Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem.

A Song of ^[a]Ascents. Of David.

The Jews Destroy Their Enemies

9 Now in the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar) on the thirteenth day when the king’s command and edict were about to be executed, on the [very] day when the enemies of the Jews had hoped to gain power over them [and slaughter them], it happened the other way around so that the Jews themselves gained power over those who hated them. ² The Jews assembled in their cities throughout the provinces of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) to apprehend those who wanted to do them harm; and no one could stand before them, for the fear of them [and their God] had fallen on all the peoples. ³ Even all the officials of the provinces and the chief rulers (satraps) and the governors and those who attended to the king’s business supported the Jews [in defeating their enemies], because the fear of Mordecai [and his God’s power] had fallen on them. ⁴ For Mordecai was great and respected in the king’s palace, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces; for the man Mordecai became greater and greater. ⁵ So the Jews struck all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them; and they did what they pleased to those who hated them.

¹⁸ But the Jews who were in Susa assembled on the thirteenth and on the fourteenth of the same month, and on the fifteenth day they rested and made it a day of feasting and rejoicing. ¹⁹ Therefore the Jews of the villages, who live in the rural [unwalled] towns, make the fourteenth day of the month of Adar a holiday for rejoicing and feasting and sending choice portions of food to one another.

The Feast of Purim Instituted

²⁰ Now Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews who lived in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, ²¹ obliging them to celebrate the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same month, annually, ²² because on those days the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, and as the month which was turned for them from grief to joy and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and rejoicing and sending choice portions of food to one another and gifts to the poor.

²³ So the Jews undertook what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them.

⁴ “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have nothing more that they can do. ⁵ But I will point out to you whom you should fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority and power to hurl [you] into ^[a]hell; yes, I say to you, [stand in great awe of God and] fear Him! ⁶ Are not five sparrows sold for two ^[b]copper coins? Yet not one of them has [ever] been forgotten in the presence of God. ⁷ Indeed the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are far more valuable than many sparrows.

⁸ “I say to you, whoever declares openly and confesses Me before men [speaking freely of Me as his Lord], the Son of Man also will declare openly and confess him [as one of His own] before the angels of God. ⁹ But he who denies Me before men will be denied in the presence of the angels of God. ¹⁰ And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who ^[c]blasphemes against the Holy Spirit [that is, whoever intentionally discredits the Holy Spirit by attributing the authenticating miracles done by Me to Satan], it will not be forgiven him [for him there is no forgiveness].^{(A) 11} When they bring you before the synagogues and the magistrates and the authorities, do not be worried about how you are to defend yourselves or what you are to say; ¹² for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”