Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

A song to sing as we climb.

David wrote this song.

The Jews punish their enemies

9 The 13th day of the 12th month (Adar) was the day when the enemies of the Jews had hoped to attack them. But now the king's new law said that the Jews could fight to keep themselves safe on that day. So the Jews won against their enemies. ² In all the cities in each region of the kingdom where the Jews lived, they joined together. They punished anyone who tried to hurt them. Nobody could fight against them because all the people were very afraid of them.

³ All the king's officers and the rulers and leaders of each region decided to help the Jews. They did that because they were afraid of Mordecai's power. ⁴ He was now a very important officer in the king's palace. News about him reached all the regions as he became more and more powerful.

⁵ So when the day arrived, the Jews could do what they wanted to their enemies. They used their swords to attack them and to kill them.

¹⁸ But the Jews in Susa did not rest until the 15th day of the month. That was because they killed their enemies on both the 13th day and the 14th day. On the 15th day they ate feasts and they were very happy.

¹⁹ That is why the Jews who live in towns and villages in the country have a holiday on the 14th day of Adar. On that day, they have feasts and they give gifts to each other, because they are happy.

²⁰ Mordecai wrote down all these events. He sent letters to all the Jews who were living in all the regions where King Xerxes ruled. ²¹ He told them that they should have a holiday on the 14th and 15th days of Adar every year. ²² They should do that to remember the time when they became safe from their enemies. That was the month when they became happy and they were no longer sad. They should eat a feast and they should send gifts of food to each other to show their joy. They should also give gifts to poor people.

²³ The Jews agreed to do everything that Mordecai had written in the letters. They had a feast every year to remember what had happened.

⁴ You are my friends, so I tell you this: do not be afraid of those people who can kill only your body. After that, they can do nothing worse to you. ⁵ But I tell you, it is God that you should be afraid of. He has the power to kill people and then to throw them into hell. Yes, I am telling you, be very afraid of him.

⁶ Think about this. People sell five birds for two small coins. But each little bird is valuable to God. He knows about them all and takes care of them. ⁷ God even knows how many hairs there are on your head. So do not be afraid of those people who are against you. You are more valuable to God than many little birds.

⁸ I tell you this. You should say clearly to other people, “I believe in Jesus.” If you do this, I, the Son of Man, will say to the angels of God, “This is someone who is my disciple.” ⁹ But if you say to other people, “I do not believe in Jesus,” I will say to the angels of God, “I do not know this person. He is not one of my disciples.”

¹⁰ Somebody may speak against me, the Son of Man, and God will forgive him. But if somebody says bad things against the Holy Spirit, God will not forgive that person.^[a]

¹¹ People will take you into their meeting places. They will make you stand in front of rulers and other people that have authority. They will want to show that you have done bad things. But do not be afraid of them. Do not worry about what you should say. ¹² At that time, the Holy Spirit will teach you. He will tell you what words you should say.’