But the Jews who were in Susa assembled on the thirteenth and fourteenth days, and rested on the fifteenth, making it a day for banqueting and happiness.

He entreats God, and God ¹  delights in him, he sees God’s face ²  with rejoicing, and God ³  restores to him his righteousness. ⁴ 

Let the oppressed eat and be filled! ¹  Let those who seek his help praise the Lord! May you ²  live forever!

For his anger lasts only a brief moment, and his good favor restores one’s life. ¹  One may experience sorrow during the night, but joy arrives in the morning. ² 

It is lofty and pleasing to look at, ¹  a source of joy to the whole earth. ²  Mount Zion resembles the peaks of Zaphon; ³  it is the city of the great king.

Let foreigners ¹  rejoice and celebrate! For you execute justice among the nations, and govern the people living on earth. ²  (Selah)

Deliver us, O Lord, our God! Gather us from among the nations! Then we will give thanks ¹  to your holy name, and boast about your praiseworthy deeds. ² 

Indeed ¹  Sheol does not give you thanks; death does not ²  praise you. Those who descend into the pit do not anticipate your faithfulness.

Out of those places you will hear songs of thanksgiving ¹  and the sounds of laughter and merriment. I will increase their number and they will not dwindle away. ²  I will bring them honor and they will no longer be despised.

I will rebuild you, my dear children Israel, ¹  so that you will once again be built up. Once again you will take up the tambourine and join in the happy throng of dancers. ² 

When all the people that Ishmael had taken captive saw ¹  Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers with him, they were glad.

Then heaven and earth and all that is in them will sing for joy over Babylon. For destroyers from the north will attack it,” says the Lord. ¹ 

Doom is coming upon you who live in the land! The time is coming, the day ¹  is near. There are sounds of tumult, not shouts of joy, on the mountains. ² 

He is as bright as lightning; ¹  a two-pronged lightning bolt flashes from his hand. ²  This is the outward display of his power. ³ 

But ¹  Jesus met them, saying, “Greetings!” They ²  came to him, held on to his feet and worshiped him.

When they heard this, they were delighted ¹  and promised to give him money. ²  So ³  Judas ⁴  began looking for an opportunity to betray him.

The ¹  angel ²  came ³  to her and said, “Greetings, favored one, ⁴  the Lord is with you!” ⁵ 

In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels ¹  over one sinner who repents.”

So they were sent on their way by the church, and as they passed through both Phoenicia ¹  and Samaria, they were relating at length ²  the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy ³  to all the brothers.

Every day I am in danger of death! This is as sure as ¹  my boasting in you, ²  which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord.