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.
5 1 Esther entereth to the King, and biddeth him and Haman to a feast. 14 Haman prepareth a gallows for Mordecai.
1 And on the third [a]day Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the court of the King’s palace within, over against the King’s house: and the King sat upon his royal throne in the king’s palace over against the gate of the house.
2 And when the King saw Esther the Queen standing in the court, she found favor in his sight: and the King [b]held out the golden scepter that was in his hand: so Esther drew near, and touched the top of the scepter.
3 Then said the King unto her, What wilt thou, Queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even [c]given thee to the half of the kingdom.
4 Then said Esther, If it please the king, let the King and Haman come this day unto the banquet, that I have prepared for him.
5 And the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6 And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of [d]wine, What is thy petition, that it may be given thee? and what is thy request? it shall even be performed unto the half of the kingdom.
7 Then answered Esther, and said, My petition, and my request is,
8 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to give me my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow according to the king’s [e]saying.
9 ¶ Then went Haman forth the same day joyful, and with a glad heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, then was Haman full of indignation at Mordecai.
10 Nevertheless, Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent, and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.
11 And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had [f]promoted him, and how that he had set him above the princes and servants of the king.
12 Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared, save me: and tomorrow am I bidden unto her also with the king.
13 But all this doth nothing avail me, as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.
14 Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let them make a tree of fifty [g]cubits high, and tomorrow speak thou unto the king, that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then shalt thou go joyfully with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman, and he caused to make the tree.
16 [a]Let no man therefore condemn you in meat and drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days,
17 Which are but a shadow of things to come: but the [b]body is in Christ.
18 [c]Let no man at his pleasure bear rule over you by [d]humbleness of mind, and worshipping of Angels, [e]advancing himself in those things which he never saw, [f][g]rashly puffed up with his fleshly mind,
19 [h]And holdeth not the [i]head, whereof all the body furnished and knit together by joints and bands, increaseth with the increasing of [j]God.
20 [k]Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the ordinances of the world, why, [l]as though ye lived in the world, are ye burdened with traditions?
21 [m]As, Touch not, Taste not, Handle not.
22 [n]Which all perish with the using, [o]and are after the commandments and doctrines of men.
23 [p]Which things have indeed a show of [q]wisdom, in [r]voluntary religion and humbleness of mind, and in [s]not sparing the body, which are things of no value, since they pertain to the [t]filling of the flesh.
3 1 Against earthly exercises, which the false apostles urged, 2 he setteth heavenly: 5 and beginneth with the mortifying of the flesh, 8 whence he draweth particular exhortations, 18 and particular duties which depend on each man’s calling.
1 If [u]ye then [v]be [w]risen with Christ, [x]seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God.
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