Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
16 But I call to God,
and the Lord will save me.
17 (A)Evening and (B)morning and at (C)noon
I (D)utter my complaint and moan,
and he hears my voice.
18 He redeems my soul in safety
from the battle that I wage,
for (E)many are arrayed against me.
19 God will give ear and humble them,
he who is (F)enthroned from of old, Selah
because they do not (G)change
and do not fear God.
20 My companion[a] (H)stretched out his hand against his friends;
he violated his covenant.
21 His (I)speech was (J)smooth as butter,
yet war was in his heart;
his words were softer than oil,
yet they were (K)drawn swords.
The King Honors Mordecai
6 On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring (A)the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written how (B)Mordecai had told about (C)Bigthana[a] and (D)Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 3 And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” The king's young men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.” 4 And the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered (E)the outer court of the king's palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on (F)the gallows[b] that he had prepared for him. 5 And the king's young men told him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.” 6 So Haman came in, and the king said to him, “What should be done to the man (G)whom the king delights to honor?” And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?” 7 And Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, 8 let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, (H)and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head (I)a royal crown[c] is set. 9 And let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the square of the city, (J)proclaiming before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.’” 10 Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry; take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits (K)at the king's gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned.” 11 So Haman took the robes and the horse, and he dressed Mordecai and led him through the square of the city, proclaiming before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.”
12 Then Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning (L)and with his head covered. 13 And Haman told (M)his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him.”
Esther Reveals Haman's Plot
14 While they were yet talking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hurried to bring Haman (N)to the feast that Esther had prepared.
7 So the king and Haman went in to feast with Queen Esther. 2 And on the second day, as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king again said to Esther, (O)“What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? (P)Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” 3 Then Queen Esther answered, (Q)“If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request. 4 (R)For we have been sold, I and my people, (S)to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have been silent, for our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king.” 5 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who has dared[d] to do this?” 6 And Esther said, (T)“A foe and enemy! This wicked Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.
Israel's Unbelief
30 What shall we say, then? (A)That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, (B)a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but that Israel (C)who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness[a] (D)did not succeed in reaching that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the (E)stumbling stone, 33 as it is written,
(F)“Behold, I am laying in Zion (G)a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense;
(H)and whoever believes in him will not be (I)put to shame.”
10 Brothers,[b] my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that (J)they have a zeal for God, (K)but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of (L)the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. 4 For (M)Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.[c]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.