Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Yahweh Was on Our Side
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
124 “(A)Had it not been Yahweh who was on our side,”
(B)Let Israel now say,
2 “Had it not been Yahweh who was on our side
When men rose up against us,
3 Then they would have (C)swallowed us alive,
When their (D)anger was kindled against us;
4 Then the (E)waters would have flowed over us,
The stream would have [a]swept over our soul;
5 Then the (F)raging waters would have [b]swept over our soul.”
The Feasts of the King and Queen
1 Now it happened in the days of (A)Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned (B)from India to [a]Ethiopia over (C)127 provinces, 2 in those days as King Ahasuerus (D)sat on his royal throne which was at the citadel in (E)Susa, 3 in the third year of his reign, (F)he held a feast for all his princes and servants, the military officers of Persia and Media, the nobles and the princes of his provinces being in his presence, 4 [b]while he displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his great majesty for many days, 180 days.
5 And when these days were fulfilled, the king held a feast lasting seven days for all the people who were present at the citadel in Susa, from the greatest to the least, in the court of (G)the garden of the king’s palace. 6 There were hangings of fine white and [c]blue linen held by cords of fine purple linen on silver rings and marble pillars, and (H)couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones. 7 And drinks were served in golden vessels of various kinds, and the royal wine was plentiful (I)according to the king’s hand. 8 And the drinking was done according to the law; there was no compulsion, for so the king had established it for each official of his household—that he should do according to what pleased each person. 9 Queen Vashti also held a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to King Ahasuerus.
Queen Vashti’s Refusal
10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was (J)merry with wine, he said for Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who attended to the presence of King Ahasuerus, 11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal (K)crown in order to display her beauty to the people and the princes, for she was [d]beautiful in appearance. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the word of the king which was delivered by the hand of the eunuchs. Then the king became exceedingly furious, and his wrath burned within him.
13 Then the king said to (L)the wise men (M)who knew the times—for it was the custom of the king thus to speak before all who knew law and justice 14 and were close to him: Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media (N)who [e]had access to the king’s presence and sat in the first place in the kingdom— 15 “According to law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, because she did not do the declaration of King Ahasuerus delivered by the hand of the eunuchs?” 16 Then in the presence of the king and the princes, Memucan said, “Queen Vashti has committed iniquity against not only the king but also against all the princes and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17 For the word about the queen will get out to all the women causing them to despise their husbands in their eyes by saying, ‘King Ahasuerus said for Queen Vashti to be brought in to his presence, but she did not come.’ 18 This day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the word about the queen will speak in the same way to all the king’s princes, and there will be plenty of spite and indignation. 19 If it seems good to the king, let a royal word go forth from him, and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media so (O)that it cannot [f]be repealed, that Vashti may no longer come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to [g]another who is better than she. 20 And the king’s sentence, which he will make, will be heard throughout all his kingdom, for it is [h]vast, and (P)all women will give respect to their husbands, great and small.”
21 And this word was good in the eyes of the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan.
Peter and John Threatened and Released
13 Now as they observed the (A)confidence of (B)Peter and John and comprehended that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were marveling, and (C)began to recognize them [a]as having been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. 15 But when they had ordered them to leave the [b](D)Sanhedrin, they began to confer with one another, 16 saying, “(E)What should we do with these men? For the fact that a (F)noteworthy [c]sign has happened through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But lest it spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man (G)in this name.” 18 And when they had summoned them, they (H)commanded them not to speak or teach at all [d]in the name of Jesus. 19 But (I)Peter and John answered and said to them, “(J)Whether it is right in the sight of God to hear you rather than God, you be the judge; 20 for (K)we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) (L)on account of the people, because they were all (M)glorifying God for what had happened; 22 for the man was more than forty years old on whom this sign of healing had occurred.
23 So when they were released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Master, it is You who (N)made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who (O)by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,
‘(P)Why did the [e]Gentiles rage,
And the peoples devise vain things?
26 (Q)The kings of the earth [f]took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His [g](R)Christ.’
27 For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy [h](S)Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both (T)Herod and (U)Pontius Pilate, along with (V)the [i]Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and (W)Your purpose predestined to occur. 29 And [j]now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your slaves may (X)speak Your word with all (Y)confidence, 30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and [k](Z)signs and wonders happen through the name of Your holy [l](AA)Servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed earnestly, the (AB)place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all (AC)filled with the Holy Spirit and began to (AD)speak the word of God with (AE)confidence.
Legacy Standard Bible Copyright ©2021 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org For Permission to Quote Information visit https://www.LSBible.org.