Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
16 But I call to God,
and the Lord will save me.(A)
17 I complain and groan morning, noon, and night,(B)
and he hears my voice.(C)
18 Though many are against me,
he will redeem me from my battle unharmed.(D)
19 God, the one enthroned from long ago,(E)
will hear and will humiliate themSelah
because they do not change
and do not fear God.(F)
20 My friend(G) acts violently
against those at peace with him;(H)
he violates his covenant.(I)
21 His buttery words are smooth,
but war is in his heart.
His words are softer than oil,
but they are drawn swords.(J)
7 The king arose in anger(A) and went from where they were drinking wine to the palace garden.[a](B) Haman remained to beg Queen Esther for his life because he realized the king was planning something terrible for him.(C) 8 Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall,[b] Haman was falling on the couch(D) where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, “Would he actually violate the queen while I am in the house?” As soon as the statement left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.(E)
9 Harbona, one of the king’s eunuchs,(F) said, “There is a gallows seventy-five feet[c] tall at Haman’s house that he made for Mordecai,(G) who gave the report that saved[d] the king.”(H)
The king said, “Hang him on it.”
10 They hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai.(I) Then the king’s anger subsided.(J)
Esther Intervenes for the Jews
8 That same day King Ahasuerus awarded Queen Esther the estate(K) of Haman, the enemy of the Jews.(L) Mordecai entered the king’s presence because Esther had revealed her relationship to Mordecai.(M) 2 The king removed his signet ring he had recovered from Haman(N) and gave it to Mordecai, and Esther put him in charge of Haman’s estate.
3 Then Esther addressed the king again.(O) She fell at his feet, wept, and begged(P) him to revoke the evil of Haman the Agagite(Q) and his plot he had devised against the Jews.(R) 4 The king extended the gold scepter(S) toward Esther, so she got up and stood before the king.
5 She said, “If it pleases the king and I have found favor with him, if the matter seems right to the king and I am pleasing in his eyes,(T) let a royal edict be written. Let it revoke the documents the scheming Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces.(U) 6 For how could I bear to see the disaster that would come on my people?(V) How could I bear to see the destruction of my relatives?” (W)
7 King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, “Look, I have given Haman’s estate to Esther,(X) and he was hanged on the gallows because he attacked[e] the Jews.(Y) 8 Write in the king’s name whatever pleases you(Z) concerning the Jews, and seal it with the royal signet ring.(AA) A document written in the king’s name and sealed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked.”(AB)
9 On the twenty-third day of the third month(AC)—that is, the month Sivan—the royal scribes were summoned. Everything was written exactly as Mordecai(AD) commanded for the Jews, to the satraps,(AE) the governors, and the officials of the 127 provinces from India to Cush.(AF) The edict was written for each province in its own script, for each ethnic group in its own language,(AG) and to the Jews in their own script and language.
10 Mordecai wrote in King Ahasuerus’s name and sealed the edicts with the royal signet ring. He sent the documents by mounted couriers,(AH) who rode fast horses(AI) bred in the royal stables.
11 The king’s edict gave the Jews in each and every city the right to assemble and defend themselves, to destroy, kill, and annihilate every ethnic and provincial army hostile to them, including women and children, and to take their possessions as spoils of war.(AJ) 12 This would take place on a single day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month Adar.(AK)
13 A copy of the text, issued as law throughout every province, was distributed to all the peoples(AL) so the Jews could be ready to avenge themselves against their enemies on that day. 14 The couriers rode out in haste on their royal horses at the king’s urgent command. The law was also issued in the fortress of Susa.(AM)
15 Mordecai went from the king’s presence clothed in royal blue and white, with a great gold crown and a purple robe of fine linen.(AN) The city of Susa shouted and rejoiced,(AO) 16 and the Jews celebrated[f] with gladness, joy, and honor.(AP) 17 In every province and every city where the king’s command and edict reached, gladness and joy took place among the Jews. There was a celebration and a holiday.[g](AQ) And many of the ethnic groups of the land professed themselves to be Jews because fear of the Jews(AR) had overcome them.
Love Your Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor[a](A) and hate your enemy. 44 But I tell you, love your enemies[b] and pray for those who[c] persecute you,(B) 45 so that you may be[d] children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.(C) 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what are you doing out of the ordinary?[e](D) Don’t even the Gentiles[f] do the same? 48 Be perfect,(E) therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
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