12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death
through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—
13 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin
is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law.14 Nevertheless,
death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who
did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to
come.
15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the
trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came
by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!16 Nor can
the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment
followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many
trespasses and brought justification.17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death
reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s
abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life
through the one man, Jesus Christ!
18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all
people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all
people.19 For just as through the disobedience of the one
man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man
the many will be made righteous.
20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But
where sin increased, grace increased all the more,21 so that,
just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness
to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Therefore, since we have
been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ,2 through whom we have gained access by faith into
this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God.3 Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we
know that suffering produces perseverance;4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.5 And hope does not put
us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the
Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ
died for the ungodly.7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous
person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.8 But God demonstrates
his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall
we be saved from God’s wrath through him!10 For if, while we were
God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much
more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!11 Not only is this so,
but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have
now received reconciliation.
So
the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet, 2 and as
they were drinking wine on the second day, the king again asked, “Queen Esther,
what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to
half the kingdom, it will be granted.”
3 Then
Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it
pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is
my request. 4 For I and my people have been sold to be
destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and
female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify
disturbing the king.[a]”
5 King
Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is he—the man who has dared to do
such a thing?”
6 Esther
said, “An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!”
Then
Haman was terrified before the king and queen. 7 The king got
up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman,
realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg
Queen Esther for his life.
8 Just
as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was
falling on the couch where Esther was reclining.
The
king exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the
house?”
As
soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. 9 Then
Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A pole reaching to a
height of fifty cubits[b] stands by
Haman’s house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.”
The
king said, “Impale him on it!” 10 So they impaled Haman on the
pole he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided.
