He had 700 royal wives ¹  and 300 concubines; ²  his wives had a powerful influence over him. ³ 

(There had never been anyone like Ahab, who was firmly committed ¹  to doing evil in the sight of ²  the Lord, urged on by his wife Jezebel. ³ 

Mordecai was of high rank ¹  in the king’s palace, and word about him was spreading throughout all the provinces. His influence ²  continued to become greater and greater.

He generously gives ¹  to the needy; his integrity endures. ²  He will be vindicated and honored. ³ 

Mourn for that nation, all you nations living around it, all of you nations that know of its fame. ¹  Mourn and say, ‘Alas, its powerful influence has been broken! Its glory and power have been done away!’ ² 

I will tear off your headbands and rescue my people from your power; ¹  they will no longer be prey in your hands. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

Residents of Lachish, ¹  hitch the horses to the chariots! You ²  influenced Daughter Zion ³  to sin, ⁴  for Israel’s rebellious deeds can be traced back ⁵  to you!

They are determined to be experts at doing evil; ¹  government officials and judges take bribes, ²  prominent men make demands, and they all do what is necessary to satisfy them. ³ 

And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple, I tell you the truth, ¹  he will never lose his reward.”

Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! It ¹  is necessary that stumbling blocks come, but woe to the person through whom they come.

Then ¹  he looked up ²  at his disciples and said: “Blessed ³  are you who are poor, ⁴  for the kingdom of God belongs ⁵  to you.

It would be better for him to have a millstone ¹  tied around his neck and be thrown into the sea ²  than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. ³ 

Thus ¹  they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach correctly, ²  and show no partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. ³ 

You know that when you were pagans you were often led astray by speechless idols, however you were led.

Now because we are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain. ¹ 

But we will not boast beyond certain limits, ¹  but will confine our boasting ²  according to the limits of the work to which God has appointed us, ³  that reaches even as far as you.

so that we may preach the gospel in the regions that lie beyond you, and not boast of work already done in another person’s area.

So if someone cleanses himself of such behavior, ¹  he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart, useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.

My brothers and sisters, ¹  do not show prejudice ²  if you possess faith ³  in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. ⁴ 

Dear friend, do not imitate what is bad but what is good. ¹  The one who does good is of God; the one who does what is bad has not seen God. ²