Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

124 “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side”—now may Israel say—

² “if it had not been the Lord who was on our side when men rose up against us,

³ then would they have swallowed us up alive when their wrath was kindled against us;

⁴ then would the waters have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul;

⁵ then the proud waters would have gone over our soul.”

⁶ Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.

⁷ Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped.

⁸ Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, over a hundred and seven and twenty provinces),

² that in those days when the King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in the palace in Shushan,

³ in the third year of his reign he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants. The power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces being before him,

⁴ he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even a hundred and fourscore days.

⁵ And when these days had passed, the king made a feast unto all the people who were present in the palace at Shushan, both unto great and small, for seven days in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.

⁶ There were white, green, and blue hangings fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings, and pillars of marble. The beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red and blue and white and black marble.

⁷ And they gave them drink in vessels of gold (the vessels being diverse one from another) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king.

⁸ And the drinking was according to the law. None did compel, for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.

⁹ Also, Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to King Ahasuerus.

¹⁰ On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains who served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,

¹¹ to bring Vashti the queen before the king, with the crown royal, to show the people and the princes her beauty; for she was fair to look on.

¹² But the queen, Vashti, refused to come at the king’s commandment brought by his chamberlains. Therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.

¹³ Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for so was the king’s manner toward all who knew law and judgment;

¹⁴ and the next unto him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face and who sat first in the kingdom):

¹⁵ “What shall we do unto Queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of King Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?”

¹⁶ And Memucan answered before the king and the princes: “Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes and to all the people who are in all the provinces of the King Ahasuerus.

¹⁷ For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.’

¹⁸ Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king’s princes, who have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.

¹⁹ If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, that Vashti come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another who is better than she.

²⁰ And when the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire (for it is great), all the wives shall give to their husbands honor, both to great and small.”

²¹ And the saying pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan.

¹³ Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took note concerning them that they had been with Jesus.

¹⁴ And beholding the man who was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

¹⁵ But when they had commanded them to go outside the council, they conferred among themselves,

¹⁶ saying, “What shall we do to these men? For indeed, that a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all those who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

¹⁷ But so that it spread no further among the people, let us strictly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.”

¹⁸ And they called them back and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

¹⁹ But Peter and John answered and said unto them, “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye;

²⁰ for we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

²¹ So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing for which they might punish them, because of the people; for all men glorified God for that which had been done.

²² For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing was shown.

²³ And being let go, they went to their own company and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

²⁴ And when they heard this, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord and said, “Lord, Thou art God who hast made heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in them,

²⁵ who by the mouth of Thy servant David hast said, ‘Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

²⁶ The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.’

²⁷ For truly against Thy holy child Jesus, whom Thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, had gathered together

²⁸ to do whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel determined before to be done.

²⁹ And now, Lord, behold their threatenings, and grant unto Thy servants that with all boldness they may speak Thy Word,

³⁰ by stretching forth Thine hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of Thy holy child Jesus.”

³¹ And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness.