Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

124 They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Sion: he shall not be moved for ever that dwelleth

² In Jerusalem. Mountains are round about it: so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth now and for ever.

³ For the Lord will not leave the rod of sinners upon the lot of the just: that the just may not stretch forth their hands to iniquity.

⁴ Do good, O Lord, to those that are good, and to the upright of heart.

⁵ But such as turn aside into bonds, the Lord shall lead out with the workers of iniquity: peace upon Israel.

1 In the days of Assuerus, who reigned from India to Ethiopia over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces:

² When he sat on the throne of his kingdom, the city Susan was the capital of his kingdom.

³ Now in the third year of his reign he made a great feast for all the princes, and for his servants, for the most mighty of the Persians, and the nobles of the Medes, and the governors of the provinces in his sight,

⁴ That he might shew the riches of the glory of his kingdom, and the greatness, and boasting of his power, for a long time, to wit, for a hundred and fourscore days.

⁵ And when the days of the feast were expired, he invited all the people that were found in Susan, from the greatest to the least: and commanded a feast to be made seven days in the court of the garden, and of the wood, which was planted by the care and the hand of the king.

⁶ And there were hung up on every side sky coloured, and green, and violet hangings, fastened with cords of silk, and of purple, which were put into rings of ivory, and were held up with marble pillars. The beds also were of gold and silver, placed in order upon a floor paved with porphyry and white marble: which was embellished with painting of wonderful variety.

⁷ And they that were invited, drank in golden cups, and the meats were brought in divers vessels one after another. Wine also in abundance and of the best was presented, as was worthy of a king's magnificence.

⁸ Neither was there any one to compel them to drink that were not willing, but as the king had appointed, who set over every table one of his nobles, that every man might take what he would.

⁹ Also Vasthi the queen made a feast for the women in the palace, where king Assuerus was used to dwell.

¹⁰ Now on the seventh day, when the king was merry, and after very much drinking was well warmed with wine, he commanded Mauman, and Bazatha, and Harbona, and Bagatha, and Abgatha, and Zethar, and Charcas, the seven eunuchs that served in his presence,

¹¹ To bring in queen Vasthi before the king, with the crown set upon her head, to shew her beauty to all the people and the princes: for she was exceeding beautiful.

¹² But she refused, and would not come at the king's commandment, which he had signified to her by the eunuchs. Whereupon the king, being angry, and inflamed with a very great fury,

¹³ Asked the wise men, who according to the custom of the kings, were always near his person, and all he did was by their counsel, who knew the laws, and judgments of their forefathers:

¹⁴ (Now the chief and nearest him were, Charsena, and Sethar, and Admatha, and Tharsis, and Mares, and Marsana, and Mamuchan, seven princes of the Persians, and of the Medes, who saw the face of the king, and were used to sit first after him:)

¹⁵ What sentence ought to pass upon Vasthi the queen, who had refused to obey the commandment of king Assuerus, which he had sent to her by the eunuchs?

¹⁶ And Mamuchan answered, in the hearing of the king and the princes: Queen Vasthi hath not only injured the king, but also all the people and princes that are in all the provinces of king Assuerus.

¹⁷ For this deed of the queen will go abroad to all women, so that they will despise their husbands, and will say: King Assuerus commanded that queen Vasthi should come in to him, and she would not.

¹⁸ And by this example all the wives of the princes of the Persians and the Medes will slight the commandments of their husbands: wherefore the king's indignation is just.

¹⁹ If it please thee, let an edict go out from thy presence, and let it be written according to the law of the Persians and of the Medes, which must not be altered, that Vasthi come in no more to the king, but another, that is better than her, be made queen in her place.

²⁰ And let this be published through all the provinces of thy empire, (which is very wide,) and let all wives, as well of the greater as of the lesser, give honour to their husbands.

²¹ His counsel pleased the king, and the princes: and the king did according to the counsel of Mamuchan.

¹³ Now seeing the constancy of Peter and of John, understanding that they were illiterate and ignorant men, they wondered; and they knew them that they had been with Jesus.

¹⁴ Seeing the man also who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

¹⁵ But they commanded them to go aside out of the council; and they conferred among themselves,

¹⁶ Saying: What shall we do to these men? for indeed a known miracle hath been done by them, to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem: it is manifest, and we cannot deny it.

¹⁷ But that it may be no farther spread among the people, let us threaten them that they speak no more in this name to any man.

¹⁸ And calling them, they charged them not to speak at all, nor teach in the name of Jesus.

¹⁹ But Peter and John answering, said to them: If it be just in the sight of God, to hear you rather than God, judge ye.

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

²¹ But they threatening, sent them away, not finding how they might punish them, because of the people; for all men glorified what had been done, in that which had come to pass.

²² For the man was above forty years old, in whom that miraculous cure had been wrought.

²³ And being let go, they came to their own company, and related all that the chief priests and ancients had said to them.

²⁴ Who having heard it, with one accord lifted up their voice to God, and said: Lord, thou art he that didst make heaven and earth, the sea, and all things that are in them.

²⁵ Who, by the Holy Ghost, by the mouth of our father David, thy servant, hast said: Why did the Gentiles rage, and the people meditate vain things?

²⁶ The kings of the earth stood up, and the princes assembled together against the Lord and his Christ.

²⁷ For of a truth there assembled together in this city against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel,

²⁸ To do what thy hand and thy counsel decreed to be done.

²⁹ And now, Lord, behold their threatenings, and grant unto thy servants, that with all confidence they may speak thy word,

³⁰ By stretching forth thy hand to cures, and signs, and wonders to be done by the name of thy holy Son Jesus.

³¹ And when they had prayed, the place was moved wherein they were assembled; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spoke the word of God with confidence.