⁸ He also gave him ^(A)a copy of the written decree for their destruction, which was given at ^[a]Shushan, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her, and that he might command her to go in to the king to make supplication to him and plead before him for her people.

^14 (A)A copy of the document was to be issued as law in every province, being published for all people, that they should be ready for that day. ¹⁵ The couriers went out, hastened by the king’s command; and the decree was proclaimed in ^[a]Shushan the ^[b]citadel. So the king and Haman sat down to drink, but ^(B)the city of Shushan was ^[c]perplexed.

^20 (A)Now Esther had not revealed her family and her people, just as Mordecai had charged her, for Esther obeyed the command of Mordecai as when she was brought up by him.

Instructions to the Rich

¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain ^(A)riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things ^(B)to enjoy.

¹³ I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus ^(A)who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate,

Herod’s Violent Death

²⁰ Now Herod had been very angry with the people of ^(A)Tyre and Sidon; but they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus ^[a]the king’s personal aide their friend, they asked for peace, because ^(B)their country was ^[b]supplied with food by the king’s country.

The Lord Considers the Heart