Then the priest shall write this curse down and wash the writing off into the bowl of bitter water.

Don't forgive the evil they do and don't forget their sins, for they have insulted us who are building."

Be merciful to me, O God, because of your constant love. Because of your great mercy wipe away my sins!

Close your eyes to my sins and wipe out all my evil.

And yet, I am the God who forgives your sins, and I do this because of who I am. I will not hold your sins against you.

I have swept your sins away like a cloud. Come back to me; I am the one who saves you."

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that he will forgive your sins. If you do,

You have died with Christ and are set free from the ruling spirits of the universe. Why, then, do you live as though you belonged to this world? Why do you obey such rules as

So on the thirteenth day of the first month Haman called the king's secretaries and dictated a proclamation to be translated into every language and system of writing used in the empire and to be sent to all the rulers, governors, and officials. It was issued in the name of King Xerxes and stamped with his ring.

But a proclamation issued in the king's name and stamped with the royal seal cannot be revoked. You may, however, write to the Jews whatever you like; and you may write it in my name and stamp it with the royal seal."

He shouted for someone to bring in the magicians, wizards, and astrologers. When they came in, the king said to them, "Anyone who can read this writing and tell me what it means will be dressed in robes of royal purple, wear a gold chain of honor around his neck, and be the third in power in the kingdom."

The royal advisers came forward, but none of them could read the writing or tell the king what it meant.

They both lived good lives in God's sight and obeyed fully all the Lord's laws and commands.

But now to continue---the son who will receive his father's property is treated just like a slave while he is young, even though he really owns everything.

In the same way, we too were slaves of the ruling spirits of the universe before we reached spiritual maturity.

For Christ himself has brought us peace by making Jews and Gentiles one people. With his own body he broke down the wall that separated them and kept them enemies.

By his death on the cross Christ destroyed their enmity; by means of the cross he united both races into one body and brought them back to God.

The old rule, then, is set aside, because it was weak and useless.

By speaking of a new covenant, God has made the first one old; and anything that becomes old and worn out will soon disappear.

This is a symbol which points to the present time. It means that the offerings and animal sacrifices presented to God cannot make the worshiper's heart perfect,

since they have to do only with food, drink, and various purification ceremonies. These are all outward rules, which apply only until the time when God will establish the new order.

First he said, "You neither want nor are you pleased with sacrifices and offerings or with animals burned on the altar and the sacrifices to take away sins." He said this even though all these sacrifices are offered according to the Law.

Then he said, "Here I am, O God, to do your will." So God does away with all the old sacrifices and puts the sacrifice of Christ in their place.

The LORD says, "Let my people return to me. Remove every obstacle from their path! Build the road and make it ready!

The Mysterious Wickedness is already at work, but what is going to happen will not happen until the one who holds it back is taken out of the way.