A day is coming when people will sing, "I praise you, LORD! You were angry with me, but now you comfort me and are angry no longer.

When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes in anguish. Then he dressed in sackcloth, covered his head with ashes, and walked through the city, wailing loudly and bitterly,

Throughout all the provinces, wherever the king's proclamation was made known, there was loud mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, wailed, and most of them put on sackcloth and lay in ashes.

Mordecai left the palace, wearing royal robes of blue and white, a cloak of fine purple linen, and a magnificent gold crown. Then the streets of Susa rang with cheers and joyful shouts.

These were the days on which the Jews had rid themselves of their enemies; this was a month that had been turned from a time of grief and despair into a time of joy and happiness. They were told to observe these days with feasts and parties, giving gifts of food to one another and to the poor.

You have changed my sadness into a joyful dance; you have taken away my sorrow and surrounded me with joy.

"As I passed by again, I saw that the time had come for you to fall in love. I covered your naked body with my coat and promised to love you. Yes, I made a marriage covenant with you, and you became mine." This is what the Sovereign LORD says.

I dressed you in embroidered gowns and gave you shoes of the best leather, a linen headband, and a silk cloak.

I gave you a nose ring and earrings and a beautiful crown to wear.

You prepare a banquet for me, where all my enemies can see me; you welcome me as an honored guest and fill my cup to the brim.

you love what is right and hate what is evil. That is why God, your God, has chosen you and has poured out more happiness on you than on any other king.

and produce wine to make us happy, olive oil to make us cheerful, and bread to give us strength.

Always look happy and cheerful.

I am telling you the truth: you will cry and weep, but the world will be glad; you will be sad, but your sadness will turn into gladness.

Jerusalem rejoices because of what the LORD has done. She is like a bride dressed for her wedding. God has clothed her with salvation and victory.

He commanded the attendants to put a clean turban on Joshua's head. They did so, and then they put the new clothes on him while the angel of the LORD stood there.

But the father called to his servants. 'Hurry!' he said. 'Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet.

After this I looked, and there was an enormous crowd---no one could count all the people! They were from every race, tribe, nation, and language, and they stood in front of the throne and of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.

All the angels stood around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures. Then they threw themselves face downward in front of the throne and worshiped God,

One of the elders asked me, "Who are these people dressed in white robes, and where do they come from?"

Your people will all do what is right, And will possess the land forever. I planted them, I made them, To reveal my greatness to all.

The righteous will flourish like palm trees; they will grow like the cedars of Lebanon.

that still bear fruit in old age and are always green and strong.

"But I will bless the person who puts his trust in me.

He is like a tree growing near a stream and sending out roots to the water. It is not afraid when hot weather comes, because its leaves stay green; it has no worries when there is no rain; it keeps on bearing fruit.

A healthy tree bears good fruit, but a poor tree bears bad fruit.

And any tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire.

In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.

My Father's glory is shown by your bearing much fruit; and in this way you become my disciples.

he bought you for a price. So use your bodies for God's glory.

Your lives will be filled with the truly good qualities which only Jesus Christ can produce, for the glory and praise of God.

when he comes on that Day to receive glory from all his people and honor from all who believe. You too will be among them, because you have believed the message that we told you.

But you are the chosen race, the King's priests, the holy nation, God's own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvelous light.

Open your homes to each other without complaining.

Those who preach must preach God's messages; those who serve must serve with the strength that God gives them, so that in all things praise may be given to God through Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory and power forever and ever. Amen.