Day 252 of 365

Esth 8:1–17

1 On that day, King Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman, the Jews' enemy, to Esther the queen. Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was to her.

2 The king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

3 Esther spoke yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and begged him with tears to put away the evil of Haman the Agagite, and his plot that he had devised against the Jews.

4 Then the king held out to Esther the golden scepter. So Esther arose, and stood before the king.

5 She said, "If it pleases the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and the thing seem right to the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king's provinces.

6 For how can I endure to see the disaster that would come to my people? How can I endure to see the destruction of my relatives?"

7 Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, "See, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged on the gallows, because he laid his hand on the Jews.

8 Write also to the Jews, as it pleases you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring; for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may not be reversed by any man."

9 Then the king's scribes were called at that time, in the third month Sivan, on the twenty-third day of the month; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from India to Ethiopia, one hundred twenty-seven provinces, to every province according to its writing, and to every people in their language, and to the Jews in their writing, and in their language.

10 He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by courier on horseback, riding on royal horses that were bread from swift steeds.

11 In those letters, the king granted the Jews who were in every city to gather themselves together, and to defend their life, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, their little ones and women, and to plunder their possessions,

12 on one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.

13 A copy of the letter, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, that the Jews should be ready for that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

14 So the couriers who rode on royal horses went out, hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. The decree was given out in the citadel of Susa.

15 Mordecai went out of the presence of the king in royal clothing of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a robe of fine linen and purple; and the city of Susa shouted and was glad.

16 The Jews had light, gladness, joy, and honor.

17 In every province, and in every city, wherever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had gladness, joy, a feast, and a good day. Many from among the peoples of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews was fallen on them.

Rom 12:1–13:14

12:1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.

12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.

12:3 For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith.

12:4 For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members do not have the same function,

12:5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

12:6 Having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, if prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith;

12:7 or service, let us give ourselves to service; or he who teaches, to his teaching;

12:8 or he who exhorts, to his exhorting: he who gives, let him do it with liberality; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good.

12:10 In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate one to another; outdo one another in showing honor;

12:11 not lagging in diligence; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

12:12 rejoicing in hope; enduring in troubles; continuing steadfastly in prayer;

12:13 contributing to the needs of the saints; given to hospitality.

12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless, and do not curse.

12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep.

12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Do not be arrogant, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own conceits.

12:17 Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men.

12:18 If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men.

12:19 Do not seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God's wrath. For it is written, "Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord."

12:20 Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head."

12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

13:1 Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God.

13:2 Therefore he who resists the authority, withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment.

13:3 For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the same,

13:4 for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.

13:5 Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience' sake.

13:6 For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God's service, attending continually on this very thing.

13:7 Give therefore to everyone what you owe: taxes to whom taxes are due; customs to whom customs; respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor.

13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

13:9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not covet," and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

13:10 Love does not harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

13:11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already time for you to awaken out of sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed.

13:12 The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let us therefore throw off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

13:13 Let us walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy.

13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.

Job 11:13–20

13 "If you set your heart aright, stretch out your hands toward him.

14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away. Do not let unrighteousness dwell in your tents.

15 Surely then you shall lift up your face without spot; Yes, you shall be steadfast, and shall not fear:

16 for you shall forget your misery. You shall remember it as waters that are passed away.

17 Life shall be clearer than the noonday. Though there is darkness, it shall be as the morning.

18 You shall be secure, because there is hope. Yes, you shall search, and shall take your rest in safety.

19 Also you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid. Yes, many shall court your favor.

20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail. They shall have no way to flee. Their hope shall be the giving up of the spirit."