A Walk Through The Word

Esther Intervenes for the Jews

8 That same day King Ahasuerus awarded Queen Esther the estate^(A) of Haman, the enemy of the Jews.^(B) Mordecai entered the king’s presence because Esther had revealed her relationship to Mordecai.^{(C) 2} The king removed his signet ring he had recovered from Haman^(D) and gave it to Mordecai, and Esther put him in charge of Haman’s estate.

³ Then Esther addressed the king again.^(E) She fell at his feet, wept, and begged^(F) him to revoke the evil of Haman the Agagite^(G) and his plot he had devised against the Jews.^{(H) 4} The king extended the gold scepter^(I) toward Esther, so she got up and stood before the king.

⁵ She said, “If it pleases the king and I have found favor before him, if the matter seems right to the king and I am pleasing in his eyes,^(J) let a royal edict be written. Let it revoke the documents the scheming Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces.^{(K) 6} For how could I bear to see the disaster that would come on my people?^(L) How could I bear to see the destruction of my relatives?” ^(M)

⁷ King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, “Look, I have given Haman’s estate to Esther,^(N) and he was hanged on the gallows because he attacked^[a] the Jews.^{(O) 8} Write in the king’s name whatever pleases you^(P) concerning the Jews, and seal it with the royal signet ring.^(Q) A document written in the king’s name and sealed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked.”^(R)

⁹ On the twenty-third day of the third month^(S)—that is, the month Sivan—the royal scribes were summoned. Everything was written exactly as Mordecai^(T) commanded for the Jews, to the satraps,^(U) the governors, and the officials of the 127 provinces from India to Cush.^(V) The edict was written for each province in its own script, for each ethnic group in its own language,^(W) and to the Jews in their own script and language.

¹⁰ Mordecai wrote in King Ahasuerus’s name and sealed the edicts with the royal signet ring. He sent the documents by mounted couriers,^(X) who rode fast horses^(Y) bred in the royal stables.

¹¹ The king’s edict gave the Jews in each and every city the right to assemble and defend themselves, to destroy, kill, and annihilate every ethnic and provincial army hostile to them, including women and children, and to take their possessions as spoils of war.^{(Z) 12} This would take place on a single day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month Adar.^(AA)

¹³ A copy of the text, issued as law throughout every province, was distributed to all the peoples^(AB) so the Jews could be ready to avenge themselves against their enemies on that day. ¹⁴ The couriers rode out in haste on their royal horses at the king’s urgent command. The law was also issued in the fortress of Susa.^(AC)

¹⁵ Mordecai went from the king’s presence clothed in royal purple and white, with a great gold crown and a purple robe of fine linen.^(AD) The city of Susa shouted and rejoiced,^{(AE) 16} and the Jews celebrated^[b] with gladness, joy, and honor.^{(AF) 17} In every province and every city, wherever the king’s command and his law reached, joy and rejoicing took place among the Jews. There was a celebration and a holiday.^[c](AG) And many of the ethnic groups of the land professed themselves to be Jews because fear of the Jews^(AH) had overcome them.

Victories of the Jews

9 The king’s command and law^(AI) went into effect on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month,^(AJ) the month Adar. On the day when the Jews’ enemies^(AK) had hoped to overpower them, just the opposite happened. The Jews overpowered those who hated them.^{(AL) 2} In each of King Ahasuerus’s provinces^(AM) the Jews assembled in their cities to attack those who intended to harm them.^[d] Not a single person could withstand them; fear of them^(AN) fell on every nationality.^(AO)

³ All the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and the royal civil administrators^[e](AP) aided the Jews because they feared Mordecai.^{(AQ) 4} For Mordecai exercised great power in the palace,^(AR) and his fame spread throughout the provinces as he became more and more powerful.^(AS)

⁵ The Jews put all their enemies to the sword, killing and destroying them.^(AT) They did what they pleased to those who hated them. ⁶ In the fortress of Susa^(AU) the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men, ⁷ including Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, ⁸ Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, ⁹ Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha. ¹⁰ They killed these ten sons^(AV) of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews.^(AW) However, they did not seize^[f] any plunder.^(AX)

¹¹ On that day the number of people killed in the fortress of Susa was reported to the king. ¹² The king said to Queen Esther, “In the fortress of Susa the Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men, including Haman’s ten sons. What have they done in the rest of the royal provinces? Whatever you ask will be given to you. Whatever you seek will also be done.”^(AY)

¹³ Esther answered, “If it pleases the king, may the Jews who are in Susa also have tomorrow^(AZ) to carry out today’s law,^(BA) and may the bodies of Haman’s ten sons^(BB) be hung on the gallows.”^{(BC) 14} The king gave the orders for this to be done, so a law was announced in Susa, and they hung the bodies of Haman’s ten sons. ¹⁵ The Jews in Susa assembled again on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar^(BD) and killed three hundred men in Susa, but they did not seize any plunder.^(BE)

¹⁶ The rest of the Jews in the royal provinces assembled, defended themselves, and gained relief from their enemies. They killed seventy-five thousand^[g] of those who hated them,^(BF) but they did not seize any plunder. ¹⁷ They fought on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar and rested on the fourteenth, and it became a day of feasting and rejoicing.

¹⁸ But the Jews in Susa had assembled on the thirteenth and the fourteenth days of the month. They rested on the fifteenth day of the month, and it became a day of feasting and rejoicing.^{(BG) 19} This explains why the rural Jews who live in villages observe the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a time of rejoicing and feasting. It is a holiday when they send gifts to one another.^(BH)

²⁰ Mordecai^(BI) recorded these events and sent letters to all the Jews in all of King Ahasuerus’s provinces, both near and far. ²¹ He ordered^(BJ) them to celebrate the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar every year ²² because during those days the Jews gained relief from^(BK) their enemies. That was the month when their sorrow was turned into rejoicing and their mourning into a holiday.^(BL) They were to be days of feasting,^(BM) rejoicing, and of sending gifts to one another and to the poor.

²³ So the Jews agreed to continue the practice they had begun, as Mordecai had written them to do. ²⁴ For Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews,^(BN) had plotted against the Jews to destroy them. He cast the Pur—that is, the lot—to crush and destroy them.^{(BO) 25} But when the matter was brought before the king,^(BP) he commanded by letter that the evil plan Haman had devised against the Jews return on his own head^(BQ) and that he should be hanged with his sons on the gallows.^{(BR) 26} For this reason these days are called Purim, from the word Pur.^(BS) Because of all the instructions in this letter as well as what they had witnessed and what had happened to them, ²⁷ the Jews bound themselves, their descendants, and all who joined^(BT) with them to a commitment that they would not fail to celebrate these two days each and every year according to the written instructions and according to the time appointed. ²⁸ These days are remembered and celebrated by every generation, family, province, and city, so that these days of Purim will not lose their significance in Jewish life^[h] and their memory will not fade from their descendants.^(BU)

²⁹ Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail,^(BV) along with Mordecai the Jew,^(BW) wrote this second letter with full authority^(BX) to confirm the letter about Purim. ³⁰ He sent letters with assurances of peace and security^[i] to all the Jews who were in the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, ³¹ in order to confirm these days of Purim at their proper time just as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had established them and just as they had committed themselves and their descendants to the practices of fasting^(BY) and lamentation.^{(BZ) 32} So Esther’s command confirmed these customs of Purim, which were then written into the record.

Mordecai’s Fame

10 King Ahasuerus imposed a tax throughout the land^(CA) even to the farthest shores.^{[j](CB) 2} All of his powerful and magnificent accomplishments^(CC) and the detailed account of Mordecai’s great rank with which the king had honored him,^(CD) have they not been written in the Book of the Historical Events of the Kings of Media and Persia?^{(CE) 3} Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus.^(CF) He was famous among the Jews and highly esteemed by many of his relatives.^(CG) He continued to pursue prosperity for his people and to speak for the well-being of all his descendants.^(CH)

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ,^(A) and individual members of it. ²⁸ And God has appointed these in the church:^(B) first apostles, second prophets, third teachers,^(C) next miracles,^(D) then gifts of healing,^(E) helping, administrating, various kinds of tongues.^{[a] 29} Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in other tongues? Do all interpret?^{(F) 31} But desire^(G) the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.

Love: The Superior Way

13 If I speak human or angelic tongues^[b] but do not have love,^(H) I am a noisy gong^(I) or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy^(J) and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains^(K) but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ And if I give away all my possessions, and if I give over my body in order to boast^[c] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient,^(L) love is kind. Love does not envy,^(M) is not boastful, is not arrogant,^{(N) 5} is not rude, is not self-seeking,^(O) is not irritable,^(P) and does not keep a record of wrongs. ⁶ Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth.^{(Q) 7} It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures^(R) all things.

⁸ Love never ends.^(S) But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. ⁹ For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when the perfect comes, the partial will come to an end. ¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put aside childish things. ¹² For now we see only a reflection^[d] as in a mirror, but then face to face.^(T) Now I know in part, but then I will know fully,^(U) as I am fully known.^{(V) 13} Now these three remain: faith, hope,^(W) and love—but the greatest of these is love.

Psalm 37

Instruction in Wisdom

Of David.

Mordecai Appeals to Esther

4 When Mordecai learned all that had occurred,^(A) he tore his clothes,^(B) put on sackcloth and ashes,^(C) went into the middle of the city, and cried loudly and bitterly.^{(D) 2} He went only as far as the King’s Gate,^(E) since the law prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering the King’s Gate. ³ There was great mourning among the Jewish people in every province where the king’s command and edict^(F) came. They fasted, wept, and lamented, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.^(G)

⁴ Esther’s female servants and her eunuchs came and reported the news to her, and the queen was overcome with fear.^(H) She sent clothes for Mordecai to wear so that he would take off his sackcloth, but he did not accept them. ⁵ Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs who attended her, and dispatched him to Mordecai to learn what he was doing and why.^{[a] 6} So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square in front of the King’s Gate. ⁷ Mordecai told him everything that had happened as well as the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay the royal treasury for the slaughter of the Jews.^(I)

⁸ Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa ordering their destruction, so that Hathach might show it to Esther, explain it to her, and command her to approach the king, implore his favor, and plead with him personally for her people.^{(J) 9} Hathach came and repeated Mordecai’s response to Esther.

¹⁰ Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to tell Mordecai, ¹¹ “All the royal officials and the people of the royal provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner courtyard^(K) and who has not been summoned—the death penalty—^(L) unless the king extends the gold scepter, allowing that person to live.^(M) I have not been summoned to appear before the king^(N) for the last^[b] thirty days.” ¹² Esther’s response was reported to Mordecai.

¹³ Mordecai told the messenger to reply to Esther, “Don’t think that you will escape the fate of all the Jews because you are in the king’s palace. ¹⁴ If you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place,^(O) but you and your father’s family will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this.”^(P)

¹⁵ Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: ¹⁶ “Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa and fast for me. Don’t eat or drink for three days,^(Q) night or day. I and my female servants will also fast^(R) in the same way. After that, I will go to the king even if it is against the law.^(S) If I perish, I perish.”^{(T) 17} So Mordecai went and did everything Esther had commanded him.

Esther Approaches the King

5 On the third day,^(U) Esther dressed in her royal clothing and stood in the inner courtyard^(V) of the palace facing it. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal courtroom,^[c] facing its entrance. ² As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard, she gained favor in his eyes. The king extended the gold scepter in his hand toward Esther, and she approached and touched the tip of the scepter.^(W)

³ “What is it, Queen Esther?” the king asked her. “Whatever you want, even to half the kingdom, will be given to you.”^(X)

⁴ “If it pleases the king,” Esther replied, “may the king and Haman come today to the banquet^(Y) I have prepared for them.”

⁵ The king said, “Hurry, and get Haman so we can do as Esther has requested.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared.

⁶ While drinking the^[d] wine,^(Z) the king asked Esther, “Whatever you ask will be given to you. Whatever you want, even to half the kingdom, will be done.”

⁷ Esther answered, “This is my petition and my request: ⁸ If I have found favor in the eyes of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and perform my request,^(AA) may the king and Haman come to the banquet I will prepare for them.^(AB) Tomorrow I will do what the king has asked.”

⁹ That day Haman left full of joy and in good spirits.^[e](AC) But when Haman saw Mordecai at the King’s Gate, and Mordecai didn’t rise or tremble in fear at his presence, Haman was filled with rage toward Mordecai.^{(AD) 10} Yet Haman controlled himself and went home. He sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh^(AE) to join him. ¹¹ Then Haman described for them his glorious wealth and his many sons. He told them all how the king had honored him and promoted him in rank over the other officials and the royal staff.^{(AF) 12} “What’s more,” Haman added, “Queen Esther invited no one but me to join the king at the banquet she had prepared. I am invited again tomorrow to join her with the king. ¹³ Still, none of this satisfies me since I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the King’s Gate all the time.”

¹⁴ His wife Zeresh and all his friends told him, “Have them build a gallows seventy-five feet^[f] tall.^(AG) Ask the king in the morning to hang Mordecai on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and enjoy yourself.” The advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows constructed.^(AH)

Mordecai Honored by the King

6 That night sleep escaped^(AI) the king, so he ordered the book recording daily events to be brought and read to the king. ² They found the written report of how Mordecai had informed on Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the entrance, when they planned to assassinate King Ahasuerus.^{(AJ) 3} The king inquired, “What honor and special recognition have been given to Mordecai for this act?” ^(AK)

The king’s personal attendants replied, “Nothing has been done for him.”

⁴ The king asked, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman was just entering the outer court of the palace to ask the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows he had prepared for him.^(AL)

⁵ The king’s attendants answered him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.”

“Have him enter,” the king ordered. ⁶ Haman entered, and the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king wants to honor?” ^(AM)

Haman thought to himself, “Who is it the king would want to honor more than me?” ⁷ Haman told the king, “For the man the king wants to honor: ⁸ Have them bring a royal garment that the king himself has worn^(AN) and a horse the king himself has ridden,^(AO) which has a royal crown on its head. ⁹ Put the garment and the horse under the charge of one of the king’s most noble officials.^(AP) Have them clothe the man the king wants to honor, parade him on the horse through the city square, and proclaim before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king wants to honor.’”

¹⁰ The king told Haman, “Hurry, and do just as you proposed. Take a garment and a horse for Mordecai the Jew,^(AQ) who is sitting at the King’s Gate. Do not leave out anything you have suggested.”

¹¹ So Haman took the garment and the horse. He clothed Mordecai and paraded him through the city square, crying out before him, “This is what is done for the man the king wants to honor.”

¹² Then Mordecai returned to the King’s Gate,^(AR) but Haman hurried off for home, mournful and with his head covered.^{(AS) 13} Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends^(AT) everything that had happened. His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai is Jewish, and you have begun to fall before him, you won’t overcome him, because your downfall is certain.”^{(AU) 14} While they were still speaking with him, the king’s eunuchs^(AV) arrived and rushed Haman to the banquet Esther had prepared.^(AW)

Haman Is Executed

7 The king and Haman came to feast^[g](AX) with Esther the queen. ² Once again, on the second day while drinking wine,^(AY) the king asked Esther, “Queen Esther, whatever you ask will be given to you. Whatever you seek, even to half the kingdom, will be done.”^(AZ)

³ Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your eyes, Your Majesty, and if the king is pleased,^(BA) spare my life; this is my request. And spare my people; this is my desire.^{(BB) 4} For my people and I have been sold^(BC) to destruction, death, and extermination.^(BD) If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves,^(BE) I would have kept silent. Indeed, the trouble wouldn’t be worth burdening the king.”

⁵ King Ahasuerus spoke up and asked Queen Esther, “Who is this, and where is the one who would devise such a scheme?” ^[h](BF)

⁶ Esther answered, “The adversary and enemy^(BG) is this evil Haman.”

Haman stood terrified^(BH) before the king and queen. ⁷ The king arose in anger^(BI) and went from where they were drinking wine to the palace garden.^[i](BJ) Haman remained to beg Queen Esther for his life because he realized the king was planning something terrible for him.^{(BK) 8} Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall,^[j] Haman was falling on the couch^(BL) where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, “Would he actually violate the queen while I am in the house?” As soon as the statement left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.^(BM)

⁹ Harbona, one of the king’s eunuchs,^(BN) said: “There is a gallows seventy-five feet^[k] tall at Haman’s house that he made for Mordecai,^(BO) who gave the report that saved^[l] the king.”^(BP)

The king said, “Hang him on it.”

¹⁰ They hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai.^(BQ) Then the king’s anger subsided.^(BR)

Diversity of Spiritual Gifts

12 Now concerning spiritual gifts:^[a] brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be unaware. ² You know that when you were pagans, you used to be enticed and led astray by mute^(A) idols.^{(B) 3} Therefore I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

⁴ Now there are different gifts,^(C) but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are different ministries, but the same Lord. ⁶ And there are different activities, but the same God produces each gift in each person. ⁷ A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person^(D) for the common good: ⁸ to one^(E) is given a message of wisdom^(F) through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, ⁹ to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing^(G) by the one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another, the performing of miracles,^(H) to another, prophecy,^(I) to another, distinguishing between spirits,^(J) to another, different kinds of tongues,^[b] to another, interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ One and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as he wills.

Unity Yet Diversity in the Body

¹² For just as the body is one^(K) and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ.^{(L) 13} For we were all baptized by^[c] one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all given one Spirit to drink.^{(M) 14} Indeed, the body is not one part but many. ¹⁵ If the foot should say, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body,” it is not for that reason any less a part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I’m not an eye, I don’t belong to the body,” it is not for that reason any less a part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But as it is, God has arranged each one of the parts in the body just as he wanted.^{(N) 19} And if they were all the same part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body. ²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” Or again, the head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that are weaker are indispensable. ²³ And those parts of the body that we consider less honorable,^(O) we clothe these with greater honor, and our unrespectable parts are treated with greater respect, ²⁴ which our respectable parts do not need.

Instead, God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable, ²⁵ so that there would be no division^(P) in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other. ²⁶ So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Psalm 36

Human Wickedness and God’s Love

For the choir director. Of David, the Lord’s servant.

Vashti Angers the King

1 These events took place during the days of Ahasuerus,^(A) who ruled 127 provinces^(B) from India to Cush. ² In those days King Ahasuerus reigned from his royal throne^(C) in the fortress at Susa.^{(D) 3} He held a feast^(E) in the third year of his reign for all his officials and staff, the army of Persia and Media,^(F) the nobles,^(G) and the officials from the provinces. ⁴ He displayed the glorious wealth of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness^(H) for a total of 180 days.

⁵ At the end of this time, the king held a week-long banquet^(I) in the garden courtyard^(J) of the royal palace^(K) for all the people, from the greatest to the least,^(L) who were present in the fortress of Susa.^{(M) 6} White and violet linen hangings were fastened with fine white and purple linen cords to silver rods on marble^[a] columns. Gold and silver couches^(N) were arranged on a mosaic pavement of red feldspar,^[b] marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones.

⁷ Drinks were served in an array of gold goblets,^(O) each with a different design. Royal wine flowed freely, according to the king’s bounty.^{(P) 8} The drinking was according to royal decree: “There are no restrictions.” The king had ordered every wine steward in his household to serve whatever each person wanted. ⁹ Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women of King Ahasuerus’s palace.

¹⁰ On the seventh day, when the king was feeling good from the wine,^(Q) Ahasuerus commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona,^(R) Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas—the seven eunuchs^(S) who personally served him— ¹¹ to bring Queen Vashti before him with her royal crown. He wanted to show off her beauty to the people and the officials, because she was very beautiful.^{(T) 12} But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command that was delivered by his eunuchs. The king became furious and his anger burned within him.^(U)

The King’s Decree

¹³ The king consulted the wise men^(V) who understood the times,^[c](W) for it was his normal procedure to confer with experts in law and justice. ¹⁴ The most trusted ones^[d] were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan. They were the seven officials^(X) of Persia and Media^(Y) who had personal access to the king^(Z) and occupied the highest positions in the kingdom.^{(AA) 15} The king asked, “According to the law, what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey King Ahasuerus’s command that was delivered by the eunuchs?”

¹⁶ Memucan said in the presence of the king and his officials, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king, but all the officials and the peoples who are in every one of King Ahasuerus’s provinces.^{(AB) 17} For the queen’s action will become public knowledge to all the women and cause them to despise their husbands and say, ‘King Ahasuerus ordered Queen Vashti brought before him, but she did not come.’ ¹⁸ Before this day is over, the noble women of Persia and Media who hear about the queen’s act will say the same thing to all the king’s officials, resulting in more contempt and fury.

¹⁹ “If it meets the king’s approval, he should personally issue a royal decree. Let it be recorded in the laws of Persia and Media, so that it cannot be revoked:^(AC) Vashti is not to enter King Ahasuerus’s presence, and her royal position is to be given to another woman who is more worthy than she.^{(AD) 20} The decree the king issues will be heard throughout his vast kingdom,^(AE) so all women will honor their husbands,^(AF) from the greatest to the least.”^(AG)

²¹ The king and his counselors approved the proposal, and he followed Memucan’s advice. ²² He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to each province in its own script and to each ethnic group in its own language,^(AH) that every man should be master of his own house and speak in the language of his own people.

The Search for a New Queen

2 Some time later,^(AI) when King Ahasuerus’s rage^(AJ) had cooled down, he remembered Vashti, what she had done, and what was decided against her.^{(AK) 2} The king’s personal attendants suggested, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king.^{(AL) 3} Let the king appoint commissioners^(AM) in each province of his kingdom, so that they may gather all the beautiful young virgins to the harem at the fortress of Susa.^(AN) Put them under the supervision of Hegai, the king’s eunuch,^(AO) keeper of the women,^(AP) and give them the required beauty treatments. ⁴ Then the young woman who pleases the king^(AQ) will become queen instead of Vashti.”^(AR) This suggestion pleased the king, and he did accordingly.

⁵ In the fortress of Susa, there was a Jewish man named Mordecai^(AS) son of Jair, son of Shimei,^(AT) son of Kish,^(AU) a Benjaminite. ⁶ He had been taken into exile from Jerusalem with the other captives when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took King Jeconiah of Judah into exile.^{(AV) 7} Mordecai was the legal guardian of his cousin^[e] Hadassah (that is, Esther), because she had no father or mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was extremely good-looking. When her father and mother died, Mordecai had adopted her as his own daughter.^(AW)

⁸ When the king’s command and edict became public knowledge and when many young women were gathered at the fortress of Susa under Hegai’s supervision, Esther was taken to the palace, into the supervision of Hegai, keeper of the women. ⁹ The young woman pleased him and gained his favor so that he accelerated the process of the beauty treatments and the special diet that she received. He assigned seven hand-picked female servants to her from the palace and transferred her and her servants to the harem’s best quarters.

¹⁰ Esther did not reveal her ethnicity or her family background, because Mordecai had ordered her not to make them known. ¹¹ Every day Mordecai took a walk in front of the harem’s courtyard to learn how Esther was doing and to see what was happening to her.

¹² During the year before each young woman’s turn to go to King Ahasuerus, the harem regulation required her to receive beauty treatments with oil of myrrh for six months and then with perfumes and cosmetics for another six months. ¹³ When the young woman would go to the king, she was given whatever she requested to take with her from the harem to the palace. ¹⁴ She would go in the evening, and in the morning she would return to a second harem under the supervision of the king’s eunuch Shaashgaz, keeper of the concubines.^(AX) She never went to the king again, unless he desired her and summoned her by name.^(AY)

Esther Becomes Queen

¹⁵ Esther was the daughter of Abihail,^(AZ) the uncle of Mordecai who had adopted her as his own daughter. When her turn came to go to the king, she did not ask for anything except what Hegai, the king’s eunuch, keeper of the women, suggested. Esther gained favor in the eyes of everyone who saw her.^(BA)

¹⁶ She was taken to King Ahasuerus in the palace in the tenth month, the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.^{(BB) 17} The king loved Esther more than all the other women. She won more favor and approval from him than did any of the other virgins. He placed the royal crown on her head and made her queen in place of Vashti.^{(BC) 18} The king held a great banquet for all his officials and staff.^(BD) It was Esther’s banquet. He freed his provinces from tax payments and gave gifts worthy of the king’s bounty.^(BE)

Mordecai Saves the King

¹⁹ When the virgins^(BF) were gathered a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the King’s Gate.^{(BG) 20} (Esther had not revealed her family background or her ethnicity, as Mordecai had directed. She obeyed Mordecai’s orders, as she always had while he raised her.)

²¹ During those days while Mordecai was sitting at the King’s Gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs^(BH) who guarded the entrance, became infuriated and planned to assassinate^[f] King Ahasuerus. ²² When Mordecai learned of the plot, he reported it to Queen Esther, and she told the king on Mordecai’s behalf.^{(BI) 23} When the report was investigated and verified, both men were hanged on the gallows.^(BJ) This event was recorded in the Historical Record in the king’s presence.

Haman’s Plan to Kill the Jews

3 After all this took place, King Ahasuerus honored Haman, son of Hammedatha the Agagite.^(BK) He promoted him in rank and gave him a higher position than all the other officials.^{(BL) 2} The entire royal staff at the King’s Gate^(BM) bowed down and paid homage to Haman, because the king had commanded this to be done for him. But Mordecai would not bow down or pay homage.^{(BN) 3} The members of the royal staff at the King’s Gate asked Mordecai, “Why are you disobeying the king’s command?” ⁴ When they had warned him day after day^(BO) and he still would not listen to them, they told Haman in order to see if Mordecai’s actions would be tolerated, since he had told them he was a Jew.

⁵ When Haman saw that Mordecai was not bowing down or paying him homage, he was filled with rage.^{(BP) 6} And when he learned of Mordecai’s ethnic identity, it seemed repugnant to Haman to do away with^[g] Mordecai alone. He planned to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews,^(BQ) throughout Ahasuerus’s kingdom.^(BR)

⁷ In the first month, the month of Nisan, in King Ahasuerus’s twelfth year,^(BS) the Pur—that is, the lot—was cast before Haman for each day in each month, and it fell on the twelfth month,^(BT) the month Adar.^{(BU) 8} Then Haman informed King Ahasuerus, “There is one ethnic group, scattered throughout the peoples in every province of your kingdom,^(BV) keeping themselves separate. Their laws are different from everyone else’s and they do not obey the king’s laws.^(BW) It is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them.^{(BX) 9} If the king approves, let an order be drawn up authorizing their destruction, and I will pay 375 tons of silver to^[h] the officials for deposit in the royal treasury.”^(BY)

¹⁰ The king removed his signet ring^(BZ) from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jewish people.^{(CA) 11} Then the king told Haman, “The money and people are given to you to do with as you see fit.”

¹² The royal scribes were summoned^(CB) on the thirteenth day of the first month, and the order was written exactly as Haman commanded. It was intended for the royal satraps,^(CC) the governors of each of the provinces, and the officials of each ethnic group and written for each province in its own script and to each ethnic group in its own language.^(CD) It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus^(CE) and sealed with the royal signet ring.^{(CF) 13} Letters were sent by couriers^(CG) to each of the royal provinces telling the officials to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jewish people—young and old, women and children—and plunder their possessions on a single day,^(CH) the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month.^[i]

¹⁴ A copy of the text, issued as law throughout every province, was distributed to all the peoples so that they might get ready for that day. ¹⁵ The couriers left, spurred on by royal command, and the law was issued in the fortress of Susa.^(CI) The king and Haman sat down to drink, while the city of Susa was in confusion.^(CJ)

The Lord’s Supper

¹⁷ Now in giving this instruction I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. ¹⁸ For to begin with, I hear that when you come together as a church there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. ¹⁹ Indeed, it is necessary that there be factions^(A) among you, so that those who are approved may be recognized among you. ²⁰ When you come together, then, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper.^{(B) 21} For at the meal, each one eats his own supper.^[a] So one person is hungry while another gets drunk! ²² Don’t you have homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? I do not praise you in this matter!

²³ For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you:^(C) On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, ²⁴ and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said,^[b] “This is my body, which is^[c] for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”^(D)

²⁵ In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant^(E) in my blood.^(F) Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death^(G) until he comes.^(H)

Self-Examination

²⁷ So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sin against the body^[d] and blood of the Lord. ²⁸ Let a person examine himself; in this way let him eat the bread and drink from the cup. ²⁹ For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body,^[e] eats and drinks judgment^(I) on himself. ³⁰ This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep.^{(J) 31} If we were properly judging ourselves, we would not be judged, ³² but when we are judged^(K) by the Lord, we are disciplined, so that we may not be condemned^(L) with the world.

³³ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, welcome one another.^{[f] 34} If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you gather together you will not come under judgment. I will give instructions about the other matters whenever I come.^(M)

Nehemiah Dedicates the City Wall

²⁷ When the city wall of Jerusalem was dedicated, the Levites were brought in from wherever they were living, so that they could join in celebrating the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals and harps. ²⁸ The Levite families of singers gathered from the area where they had settled around Jerusalem and from the towns around Netophah, ²⁹ and from Bethgilgal, Geba, and Azmaveth. ³⁰ The priests and the Levites performed ritual purification for themselves, the people, the gates, and the city wall.

³¹ I assembled the leaders of Judah on top of the wall and put them in charge of two large groups to march around the city, giving thanks to God.

The first group went to the right on top of the wall toward the Rubbish Gate.^{[a] 32} Hoshaiah marched behind the singers, followed by half the leaders of Judah. ^33-35 The following priests, blowing trumpets, marched next: Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah. Next came Zechariah, the son of Jonathan and grandson of Shemaiah. (His ancestors also included Mattaniah, Micaiah, and Zaccur, of the clan of Asaph.) ³⁶ He was followed by other members of his clan—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani—all of whom carried musical instruments of the kind played by King David, the man of God. Ezra the scholar led this group in the procession. ³⁷ At the Fountain Gate they went up the steps that led to David's City, past David's palace, and back to the wall at the Water Gate, on the east side of the city.

³⁸ The other group of those who gave thanks went to the left along the top of the wall, and I followed with half of the people. We marched past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall, ³⁹ and from there we went past Ephraim Gate, Jeshanah Gate,^[b] the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, and the Tower of the Hundred, to the Sheep Gate. We ended our march near the gate to the Temple.

⁴⁰ So both the groups that were giving thanks to God reached the Temple area.

In addition to the leaders who were with me, ⁴¹ my group included the following priests, blowing trumpets: Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah; ⁴² and they were followed by Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. The singers, led by Jezrahiah, sang at the top of their voices.

⁴³ That day many sacrifices were offered, and the people were full of joy because God had made them very happy. The women and the children joined in the celebration, and the noise they all made could be heard for miles.

Providing for Worship in the Temple

⁴⁴ At that time men were put in charge of the storerooms where contributions for the Temple were kept, including the tithes and the first grain and fruit that ripened each year. These men were responsible for collecting from the farms near the various cities the contributions for the priests and the Levites which the Law required. All the people of Judah were pleased with the priests and the Levites, ^45 (A)because they performed the ceremonies of purification and the other rituals that God had commanded. The Temple musicians and the Temple guards also performed their duties in accordance with the regulations made by King David and his son Solomon. ⁴⁶ From the time of King David and the musician Asaph long ago, the musicians have led songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. ⁴⁷ In the time of Zerubbabel and also in the time of Nehemiah, all the people of Israel gave daily gifts for the support of the Temple musicians and the Temple guards. The people gave a sacred offering to the Levites, and the Levites gave the required portion to the priests.

Separation from Foreigners

13 ^(B)When the Law of Moses was being read aloud to the people, they came to the passage that said that no Ammonite or Moabite was ever to be permitted to join God's people. ^2 (C)This was because the people of Ammon and Moab did not give food and water to the Israelites on their way out of Egypt. Instead, they paid money to Balaam to curse Israel, but our God turned the curse into a blessing. ³ When the people of Israel heard this law read, they excluded all foreigners from the community.

Nehemiah's Reforms

⁴ The priest Eliashib, who was in charge of the Temple storerooms, had for a long time been on good terms with Tobiah. ⁵ He allowed Tobiah to use a large room that was intended only for storing offerings of grain and incense, the equipment used in the Temple, the offerings for the priests, and the tithes of grain, wine, and olive oil given to the Levites, to the Temple musicians, and to the Temple guards. ⁶ While this was going on, I was not in Jerusalem, because in the thirty-second year that Artaxerxes^[c] was king of Babylon I had gone back to report to him. After some time I received his permission ⁷ and returned to Jerusalem. There I was shocked to find that Eliashib had allowed Tobiah to use a room in the Temple. ⁸ I was furious and threw out all of Tobiah's belongings. ⁹ I gave orders for the rooms to be ritually purified and for the Temple equipment, grain offerings, and incense to be put back.

^10 (D)I also learned that the Temple musicians and other Levites had left Jerusalem and gone back to their farms, because the people had not been giving them enough to live on. ¹¹ I reprimanded the officials for letting the Temple be neglected. And I brought the Levites and musicians back to the Temple and put them to work again. ^12 (E)Then all the people of Israel again started bringing to the Temple storerooms their tithes of grain, wine, and olive oil. ¹³ I put the following men in charge of the storerooms: Shelemiah, a priest; Zadok, a scholar of the Law; and Pedaiah, a Levite. Hanan, the son of Zaccur and grandson of Mattaniah, was to be their assistant. I knew I could trust these men to be honest in distributing the supplies to the other workers.

¹⁴ Remember, my God, all these things that I have done for your Temple and its worship.

^15 (F)At that time I saw people in Judah pressing juice from grapes on the Sabbath. Others were loading grain, wine, grapes, figs, and other things on their donkeys and taking them into Jerusalem; I warned them not to sell anything on the Sabbath. ¹⁶ Some people from the city of Tyre were living in Jerusalem, and they brought fish and all kinds of goods into the city to sell to our people on the Sabbath. ¹⁷ I reprimanded the Jewish leaders and told them, “Look at the evil you're doing! You're making the Sabbath unholy. ¹⁸ This is exactly why God punished your ancestors when he brought destruction on this city. And yet you insist on bringing more of God's anger down on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.”

¹⁹ So I gave orders for the city gates to be shut at the beginning of every Sabbath, as soon as evening^[d] began to fall, and not to be opened again until the Sabbath was over. I stationed some of my men at the gates to make sure that nothing was brought into the city on the Sabbath. ²⁰ Once or twice merchants who sold all kinds of goods spent Friday night outside the city walls. ²¹ I warned them, “It's no use waiting out there for morning to come. If you try this again, I'll use force on you.” From then on they did not come back on the Sabbath. ²² I ordered the Levites to purify themselves and to go and guard the gates to make sure that the Sabbath was kept holy.

Remember me, O God, for this also, and spare me because of your great love.

^23 (G)At that time I also discovered that many of the Jewish men had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. ²⁴ Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or some other language and didn't know how to speak our language. ²⁵ I reprimanded the men, called down curses on them, beat them, and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath in God's name that never again would they or their children intermarry with foreigners. ^26 (H)I told them, “It was foreign women that made King Solomon sin. Here was a man who was greater than any of the kings of other nations. God loved him and made him king over all of Israel, and yet he fell into this sin. ²⁷ Are we then to follow your example and disobey our God by marrying foreign women?”

^28 (I)Joiada was the son of Eliashib the High Priest, but one of Joiada's sons married the daughter of Sanballat, from the town of Beth Horon, so I made Joiada leave Jerusalem.

²⁹ Remember, God, how those people defiled both the office of priest and the covenant you made with the priests and the Levites.

³⁰ I purified the people from everything foreign; I prepared regulations for the priests and the Levites so that all of them would know their duties; ³¹ I arranged for the wood used for burning the offerings to be brought at the proper times, and for the people to bring their offerings of the first grain and the first fruits that ripened.

Remember all this, O God, and give me credit for it.

11 ^(A)Imitate me, then, just as I imitate Christ.

Covering the Head in Worship

² I praise you because you always remember me and follow the teachings that I have handed on to you. ³ But I want you to understand that Christ is supreme over every man, the husband is supreme over his wife, and God is supreme over Christ. ⁴ So a man who prays or proclaims God's message in public worship with his head covered disgraces Christ. ⁵ And any woman who prays or proclaims God's message in public worship with nothing on her head disgraces her husband; there is no difference between her and a woman whose head has been shaved. ⁶ If the woman does not cover her head, she might as well cut her hair. And since it is a shameful thing for a woman to shave her head or cut her hair, she should cover her head. ^7 (B)A man has no need to cover his head, because he reflects the image and glory of God. But woman reflects the glory of man; ^8 (C)for man was not created from woman, but woman from man. ⁹ Nor was man created for woman's sake, but woman was created for man's sake. ¹⁰ On account of the angels, then, a woman should have a covering over her head to show that she is under her husband's authority. ¹¹ In our life in the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. ¹² For as woman was made from man, in the same way man is born of woman; and it is God who brings everything into existence.

¹³ Judge for yourselves whether it is proper for a woman to pray to God in public worship with nothing on her head. ¹⁴ Why, nature itself teaches you that long hair on a man is a disgrace, ¹⁵ but on a woman it is a thing of beauty. Her long hair has been given her to serve as a covering. ¹⁶ But if anyone wants to argue about it, all I have to say is that neither we nor the churches of God have any other custom in worship.

A Prayer for Help^[a]

¹⁷ Indulging in luxuries, wine, and rich food will never make you wealthy.

¹⁸ The wicked bring on themselves the suffering they try to cause good people.

The People Who Lived in Jerusalem

11 The leaders settled in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people drew lots to choose one family out of every ten to go and live in the holy city of Jerusalem, while the rest were to live in the other cities and towns. ² The people praised anyone else who volunteered to live in Jerusalem. ^3 (A)In the other towns and cities the people of Israel, the priests, the Levites, the Temple workers, and the descendants of Solomon's servants lived on their own property in their own towns.

The following is the list of the leading citizens of the province of Judah who lived in Jerusalem:

Members of the tribe of Judah

⁴ Athaiah, the son of Uzziah and grandson of Zechariah. His other ancestors included Amariah, Shephatiah, and Mahalalel, descendants of Judah's son Perez.

⁵ Maaseiah, the son of Baruch and grandson of Colhozeh. His other ancestors included Hazaiah, Adaiah, Joiarib, and Zechariah, descendants of Judah's son Shelah.

⁶ Of the descendants of Perez, 468 outstanding soldiers lived in Jerusalem.

Members of the tribe of Benjamin

⁷ Sallu, the son of Meshullam and grandson of Joed. His other ancestors included Pedaiah, Kolaiah, Maaseiah, Ithiel, and Jeshaiah.

⁸ Gabbai and Sallai, close relatives^[a] of Sallu.

In all, 928 Benjaminites lived in Jerusalem. ⁹ Joel son of Zichri was their leader, and Judah son of Hassenuah was the second ranking official in the city.

Priests

¹⁰ Jedaiah son of Joiarib, and Jachin.

¹¹ Seraiah, the son of Hilkiah and grandson of Meshullam. His ancestors included Zadok, Meraioth, and Ahitub, who was the High Priest. ¹² In all, 822 members of this clan served in the Temple.

Adaiah, the son of Jeroham and grandson of Pelaliah. His ancestors included Amzi, Zechariah, Pashhur, and Malchijah. ¹³ In all, 242 members of this clan were heads of families.

Amashsai, the son of Azarel and grandson of Ahzai. His ancestors included Meshillemoth and Immer. ¹⁴ There were 128 members of this clan who were outstanding soldiers. Their leader was Zabdiel, a member of a leading family.^[b]

Levites

¹⁵ Shemaiah, the son of Hasshub and grandson of Azrikam. His ancestors included Hashabiah and Bunni.

¹⁶ Shabbethai and Jozabad, prominent Levites in charge of the work outside the Temple.

¹⁷ Mattaniah, the son of Mica and grandson of Zabdi, a descendant of Asaph. He led the Temple choir in singing the prayer of thanksgiving.

Bakbukiah, who was Mattaniah's assistant.

Abda, the son of Shammua and grandson of Galal, a descendant of Jeduthun.

¹⁸ In all, 284 Levites lived in the holy city of Jerusalem.

Temple guards

¹⁹ Akkub, Talmon, and their relatives, 172 in all.

²⁰ The rest of the people of Israel and the remaining priests and Levites lived on their own property in the other cities and towns of Judah. ²¹ The Temple workers lived in the part of Jerusalem called Ophel and worked under the supervision of Ziha and Gishpa.

²² The supervisor of the Levites who lived in Jerusalem was Uzzi, the son of Bani and grandson of Hashabiah. His ancestors included Mattaniah and Mica, and he belonged to the clan of Asaph, the clan that was responsible for the music in the Temple services. ²³ There were royal regulations stating how the clans should take turns in leading the Temple music each day.

²⁴ Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, of the clan of Zerah and the tribe of Judah, represented the people of Israel at the Persian court.

The People in Other Towns and Cities

²⁵ Many of the people lived in towns near their farms. Those who were of the tribe of Judah lived in Kiriath Arba, Dibon, and Jekabzeel, and in the villages near these cities. ²⁶ They also lived in the cities of Jeshua, Moladah, Bethpelet, ²⁷ and Hazarshual, and in Beersheba and the villages around it. ²⁸ They lived in the city of Ziklag, in Meconah and its villages, ²⁹ in Enrimmon, in Zorah, in Jarmuth, ³⁰ in Zanoah, in Adullam, and in the villages near these towns. They lived in Lachish and on the farms nearby, and in Azekah and its villages. That is to say, the people of Judah lived in the territory between Beersheba in the south and Hinnom Valley in the north.

³¹ The people of the tribe of Benjamin lived in Geba, Michmash, Ai, Bethel and the nearby villages, ³² Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, ³³ Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, ³⁴ Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, ³⁵ Lod, and Ono, and in Craftsmen's Valley. ³⁶ Some groups of Levites that had lived in the territory of Judah were assigned to live with the people of Benjamin.

List of Priests and Levites

12 The following is a list of the priests and Levites who returned from exile with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with the High Priest Joshua:

Priests

^2-7 Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah, Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah.

These men were leaders among all their fellow priests in the days of Joshua.

Levites

⁸ The following were in charge of the singing of hymns of thanksgiving: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah.

⁹ The following formed the choir that sang the responses: Bakbukiah, Unno, and their fellow Levites.

Descendants of the High Priest Joshua

¹⁰ Joshua was the father of Joiakim; Joiakim was the father of Eliashib; Eliashib was the father of Joiada; ¹¹ Joiada was the father of Jonathan; and Jonathan was the father of Jaddua.

Heads of the Priestly Clans

^12-21 When Joiakim was High Priest, the following priests were the heads of the priestly clans:

Priest	Clan
Meraiah	Seraiah
Hananiah	Jeremiah
Meshullam	Ezra
Jehohanan	Amariah
Jonathan	Malluchi
Joseph	Shebaniah
Adna	Harim
Helkai	Meraioth
Zechariah	Iddo
Meshullam	Ginnethon
Zichri	Abijah
[c]	Miniamin
Piltai	Moadiah
Shammua	Bilgah
Jehonathan	Shemaiah
Mattenai	Joiarib
Uzzi	Jedaiah
Kallai	Sallai
Eber	Amok
Hashabiah	Hilkiah
Nethanel	Jedaiah

Record of the Priestly and Levite Families

²² A record was kept of the heads of the Levite families and of the priestly families during the lifetimes of the following High Priests: Eliashib, Joiada, Jonathan, and Jaddua. This record was finished when Darius was emperor of Persia.

²³ The heads of the Levite families, however, were recorded in the official records only until the time of Jonathan, the grandson of Eliashib.

Assignment of Duties in the Temple

²⁴ Under the direction of Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua, Binnui,^[d] and Kadmiel, the Levites were organized into groups. Two groups at a time praised God responsively and gave thanks to him, in accordance with the instructions given by King David, the man of God.

²⁵ The following Temple guards were in charge of guarding the storerooms by the gates to the Temple: Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub.

²⁶ These people lived during the time of Joiakim, the son of Joshua and grandson of Jehozadak, and the time of Nehemiah the governor, and the time of Ezra, the priest who was a scholar of the Law.

¹⁴ So then, my dear friends, keep away from the worship of idols. ¹⁵ I speak to you as sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. ^16 (A)The cup we use in the Lord's Supper and for which we give thanks to God: when we drink from it, we are sharing in the blood of Christ. And the bread we break: when we eat it, we are sharing in the body of Christ. ¹⁷ Because there is the one loaf of bread, all of us, though many, are one body, for we all share the same loaf.

^18 (B)Consider the people of Israel; those who eat what is offered in sacrifice share in the altar's service to God. ¹⁹ Do I imply, then, that an idol or the food offered to it really amounts to anything? ^20 (C)No! What I am saying is that what is sacrificed on pagan altars is offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be partners with demons. ²¹ You cannot drink from the Lord's cup and also from the cup of demons; you cannot eat at the Lord's table and also at the table of demons. ^22 (D)Or do we want to make the Lord jealous? Do we think that we are stronger than he?

^23 (E)“We are allowed to do anything,” so they say. That is true, but not everything is good. “We are allowed to do anything”—but not everything is helpful. ²⁴ None of you should be looking out for your own interests, but for the interests of others.

²⁵ You are free to eat anything sold in the meat market, without asking any questions because of your conscience. ^26 (F)For, as the scripture says, “The earth and everything in it belong to the Lord.”

²⁷ If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you decide to go, eat what is set before you, without asking any questions because of your conscience. ²⁸ But if someone tells you, “This food was offered to idols,” then do not eat that food, for the sake of the one who told you and for conscience' sake— ²⁹ that is, not your own conscience, but the other person's conscience.

“Well, then,” someone asks, “why should my freedom to act be limited by another person's conscience? ³⁰ If I thank God for my food, why should anyone criticize me about food for which I give thanks?”

³¹ Well, whatever you do, whether you eat or drink, do it all for God's glory. ³² Live in such a way as to cause no trouble either to Jews or Gentiles or to the church of God. ³³ Just do as I do; I try to please everyone in all that I do, not thinking of my own good, but of the good of all, so that they might be saved.

¹⁴ If someone is angry with you, a gift given secretly will calm him down.

¹⁵ When justice is done, good people are happy, but evil people are brought to despair.

¹⁶ Death is waiting for anyone who wanders away from good sense.