen Esther. And Mordecai [e]came before the King: for Esther told what he was [f]unto her.
2 And the King took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai: and Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
3 And Esther spake yet more before the King, and fell down at his feet weeping, and besought him that he would put away the [g]wickedness of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had imagined against the Jews.
4 And the King held out the golden [h]scepter toward Esther. Then arose Esther, and stood before the King,
5 And said, If it please the King, and if I have found favor in his sight, and the thing be acceptable before the King, and I please him, let it be written, that the letters of the device of Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite may be called again, which he wrote to destroy the Jews, that are in all the King’s provinces.
6 For how can I suffer and see the evil, that shall come unto my people? Or how can I suffer and see the destruction of my kindred?
7 And the king Ahasuerus said unto the Queen Esther, and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, whom they have hanged upon the tree, because he [i]laid hand upon the Jews.
8 Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you in the King’s name, and seal it with the King’s ring, (for the writings written in the King’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may [j]no man revoke.)
9 Then were the King’s Scribes called at the same time, even in the third month, that is the month [k]Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof: and it was written, according to all as Mordecai commanded, unto the Jews and to the princes, and captains and rulers of the provinces, which were from India even unto Ethiopia, an hundred and seven and twenty provinces, unto every province according to the [l]writing thereof, and to every people after their speech, and to the Jews, according to their writing, and according to their language.
10 And he wrote in the King Ahasuerus’s name, and sealed it with the King’s ring, and he sent letters by posts on horseback and that rode on beasts of price, as dromedaries, and [m]colts of mares.
11 Wherein the King granted the Jews (in what cities soever they were) to gather themselves together, and to stand for [n]their life, and to root out, to slay and to destroy all the power of the people and of the province that vexed them, both children and women, and to spoil their goods:
12 Upon one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, even in the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month [o]Adar.
13 The copy of the writing was, how there should be a commandment given in all and every province, published among all the people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day, to [p]avenge themselves on their enemies.
14 So the posts rode upon beasts of price, and dromedaries, and went forth with speed, to execute the King’s commandment, and the decree was given at Shushan the palace.
15 And Mordecai went out from the King in royal apparel of blue, and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple, and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
16 And unto the Jews was come light and [q]joy and gladness, and honor.
17 Also in all and every province, and in all and every city and place, where the King’s commandment and his decree came, there was joy and gladness to the Jews, a feast and good day, and many of the people of the land [r]became Jews: for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, (A)Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, (B)Love your enemies: bless them that curse you: do good to them that hate you, (C)and pray for them which hurt you, and persecute you,
45 (D)[a]That ye may be the children of your father that is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to arise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and unjust.
46 For if ye love them, which love you, what reward shall you have? Do not the Publicans even the same?
47 And if ye be friendly to your brethren only, what singular thing do ye? do not even the [b]Publicans likewise?
48 Ye shall therefore be perfect, as your Father which is in heaven, is perfect.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.