Open Word

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Esther 5:1-14

Verse 1. On the third day, Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace across from the king’s quarters. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal courtroom, facing the entrance. Verse 2. As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she found favor in his sight. The king extended the gold scepter in his hand toward Esther, and she approached and touched the tip of the scepter. Verse 3. “What is it, Queen Esther?” the king inquired. “What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given to you.” Verse 4. “If it pleases the king,” Esther replied, “may the king and Haman come today to the banquet I have prepared for the king.” Verse 5. “Hurry,” commanded the king, “and bring Haman, so we can do as Esther has requested.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared. Verse 6. And as they drank their wine, the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.” Verse 7. Esther replied, “This is my petition and my request: Verse 8. If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, may the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.” Verse 9. That day Haman went out full of joy and glad of heart. At the king’s gate, however, he saw Mordecai, who did not rise or tremble in fear at his presence. And Haman was filled with rage toward Mordecai. Verse 10. Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. And calling for his friends and his wife Zeresh, Verse 11. Haman recounted to them his glorious wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored and promoted him over the other officials and servants. Verse 12. “What is more,” Haman added, “Queen Esther invited no one but me to join the king at the banquet she prepared, and I am invited back tomorrow along with the king. Verse 13. Yet none of this satisfies me as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.” Verse 14. His wife Zeresh and all his friends told him, “Have them build a gallows fifty cubits high, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and enjoy yourself.” The advice pleased Haman, and he had the gallows constructed.

PSALM

Psalm 140

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men. Protect me from men of violence,

who devise evil in their hearts and stir up war all day long.

They sharpen their tongues like snakes; the venom of vipers is on their lips.

Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked. Keep me safe from men of violence who scheme to make me stumble.

The proud hide a snare for me; the cords of their net are spread along the path, and lures are set out for me.

I say to the LORD, “You are my God.” Hear, O LORD, my cry for help.

O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You shield my head in the day of battle.

Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not promote their evil plans, lest they be exalted.

May the heads of those who surround me be covered in the trouble their lips have caused.

May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into the miry pits, never to rise again.

May no slanderer be established in the land; may calamity hunt down the man of violence.

I know that the LORD upholds justice for the poor and defends the cause of the needy.

Surely the righteous will praise Your name; the upright will dwell in Your presence.

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Zechariah 8:18-23

Verse 18. Then the word of the LORD of Hosts came to me, saying, Verse 19. “This is what the LORD of Hosts says: The fasts of the fourth, the fifth, the seventh, and the tenth months will become times of joy and gladness, cheerful feasts for the house of Judah. Therefore you are to love both truth and peace.” Verse 20. This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Peoples will yet come — the residents of many cities — Verse 21. and the residents of one city will go to another, saying: ‘Let us go at once to plead before the LORD and to seek the LORD of Hosts. I myself am going.’ Verse 22. And many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the LORD of Hosts in Jerusalem and to plead before the LORD.” Verse 23. This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue will tightly grasp the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”

PSALM

Psalm 5

For the choirmaster, to be accompanied by flutes. A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning.

Attend to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I pray.

In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; at daybreak I lay my plea before You and wait in expectation.

For You are not a God who delights in wickedness; no evil can dwell with You.

The boastful cannot stand in Your presence; You hate all workers of iniquity.

You destroy those who tell lies; the LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.

But I will enter Your house by the abundance of Your loving devotion; in reverence I will bow down toward Your holy temple.

Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make straight Your way before me.

For not a word they speak can be trusted; destruction lies within them. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.

Declare them guilty, O God; let them fall by their own devices. Drive them out for their many transgressions, for they have rebelled against You.

But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever shout for joy. May You shelter them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You.

For surely You, O LORD, bless the righteous; You surround them with the shield of Your favor.

SECOND READING

1 John 2:18-25

Verse 18. Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour. Verse 19. They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us. Verse 20. You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. Verse 21. I have not written to you because you lack knowledge of the truth, but because you have it, and because no lie comes from the truth. Verse 22. Who is the liar, if it is not the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son. Verse 23. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well. Verse 24. As for you, let what you have heard from the beginning remain in you. If it does, you will also remain in the Son and in the Father. Verse 25. And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life.