Esther 6

6:1 Throughout that night the king was unable to sleep, so he asked for the book containing the historical records to be brought. As the records were being read in the king’s presence, 2it was found written that Mordecai had disclosed that Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the entrance, had plotted to assassinate King Ahasuerus.

3The king asked, “What great honor was bestowed on Mordecai because of this?” The king’s attendants who served him responded, “Not a thing was done for him.”

4Then the king said, “Who is that in the courtyard?” Now Haman had come to the outer courtyard of the palace to suggest that the king hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had constructed for him. 5The king’s attendants said to him, “It is Haman who is standing in the courtyard.” The king said, “Let him enter.”

6So Haman came in, and the king said to him, “What should be done for the man whom the king wishes to honor?” Haman thought to himself, “Who is it that the king would want to honor more than me?” 7So Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king wishes to honor, 8let them bring royal attire which the king himself has worn and a horse on which the king himself has ridden—one bearing the royal insignia. 9Then let this clothing and this horse be given to one of the king’s noble officials. Let him then clothe the man whom the king wishes to honor, and let him lead him about through the plaza of the city on the horse, calling before him, ‘So shall it be done to the man whom the king wishes to honor!’”

10The king then said to Haman, “Go quickly! Take the clothing and the horse, just as you have described, and do as you just indicated to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Don’t neglect a single thing of all that you have said.”

11So Haman took the clothing and the horse, and he clothed Mordecai. He led him about on the horse throughout the plaza of the city, calling before him, “So shall it be done to the man whom the king wishes to honor!”

12Then Mordecai again sat at the king’s gate, while Haman hurried away to his home, mournful and with a veil over his head. 13Haman then related to his wife Zeresh and to all his friends everything that had happened to him. These wise men, along with his wife Zeresh, said to him, “If indeed this Mordecai before whom you have begun to fall is Jewish, you will not prevail against him. No, you will surely fall before him!”

14While they were still speaking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived. They quickly brought Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

Ps. 58

58:1 For the music director, according to the al-tashcheth style; a prayer of David.

Do you rulers really pronounce just decisions?

Do you judge people fairly?

2No! You plan how to do what is unjust;

you deal out violence in the earth.

3The wicked turn aside from birth;

liars go astray as soon as they are born.

4Their venom is like that of a snake,

like a deaf serpent that does not hear,

5that does not respond to the magicians,

or to a skilled snake charmer.

6O God, break the teeth in their mouths!

Smash the jawbones of the lions, O Lord.

7Let them disappear like water that flows away.

Let them wither like grass.

8Let them be like a snail that melts away as it moves along.

Let them be like stillborn babies that never see the sun.

9Before the kindling is even placed under your pots,

he will sweep it away along with both the raw and cooked meat.

10The godly will rejoice when they see vengeance carried out;

they will bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked.

11Then observers will say,

“Yes indeed, the godly are rewarded.

Yes indeed, there is a God who judges in the earth.”

1 Thess. 2:17–3:5

2:17 But when we were separated from you, brothers and sisters, for a short time (in presence, not in affection) we became all the more fervent in our great desire to see you in person. 18For we wanted to come to you (I, Paul, in fact tried again and again), but Satan thwarted us. 19For who is our hope or joy or crown to boast of before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not of course you? 20For you are our glory and joy!

3:1 So when we could bear it no longer, we decided to stay on in Athens alone. 2We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen you and encourage you about your faith, 3so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. 4For in fact when we were with you, we were telling you in advance that we would suffer affliction, and so it has happened, as you well know. 5So when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter somehow tempted you and our toil had proven useless.