28th November

¹ After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.² And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.³ Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?⁴ Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.⁵ And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.⁶ And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.⁷ In the first month, that 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, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.⁸ And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.⁹ If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.¹⁰ And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.¹¹ And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.¹² Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.¹³ And the letters were sent by posts 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 upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.¹⁴ The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.¹⁵ The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.

¹ When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;² And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.³ And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.⁴ So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not.⁵ Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.⁶ So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate.⁷ And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.⁸ Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.⁹ And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.¹⁰ Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;¹¹ All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or women, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.¹² And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.¹³ Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.¹⁴ For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?¹⁵ Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,¹⁶ Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.¹⁷ So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

¹ Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and behold a basket of summer fruit.² And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the LORD unto me, The end is come upon my people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more.³ And the songs of the temple shall be howlings in that day, saith the Lord GOD: there shall be many dead bodies in every place; they shall cast them forth with silence.⁴ Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail,⁵ Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?⁶ That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat?⁷ The LORD hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works.⁸ Shall not the land tremble for this, and every one mourn that dwelleth therein? and it shall rise up wholly as a flood; and it shall be cast out and drowned, as by the flood of Egypt.⁹ And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:¹⁰ And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day.¹¹ Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:¹² And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.¹³ In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.¹⁴ They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, Thy god, O Dan, liveth; and, The manner of Beersheba liveth; even they shall fall, and never rise up again.

¹ Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,² And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:³ Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.⁴ I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,⁵ Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;⁶ That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.⁷ For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.⁸ Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,⁹ Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.¹⁰ I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:¹¹ Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:¹² Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:¹³ Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:¹⁴ But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.¹⁵ For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;¹⁶ Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?¹⁷ If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.¹⁸ If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;¹⁹ I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.²⁰ Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.²¹ Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.²² But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.²³ There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;²⁴ Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.²⁵ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.