May

“This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah. Whoever among you belongs to His people, may the LORD his God be with him, and may he go up.’”

Whoever among you belongs to His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem.

Whoever among you belongs to His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem.

May God, who has caused His Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to alter this decree or to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued the decree. Let it be carried out with diligence.

I hereby decree that any volunteers among the Israelites in my kingdom, including the priests and Levites, may go up with you to Jerusalem.

…together with all the silver and gold you may find in all the province of Babylon, as well as the freewill offerings of the people and priests to the house of their God in Jerusalem.

You and your brothers may do whatever seems best with the rest of the silver and gold, according to the will of your God.

And if anything else is needed for the house of your God that you may have occasion to supply, you may pay for it from the royal treasury.

And if anything else is needed for the house of your God that you may have occasion to supply, you may pay for it from the royal treasury.

I, King Artaxerxes, decree to all the treasurers west of the Euphrates: Whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may require of you, it must be provided promptly,

Now, therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Never seek their peace or prosperity, so that you may be strong and may eat the good things of the land, leaving it as an inheritance to your sons forever.’

Now, therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Never seek their peace or prosperity, so that you may be strong and may eat the good things of the land, leaving it as an inheritance to your sons forever.’

O Lord, may Your ear be attentive to my prayer and to the prayers of Your servants who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” (At that time I was the cupbearer to the king.)

…and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I not be sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

…and answered the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city where my fathers are buried, so that I may rebuild it.”

I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may letters be given to me for the governors west of the Euphrates, so that they will grant me safe passage until I reach Judah.

And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house I will occupy.” And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.

…and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish brothers who were sold to foreigners, but now you are selling your own brothers, that they may be sold back to us!” But they remained silent, for they could find nothing to say.

I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. May such a man be shaken out and have nothing!” The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.

I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. May such a man be shaken out and have nothing!” The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.

Then the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—said, “Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting: Blessed be Your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise.

“All the royal officials and the people of the king’s provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned—that he be put to death. Only if the king extends the gold scepter may that person live. But I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the past thirty days.”

“If it pleases the king,” Esther replied, “may the king and Haman come today to the banquet I have prepared for the king.”

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.”

“If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if I have found favor in his sight, and the matter seems proper to the king, and I am pleasing in his sight, may an order be written to revoke the letters that the scheming Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces.

Now you may write in the king’s name as you please regarding the Jews, and seal it with the royal signet ring. For a decree that is written in the name of the king and sealed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked.”

Esther replied, “If it pleases the king, may the Jews in Susa also have tomorrow to carry out today’s edict, and may the bodies of Haman’s ten sons be hanged on the gallows.”

Esther replied, “If it pleases the king, may the Jews in Susa also have tomorrow to carry out today’s edict, and may the bodies of Haman’s ten sons be hanged on the gallows.”

“May the day of my birth perish, and the night it was said, ‘A boy is conceived.’

If only that day had turned to darkness! May God above disregard it; may no light shine upon it.

If only that day had turned to darkness! May God above disregard it; may no light shine upon it.

May darkness and gloom reclaim it, and a cloud settle over it; may the blackness of the day overwhelm it.

May darkness and gloom reclaim it, and a cloud settle over it; may the blackness of the day overwhelm it.

If only darkness had taken that night away! May it not appear among the days of the year; may it never be entered in any of the months.

If only darkness had taken that night away! May it not appear among the days of the year; may it never be entered in any of the months.

Behold, may that night be barren; may no joyful voice come into it.

Behold, may that night be barren; may no joyful voice come into it.

May it be cursed by those who curse the day—those prepared to rouse Leviathan.

May its morning stars grow dark; may it wait in vain for daylight; may it not see the breaking of dawn.

May its morning stars grow dark; may it wait in vain for daylight; may it not see the breaking of dawn.

May its morning stars grow dark; may it wait in vain for daylight; may it not see the breaking of dawn.

The lion may roar, and the fierce lion may growl, yet the teeth of the young lions are broken.

The lion may roar, and the fierce lion may growl, yet the teeth of the young lions are broken.

Are my days not few? Withdraw from me, that I may have a little comfort,

Be silent, and I will speak. Then let come to me what may.

O earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry for help never be laid to rest.

…then you should fear the sword yourselves, because wrath brings punishment by the sword, so that you may know there is a judgment.”

Bear with me while I speak; then, after I have spoken, you may go on mocking.

“Why does the Almighty not reserve times for judgment? Why may those who know Him never see His days?

May my enemy be like the wicked and my opponent like the unjust.

Food may come from the earth, but from below it is transformed as by fire.

…let God weigh me with honest scales, that He may know my integrity.

…then may another eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted.

…then may another eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted.

…then may my own wife grind grain for another, and may other men sleep with her.

…then may my own wife grind grain for another, and may other men sleep with her.

…then may my arm fall from my shoulder and be torn from its socket.

…to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life.

He seals up the hand of every man, so that all men may know His work.

…and I declared: ‘You may come this far, but no farther; here your proud waves must stop’?

She forgets that a foot may crush them, or a wild animal may trample them.

She forgets that a foot may crush them, or a wild animal may trample them.

Salvation belongs to the LORD; may Your blessing be on Your people. Selah

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.

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.

…then may my enemy pursue me and overtake me; may he trample me to the ground and leave my honor in the dust. Selah

…then may my enemy pursue me and overtake me; may he trample me to the ground and leave my honor in the dust. Selah

…that I may declare all Your praises—that within the gates of Daughter Zion I may rejoice in Your salvation.

…that I may declare all Your praises—that within the gates of Daughter Zion I may rejoice in Your salvation.

…to vindicate the fatherless and oppressed, that the men of the earth may strike terror no more.

May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue.

A Psalm of David. O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy mountain?

A Psalm of David. O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy mountain?

May my vindication come from Your presence; may Your eyes see what is right.

May my vindication come from Your presence; may Your eyes see what is right.

…from such men, O LORD, by Your hand—from men of the world whose portion is in this life. May You fill the bellies of Your treasured ones and satisfy their sons, so they leave their abundance to their children.

The LORD lives, and blessed be my Rock! And may the God of my salvation be exalted—

Keep Your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed of great transgression.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

May He send you help from the sanctuary and sustain you from Zion.

May He remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings. Selah

May He give you the desires of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

May we shout for joy at your victory and raise a banner in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your petitions.

May we shout for joy at your victory and raise a banner in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your petitions.

The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the LORD will praise Him. May your hearts live forever!

Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in His holy place?

Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in His holy place?

Lift up your heads, O gates! Be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of Glory may enter!

Lift up your heads, O gates! Be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of Glory may enter!

May integrity and uprightness preserve me, because I wait for You.

I wash my hands in innocence that I may go about Your altar, O LORD,

For His anger is fleeting, but His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may stay the night, but joy comes in the morning.

…that my heart may sing Your praises and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks forever.

May lying lips be silenced—lips that speak with arrogance against the righteous, full of pride and contempt.

Therefore let all the godly pray to You while You may be found. Surely when great waters rise, they will not come near.

May Your loving devotion rest on us, O LORD, as we put our hope in You.

May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plan to harm me be driven back and confounded.

May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plan to harm me be driven back and confounded.