Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
140 Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man. Preserve me from the cruel man.
2 Who imagine evil things in their heart and make war continually.
3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent. Adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.
4 Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked. Preserve me from the cruel man, who intends to cause my steps to slide.
5 The proud have laid a snare for me, and spread a net with cords in my pathway, and set traps for me. Selah.
6 I said to the LORD, “You are my God. Hear, O LORD, the voice of my prayers.
7 “O LORD God, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head on the day of battle.
8 “Do not let the wicked have his desire, O LORD. Do not perform his wicked thought, lest they be proud. Selah.
9 “The chief of those who surround me, let the mischief of their own lips come upon them.
10 “Let coals fall upon them. Let him cast them into the fire, into the deep pits, so that they do not rise.
11 “The backbiter shall not be established upon the Earth. Evil shall hunt the cruel man to destruction.”
12 I know that the LORD will avenge the afflicted and judge the poor.
13 Surely, the righteous shall praise Your Name; and the just shall dwell in Your presence. A Psalm of David
4 Now when Mordecai perceived all that was done, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the middle of the city and cried with a great and bitter cry.
2 And he came as far as the king’s gate; but he could not enter, being clothed with sackcloth.
3 And in every province and place where the king’s charge and his commission came, there was great sorrow among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and mourning. And many lay in sackcloth and in ashes.
4 Then, Esther’s maids and her eunuchs came and told it to her. Therefore, the queen was very troubled; and she sent garments to clothe Mordecai, so he could remove his sackcloth. But he refused it.
5 Then Esther called Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs whom he had appointed to serve her and gave him a commandment to go and ask Mordecai what this was and why it was.
6 So, Hathach went out to Mordecai, into the street which was before the king’s gate.
7 And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and of the sum of the silver that Haman had promised to pay into the King’s treasuries, to destroy the Jews.
8 Also, he gave him the copy of the edict that was given at Shushan (to destroy them), so that he might show it to Esther and inform her, and to charge her that she should go and petition the king and make supplication for her people before him.
9 So, when Hathach came, he told Esther the words of Mordecai.
10 Then, Esther said to Hathach, and commanded him to say to Mordecai,
11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know of the king’s law stating that whoever, man or woman, comes to the king (into the inner court) who has not been called there, shall die. The only exception is him to whom the king holds out the golden rod. He may live. Now I have not been called to come to the king in the last thirty days.”
12 And they told Mordecai of Esther’s words.
13 And Mordecai sent word to Esther, saying, “Don’t think you shall escape any more than the rest of the Jews just because you live in the king’s house.
14 For if you remain silent at this time, comfort and deliverance shall appear to the Jews out of another place. And you and your father’s house shall perish. And who knows whether you have come to power for such a time as this?”
15 Then, Esther commanded an answer to Mordecai,
16 “Go and assemble all the Jews who are found in Shushan, and fast for me. And do not eat or drink for three days and nights. I and my maids will also fast. Then I will go in to the King, which is not according to the law. And if I die, I die.”
17 So, Mordecai went his way and did everything that Esther had commanded him.
3 Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who, according to His abundant mercy, has begotten us again to a living hope by the resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ,
4 to an immortal and undefiled inheritance which does not wither, reserved in Heaven for us
5 who are kept for salvation through faith by the power of God (which is prepared to be revealed in the last time
6 and in which you rejoice. Though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through various trials
7 so that the trial of your faith—being much more precious than gold, which perishes even though it is tried with fire—might be found to your praise, honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ,
8 Whom you have not seen and yet love; in Whom now, though you do not see Him, you still believe and rejoice with unspeakable and glorious joy,
9 receiving the purpose of your faith: the salvation of your souls).
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