Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem

Psalm 122

Jews Defend Themselves

9 Consequently, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (that is the month Adar), the king’s edict and his law drew near to be carried out. On that day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but contrary to expectations the Jews gained the upper hand over those that hated them. ² Jews assembled in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus in order to lay hands on those seeking their harm. No one was able to stand against them, for fear of them had fallen on all the peoples. ³ Even all the administrators of the provinces, the officers and governors, and those doing business for the king, helped the Jews, for the dread of Mordecai had fallen on them. ⁴ Mordecai was prominent at the palace, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces. The man Mordecai was growing ever more powerful.

⁵ The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying, and they did whatever they wished to those who hated them.

¹⁸ But the Jews that were in Shushan had assembled on the thirteenth and on the fourteenth and on the fifteenth they rested, making it a day of feasting and gladness. ¹⁹ That is why the rural Jews—those living in unwalled villages—make the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, a day of sending presents of food to one another.

Purim Festival

²⁰ Mordecai recorded these events and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, ²¹ urging them to celebrate the fourteenth and fifteenth days of Adar every year ²² as the days when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into celebration. These were to be days of feasting, celebration and sending presents of food to one another and giving gifts to the poor.

²³ So the Jews agreed to continue the commemoration they had begun, and do what Mordecai had written to them.

⁴ “I say to you, My friends, you should not be afraid of those who kill the body, since after this they have nothing more they can do. ⁵ But I will show you whom you should fear. Fear the One who, after the killing, has authority to cast into Gehenna. Yes, I tell you, fear this One!

⁶ “Aren’t five sparrows being sold for two pennies?^[a] Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. ⁷ Indeed, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. ⁸ Now I tell you, whoever acknowledges Me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge him before the angels of God. ⁹ But the one who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God. ¹⁰ And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who slanders^[b] the Ruach ha-Kodesh will not be forgiven. ¹¹ And when they bring you to the synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, ¹² because the Ruach ha-Kodesh will teach you at that time what is necessary to say.”