Today’s
Reading : Esther 1 - 3 and Colossians
2 (KJV)
Esther 1
Est 1:1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over a hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)
Est 1:2 That
in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the
throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
Est 1:3 In the third year of his reign, he made a
feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the
nobles and princes of the provinces, being
before him:
Est 1:4 When he showed the riches of his glorious
kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even a hundred and fourscore days.
Est 1:5 And when these days were expired, the king
made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan
the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden
of the king's palace;
Est 1:6 Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and
purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of
gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black marble.
Est 1:7 And they gave them
drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and
royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king.
Est 1:8 And the drinking was
according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the
officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.
Est 1:9 Also Vashti the
queen made a feast for the women in the
royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
Est 1:10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the
king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven
chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus
the king,
Est 1:11 To bring Vashti the
queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the people and the princes
her beauty: for she was fair to look on.
Est 1:12 But the queen Vashti
refused to come at the king's commandment by his
chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.
Est 1:13 Then the king said to the wise men, which
knew the times, (for so was the king's
manner toward all that knew law and judgment:
Est 1:14 And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw
the king's face, and which sat the first
in the kingdom;)
Est 1:15 What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the
commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the
chamberlains?
Est 1:16 And Memucan
answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the
queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to
all the people that are in all the
provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
Est 1:17 For this
deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise
their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the
queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
Est 1:18 Likewise
shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes,
which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall
there arise
too much contempt and wrath.
Est 1:19 If it please the king, let there go a royal
commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and
the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come
no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give
her royal estate unto another that is better than she.
Est 1:20 And when the king's decree which he shall
make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the
wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.
Est 1:21 And the saying pleased the king and the
princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:
Est 1:22 For he sent letters into all the king's
provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every
people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house,
and that it should be published
according to the language of every people.
Esther 2
Est 2:1 After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti,
and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.
Est 2:2 Then said the king's servants that ministered
unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
Est 2:3 And let the king appoint officers in all the
provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young
virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the
women, unto the custody of Hege the king's
chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be
given them:
Est 2:4 And let the maiden which pleaseth
the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing
pleased the king; and he did so.
Est 2:5 Now in
Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose
name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son
of Kish, a Benjamite;
Est 2:6 Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with
the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah
king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
Est 2:7 And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had
neither father nor mother, and the maid was
fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took
for his own daughter.
Est 2:8 So it came to pass, when the king's
commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together
unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house,
to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
Est 2:9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained
kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things
for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were
meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her
maids unto the best place of the house
of the women.
Est 2:10 Esther had not showed her people nor her
kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not show it.
Est 2:11 And Mordecai walked every day before the
court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of
her.
Est 2:12 Now when every maid's turn was come to go in
to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve
months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their
purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months
with sweet odours, and with other things
for the purification of the women;)
Est 2:13 Then thus came every
maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out
of the house of the women unto the king's house.
Est 2:14 In the evening she went, and on the morrow
she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the
concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in
her, and that she were called by name.
Est 2:15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his
daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women,
appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon
her.
Est 2:16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in
the seventh year of his reign.
Est 2:17 And the king loved Esther above all the women,
and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so
that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
Est 2:18 Then the king made a great feast unto all his
princes and his servants, even Esther's
feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the
state of the king.
Est 2:19 And when the virgins were gathered together
the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.
Est 2:20 Esther had not yet
showed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did
the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.
Est 2:21 In those days, while Mordecai sat in the
king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan
and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth,
and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
Est 2:22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told
it unto Esther the queen; and Esther
certified the king thereof in Mordecai's
name.
Est 2:23 And when inquisition was made of the matter,
it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written
in the book of the chronicles before the king.
Esther 3
Est 3:1 After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha
the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above
all the princes that were with him.
Est 3:2 And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced
Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not,
nor did him reverence.
Est 3:3 Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?
Est 3:4 Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily
unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether
Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.
Est 3:5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not,
nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
Est 3:6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai
alone; for they had showed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought
to destroy all the Jews that were
throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
Est 3:7 In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and
from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is,
the month Adar.
Est 3:8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus,
There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in
all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are
diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.
Est 3:9 If it please the king, let it be written that
they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the
hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.
Est 3:10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and
gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
Est 3:11 And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with
them as it seemeth good to thee.
Est 3:12 Then were the king's scribes called on the
thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that
Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of
every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name
of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the
king's ring.
Est 3:13 And the letters were sent by posts into all
the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews,
both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month
Adar, and to take
the spoil of them for a prey.
Est 3:14 The copy of the writing for a commandment to
be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be
ready against that day.
Est 3:15 The posts went out, being hastened by the
king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan
the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.
Colossians 2
Col
2:1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict
I have for you, and for them at
Laodicea, and for as many as have not
seen my face in the flesh;
Col 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being
knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of
understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father,
and of Christ;
Col 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom
and knowledge.
Col 2:4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile
you with enticing words.
Col 2:5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I
with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your
order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
Col 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus
the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Col 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and established
in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through
philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of
the world, and not after Christ.
Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth
all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
Col 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head
of all principality and power:
Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision
made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the
circumcision of Christ:
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye
are risen with him through the faith of
the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together
with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances
that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way,
nailing it to his cross;
Col 2:15 And
having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly,
triumphing over them in it.
Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in
drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Col 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the
body is of Christ.
Col 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a
voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which
he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
Col 2:19 And not holding the Head, from which all the
body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
Col 2:20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the
rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to
ordinances,
Col 2:21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
Col 2:22 Which all are to perish with the using;)
after the commandments and doctrines of men?
Col 2:23 Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in
will-worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to
the satisfying of the flesh.