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
5 And on the third day, Esther put on her royal apparel and stood in the court of the king’s palace within, in front of the king’s rooms. And the king sat upon his royal throne, in the king’s palace, opposite the gate of the house.
2 And when the king saw Esther the Queen standing in the court, she found favor in his sight. And the king held out the golden scepter that was in his hand. So, Esther drew near and touched the top of the scepter.
3 Then the king said to her, “What’s wrong, Queen Esther? And what is your request? It shall be given to you, even up to half of the kingdom.”
4 Then Esther said, “If it please the king, let the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”
5 And the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, so that he may do as Esther has said.” So, the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6 And the king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, “What is your petition, so that it may be given to you? And what is your request? It shall be performed even up to half of the kingdom.”
7 Then Esther answered, “My petition, and my request is:
8 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to give me my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them; and I will do as the king says tomorrow.”
9 Then, that same day, Haman went out joyful and with a glad heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, and that he did not stand or move for him, then Haman was full of indignation at Mordecai.
10 Nevertheless, Haman controlled himself. And when he came home, he sent for his friends and Zeresh, his wife.
11 And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the promotions the king had given him, and how that he had set him above the princes and servants of the king.
12 Haman also said, “Even Esther the Queen let no man except me come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared. And tomorrow she has called us to her again.
13 But all this is unsatisfying as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
14 Then Zeresh, his wife, and all his friends said to him, “Let them make a hanging tree 75 feet high, and tomorrow ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then you shall go joyfully with the king to the banquet.” And that pleased Haman. So, he had the hanging tree made.
18 Little children, it is the last hour. And just as you have heard that Antichrist shall come, so now there are many Antichrists (by which we know that it is the last hour).
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But this is so that all of those who were not of us are revealed.
20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One and know all things.
21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it (and no lie comes from the truth).
22 Who is a liar, except the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is Antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son.
23 Whoever denies the Son, the same does not have the Father.
24 Therefore, let that same which you have heard from the beginning remain in you. If that which you have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, you shall also continue in the Son and in the Father.
25 And this is the promise that He has promised us: eternal life.
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