Day 249 of 365

Esth 3:1–15

1 After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes who were with him.

2 All the king's servants who were in the king's gate bowed down, and paid homage to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or pay him homage.

3 Then the king's servants, who were in the king's gate, said to Mordecai, "Why do you disobey the king's commandment?"

4 Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily to him, and he did not listen to them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's reason would stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew.

5 When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down, nor pay him homage, Haman was full of wrath.

6 But he scorned the thought of laying hands on Mordecai alone, for they had made known to him Mordecai's people. Therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even Mordecai's people.

7 In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, and chose the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.

8 Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom, and their laws are different than other people's. They do not keep the king's laws. Therefore it is not for the king's profit to allow them to remain.

9 If it pleases the king, let it be written that they be destroyed; and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who are in charge of the king's business, to bring it into the king's treasuries."

10 The king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.

11 The king said to Haman, "The silver is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you."

12 Then the king's scribes were called in on the first month, on the thirteenth day of the month; and all that Haman commanded was written to the king's satraps, and to the governors who were over every province, and to the princes of every people, to every province according its writing, and to every people in their language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus, and it was sealed with the king's ring.

13 Letters were sent by couriers into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to plunder their possessions.

14 A copy of the letter, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, that they should be ready against that day.

15 The couriers went forth in haste by the king's commandment, and the decree was given out in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.

Rom 10:1–21

1 Brothers, my heart's desire and my prayer to God is for them, that they may be saved.

2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

3 For being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.

4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

5 For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, "The one who does them will live by them."

6 But the righteousness which is of faith says this, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' (that is, to bring Christ down);

7 or, 'Who will descend into the abyss?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)"

8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart;" that is, the word of faith, which we proclaim:

9 that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed."

12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord of all is rich to all who call on him.

13 For, "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved."

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a proclaimer?

15 And how will they proclaim unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!"

16 But they did not all listen to the glad news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?"

17 So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

18 But I say, did they not hear? Yes, truly, "Their sound went out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."

19 But I ask, did not Israel know? First Moses says, "I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, with a nation void of understanding I will make you angry."

20 Isaiah is very bold, and says, "I was found by those who did not seek me. I was revealed to those who did not ask for me."

21 But as to Israel he says, "All day long I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people."

Ps 106:1–48

1 Praise Yah! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.

2 Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord, or fully declare all his praise?

3 Blessed are those who keep justice. Blessed is one who does what is right at all times.

4 Remember me, Lord, with the favor that you show to your people. Visit me with your salvation,

5 that I may see the prosperity of your chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance.

6 We have sinned with our fathers. We have committed iniquity. We have done wickedly.

7 Our fathers did not understand your wonders in Egypt. They did not remember the multitude of your loving kindnesses, but were rebellious at the sea, even at the Red Sea.

8 Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power known.

9 He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it was dried up; so he led them through the depths, as through a desert.

10 He saved them from the hand of him who hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.

11 The waters covered their adversaries. There was not one of them left.

12 Then they believed his words. They sang his praise.

13 They soon forgot his works. They did not wait for his counsel,

14 but gave in to craving in the desert, and tested God in the wasteland.

15 He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.

16 They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron, the Lord's holy one.

17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.

18 A fire was kindled in their company. The flame burned up the wicked.

19 They made a calf in Horeb, and worshiped a molten image.

20 Thus they exchanged their glory for an image of a bull that eats grass.

21 They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt,

22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and awesome things by the Red Sea.

23 Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had Moses, his chosen, not stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, so that he wouldn't destroy them.

24 Yes, they despised the pleasant land. They did not believe his word,

25 but murmured in their tents, and did not listen to the Lord's voice.

26 Therefore he swore to them that he would overthrow them in the wilderness,

27 that he would overthrow their seed among the nations, and scatter them in the lands.

28 They joined themselves also to Baal Peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.

29 Thus they provoked him to anger with their deeds. The plague broke in on them.

30 Then Phinehas stood up, and executed judgment, so the plague was stopped.

31 That was credited to him for righteousness, for all generations to come.

32 They angered him also at the waters of Meribah, so that Moses was troubled for their sakes;

33 because they were rebellious against his spirit, he spoke rashly with his lips.

34 They did not destroy the peoples, as the Lord commanded them,

35 but mixed themselves with the nations, and learned their works.

36 They served their idols, which became a snare to them.

37 Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.

38 They shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan. The land was polluted with blood.

39 Thus were they defiled with their works, and prostituted themselves in their deeds.

40 Therefore the Lord burned with anger against his people. He abhorred his inheritance.

41 He gave them into the hand of the nations. Those who hated them ruled over them.

42 Their enemies also oppressed them. They were brought into subjection under their hand.

43 Many times he delivered them, but they were rebellious in their counsel, and were brought low in their iniquity.

44 Nevertheless he regarded their distress, when he heard their cry.

45 He remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.

46 He made them also to be pitied by all those who carried them captive.

47 Save us, Lord, our God, gather us from among the nations, to give thanks to your holy name, to triumph in your praise!

48 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting! Let all the people say, "Amen." Praise the Lord!