Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Prayer for the peace of Jerusalem.

A Song of Ascents; of David.

9 Now in the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, on the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have rule over them (whereas it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them), ² the Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them was fallen upon all the peoples. ³ And all the princes of the provinces, and the satraps, and the governors, and they that did the king’s business, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai was fallen upon them. ⁴ For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame went forth throughout all the provinces; for the man Mordecai waxed greater and greater. ⁵ And the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and with slaughter and destruction, and did what they would unto them that hated them.

¹⁸ But the Jews that were in Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. ¹⁹ Therefore do the Jews of the villages, that dwell in the unwalled towns, make the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.

²⁰ And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far, ²¹ to enjoin them that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly, ²² as the days wherein the Jews had rest from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor. ²³ And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;

⁴ And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. ⁵ But I will warn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, who after he hath killed hath ^[a]power to cast into ^[b]hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. ⁶ Are not five sparrows sold for two pence? and not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God. ⁷ But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not: ye are of more value than many sparrows. ⁸ And I say unto you, Every one who shall confess ^[c]me before men, ^[d]him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: ⁹ but he that denieth me in the presence of men shall be denied in the presence of the angels of God. ¹⁰ And every one who shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Spirit it shall not be forgiven. ¹¹ And when they bring you before the synagogues, and the rulers, and the authorities, be not anxious how or what ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: ¹² for the Holy Spirit shall teach you in that very hour what ye ought to say.