The king said to him, "I am the king---and no one in all Egypt shall so much as lift a hand or a foot without your permission."

saying to him, "Don't be afraid. My father Saul won't be able to harm you. He knows very well that you are the one who will be the king of Israel and that I will be next in rank to you."

An Israelite soldier named Zichri killed King Ahaz' son Maaseiah, the palace administrator Azrikam, and Elkanah, who was second in command to the king.

Now I have heard that you can find hidden meanings and explain mysteries. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be dressed in robes of royal purple, wear a gold chain of honor around your neck, and be the third in power in the kingdom."

Immediately Belshazzar ordered his servants to dress Daniel in a robe of royal purple and to hang a gold chain of honor around his neck. And he made him the third in power in the kingdom.

The king ordered all the officials in his service to show their respect for Haman by kneeling and bowing to him. They all did so, except for Mordecai, who refused to do it.

And when you serve Christ in this way, you please God and are approved by others.

But Sanballat, from the town of Beth Horon, and Tobiah, an official in the province of Ammon, heard that someone had come to work for the good of the people of Israel, and they were highly indignant.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you prosper.

For the sake of my relatives and friends I say to Jerusalem, "Peace be with you!"

when I say how great is my sorrow, how endless the pain in my heart

for my people, my own flesh and blood! For their sake I could wish that I myself were under God's curse and separated from Christ.

My friends, how I wish with all my heart that my own people might be saved! How I pray to God for them!