Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
16 As for me, I will call out to God,
and the Lord will deliver me.
17 During the evening, morning, and noontime
I will lament and moan,[a]
and he will hear[b] me.[c]
18 He will rescue[d] me and protect me from those who attack me,[e]
even though[f] they greatly outnumber me.[g]
19 God, the one who has reigned as king from long ago,
will hear and humiliate them.[h] (Selah)
They refuse to change,
and do not fear God.[i]
20 He[j] attacks[k] his friends;[l]
he breaks his solemn promises to them.[m]
21 His words are as smooth as butter,[n]
but he harbors animosity in his heart.[o]
His words seem softer than oil,
but they are really like sharp swords.[p]
22 Throw your burden[q] upon the Lord,
and he will sustain you.[r]
He will never allow the godly to be shaken.[s]
23 But you, O God, will bring them[t] down to the deep Pit.[u]
Violent and deceitful people[v] will not live even half a normal lifespan.[w]
But as for me, I trust in you.
7 In rage the king arose from the banquet of wine and withdrew to the palace garden. Meanwhile, Haman stood to beg Queen Esther for his life,[a] for he realized that the king had now determined a catastrophic end for him.[b]
8 When the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet of wine, Haman was throwing himself down[c] on the couch where Esther was lying.[d] The king exclaimed, “Will he also attempt to rape the queen while I am still in the building?”
As these words left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. 9 Harbona,[e] one of the king’s eunuchs, said, “Indeed, there is the gallows that Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke out on the king’s behalf. It stands near Haman’s home and is 75 feet[f] high.”
The king said, “Hang him on it!” 10 So they hanged Haman on the very gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. The king’s rage then abated.
The King Acts to Protect the Jews
8 On that same day King Ahasuerus gave the estate[g] of Haman, that adversary of the Jews, to Queen Esther. Now Mordecai had come before the king, for Esther had revealed how he was related to her. 2 The king then removed his signet ring (the very one he had taken back from Haman) and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther designated Mordecai to be in charge of Haman’s estate.
3 Then Esther again spoke with the king, falling at his feet. She wept and begged him for mercy, that he might nullify the evil of Haman the Agagite and the plot that he had intended against the Jews.[h] 4 When the king extended to Esther the gold scepter, she[i] arose and stood before the king.
5 She said, “If the king is so inclined, and if I have met with his approval, and if the matter is agreeable to the king, and if I am attractive to him, let an edict be written rescinding those recorded intentions of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite,[j] which he wrote in order to destroy the Jews who are throughout all the king’s provinces. 6 For how can I watch the calamity that will befall my people, and how can I watch the destruction of my relatives?”[k]
7 King Ahasuerus replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Look, I have already given Haman’s estate to Esther, and he has been hanged on the gallows because he took hostile action[l] against the Jews. 8 Now write in the king’s name whatever in your opinion is appropriate concerning the Jews and seal it with the king’s signet ring. Any decree that is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring cannot be rescinded.”
9 The king’s scribes were quickly[m] summoned—in the third month (that is, the month of Sivan), on the twenty-third day.[n] They wrote out[o] everything that Mordecai instructed to the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governors, and the officials of the provinces all the way from India to Ethiopia[p]—127 provinces in all—to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, and to the Jews according to their own script and their own language. 10 Mordecai[q] wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king’s signet ring. He then sent letters by couriers, who rode royal horses that were very swift.
11 The king thereby allowed the Jews who were in every city to assemble and to stand up for themselves—to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any army of whatever people or province that should become their adversaries, including their women and children,[r] and to confiscate their property. 12 This was to take place on a certain day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus—namely, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar). 13 A copy of the edict was to be presented as law throughout each and every province and made known to all peoples, so that the Jews might be prepared on that[s] day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
14 The couriers who were riding the royal horses went forth with the king’s edict without delay.[t] And the law was presented in Susa the citadel as well.
15 Now Mordecai went out from the king’s presence in blue and white royal attire, with a large golden crown and a purple linen mantle. The city of Susa shouted with joy.[u] 16 For the Jews there was radiant happiness and joyous honor.[v] 17 Throughout every province and throughout every city where the king’s edict and his law arrived, the Jews experienced happiness and joy, banquets and holidays. Many of the resident peoples[w] pretended to be Jews,[x] because the fear of the Jews had overcome them.[y]
Love for Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’[a] and ‘hate your enemy.’[b] 44 But I say to you, love your enemy and[c] pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be like[d] your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors[e] do the same, don’t they? 47 And if you only greet your brothers, what more do you do? Even the Gentiles do the same, don’t they? 48 So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.[f]
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