I will speak, ¹  so that I may find relief; I will open my lips, so that I may answer.

So the disciples, each in accordance with his financial ability, ¹  decided ²  to send relief ³  to the brothers living in Judea.

You heard ¹  my plea: ²  “Do not close your ears to my cry for relief!” ³ 

But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, ¹  he hardened ²  his heart and did not listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted. ³ 

and to you who are being afflicted to give rest together with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed ¹  from heaven with his mighty angels. ² 

in order to protect him from times of trouble, ¹  until the wicked are destroyed. ² 

begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping ¹  the saints.

But now I go to Jerusalem to minister to the saints.

Now the famine was severe in the land. ¹ 

The rest of the Jews who were throughout the provinces of the king assembled in order to stand up for themselves and to have rest from their enemies. They killed seventy-five thousand ¹  of their adversaries, but they did not confiscate their property.

as the time when the Jews gave themselves rest from their enemies – the month when their trouble was turned to happiness and their mourning to a holiday. These were to be days of banqueting, happiness, sending gifts to one another, and providing for the poor.

“Don’t imagine that because you are part of the king’s household you will be the one Jew ¹  who will escape. If you keep quiet at this time, liberation and protection for the Jews will appear ²  from another source, ³  while you and your father’s household perish. It may very well be ⁴  that you have achieved royal status ⁵  for such a time as this!”

“People ¹  cry out because of the excess of oppression; ²  they cry out for help because of the power ³  of the mighty. ⁴ 

With regard to the collection for the saints, please follow the directions that I gave to the churches of Galatia: ¹ 

For I do not say this so there would be relief for others and suffering for you, but as a matter of equality.

He named him Noah, ¹  saying, “This one will bring us comfort ²  from our labor and from the painful toil of our hands because of the ground that the Lord has cursed.”

Do not long for the cover of night to drag people away from their homes. ¹ 

ע (Ayin) Tears flow from my eyes ¹  and will not stop; there will be no break ² 

צ (Tsade) Cry out ¹  from your heart ²  to the Lord, ³  O wall of Daughter Zion! ⁴  Make your tears flow like a river all day and all night long! ⁵  Do not rest; do not let your tears ⁶  stop!

who rejoice ¹  even to jubilation, ²  and are exultant ³  when ⁴  they find the grave? ⁵