ESTHER 3

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Haman Plots Against the Jews  3:1 After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him. 2 And all the king’s servants who were at 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 homage. 3 Then the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you transgress the king’s command?” 4 And when they spoke to him day after day and he would not listen to them, they told Haman, in order to see whether Mordecai’s words would stand, for he had told them that he was a Jew. 5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman was filled with fury. 6 But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.
    7 In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, they cast lots) before Haman day after day; and they cast it month after month till the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. 8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king’s laws, so that it is not to the king’s profit to tolerate them. 9 If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king’s business, that they may put it into the king’s treasuries.” 10 So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. 11 And the king said to Haman, “The money is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you.”
    12 Then the king’s scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and an edict, according to all that Haman commanded, was written to the king’s satraps and to the governors over all the provinces and to the officials of all the peoples, to every province in its own script and every people in its own language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet ring. 13 Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with instruction to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods. 14 A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province by proclamation to all the peoples to be ready for that day. 15 The couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in Susa the citadel. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.

PSALM 25

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Teach Me Your Paths Of David.
25:1

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 2

O my God, in you I trust;

let me not be put to shame;

let not my enemies exult over me. 3

Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;

they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4

Make me to know your ways, O Lord;

teach me your paths. 5

Lead me in your truth and teach me,

for you are the God of my salvation;

for you I wait all the day long.
6

Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,

for they have been from of old. 7

Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;

according to your steadfast love remember me,

for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!
8

Good and upright is the Lord;

therefore he instructs sinners in the way. 9

He leads the humble in what is right,

and teaches the humble his way. 10

All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,

for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
11

For your name’s sake, O Lord,

pardon my guilt, for it is great. 12

Who is the man who fears the Lord?

Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. 13

His soul shall abide in well-being,

and his offspring shall inherit the land. 14

The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,

and he makes known to them his covenant. 15

My eyes are ever toward the Lord,

for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
16

Turn to me and be gracious to me,

for I am lonely and afflicted. 17

The troubles of my heart are enlarged;

bring me out of my distresses. 18

Consider my affliction and my trouble,

and forgive all my sins.
19

Consider how many are my foes,

and with what violent hatred they hate me. 20

Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!

Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. 21

May integrity and uprightness preserve me,

for I wait for you.
22

Redeem Israel, O God,

out of all his troubles.

PROVERBS 4

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A Father’s Wise Instruction4:1

Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction,

and be attentive, that you may gain insight, 2

for I give you good precepts;

do not forsake my teaching. 3

When I was a son with my father,

tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, 4

he taught me and said to me,

“Let your heart hold fast my words;

keep my commandments, and live. 5

Get wisdom; get insight;

do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. 6

Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;

love her, and she will guard you. 7

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,

and whatever you get, get insight. 8

Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;

she will honor you if you embrace her. 9

She will place on your head a graceful garland;

she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”
10

Hear, my son, and accept my words,

that the years of your life may be many. 11

I have taught you the way of wisdom;

I have led you in the paths of uprightness. 12

When you walk, your step will not be hampered,

and if you run, you will not stumble. 13

Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;

guard her, for she is your life. 14

Do not enter the path of the wicked,

and do not walk in the way of the evil. 15

Avoid it; do not go on it;

turn away from it and pass on. 16

For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;

they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. 17

For they eat the bread of wickedness

and drink the wine of violence. 18

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,

which shines brighter and brighter until full day. 19

The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;

they do not know over what they stumble.
20

My son, be attentive to my words;

incline your ear to my sayings. 21

Let them not escape from your sight;

keep them within your heart. 22

For they are life to those who find them,

and healing to all their flesh. 23

Keep your heart with all vigilance,

for from it flow the springs of life. 24

Put away from you crooked speech,

and put devious talk far from you. 25

Let your eyes look directly forward,

and your gaze be straight before you. 26

Ponder the path of your feet;

then all your ways will be sure. 27

Do not swerve to the right or to the left;

turn your foot away from evil.