Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Psalm 7^[a]

A shiggaion^[b](A) of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjamite.

³ Esther again pleaded with the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite,^(A) which he had devised against the Jews. ⁴ Then the king extended the gold scepter^(B) to Esther and she arose and stood before him.

⁵ “If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if he regards me with favor^(C) and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces. ⁶ For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?”^(D)

⁷ King Xerxes replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Because Haman attacked the Jews, I have given his estate to Esther, and they have impaled^(E) him on the pole he set up. ⁸ Now write another decree^(F) in the king’s name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal^(G) it with the king’s signet ring^(H)—for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.”^(I)

⁹ At once the royal secretaries were summoned—on the twenty-third day of the third month, the month of Sivan. They wrote out all Mordecai’s orders to the Jews, and to the satraps, governors and nobles of the 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush.^[a](J) These orders were written in the script of each province and the language of each people and also to the Jews in their own script and language.^{(K) 10} Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes, sealed the dispatches with the king’s signet ring, and sent them by mounted couriers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king.

¹¹ The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill and annihilate the armed men of any nationality or province who might attack them and their women and children,^[b] and to plunder^(L) the property of their enemies. ¹² The day appointed for the Jews to do this in all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar.^{(M) 13} A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so that the Jews would be ready on that day^(N) to avenge themselves on their enemies.

¹⁴ The couriers, riding the royal horses, went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa.^(O)

The Triumph of the Jews

¹⁵ When Mordecai^(P) left the king’s presence, he was wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold^(Q) and a purple robe of fine linen.^(R) And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration.^{(S) 16} For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy,^(T) gladness and honor.^{(U) 17} In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, there was joy^(V) and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear^(W) of the Jews had seized them.^(X)

Threefold Hallelujah Over Babylon’s Fall

19 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude^(A) in heaven shouting:

³ And again they shouted:

⁴ The twenty-four elders^(J) and the four living creatures^(K) fell down^(L) and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried:

⁵ Then a voice came from the throne, saying:

⁶ Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude,^(P) like the roar of rushing waters^(Q) and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts^(Y) of God’s holy people.)

⁹ Then the angel said to me,^(Z) “Write this:^(AA) Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”^(AB) And he added, “These are the true words of God.”^(AC)