Month: August 2020

Job, the Good Man

1 A man named Job lived in the land of Uz [^Ceast of Israel in Edom (present-day Jordan); Lam. 4:21]. He was an ·honest [innocent; blameless; Prov. 2:7, 21] and ·innocent [virtuous; Prov. 1:3] man; he ·honored [feared; respected] God [28:28; Prov. 1:7] and stayed away from evil [^Cthese terms are used to describe the wise in Proverbs]. ² Job had seven sons and three daughters [^Cindicating a large and complete family]. ³ He owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred teams of oxen, and five hundred female donkeys. He also had a large number of servants. He was the ·greatest [or richest] man among all the people of the East [^Cthe expected reward of wisdom].

⁴ Job’s sons took turns holding feasts [^Lon their day; ^Cperhaps birthday celebrations] in their homes and invited their sisters to eat and drink with them. ⁵ After a feast was over, Job would send and have them ·made clean [consecrated; made holy]. Early in the morning Job would offer a burnt offering [^Can atonement offering; Lev. 1:1–17] for each of them, because he thought, “My children may have sinned and ·cursed [^Lblessed; ^Ca euphemism for “cursed”] God in their hearts.” Job did this every time.

Satan Appears Before the Lord

⁶ One day the ·angels [^Lsons of God] came to ·show themselves [stand] before the Lord, and ·Satan [^Lthe Satan; ^Cmeans “the Accuser” or “the Adversary”; either the Devil or a member of God’s heavenly court] was with them. ⁷ The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan [1:6] answered the Lord, “I have been ·wandering around [roaming] the earth, ·going back and forth in [patrolling] it.”

⁸ Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you noticed [considered; ^Lset your heart on] my servant Job? No one else on earth is like him. He is an honest and innocent man, honoring God and staying away from evil [1:1].”

⁹ But Satan [1:6] answered the Lord, “·Job honors God for a good reason [^LDoes Job honor/fear/respect God for no good reason?]. ¹⁰ ·You have [^LDon’t you…?] put a ·wall [hedge; ^Cto protect from danger] around him, his family, and everything he owns. You have blessed ·the things he has done [^Lall the works of his hands]. His flocks and herds ·are so large they almost cover [^Lburst forth on] the land. ¹¹ But ·reach out [stretch forth] your hand and ·destroy [afflict] everything he has, and [^Lsee if] he will curse you to your face.”

¹² The Lord said to Satan [1:6], “All right, then. Everything Job has is in your ·power [^Lhand], but ·you must not touch Job himself [^Lbut don’t send your hand against him].” Then Satan [1:6] left the Lord’s presence.

¹³ One day Job’s sons and daughters were ·eating and drinking wine [feasting; celebrating] together at the ·oldest [^Lfirstborn] brother’s house. ¹⁴ A messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were eating grass nearby, ¹⁵ when the Sabeans [^Ca people from southern Arabia] attacked and carried them away. They killed the servants with swords, and I am the only one who escaped to tell you!”

¹⁶ The messenger was still speaking when another messenger arrived and said, “·Lightning [^LFire] from God fell from ·the sky [heaven]. It burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who escaped to tell you!”

¹⁷ The second messenger was still speaking when another messenger arrived and said, “The ·Babylonians [^LChaldeans; ^Ca people located in present-day southern Iraq] sent three ·groups of attackers [raiding parties] that swept down and stole your camels and killed the servants [^Lwith the sword]. I am the only one who escaped to tell you!”

¹⁸ The third messenger was still speaking when another messenger arrived and said, “Your sons and daughters were ·eating and drinking wine [feasting; celebrating] together at the ·oldest [^Lfirstborn] brother’s house. ¹⁹ Suddenly a ·great [strong; mighty] wind came from the desert, hitting all four corners of the house at once. The house fell in on the young people, and they are all dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you!”

²⁰ When Job heard this, he got up and tore his robe and shaved his head [^Cancient mourning customs]. Then he bowed down to the ground to worship God. ²¹ He said:

²² In all this Job did not sin or blame God.

Satan Appears Before the Lord Again

2 ·On another day [or One day] the ·angels [^Lthe sons of God] came to ·show themselves [^Lstand] before the Lord, and Satan [1:6] was with them again. ² The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan answered the Lord, “I have been ·wandering around [roaming] the earth, ·going back and forth in [patrolling] it.”

³ Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job [1:8]? No one else on earth is like him. He is an honest and innocent man, honoring God and staying away from evil [1:1]. You ·caused [or enticed] me to ·ruin [injure] him for no good reason, but he ·continues to be without blame [or maintains his innocence].”

⁴ “One skin for another [^LSkin for skin; ^Ca proverb meaning that people only react if they are affected directly]!” Satan [1:6] answered. “A man will give all he has to save his own life. ⁵ But reach out your hand and ·destroy [afflict; ^Ltouch] his bones and flesh, and he will ·curse [^Lbless; ^Ca euphemism for “curse”; 1:5] you to your face.”

⁶ The Lord said to Satan [1:6], “All right, then. Job is in your ·power [^Lhand], but you ·may not take [^Lmust preserve] his life.”

⁷ So Satan [1:6] left the Lord’s presence. He put ·painful sores [horrible boils] on Job’s body, from the top of his head to the soles of his feet. ⁸ Job took a ·piece of broken [shard of] pottery to scrape himself, and he sat in ashes in misery.

⁹ Job’s wife said to him, “Why are you ·trying to stay innocent [maintaining your innocence]? Curse [2:5] God and die!”

¹⁰ Job answered, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Should we take only good things from God and not ·trouble [or evil]?” In spite of all this Job did not sin ·in what he said [^Lwith his lips].

Job’s Three Friends Come to Help

¹¹ Now Job had three friends: Eliphaz the Temanite [^Cfrom Tema, a town in Edom (1:1)], Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. When these friends heard about Job’s troubles, they agreed to meet and visit him. They wanted to ·show their concern [mourn] and to comfort him. ¹² They ·saw Job [^Llifted their eyes] from far away, but he looked so different they almost didn’t recognize him. They began to cry loudly and tore their robes and put ·dirt [dust] on their heads [^Cancient mourning customs]. ¹³ Then they sat on the ground with Job seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him because they saw how much he was ·suffering [in pain].

Job Curses His Birth

3 ·After seven days [^LAfterward] Job ·cried out [^Lopened his mouth] and cursed ·the day he had been born [^Lhis day; Jer. 20:14–18], ² saying:

Desire Spiritual Gifts

14 ·You should seek after [Pursue; Make your aim] love, and ·you should truly want to have [eagerly desire; be zealous for] the spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. ² ·I will explain why. [^LFor] Those who ·have the gift of speaking in different languages [or speak with ecstatic utterance; ^Lspeak in a tongue; 12:10, 29, 30; 13:1] are not speaking to people; they are speaking to God. No one understands them; they are speaking ·secret things [mysteries] ·through [by; in; with] the Spirit. ³ But those who prophesy are speaking to people ·to give them strength [for edification/upbuilding], encouragement, and ·comfort [consolation]. ⁴ The ones who speak in different languages are ·helping [edifying; building up] only themselves, but those who prophesy are ·helping [edifying; building up] the whole church. ⁵ I wish all of you ·had the gift of speaking in different kinds of languages [^Lspoke in tongues; v. 2], but more, I wish you would prophesy. Those who prophesy are greater than those who ·can only speak in different languages [^Lspeak in tongues; v. 2]—unless someone ·is there who can explain what is said [^Linterprets (the tongues)] so that the whole church can be ·helped [edified; built up].

⁶ Brothers and sisters, how will it help you if I come to you speaking in ·different languages [^Ltongues; v. 2], unless I bring you a ·new truth [revelation] or ·some new knowledge [^Lknowledge], or prophecy, or teaching? ⁷ It is the same as with lifeless things that make sounds—like a flute or a harp. If they do not make ·clear [distinct] musical notes, ·you will not [^Lhow will you…?] know what is being played. ⁸ And in a war, if the trumpet does not give a clear sound, who will prepare for battle? ⁹ It is the same with you. Unless you speak ·clearly [intelligible words] with your tongue, ·no one can [^Lhow will anyone…?] understand what you are saying. You will be talking into the air! ¹⁰ It may be true that there are all kinds of sounds in the world, and none is without meaning. ¹¹ But unless I understand the meaning of what someone says to me, we will be like ·foreigners [barbarians] to each other. ¹² It is the same with you. Since you ·eagerly desire [are zealous for] ·spiritual gifts [or manifestations of the Spirit], seek ·most of all to have [to excel in] the gifts that ·help the church grow stronger [build up/edify the church].

¹³ [^LTherefore] The one who has the gift of ·speaking in a different language [or ecstatic utterance; ^Ltongues] should pray for the gift to interpret what is spoken. ¹⁴ If I pray ·in a different language [or with ecstatic utterance; ^Lin a tongue], my spirit is praying, but my mind ·does nothing [^Lis unfruitful]. ¹⁵ So what should I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will ·sing [sing praises/psalms] with my spirit, but I will also ·sing [sing praises/psalms] with my mind. ¹⁶ [^LOtherwise] If you ·praise God [or pronounce a blessing] with your spirit, those persons there ·without understanding [or without the gift; or who are inquirers/seekers; vv. 23, 24] cannot say “Amen” [^Cfrom a Hebrew term meaning “it is true”; 1 Chr. 16:36] to your prayer of thanks, because they do not know what you are saying. ¹⁷ You may be thanking God ·in a good way [well enough], but the other person is not ·helped [edified; built up].

The King Helps the Jews

8 That same day King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus] gave Queen Esther ·everything belonging to [the estate of; ^Lthe house of] Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came in to see the king, because Esther had ·told [disclosed/revealed to] the king how he was related to her. ² Then the king took off his signet ring that he had taken back from Haman, and he gave it to Mordecai. Esther put Mordecai ·in charge of everything belonging to [^Lover the house of] Haman.

³ Once again Esther spoke to the king. She fell at the king’s feet and ·cried [wept] and ·begged [implored] him to stop the evil ·plan [plot] that Haman the Agagite had ·planned [devised] against the Jews [^CEsther wisely did not implicate the king in the plan]. ⁴ The king ·held out [extended] the gold scepter to Esther. So Esther got up and stood in front of him.

⁵ She said, “My king, if ·you are pleased with me [^LI have found favor in the king’s sight], and if it ·pleases [seems good to] you to do this, if you think it is the right thing to do, and if ·you are happy with me [I am pleasing/attractive to you], let an ·order [edict; decree] be written to ·cancel [revoke; rescind] the ·letters [dispatches; scrolls] Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite ·wrote [devised] to destroy the Jews in all of your ·kingdom [^Lprovinces]. ⁶ ·I could not stand [^LHow could I endure…?] to see that ·terrible thing [calamity; disaster] ·happen to [^Lfall on] my people. ·I could not stand [^LHow could I endure…?] to see my ·family [relatives; ^Lkindred] ·killed [destroyed].”

⁷ King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus] answered Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, “Because Haman was against the Jews, I have given his ·things [estate; property] to Esther, and my soldiers have ·hanged [impaled] him on the ·platform [gallows; pole]. ⁸ Now, in the king’s name, write another ·order [edict; decree] ·to [concerning] the Jews as seems ·best [appropriate] to you. Then seal the ·order [edict; decree] with the king’s signet ring, because no ·letter [dispatch] written in the king’s name and sealed with his signet ring can be ·canceled [revoked; rescinded].”

⁹ At that time the king’s ·secretaries [scribes] were called. This was the twenty-third day of the third month [^CJune 25], which is Sivan. The secretaries wrote out all of Mordecai’s ·orders [commands] ·to [concerning] the Jews, to the governors, to the ·captains of the soldiers [high officials] in each ·state [province], and to the ·important men [nobles] of the one hundred twenty-seven ·states [provinces] that reached from India to Cush [1:1]. They wrote in the ·writing [script] of each ·state [province] and in the language of each people. They also wrote to the Jews in their own ·writing [script] and language. ¹⁰ Mordecai wrote ·orders [edicts; decrees] in the name of King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus] and sealed the ·letters [dispatches; scrolls] with the king’s signet ring. Then he sent the king’s ·orders [edicts; decrees] by ·messengers [couriers] on fast horses, horses that were ·raised [bred] ·just [especially] for the king.

¹¹ These were the king’s ·orders [edicts; decrees]: The Jews in every city have the right to ·gather together [assemble] to ·protect themselves [defend their lives]. They may destroy, kill, and ·completely wipe out [annihilate] the army of any ·state [province] or ·people [nation] who attack them [^Cthe king could not cancel his previous unalterable decree, but he could allow the Jews to defend themselves and attack], including their women and children. They may also ·take by force [plunder; confiscate] the property of their enemies. ¹² The one day set for the Jews to do this in all the ·empire [provinces] of King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus] was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month [^CMarch 7, about twelve months after Haman devised his plot], the month of Adar. ¹³ A copy of the king’s ·order [edict; decree] was to be ·sent out [issued; presented] as a law in every ·state [province]. It was to be made known to ·the people of every nation living in the kingdom [^Lall the peoples] so the Jews would be ready on that set day to ·strike back at [avenge themselves on] their enemies.

¹⁴ The ·messengers [couriers] hurried out, riding on the royal horses, urged on by the king’s command. And the ·order [edict; decree] was also given in the ·palace [citadel; fortress; 1:2] at Susa.

¹⁵ Mordecai left the king’s presence wearing royal ·clothes [garments] of blue and white and a large gold crown. He also had a purple ·robe [mantle] made of the best linen. And the people of Susa shouted for joy. ¹⁶ It was a time of ·happiness [^Llight], joy, gladness, and honor for the Jews. ¹⁷ As the king’s ·order [edict; decree] went to every ·state [province] and city, there was joy and gladness among the Jews. In every ·state [province] and city to which the king’s ·order [edict; decree] went, they were having ·feasts [banquets] and ·celebrating [holidays]. And many ·people through all the empire [^Lpeoples of the land] ·became [professed/pretended to be] Jews, because ·they were afraid of the Jews [^Ldread of the Jews had fallen on them].

Victory for the Jews

9 The ·order [edict; decree] the king had commanded was to be ·done [executed; carried out] on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month [^CMarch 7], the month of Adar. That was the day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to ·defeat [overpower] them, but ·that was changed [the opposite happened]. So the Jews themselves ·defeated [overpowered] ·those who hated them [their enemies]. ² The Jews ·met [assembled] in their cities in all the ·empire [^Lprovinces] of King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus] in order to ·attack [strike; ^Llay hands on] those who wanted to ·harm [destroy] them. No one ·was strong enough to fight [^Lcould stand] against them, because ·all the other people living in the empire were afraid of them [^Ldread of them fell on all the peoples]. ³ All the ·important men [nobles] of the ·states [provinces], the governors, ·captains of the soldiers [high officials], and the king’s officers helped the Jews, because they were afraid of Mordecai. ⁴ Mordecai was ·very important [^Lgreat] in the king’s ·palace [^Lhouse]. He was famous in all the ·empire [^Lprovinces], because he was becoming ·a leader of more and more people [more and more powerful/influential].

⁵ And, with their swords, the Jews ·defeated [^Lstruck] all their enemies, ·killing [slaughtering] and destroying them. And they did ·what they wanted [as they pleased] with those people who hated them. ⁶ In the ·palace [citadel; fortress; 1:2] at Susa, they ·killed [slaughtered] and destroyed five hundred men. ⁷ They also killed: Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, ⁸ Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, ⁹ Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha, ¹⁰ the ten sons of Haman, son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. But the Jews did not ·take [plunder; confiscate] their ·belongings [property; ^Cthis shows they attacked out of self-defense, not for material gain; 8:11; Gen. 14:23].

¹¹ On that day the number killed in the ·palace [citadel; fortress; 1:2] at Susa was reported to the king. ¹² The king said to Queen Esther, “The Jews have ·killed [slaughtered] and destroyed five hundred people in the ·palace [citadel; fortress; 1:2] at Susa, as well as Haman’s ten sons. What then have they done in the rest of the king’s ·empire [provinces]! Now what ·else are you asking [^Lis your petition]? I will do it! What ·else [more] do you want? It will be ·done [granted]!”

¹³ Esther answered, “If it pleases the king, give the Jews who are in Susa permission to do again tomorrow what the king ·ordered [decreed] for today. And let the bodies of Haman’s ten sons be ·hanged [impaled] on the ·platform [gallows; pole].”

¹⁴ So the king ·ordered [decreed] that it be done. A ·law [edict; decree] was given in Susa, and the bodies of the ten sons of Haman were ·hanged [impaled]. ¹⁵ The Jews in Susa ·came together [assembled] on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar [^CMarch 8]. They ·killed [slaughtered] three hundred people in Susa, but they did not ·take [plunder; confiscate] their ·belongings [property; 9:10].

¹⁶ At that same time, all the Jews in the king’s ·empire [^Lprovinces] also ·met [assembled] to ·protect themselves [defend their lives] and get rid of their enemies. They ·killed [slaughtered] seventy-five thousand of those who hated them, but they did not ·take [plunder; confiscate] their ·belongings [property; 9:10]. ¹⁷ This happened on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar [^CMarch 7]. On the fourteenth day they rested and made it a day of joyful ·feasting [banqueting].

The Feast of Purim

¹⁸ But the Jews in Susa ·met [assembled] on the thirteenth and fourteenth days of the month of Adar [^Cand killed their enemies]. Then they rested on the fifteenth day and made it a day of joyful feasting [banqueting].

¹⁹ This is why the Jews who live in the country and small villages celebrate on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar [^CMarch 8]. It is a ·day [holiday] of joyful ·feasting [banqueting] and a day for exchanging ·gifts [gifts of food].

²⁰ Mordecai ·wrote down [recorded] everything that had happened. Then he sent ·letters [dispatches; scrolls] to all the Jews in all the ·empire [provinces] of King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus], far and near. ²¹ He ·told [called on] them to celebrate every year on the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar, ²² because that was when the Jews got rid of their enemies [^Ca descendant of Saul (2:5–6) had overcome an Amalekite and descendant of King Agag (3:1), thus completing God’s mandate (Deut. 23:3–6) that Saul failed to accomplish (1 Sam. 15)]. They were also to celebrate it as the month their ·sadness [sorrow] was turned to ·joy [gladness] and their ·crying for the dead [mourning] was turned into ·celebration [a holiday]. He told them to celebrate those days as days of joyful ·feasting [banqueting] and as a time for giving [presents of] food to each other and ·presents [gifts] to the poor [^CPurim thus became an annual festival still celebrated by the Jewish people today].

²³ So the Jews agreed to do what Mordecai had written to them, and ·they agreed to hold the celebration every year [^Lto continue what they had begun]. ²⁴ Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, was the enemy of all the Jews. He had ·made [devised] an evil ·plan [plot] against the Jews to destroy them, and he had thrown the Pur (that is, the lot [^Cdice-like objects]) to choose a day to ·ruin [crush; afflict] and destroy them. ²⁵ But when the king learned of the evil ·plan [plot], he sent out written ·orders [edicts; decrees] that the evil ·plans [plot] Haman had made against the Jews would ·be used against him [^Lfall/return on his own head]. And those ·orders [edicts; decrees] said that Haman and his sons should be ·hanged [impaled] on the ·platform [gallows; pole]. ²⁶ So these days were called Purim, which comes from the word “Pur” (the lot [^Cdice-like objects]). Because of everything written in this ·letter [dispatch] and what they had seen and what happened to them, ²⁷ the Jews set up this ·custom [tradition]. They and their descendants and all those who join them are ·always [^Lwithout fail] to ·celebrate [observe; keep] these two days every year. They should do it ·in the right way [^Las it is written] and at the time Mordecai had ·ordered [decreed]. ²⁸ These two days should be remembered and ·celebrated [observed; kept] ·from now on [^Lthrough every generation] in every family, in every ·state [province], and in every city. These days of Purim should ·always [^Lnot fail to] be ·celebrated [observed; kept] ·by [among] the Jews, and their memory never fade among their descendants.

²⁹ So Queen Esther daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second ·letter [dispatch] about Purim. ³⁰ And Mordecai sent ·letters [dispatches; scrolls] to all the Jews in the one hundred twenty-seven ·states [provinces] of the kingdom of ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus], writing them ·a message [^Lwords] of peace and ·truth [or security; assurance]. ³¹ He wrote to ·set up [establish] these days of Purim at the ·chosen [proper; appointed] times. Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had sent out the ·order [edict; decree] for the Jews, just as they had ·set up [established] for themselves and their descendants instruction concerning fasting and ·loud weeping [lamentations]. ³² Esther’s ·letter [command] ·set up [established] the rules for Purim, and they were written down in the records.

The Greatness of Mordecai

10 King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus] demanded ·taxes everywhere, even from the cities [tribute on the land and] on the seacoast. ² And all the great ·things [achievements] ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus] did by his ·power [authority] and strength ·are [^Lare they not…?] written in the ·record books [chronicles; annals] of the kings of Media and Persia. Also written in those record books are all the things done by Mordecai, whom the king made great. ³ Mordecai the Jew was second in importance to King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus], and he was ·the most important man [great; powerful; preeminent] among the Jews. His fellow Jews ·respected [admired; esteemed] him very much, because he ·worked for [^Lsought] the good of his people and ·spoke up [interceded; advocated] for the ·safety [welfare; ^Lpeace] of all the Jews.

²⁷ ·Together you [^LYou; ^Cthe Greek is plural] are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of that body. ²⁸ In the church God has ·given a place first to [appointed/placed first] apostles, second to prophets, and third to teachers, then those who do ·miracles [acts of powers], those who have gifts of healing, those who can help others, those who are able to ·govern [lead], and those who can speak ·in different languages [or with ecstatic utterance; ^Ldifferent kinds of tongues; v. 10]. ²⁹ ·Not all are apostles [^LNot all are apostles, are they? ^Cvv. 29–30 are all rhetorical questions assuming a negative answer]. Not all are prophets. Not all are teachers. Not all do miracles. ³⁰ Not all have gifts of healing. Not all speak ·in different languages [or with ecstatic utterance; ^Lin tongues]. Not all interpret those ·languages [^Ltongues]. ³¹ But ·you should truly want to have [eagerly desire; be zealous for] the greater gifts.

And now I will show you ·the best way of all [a better/superior way].

Love Is the Greatest Gift

13 I may speak in ·different languages [^Ltongues; 12:10, 29, 30] of people or even angels. But if I do not have love, I am only a ·noisy [resounding] ·bell [gong] or a ·crashing [clanging] cymbal. ² I may have the gift of prophecy. I may understand all ·the secret things of God [^Lmysteries] and have all knowledge, and I may have faith so great I can move mountains. But even with all these things, if I do not have love, then I am nothing. ³ I may give away everything I have, and I may even give my body ·as an offering to be burned [^Lto be burned].^[a] But I gain nothing if I do not have love.

⁴ Love is patient and kind. Love is not ·jealous [envious], it does not brag, and it is not ·proud [arrogant; conceited; puffed up]. ⁵ Love is not ·rude [disrespectful], is not ·selfish [self-serving], and ·does not get upset with others [is not easily provoked/angered]. Love does not ·count up [keep a record of] wrongs that have been done. ⁶ Love ·takes no pleasure [does not rejoice] in ·evil [wrongdoing; injustice] but rejoices over the truth. ⁷ Love ·patiently accepts all things [^Tbears all things; or always protects], ·always trusts [^Tbelieves all things], ·always hopes [^Thopes all things], and ·always endures [^Tendures all things].

⁸ Love never ·ends [fails; falls short]. There are gifts of prophecy, but they will ·be ended [cease; pass away]. There are gifts of ·speaking in different languages [or ecstatic utterance; ^Ltongues], but those gifts will ·stop [cease; fall silent]. There is the gift of knowledge, but it will ·come to an end [pass away; be set aside]. ⁹ ·The reason is that [For] ·our knowledge and our ability to prophesy are not perfect [^Lwe know in part/imperfectly and we prophesy in part/incompletely]. ¹⁰ But when ·perfection [the perfect; completeness; wholeness] comes, the ·things that are not perfect [partial] will ·end [pass away; be set aside]. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I ·stopped [set aside] those childish ways. ¹² ·It is the same with us [^LFor…]. Now we see ·a dim reflection [obscurely; or indirectly], ·as if we were looking into a mirror [^Tthrough a glass darkly], but then we shall see ·clearly [^Lface to face]. Now I know only a part, but then I will know fully, as ·God has known me [^LI am fully known]. ¹³ So these three things ·continue forever [endure; remain]: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.

God Will Reward Fairly

Of David.

Mordecai Asks Esther to Help

4 When Mordecai ·heard [learned] about all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on ·rough cloth [burlap; sackcloth] and ashes [^Csigns of grief or repentance], and went out into the city ·crying [wailing] loudly and ·painfully [bitterly]. ² But Mordecai went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one was allowed to enter that gate dressed in ·rough cloth [burlap; sackcloth]. ³ As the king’s ·order [edict; decree] reached every area, there was great ·sadness and loud crying [mourning] among the Jews. They fasted and ·cried out loud [wept and wailed], and many of them lay down on ·rough cloth [burlap; sackcloth] and ashes [^Csigns of grief or repentance].

⁴ When Esther’s ·servant girls [maids; attendants] and eunuchs came to her and told her about Mordecai, she was ·very upset and afraid [deeply distressed; overcome with anguish]. She sent clothes for Mordecai to put on instead of the ·rough cloth [burlap; sackcloth], but he would not ·wear [accept] them. ⁵ Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs chosen by the king to serve her. Esther ordered him to find out what was bothering Mordecai and why.

⁶ So Hathach went to Mordecai, who was in the city square in front of the king’s gate. ⁷ Mordecai told Hathach everything that had happened to him, and he told Hathach about the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasury for the ·killing [destruction] of the Jews. ⁸ Mordecai also gave him a copy of the ·order [edict; decree] to ·kill [destroy] the Jews, which had been ·given [issued] in Susa. He wanted Hathach to show it to Esther and to ·tell her about [explain] it. And Mordecai told him to ·order [direct; instruct] Esther to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and to ·plead with [petition] him for her people.

⁹ Hathach went back and reported to Esther everything Mordecai had ·said [instructed]. ¹⁰ Then Esther told Hathach to tell Mordecai, ¹¹ “All the ·royal officers [ministers; officials] and people of the ·royal [king’s] ·states [provinces] know that no man or woman may ·go [come] to the king in the inner courtyard ·without being called [uninvited]. ·There is [He has] only one law about this: Anyone who enters must be put to death unless the king holds out his gold scepter. Then that person may live. And I have not been ·called [summoned; invited] to go to the king for thirty days.”

¹² Esther’s ·message [^Lwords] was given to Mordecai. ¹³ Then Mordecai sent back ·word [this answer/reply] to Esther: “Just because you ·live in [are part of] the king’s ·palace [^Lhouse], don’t ·think [imagine] that out of all the Jews you alone will escape. ¹⁴ If you keep ·quiet [silent] at this time, ·someone else will help and save the Jews [liberation/relief and protection/deliverance for the Jews will arise/appear from another place], but you and your ·father’s family [relatives] will all die. And who knows, you may have ·been chosen queen [come to your royal position; ^Lcome to the kingdom] for just such a time as this.”

¹⁵ Then Esther sent this answer to Mordecai: ¹⁶ “Go and ·get [assemble] all the Jews in Susa together. ·For my sake [On my behalf], fast; do not eat or drink for three days, night ·and [or] day. I and my ·servant girls [maids; attendants] will also fast. Then I will go to the king, even though it is against the law, and if I die, I die.”

¹⁷ So Mordecai went away and did everything Esther had ·told [commanded; instructed] him to do.

Esther Speaks to the King

5 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner courtyard of the king’s ·palace [^Lhouse], ·facing [in front of; across from] the king’s ·hall [quarters; ^Lhouse]. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, ·facing the doorway [across from the entrance]. ² When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard, ·he was pleased [^Lshe obtained grace in his eyes]. He ·held out [extended] to her the gold scepter that was in his hand, so Esther ·went forward [approached; came near] and touched the ·end [tip] of it.

³ The king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What ·do you want to ask me [is your request]? I will give you as much as half of my kingdom.”

⁴ Esther answered, “My king, if it pleases ·you [^Lthe king], come today with Haman to a banquet that I have prepared for ·you [^Lhim].”

⁵ Then the king said, “·Bring [Find] Haman quickly so we may do what Esther ·asks [desires].”

So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared. ⁶ As they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, “Now, what ·are you asking for [is your petition]? I will ·give it to you [grant it]. What is ·it you want [your request]? ·I will give you [Ask for] as much as half of my kingdom and it shall be done.”

⁷ Esther answered, “This is ·what I want [my request] and ·what I ask for [my petition]. ⁸ My king, if ·you are pleased with me [^LI have found favor in the king’s sight] and if it ·pleases [seems good to] you, ·give me what I ask for [grant my petition] and do what I ·want [request]. Come with Haman tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for you. Then I will ·answer your question about what I want [do as the king says/wishes].”

Haman’s Plans Against Mordecai

⁹ Haman left the king’s ·palace [^Lhouse] that day happy and ·content [^Lgood of heart]. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and saw that Mordecai did not ·stand up [rise] or tremble ·with fear before him [in his presence], Haman ·became very angry with [was filled with rage against] Mordecai. ¹⁰ But he ·controlled his anger [restrained himself] and went home.

Then Haman called together his friends and his wife, Zeresh. ¹¹ He ·told [boasted/recounted to] them ·how wealthy he was [^Lof the glory of his riches] and how many sons he had [^Cten; 9:10]. He also told them all the ways the king had ·honored [^Lmagnified] him and how the king had ·placed him higher than [exalted him over] his ·important men [nobles] and his ·royal officers [ministers; officials]. ¹² He also said, “I’m the only person Queen Esther ·invited [^Lcaused] to come with the king to the banquet she gave. And tomorrow also the queen has asked me to be her guest with the king. ¹³ But all this does not ·really make me happy [satisfy me] ·when [as long as] I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”

¹⁴ Then Haman’s wife, Zeresh, and all his friends said, “Have a ·seventy-five-foot [^Lfifty cubits] ·platform [gallows; pole] built, and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai ·hanged [impaled] on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and be ·happy [content; joyful].” Haman ·liked [was pleased/delighted by] this suggestion, so he ordered the ·platform [gallows; pole] to be built.

Mordecai Is Honored

6 That same night the ·king could not sleep [^Lking’s sleep fled]. So he gave an order for the ·daily court record [book of history/remembrances, the annals/chronicles] to be brought in and read to him. ² It was found recorded that Mordecai had warned the king about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s ·officers [eunuchs] who guarded the doorway and who had ·planned [plotted] to ·kill [assassinate] the king.

³ The king asked, “What honor and ·reward [recognition; distinction; ^Lgreatness] have been given to Mordecai for this?”

The king’s ·personal servants [attendants] answered, “Nothing has been done for Mordecai.”

⁴ The king said, “Who is in the courtyard?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s ·palace [^Lhouse]. He had come to ask the king about ·hanging [impaling] Mordecai on the ·platform [pole] he had prepared.

⁵ The king’s ·personal servants [attendants] said, “Haman is standing in the courtyard.”

The king said, “Bring him in.”

⁶ So Haman came in. And the king asked him, “What should be done for a man whom the king ·wants very much [delights] to honor?”

And Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king want to honor more than me?” ⁷ So he answered the king, “Do this for the man you ·want very much [delight] to honor. ⁸ Have them bring a royal robe that the king himself has worn. And also bring a horse with a royal ·crown [crest; emblem; insignia] on its head, a horse that the king himself has ridden. ⁹ Let the robe and the horse be given to one of the king’s most ·important [noble] ·men [officials]. Let ·them [or him] ·put the robe on [clothe; array; robe] the man the king ·wants [delights] to honor, and let ·them [or him] lead him on the horse through the city ·streets [square]. Let ·them [or him] announce: ‘This is what is done for the man whom the king ·wants [delights] to honor!’”

¹⁰ The king commanded Haman, “Go quickly. Take the robe and the horse just as you have said, and do all this for Mordecai the Jew who sits at the king’s gate. Do not ·leave out [neglect; ^Llet fall] anything you have ·suggested [recommended].”

¹¹ So Haman took the robe and the horse, and he ·put the robe on [clothed; arrayed; robed] Mordecai. Then he led him on horseback through the city ·streets [square], announcing before Mordecai: “This is what is done for the man whom the king ·wants [delights] to honor!”

¹² Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate, but Haman hurried home with his head covered in ·mourning [humiliation]. ¹³ He told his wife, Zeresh, and all his friends everything that had happened to him.

Haman’s wife and ·advisers [wise friends] said, “You are ·starting to lose power to [^Lbeginning to fall before] Mordecai. ·Since [or If] he is ·a Jew [^Lfrom the seed of the Jews], you cannot ·win [prevail; stand] against him. You will surely ·be ruined [fall before him].” ¹⁴ While they were still talking, the king’s eunuchs came to Haman’s house and hurried him to the banquet Esther had prepared.

Haman Is Hanged

7 So the king and Haman went in to ·eat [^Ldrink; ^Ca reference to elaborate feasting] with Queen Esther. ² As they were drinking wine on ·the second day [or this second occasion; 5:4–6], the king asked Esther again, “What ·are you asking for [is your petition]? I will ·give it to you [grant it]. What is ·it you want [your request]? ·I will give you [Ask for] as much as half of my kingdom and it shall be done.”

³ Then Queen Esther answered, “My king, if ·you are pleased with me [^LI have found favor in the king’s sight] and if it ·pleases [seems good to] you, let me live. This is ·what I ask [my petition]. And let my people live, too. This is ·what I want [my request]. ⁴ My people and I have been sold to be destroyed, ·killed [slaughtered] and ·completely wiped out [annihilated]. If we had ·merely [only; simply] been sold as male and female slaves, I would have ·kept quiet [remained silent], because that would not ·be enough of a problem to bother [have justified/been sufficent for troubling] the king.”

⁵ Then King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus] asked Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he? Who has ·done [dared; presumed to do] such a thing?”

⁶ Esther said, “Our ·enemy [oppressor; adversary] and foe is this ·wicked [evil] Haman!”

Then Haman was filled with terror before the king and queen. ⁷ The king was ·very angry [filled with rage], got up, left his wine, and went out into the ·palace [^Lhouse] garden. But Haman stayed inside to beg Queen Esther ·to save [for] his life. He could see that the king had already decided ·to kill [^Lon calamity/disaster for] him.

⁸ When the king returned from the ·palace [^Lhouse] garden to the banquet hall, he saw Haman falling on the couch where Esther was ·lying [reclining]. The king said, “Will he even ·attack [assault; molest] the queen while I am in the house?”

As soon as the king said that, servants came in and covered Haman’s face [^Csignaling his doom]. ⁹ Harbona, one of the eunuchs there serving the king, said, “Look, a ·seventy-five-foot [^Lfifty cubits high] ·platform [gallows; pole] stands near Haman’s house. This is the one Haman had prepared for Mordecai, who ·gave the warning that saved [spoke out on behalf of] the king.”

The king said, “·Hang [Impale] Haman on it!” ¹⁰ So they ·hanged [impaled] Haman on the ·platform [gallows; pole] he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s anger subsided.

Gifts from the Holy Spirit

12 Now, brothers and sisters, I don’t want you to ·misunderstand [be uninformed] ·about [concerning; or in regard to your question about; see 7:1; 8:1; 16:1] spiritual gifts. ² You know the way you lived ·before you were believers [^Lwhen you were pagans/Gentiles]. You let yourselves be influenced and led away to worship idols—things that could not speak. ³ So I want you to understand that no one who is speaking ·with the help of [by means of; in the power of] God’s Spirit says, “Jesus be cursed.” And no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” ·without the help of [^Lexcept by means of/in the power of] the Holy Spirit.

⁴ There are different kinds of gifts, but they are all from the same Spirit. ⁵ There are different ·ways to serve [ministries] but the same Lord to serve. ⁶ And there are different ·ways that God works through people [kinds of action; activities] but the same God works ·in all of us in everything we do [^Lall things in all people]. ⁷ ·Something from the Spirit can be seen in [^LThe manifestation/disclosure of the Spirit is given to] each person, for the common good. ⁸ The Spirit gives one person the ·ability to speak with wisdom [message/word of wisdom], and the same Spirit gives another the ·ability to speak with knowledge [message/word of knowledge]. ⁹ The same Spirit gives faith to one person. And, to another, that one Spirit gives gifts of healing. ¹⁰ The Spirit gives to another person ·the power to do miracles [works of power], to another ·the ability to prophesy [^Lprophecy]. And he gives to another the ·ability to know the difference between good and evil [^Ldiscernment/distinguishing of] spirits. The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak in different kinds of ·languages [or ecstatic utterance; ^Ltongues] and to another the ·ability to interpret those languages [^Linterpretation of tongues]. ¹¹ One Spirit, the same Spirit, does all these things, and the Spirit ·decides what to give [^Ldistributes just as he wishes to] each person.

The Body of Christ Works Together

¹² A person’s body is ·one thing [a unity; ^Lone], but it has many parts. Though there are many parts to a body, all those parts make only one body. Christ is like that also. ¹³ Some of us are Jews, and some are Greeks. Some of us are slaves, and some are free. But we were all baptized into one body ·through [by; in] one Spirit. And we were all made to ·share in [^Ldrink of] the one Spirit.

¹⁴ [^LFor] The ·human body [^Lbody] is not made up of one part, but of many. ¹⁵ The foot might say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not part of the body.” But saying this would not stop the foot from being a part of the body. ¹⁶ The ear might say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not part of the body.” But saying this would not stop the ear from being a part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, ·it would not be able to [^Lhow would it…?] hear. If the whole body were an ear, ·it would not be able to [^Lhow would it…?] smell. If each part of the body were the same part, ·there would be no body [^Lwhere would the body be?]. But truly God put all the parts, each one of them, in the body as he wanted them. ²⁰ So then there are many parts, but only one body.

²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the foot, “I don’t need you!” ²² ·No! [^LOn the contrary,] Those parts of the body that seem to be the weaker are ·really necessary [essential; indispensable]. ²³ And the parts of the body we think are less ·deserving [honorable] are the parts to which we give ·the most [special; greater] honor. We ·give special respect to [or treat with special modesty] the parts ·we want to hide [that are shameful/unpresentable]. ²⁴ The more ·respectable [presentable] parts of our body need no special care. But God put the body together and gave ·more [special] honor to the parts that need it ²⁵ so ·our body would not be divided [or there would be no division in the body]. God wanted the different parts to care the same for each other. ²⁶ If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it. Or if one part of our body is ·honored [glorified], all the other parts ·share its honor [^Lrejoice with it].

Wicked People and a Good God

For the director of music. Of David, the servant of the Lord.

Queen Vashti Disobeys the King

1 This is what happened during the ·time [days] of ·King Xerxes [^LAhasuerus; ^Cthe Persian king who reigned about 486–465 bc], the ·king [^LAhasuerus] who ruled the one hundred twenty-seven ·states [provinces] from India to Cush [^Cin present-day Sudan and Ethiopia]. ² In those days King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus] ·ruled from his [^Lsat on his royal throne in the] ·capital city [or fortress; citadel; ^Cthe winter residence of Persian kings, separate from the city] of Susa. ³ In the third year of his ·rule [reign; ^Cabout 483 bc], he gave a banquet for all his ·important men [nobles] and ·royal officers [ministers; officials]. The ·army [military] leaders from Persia and Media and the ·important men [nobles] from all ·Xerxes’ empire [^Lhis provinces] were there.

⁴ The ·banquet [celebration] lasted one hundred eighty days. All during that time King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus] ·was showing off [displayed] the ·great wealth of his kingdom [riches of his royal glory] and ·his own great riches and glory [splendor of his great majesty]. ⁵ When the one hundred eighty days were ·over [completed], the king gave another banquet [^Cthese celebrations may have been in preparation for the Persian invasion of Greece in 480 bc]. It was held in the courtyard of the palace garden for seven days, and it was for everybody in the ·palace [citadel; fortress] at Susa, from the greatest to the least. ⁶ The courtyard had fine white ·curtains [linen hangings] and ·purple [blue; violet] drapes that were tied to silver rings on marble pillars by white and purple cords. And there were gold and silver couches on a floor set with ·tiles [mosaics] of ·white [porphyry] ·marble [alabaster], ·shells [mother-of-pearl], and ·gems [precious stones]. ⁷ ·Wine [Drinks] was served in gold ·cups [goblets] of various kinds. And there was ·plenty [an abundance] of the king’s wine, ·because he was very generous [in keeping with his generosity/liberality]. ⁸ ·The king commanded that the guests be permitted to drink as much as they wished [^LThe drinking was according to law/edict without compulsion]. He told the ·wine servers [staff] to serve each man what he wanted.

⁹ Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal ·palace [^Lhouse] of King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus].

¹⁰ On the seventh day of the banquet, King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus] was ·very happy [in high spirits], because of the wine. He gave a command to the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas. ¹¹ He commanded them to bring him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown. She was to come to ·show [display] her beauty to the people and ·important men [nobles] because she was very beautiful. ¹² The eunuchs told Queen Vashti about the king’s ·command [^Lword], but she refused to come [^Cpossibly because she felt it would be humiliating; a dangerous decision]. Then the king became very angry; his anger ·was like a burning fire [^Lburned in him; ^Cbecause it undermined his authority].

¹³ It was customary for the king to ·ask advice from [confer with] ·experts [wise men] about law and ·order [justice; custom; ^Ljudgment]. So King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus] spoke with ·the wise men who would know the right thing to do [^Lthose who understood the times]. ¹⁴ The wise men ·the king usually talked to [closest to the king] were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, seven of the ·important men [nobles] of Persia and Media. These seven had ·special privileges to see [access to] the king and had the highest ·rank [offices] in the kingdom. ¹⁵ The king asked them, “What does the law say must be done to Queen Vashti? She has not obeyed the command of King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus], which the eunuchs took to her.”

¹⁶ Then Memucan said to the king and the other ·important men [nobles], “Queen Vashti has not done wrong to the king alone. She has also done wrong to all the ·important men [nobles] and all the people in all the ·empire [^Lprovinces] of King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus]. ¹⁷ All the wives of the ·important men [nobles] of Persia and Media will hear about the queen’s ·actions [conduct]. Then they will ·no longer honor [be contemptuous of; despise] their husbands. They will say, ‘King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus] commanded Queen Vashti to be brought to him, but she refused to come.’ ¹⁸ Today the ·wives [noble ladies] of the ·important men [nobles] of Persia and Media have heard about the queen’s actions. So they will speak in the same way to ·their husbands [the king’s nobles], and there will be no end to ·disrespect [contempt] and anger.

¹⁹ “So, our king, if it pleases you, give a royal ·order [edict; decree], and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be ·changed [repealed; revoked; 8:8; Dan. 6:8, 12, 15]. The law should say Vashti [^Cat this point, the title “queen” is symbolically dropped from before her name] is never again to enter the presence of King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus]. Also let the king give her place as queen to someone who is ·better [more worthy/deserving] than she is. ²⁰ And let the king’s ·order [edict; decree] be ·announced [spread] everywhere in his ·enormous [great] kingdom. Then all the women will ·respect [honor] their husbands, from the greatest to the least.”

²¹ The king and his ·important men [nobles] were ·happy [pleased] with this advice, so King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus] did as Memucan ·suggested [advised; proposed]. ²² He sent ·letters [dispatches; scrolls] to all the ·states [provinces] of the kingdom in the ·writing [script] of each ·state [province] and in the language of each group of people. These ·letters [dispatches; scrolls] announced that each man was to be the ·ruler [master] ·of [over] his own family.

Esther Is Made Queen

2 Later, when King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus] was not so angry, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and his ·order [decree; edict] about her. ² Then the king’s personal ·servants [attendants] suggested, “Let a search be made for ·beautiful young girls [^Lyoung women, virgins, good of form] for the king. ³ Let the king choose ·supervisors [commissioners] in every ·state [province] of his kingdom to bring ·beautiful young girls [^Lyoung women, virgins, good of form] to the ·palace [citadel; fortress; 1:2] at Susa. They should be taken to the ·women’s quarters [harem; ^Lhouse of the women] and put under the ·care [custody; authority] of Hegai, the king’s eunuch in charge of the ·women [harem]. And let ·beauty treatments [cosmetics; ^Lointments] be given to them. ⁴ Then let the ·girl [young woman] who ·most pleases [^Lis good in the eyes of] the king become queen in place of Vashti.” The king ·liked [was pleased/delighted by] this idea, so he did as they said.

⁵ Now there was a Jew in the ·palace [citadel; fortress; 1:2] of Susa whose name was Mordecai son of Jair. Jair was the son of Shimei, the son of Kish [^Cthese are relatives of Saul, showing that Mordecai was his descendant; 1 Sam. 9:1–3; 2 Sam. 16:5]. Mordecai was from the tribe of Benjamin, ⁶ which had been taken ·captive [into exile] from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. They were part of the group taken into ·captivity [exile] with Jehoiachin king of Judah [^C597 bc; 2 Kin. 24:8–17]. ⁷ Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, who had no father or mother, so Mordecai ·took care of her [was her guardian; brought her up]. Hadassah was also called Esther, and she ·had a very pretty figure and face [^Lwas beautiful of form]. Mordecai had ·adopted [raised; taken] her as his own daughter when her father and mother died.

⁸ When the king’s command and ·order [decree; edict] had been ·heard [proclaimed], many ·girls [young women] had been brought to the ·palace [citadel; fortress; 1:2] in Susa and put under the ·care [custody; authority] of Hegai. Esther was also taken to the king’s ·palace [^Lhouse] and put under the ·care [custody; authority] of Hegai, who was in charge of the women. ⁹ Esther ·pleased [impressed; ^Lwas good in his eyes] Hegai, and ·he liked her [^Lfound favor with him]. So Hegai quickly began giving Esther her ·beauty treatments [cosmetics; ^Lointments] and special food. He gave her seven ·servant girls [maids; attendants] chosen from the king’s ·palace [^Lhouse]. Then he ·moved [transferred] her and her ·seven servant girls [maids; attendants] to the best part of the ·women’s quarters [harem; ^Lhouse of the women].

¹⁰ Esther did not tell anyone about her ·family [people; nationality] or ·who her people were [her kindred/lineage], because Mordecai had ·told [instructed] her not to. ¹¹ Every day Mordecai walked back and forth ·near [in front of] the courtyard ·where the king’s women lived [of the harem] to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her.

¹² Before a girl could take her turn ·with [to go to] King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus], she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments ·that were ordered [prescribed; required] for the women. For six months she was treated with oil ·and [or of] myrrh and for six months with ·perfumes [spices] and ·cosmetics [ointments]. ¹³ Then she ·was ready to go [would go in this way] to the king. Anything she ·asked for [desired] was given to her to take with her from the ·women’s quarters [harem; ^Lhouse of the women] to the king’s ·palace [^Lhouse]. ¹⁴ In the evening she would go to the king’s ·palace [^Lhouse], and in the morning she would return ·to another part of the [or to a second; or again to the] ·women’s quarters [harem; ^Lhouse of the women]. There she would be placed under the ·care [custody; authority] of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch in charge of the ·slave women [concubines; ^Csecondary wives]. The girl would not go back to the king again unless he was pleased with her and ·asked for [summoned; requested] her by name.

¹⁵ The ·time [^Lturn] came for Esther daughter of Abihail, Mordecai’s uncle [^CEsther was Mordecai’s younger cousin, v. 7], who had been raised [taken] by Mordecai as his own daughter, to go to the king. She asked for only what Hegai ·suggested [advised; recommended] she should take. (Hegai was the king’s eunuch who ·was in charge of [supervised] the women.) Everyone who saw Esther ·liked [favored] her. ¹⁶ So Esther was taken to King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus] in the royal ·palace [^Lhouse] in the tenth month [^Cearly winter], the month of Tebeth, during ·Xerxes’ [^LAhasuerus’s] seventh year ·as king [of his reign].

¹⁷ And the king ·was pleased with [loved] Esther more than with any of the other ·virgins [young women]. He liked her more than any of the ·others [other virgins], so he put a royal crown on her head and ·made [proclaimed; declared] her queen in place of Vashti. ¹⁸ Then the king gave a great banquet for Esther and invited all his ·important men [nobles; officials] and ·royal officers [ministers; servants]. He announced a holiday for all the ·empire [^Lprovinces] and ·had the government give away gifts [gave gifts with royal liberality/generosity].

Mordecai Discovers an Evil Plan

¹⁹ Now Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate [^Can indication he was likely a government official] when the girls were ·gathered the second time [or transferred to the second harem; or gathered again]. ²⁰ Esther still had not told anyone about ·who her people were [her kindred/lineage] or her ·family [people; nationality], just as Mordecai had ·commanded [instructed] her. She ·obeyed Mordecai [followed Mordecai’s instructions] just as she had done when ·she was under his care [he was raising her].

²¹ Now Bigthana and Teresh were two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the ·doorway [entrance; ^Lthreshold]. While Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, they became angry and ·began to make plans [plotted; conspired] to ·kill [assassinate; ^Lsend a hand against] King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus]. ²² But Mordecai found out about their ·plans [plot] and told Queen Esther. Then Esther told the king ·how Mordecai had discovered the evil plan [^Lin Mordecai’s name]. ²³ When the report was investigated, it was found to be ·true [so], and ·the two officers who had planned to kill the king [^Lthey both] were ·hanged [impaled; ^Con a stake or sharpened pole, a common form of execution]. All this was written down in the ·daily court record [book of the annals/chronicles] in the king’s presence.

Haman Plans to Destroy the Jews

3 After these ·things happened [events], King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus] ·honored [promoted; ^Lmade great] Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite [^Ca descendant of King Agag of the Amalekites, the hated enemies of Israel (which Saul failed to eradicate; 1 Sam. 15); Ex. 17:8–15; Deut. 23:3–6]. He ·gave him a new rank that was [exalted/elevated him] ·higher than [above] all the ·important men [nobles; officials]. ² All the ·royal officers [king’s ministers; officials] at the king’s gate would bow down and ·kneel before [pay homage to] Haman, as the king had ·ordered [commanded]. But Mordecai would not bow down or ·show him honor [pay him homage; ^Cbecause he was a hated Amalekite].

³ Then the ·royal officers [ministers; officials] at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why don’t you obey the king’s command?” ⁴ And they said this to him every day. When he did not listen to them, they told Haman. They wanted to see if Haman would ·accept [tolerate; ^Llet stand] Mordecai’s behavior because Mordecai had told them he was a Jew.

⁵ When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down to him or ·honor [pay homage to] him, he became ·very angry [enraged]. ⁶ He ·thought of himself as too important [disdained; thought it beneath him] to ·try to kill [lay hands on] only Mordecai. He had been told who the people of Mordecai were, so he looked for a way to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, in all of ·Xerxes’ [^LAhasuerus’s] ·kingdom [empire].

⁷ It was in the first month [^CApril] of the twelfth year [^Cabout 474 bc; approximately a year later] of King ·Xerxes’ [^LAhasuerus’s] ·rule [reign]—the month of Nisan. Pur (that is, the lot [^Cdice-like objects]) was thrown before Haman to choose a day and a month. ·So […and; …until] the twelfth month, the month of Adar, was chosen.

⁸ Then Haman said to King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus], “There is ·a certain group of [^Lone] people ·scattered [dispersed and spread] among the ·other people [nations; ^Lpeoples] in all the ·states [provinces] of your ·kingdom [empire]. Their ·customs [laws] are different from those of all the other ·people [nations; ^Lpeoples], and they do not ·obey [observe; keep] the king’s laws. It is not ·right for you [in the king’s interest] to allow them to ·continue living in your kingdom [remain; ^Lcause them to rest]. ⁹ If it ·pleases [^Lis good to] the king, let ·an order be given [it be decreed] to destroy those people. Then I will pay ·seven hundred fifty thousand pounds [^Lten thousand talents] of silver to ·those who do the king’s [the officials who carry out this] business, and they will put it into the royal treasury.”

¹⁰ So the king took his signet ring off his hand and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the ·enemy [persecutor; oppressor] of the Jews. ¹¹ Then the king said to Haman, “The ·money [^Lsilver] and the people are yours [^Cperhaps telling Haman to keep his money, or that he could have the Jews’ money, or that he could spend his money this way if he wished; see 4:7]. Do with them as ·you please [^Lis good in your eyes].”

¹² On the thirteenth day of the first month [^CApril 17], the royal ·secretaries [scribes] were called, and they wrote out all of Haman’s ·orders [commands]. They wrote to the king’s governors and to the ·captains of the soldiers [high officials] in each ·state [province] and to the ·important men [nobles] of each ·group of people [nation]. The ·orders [edicts; decrees] were written in the ·writing [script] of each ·state [province] and in the language of each people. They were written in the name of King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus] and sealed with his signet ring. ¹³ ·Letters [Dispatches; Scrolls] were sent by ·messengers [couriers] to all the king’s ·empire [^Lprovinces] ordering them to destroy, kill, and ·completely wipe out [annihilate] all the Jews, young and old, including women and little children. It was to happen on a single day—the thirteenth day of the twelfth month [^CMarch 7, about twelve months later], which was Adar. And they could ·take [plunder; confiscate] ·everything the Jewish people owned [^Ltheir possessions]. ¹⁴ A copy of the ·order [edict; decree] was given out as a law in every ·state [province] so all the ·people [nations; ^Lpeoples] would be ready for that day.

¹⁵ The ·messengers [couriers] set out, ·hurried [spurred on; impelled] by the king’s command, as soon as the ·order [edict; decree] was given in the ·palace [citadel; fortress] at Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was ·in confusion [bewildered; in an uproar].

The Lord’s Supper

¹⁷ In the ·things [instructions; commands] I tell you now I do not praise you, because ·when you come together you [your meetings as a congregation] do more harm than good. ¹⁸ First, I hear that when you meet together as a church ·you are divided [there are divisions among you], and I believe some of this. ¹⁹ (It is necessary to have ·differences [factions] among you so that it may be clear which of you really have God’s approval [^Ccontroversy is necesssary because error must be opposed].) ²⁰ When you ·come together [meet as a congregation], you are not really eating the Lord’s Supper [^Cthe worship meal Jesus told his followers to celebrate to remember his death; Luke 22:14–20]. ²¹ This is because when you eat, each person eats without waiting for the others [^Cthe wealthy church members were arriving early to avoid sharing with the poorer members; such social distinctions were common throughout the Greco-Roman world]. Some people do not get enough to eat, while others ·have too much to drink [get drunk]. ²² Don’t you have homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you ·despise [have contempt for; have no regard for] God’s church and so ·embarrass [humiliate] those who ·are poor [have nothing]? What should I tell you? Should I praise you? I will not praise you for doing this [^Cthe Corinthians were turning a time meant for unity into one of discrimination].

²³ [^LFor] The teaching I ·gave [passed on to] you is the same teaching I received from the Lord: On the night when the Lord Jesus was ·handed over to be killed [betrayed], he took bread ²⁴ and gave thanks for it. Then he broke the bread and said, “This is my body; it is^[a] for you. Do this to remember me.” ²⁵ In the same way, after ·they ate [the meal; supper], Jesus took the cup. He said, “This cup is the new ·agreement [covenant; Ex. 24:8; Jer. 31:31–34] ·that is sealed with the blood of my death [^Lin my blood]. When you drink this, do it to remember me [Matt. 26:26–28; Mark 14:22–24; Luke 22:19, 20].” ²⁶ [^LFor] Every time you eat this bread and drink this cup you ·are telling others about [proclaim; announce] the Lord’s death until he comes.

²⁷ So a person who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in ·a way that is not worthy of it [or an inappropriate manner] will be ·guilty of sinning against [or held responsible for; liable for; ^Lguilty of] the body and the blood of the Lord. ²⁸ ·Look into your own hearts [^LLet a person examine himself] before you eat the bread and drink the cup, ²⁹ because all who eat the bread and drink the cup without ·recognizing [discerning; careful regard for] the body eat and drink judgment against themselves. ³⁰ That is why many in your group are sick and weak, and ·some [a number] of you have ·died [^Lfallen asleep; ^Ca euphemism for death]. ³¹ But if we ·judged ourselves in the right way [evaluated/examined ourselves], ·God would not judge us [^Lwe would not be judged/punished]. ³² But when the Lord judges us, he disciplines us so that we will not be ·destroyed [condemned] along with the world.

³³ So my brothers and sisters, when you ·come together [gather as a congregation] to eat, wait for each other. ³⁴ Anyone who is too hungry should eat at home so that in meeting together you will not bring God’s judgment on yourselves. I will tell you what to do about ·the other things [additional matters] when I come.

The Wall of Jerusalem

²⁷ When the wall of Jerusalem was ·offered as a gift to God [^Ldedicated], they asked the Levites to come from wherever they lived to Jerusalem to celebrate with joy the ·gift of the wall [^Ldedication]. They were to celebrate with ·songs [hymns] of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps, and lyres. ²⁸ They also brought together ·singers [^Lsons of singers] from all around Jerusalem, from the Netophathite ·villages [settlements], ²⁹ from Beth Gilgal, and from the areas of Geba and Azmaveth. The singers had built ·villages [settlements] for themselves around Jerusalem. ³⁰ The priests and Levites made themselves pure, and they also made the people, the gates, and the wall of Jerusalem pure.

³¹ I had the leaders of Judah go up on top of the wall, and I appointed two large ·choruses [choirs] to give thanks. One ·chorus [choir] went to the right on top of the wall, toward the ·Trash [Garbage; Refuse; ^TDung] Gate. ³² Behind them went Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah. ³³ Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, ³⁴ Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah also went. ³⁵ Some ·priests [^Lsons of priests] with trumpets also went, along with Zechariah son of Jonathan. (Jonathan was the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah. Mattaniah was the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur. Zaccur was the son of Asaph.) ³⁶ Zechariah’s ·relatives [colleagues; kinsmen; ^Lbrothers] also went. They were Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani. These men played the musical instruments of David, the man of God, and Ezra the ·teacher [scribe] ·walked in front of [led] them. ³⁷ They went from the Fountain Gate straight up the steps ·to the highest part of the wall by the older part of the city [^Lof the City of David]. They ·went on [passed] above the ·house [palace] of David to the Water Gate on the east.

³⁸ The second ·chorus [choir] ·went to the left [proceeded in the opposite direction], while I followed them on top of the wall with half the people. We went from the Tower of the ·Ovens [Furnaces; Firepots] to the Broad Wall, ³⁹ ·over [above] the Gate of Ephraim to the ·Old [^LJeshanah] Gate and the Fish Gate, to the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred. We went as far as the Sheep Gate and ·stopped [^Lstood] at the Gate of the Guard.

⁴⁰ The two ·choruses [choirs] ·took their places [^Lstood] at the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of God. Half of the ·leaders [officials] and I did also. ⁴¹ These priests were there with their trumpets: Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah. ⁴² These people were also there: Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam, and Ezer. The ·choruses [choirs] sang loudly, ·led [directed] by Jezrahiah. ⁴³ The people offered ·many [great] sacrifices that day and ·were happy [rejoiced] because God had given them great joy. The women and children ·were happy [rejoiced]. The ·sound of happiness in [joy of; rejoicing in] Jerusalem could be heard far away.

⁴⁴ At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms. These rooms were for the ·gifts [contributions; offerings], the firstfruits [^Cof the harvest], and the ·ten percent that the people brought [tithes]. The ·Teachings [Laws; Instructions; ^LTorah] said they should bring a share for the priests and Levites from the fields around the towns. The people of Judah were ·happy [delighted] to do this for the priests and Levites who ·served [^Lstood]. ⁴⁵ They performed the service of their God ·in making things pure [or and the service of purification]. The singers and gatekeepers also did their jobs, as David had commanded [or and] his son Solomon. ⁴⁶ ·Earlier [Long ago], in the ·time [days] of David and Asaph, there was a ·leader [head; director] of the singers and of the songs of praise and [^Lhymns of] thanksgiving to God. ⁴⁷ So it was in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah. All the people of Israel gave ·something [the daily portions] to the singers and gatekeepers, and they also ·set aside [dedicated] part for the Levites. Then the Levites ·set aside [dedicated] part for the ·descendants [sons] of Aaron.

Foreign People Are Sent Away

13 On that day they read aloud the ·Book [scroll] of Moses ·to [^Lin the ears/hearing of] the people, and they found that it said no Ammonite or Moabite should ever ·be allowed in the meeting to worship [enter the assembly of God; Deut. 23:3–6; ^CTobiah’s ancestry, v. 4, was Ammonite; 2:10]. ² The Ammonites and Moabites had not ·welcomed [^Lmet] the Israelites with ·food [^Lbread] and water. Instead, they had hired Balaam to put a curse on Israel [Num. 22–24]. (But our God turned the curse into a blessing.) ³ When the people heard this ·teaching [law; instruction; ^LTorah], they ·separated [excluded; removed] all foreigners [^Cincluding people of mixed ancestry] from Israel.

Nehemiah Returns to Jerusalem

⁴ Before that happened, Eliashib the priest, who was ·in charge of [appointed over] the ·Temple [^Lhouse] storerooms, was ·friendly with [or a relative of] Tobiah. ⁵ Eliashib let Tobiah use one of the large storerooms. Earlier it had been used for ·grain [^Lgift; tribute] offerings [Lev. 2:3], incense, the ·utensils [vessels], and the ·tenth offerings [tithes] of grain, new wine, and olive oil ·that belonged to [commanded/prescribed for] the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers. It had also been used for ·gifts [contributions; offerings] for the priests.

⁶ I was not in Jerusalem ·when this happened [at that time]. I had gone back to Artaxerxes king of Babylon in the thirty-second year he was king [^C433 bc]. ·Finally [Later; After some time] I asked the king to let me leave. ⁷ When I returned to Jerusalem, I found out the evil Eliashib had done by letting Tobiah have a room in the ·Temple [^Lhouse] courtyard. ⁸ I was very ·upset [displeased; angry] at this, so I threw all of Tobiah’s ·goods [belongings; possessions] out of the room. ⁹ I ordered the rooms to be ·purified [cleansed; ^Critually], and I brought back the ·utensils [vessels] for God’s ·Temple [^Lhouse], the ·grain [^Lgift; tribute] offerings [Lev. 2:3], and the incense.

¹⁰ Then I found out the people were not giving the Levites their ·shares [portions]. So the Levites and singers who served had gone back to their ·own farms [fields]. ¹¹ I ·argued with [reprimanded; confronted] the officers, saying, “Why ·haven’t you taken care of [have you neglected/abandoned/forsaken] the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of God?” Then I ·gathered [assembled] the Levites and singers and ·put them back at [restored them to] their ·places [posts; stations].

¹² All the people of Judah then brought to the storerooms a ·tenth [tithe] of their ·crops [grain], new wine, and olive oil. ¹³ I ·put [appointed] these men ·in charge of [over] the storerooms: Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the ·teacher [scribe], and Pedaiah a Levite. I made Hanan son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, their helper. Everyone knew they were ·honest [reliable; trustworthy]. ·They gave out the portions that went [Their job/responsibility was to distribute] to their ·relatives [colleagues; kinsmen; ^Lbrothers].

¹⁴ Remember me, my God, for this. Do not ·ignore [forget; wipe/blot out] my ·love [loyal/faithful deeds] for the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of my God and its services.

¹⁵ In those days I saw people in Judah ·working in the [^Ltreading] winepresses on the Sabbath day. They were bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys. And they were bringing loads of wine, grapes, and figs and other things into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I ·warned [admonished; rebuked] them about selling food on that day. ¹⁶ People from the city of Tyre who were living in Jerusalem ·brought in [imported] fish and other ·things [merchandise] and sold them there on the Sabbath day to the people of Judah—in Jerusalem itself! ¹⁷ I ·argued with [reprimanded; confronted] the ·important men [nobles] of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing you are doing? You are ·ruining [desecrating; profaning] the Sabbath day [Ex. 20:8–11; 31:12–17; Deut. 5:8–10]. ¹⁸ ·This is [^LIsn’t this…?] just what your ·ancestors [fathers] did. So our God ·did terrible things to us and [brought on us all this trouble/calamity and on] this city. Now you are ·making him even more angry at [bringing even more wrath on] Israel by ·ruining [desecrating; profaning] the Sabbath day.”

¹⁹ So I ordered that the ·doors [^Lgates of Jerusalem] be shut at ·sunset [^Ldark] before the Sabbath and not be opened until the Sabbath was over. I ·put [^Lstood] my servants at the gates so no load could come in on the Sabbath. ²⁰ Once or twice traders and ·sellers [merchants] of all kinds of ·goods [merchandise] spent the night outside Jerusalem. ²¹ So I ·warned [admonished; rebuked] them, “Why are you spending the night ·by [in front of] the wall? If you do it again, I will ·force you away [arrest/forcibly remove you; ^Lsend a hand on you].” After that, they did not come back on the Sabbath. ²² Then I ordered the Levites to purify themselves and to guard the city gates to make sure the Sabbath remained holy.

Remember me, my God, for this. Have ·mercy [compassion] on me because of your ·great [great and steadfast/unfailing] love.

²³ In those days I saw men of Judah who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. ²⁴ Half their children were speaking the language of Ashdod or some other place, and they couldn’t speak the language of Judah. ²⁵ I ·argued with [reprimanded; confronted] those people, put curses on them, ·hit [beat] some of them, and pulled out their hair. I ·forced them to make a promise [made them vow/swear/take an oath] to God, saying, “Do not ·let your daughters marry the sons of foreigners [give your daughters to their sons], and do not take ·the daughters of foreigners as wives [their daughters] for your sons or yourselves. ²⁶ ·Foreign women [^LWas it not things like this that…?] made King Solomon of Israel sin. There was never a king like him in any of the nations. God loved Solomon and made him king over all Israel, but foreign ·women [wives] made even him sin [1 Kin. 11:1–13]. ²⁷ And now ·you are not obedient when [^Lmust we hear how…?] you do this evil thing. You are unfaithful to our God when you ·marry [^Lgive a dwelling to] foreign ·wives [women].”

²⁸ Joiada was the son of Eliashib the high priest. One of Joiada’s sons married a daughter of Sanballat the Horonite, so I ·sent [drove; banished] him away from ·me [my sight].

²⁹ Remember them, my God, because they ·made the priesthood unclean [defiled the priesthood] and the ·agreement [covenant; treaty] of the priests and Levites.

³⁰ So I ·purified [purged; cleansed] them of everything that was foreign. I ·appointed [assigned] duties for the priests and Levites, giving each man his own ·job [tasks; work; duties]. ³¹ I also ·made sure wood was brought for the altar [provided for the wood offering] at ·regular [designated; proper] times and that the firstfruits [^Cof the harvest] were brought.

Remember me, my God; ·be kind to me [for good; with favor].

11 ·Follow my example [Imitate me], as I ·follow the example of [imitate] Christ.

Being Under Authority

² I praise you because you ·remember me in everything [are always thinking of me], and you follow closely the ·teachings [traditions] just as I ·gave them [passed them on] to you. ³ But I want you to understand this: The head of every man is Christ, the head of a woman is ·the man [or her husband], and the head of Christ is God. ⁴ Every man who prays or prophesies ·with his head covered [or with long hair; ^Lhaving down the head; ^Cmost scholars think the passage concerns head coverings; others long or short hair (see v. 14)] brings shame to his head [^Cmeaning shame to Christ, who is the head of the man; v. 3]. ⁵ But every woman who prays or prophesies with ·her head uncovered [or no covering (of hair); v. 4] brings shame to her head. She is the same as a woman who has her head shaved. ⁶ If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off. But since it is shameful for a woman to cut off her hair or to shave her head, she should cover her head. ⁷ But a man should not cover his head, because he is the likeness and glory of God. But woman is man’s glory [^CGod’s glory should be unveiled (revealed), while human glory should be veiled]. ⁸ [^LFor] Man did not come from woman, but woman came from man. ⁹ And man was not made for woman, but woman was made for man [Gen. 2:18]. ¹⁰ So that is why a woman should have a ·symbol of authority on [or authority over] her head, because of the angels [^Cthe significance of the angels is unclear; perhaps their presence at worship calls for reverence and propriety].

¹¹ But in the Lord women are not independent of men, and men are not independent of women. ¹² This is true because woman came from man, but also man is born from woman. But everything comes from God. ¹³ ·Decide [Judge] this for yourselves: Is it ·right [fitting; proper] for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? ¹⁴ ·Even [^LDoes not…?] ·nature [or custom; culture] itself teaches you that wearing long hair is shameful for a man [^CGreco-Roman men normally wore their hair short]. ¹⁵ But long hair is a woman’s glory. Long hair is given to her as a covering. ¹⁶ ·Some people [^LIf anyone] may still want to argue about this, but I would add that neither we nor the churches of God have any other ·practice [custom].

A Prayer for Help

Of David.