Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
124 If the LORD had not been on our side, (may Israel now say)
2 If the LORD had not been on our side when men rose up against us,
3 they would have swallowed us up quickly when their wrath was kindled against us.
4 Then, the waters had drowned us; the stream had gone over our soul:
5 Then, the swelling waters had gone over our soul.
6 Praise the LORD, Who has not given us as a prey to their teeth!
7 Our soul has escaped, even as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers. The snare is broken and we are delivered.
8 Our help is in the Name of the LORD, Who has made Heaven and Earth. A song of degrees
2 After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what was decreed against her.
2 And the king’s servants who ministered to him, said, “Let them seek beautiful young virgins for the king.
3 “And let the king appoint officers through all the provinces of his kingdom. And let them gather all the beautiful young virgins to the palace of Shushan, into the house of the women, under the hand of Hegai (the king’s eunuch, keeper of the women), to give them their things for purification.
4 “And the maid who shall please the king, let her reign in the place of Vashti.” And this pleased the king; and he did so.
5 In the city of Shushan, there was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai (the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a man of Benjamin),
6 who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity that was carried away with Jeconiah, King of Judah (whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel had carried away).
7 And he nourished Hadassah (that is, Esther), his uncle’s daughter; for she had neither father nor mother. And the maid was fair and beautiful to look on. And after the death of her father and her mother, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.
8 And when the king’s commandment and his decree were published, and many maids were brought together to the palace of Shushan under the hand of Hegai, Esther was also brought to the king’s house under the hand of Hegai, the keeper of the women.
9 And the maid pleased him; and she found favor in his sight. Therefore, he caused her things for purification to be given to her speedily, as well as her things and seven comely maids to be given to her out of the king’s house. And he gave her and her maids charge of the best in the house of the women.
10 But Esther did not reveal her people and her kindred. For Mordecai had told her that she should not tell it.
11 And Mordecai walked before the court of the women’s house every day, to find out if Esther did well, and what would become of her.
12 And after she had completed twelve months of the purification process (including six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors), every maid came, in turn, to go in to King Ahasuerus.
13 And thus went the maids to the king. Whatever she required was given to her (when she would go from the women’s house to the king’s house).
14 In the evening, she went. And the next day, she returned to the second house of the women, under the hand of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch, who kept the concubines. If she did not please the king, was no longer called by name nor came in to the king.
15 Now, when the turn of Esther (the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter) came to go in to the king, she desired nothing but what Hegai, the king’s eunuch, the keeper of the women said. And Esther found favor in the sight of all those who looked on her.
16 So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his house royal, in the tenth month (which is the month Tebeth), in the seventh year of his reign.
17 And the king loved Esther above all the women; and she found grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the crown of the kingdom upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.
18 Then the king made a great feast for all his princes and his servants (which was the “Feast of Esther”) and gave rest to the provinces, and gifts, according to the power of a king.
19 And when the virgins were gathered a second time, then Mordecai sat in the king’s gate.
20 Esther had not yet revealed her kindred nor her people, as Mordecai had charged her; for Esther obeyed Mordecai, as when she was brought up by him.
21 In those days when Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh (who kept the door) were angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.
22 And the thing was known to Mordecai; and he told it to Queen Esther. And Esther told the king thereof in Mordecai’s name. And when inquisition was made, it was found to be so. Therefore, they were both hanged on a tree. And it was written in the Book of the Chronicles, before the king.
20 Then Herod was angry with those of Tyre and Sidon. But they all came to him with one mind. And having befriended Blastus, the King’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country was nourished by the King.
21 And upon an appointed day, Herod clothed himself in royal apparel, and sat on the judgment seat, and made a speech to them.
22 And the people gave a shout, saying, “The voice of God, and not of man!”
23 But immediately the Angel of the Lord struck him - so that he was eaten by worms and gave up the ghost - because he did not give glory to God.
24 And the Word of God grew and multiplied.
25 So, when they had fulfilled their ministry, Barnabas and Saul took John with them (whose surname was Mark), and returned from Jerusalem.
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