Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

140 Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man; preserve me from the violent man,

² who imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.

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 violent man, who has purposed to overthrow my goings.

⁵ The proud have hid a snare for me, and with cords they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set traps for me. Selah

⁶ I said unto the Lord, “Thou art my God; hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord.

⁷ O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

⁸ Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; further not his wicked device, lest they exalt themselves. Selah

⁹ “As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

¹⁰ Let burning coals fall upon them; let them be cast into the fire, into deep pits, that they rise not up again.

¹¹ Let not an evil speaker be established on the earth; evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.”

¹² I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted and the right of the poor.

¹³ Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto Thy name; the upright shall dwell in Thy presence.

8 On that day did King Ahasuerus give the house of Haman, the Jews’ enemy, unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told what he was unto her.

² And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

³ And Esther spoke yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet and besought him with tears to put away the wickedness of Haman the Agagite and his plot that he had devised against the Jews.

⁴ Then the king held out the golden scepter toward Esther. So Esther arose and stood before the king,

⁵ and said, “If it please the king and if I have found favor in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces.

⁶ For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?”

⁷ Then King Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows because he laid his hand upon the Jews.

⁸ Write ye also for the Jews, as it pleaseth you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring; for the writing which is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s ring may no man reverse.”

⁹ Then were the king’s scribes called at that time in the third month (that is, the month of Sivan), on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded, unto the Jews and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, a hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof and unto every people in their language, and to the Jews according to their writing and according to their language.

¹⁰ And he wrote in King Ahasuerus’ name and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries.

¹¹ Therein the king granted the Jews who were in every city to gather themselves together and to stand for their life” to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey

¹² upon one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.

¹³ The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

¹⁴ So the posts who rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king’s commandment. And the decree was given at the palace at Shushan.

¹⁵ And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold and with a garment of fine linen and purple; and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.

¹⁶ The Jews had light and gladness, and joy and honor.

¹⁷ And in every province and in every city, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews, for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.

⁶ But whoso shall cause one of these little ones who believe in Me to fall, it were better for him that a millstone were hung about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

⁷ “Woe unto the world because of offenses! For it must happen that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh.

⁸ Therefore if thy hand or thy foot cause thee to fall, cut them off and cast them from thee; it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into everlasting fire.

⁹ And if thine eye cause thee to fall, pluck it out and cast it from thee; it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.