Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
122 I rejoiced when they said to me, “We will go into the House of the LORD.”
2 Our feet shall stand in Your gates, O Jerusalem!
3 Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together in itself,
4 to which the tribes—even the Tribes of the LORD—go up (according to the testimony to Israel) to praise the Name of the LORD.
5 For there are thrones set for judgment, the thrones of the House of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Let those who love You prosper.
7 Peace be within Your walls and prosperity within Your palaces.
8 For my brothers’ and neighbors’ sakes, I will now wish you prosperity.
9 Because of the House of the LORD our God, I will seek your good. A song of degrees
9 So, in the twelfth month (which is the month Adar), upon the thirteenth day of the same, when the execution of the king’s commandment and his decree drew near, on the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them (but it had ended differently, for the Jews had rule over those who hated them),
2 the Jews gathered themselves together into their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, to lay hand on those who had sought their hurt. And no man could withstand them, for the fear of them fell upon all people.
3 And all the rulers of the provinces, and the princes, and the captains, and the officers of the king, exalted the Jews. For the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.
4 For Mordecai was great in the king’s house; and the report of him went through all the provinces. For this man, Mordecai, grew greater and greater.
5 Thus, the Jews struck all their enemies with strokes of the sword and slaughter and destruction and did what they would to those who hated them.
18 But, the Jews who were in Shushan assembled themselves on the thirteenth day, and on the fourteenth. And they rested on the fifteenth and kept it as a day of feasting and joy.
19 Therefore, the Jews of the villages, who dwelt in the un-walled towns, kept the fourteenth day of the month, Adar, with joy and feasting, a joyful holiday. And everyone sent presents to his neighbor.
20 And Mordecai wrote these words and sent letters to all the Jews who were through all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far,
21 establishing that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month, Adar, and the fifteenth day, every year,
22 as the days when the Jews rested from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning into a joyful day, to keep as days of feasting and joy, and for everyone to send presents to his neighbor, and gifts to the poor.
23 And the Jews promised to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written to them,
4 “And I say to you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but after that are not able to do anymore.
5 “But I will forewarn you of Whom you shall fear. Fear Him Who, after He has killed, has power to cast into Hell. Yes, I say to you, fear Him.
6 “Are not five sparrows bought for two assaria? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God.
7 “Yes, and all the hairs of your head are numbered. Therefore, do not fear. You are of more value than many sparrows.
8 “Also I say to you whoever shall confess Me before man, him shall the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God.
9 “But whoever shall deny Me before man shall be denied before the angels of God.
10 “And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him. But to him who shall blaspheme the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven.
11 “And when they shall bring you to the synagogues, and to the rulers and princes, take no thought how or what you shall answer, or what you shall speak.
12 “For the Holy Ghost shall teach you at the same hour what you ought to say.”
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