2049 verses about Courage

All in the palace bowed down to him, for so the king had given orders to do; but Mordecai did not bow down to him.

So Esther called for her chamberlain Hathach, who waited upon her; and she sent to learn the truth from Mordecai.

And he gave him the copy of the writing that was published in Susa concerning their destruction, to show to Esther; and told him to charge her to go in and entreat the king, and to beg him for the people, remembering, said he , the days of your low estate, how you were nursed by my hand: because Haman who holds the next place to the king has spoken against us for death. Do you call upon the Lord, and speak to the king concerning us, to deliver us from death.

And Esther said to Hathach, Go to Mordecai, and say,

All the nations of the empire know, that whoever, man or woman, shall go in to the king into the inner court uncalled, that person can’t live: only to whoever the king shall stretch out his golden sceptre, he shall live: and I have not been called to go into the king, for these thirty days.

Then Mordecai said to Hathach, Go, and say to her, Esther, say not to yourself that you alone will escape in the kingdom, more than all the other Jews.

For if you shall refuse to hearken on this occasion, help and protection will be to the Jews from another quarter; but you and your father’s house will perish: and who knows, if you have been made queen for this very occasion?

And Esther sent the man that came to her to Mordecai, saying,

Go and assemble the Jews that are in Susa, and fast you⌃ for me, and eat not and drink not for three days, night and day: and I also and my maidens will fast; and then I will go in to the king contrary to the law, even if I must die.

And it came to pass on the third day, when she had ceased praying, that she put off her mean dress, and put on her glorious apparel. And being splendidly arrayed, and having called upon God the Overseer and Preserver of all things, she took her two maids, and she leaned upon one, as a delicate female, and the other followed bearing her train. And she was blooming in the perfection of her beauty; and her face was cheerful, and it were benevolent, but her heart was straitened for fear. And having passed through all the doors, she stood before the king: and he was sitting upon his royal throne, and he had put on all his glorious apparel, covered all over with gold and precious stones, and was very terrible. And having raised his face resplendent with glory, he looked with intense anger: and the queen fell, and changed her color as she fainted; and she bowed herself upon the head of the maid that went before her . But God changed the spirit of the king gentleness, and in intense feeling he sprang from off his throne, and took her into his arms, until she recovered: and he comforted her with peaceful words, and said to her, What is the matter , Esther? I am your brother; be of good cheer, you shall not die, for our command is openly declared to you , Draw near.

And the king said, Who is this that has dared to do this thing?

And she spoke yet again to the king, and fell at his feet, and implored him to do away the mischief of Haman, and all that he had done against the Jews.

Then the king stretched out to Esther the golden sceptre: and Esther arose to stand near the king.

For how shall I be able to look upon the affliction of my people, and how shall I be able to survive the destruction of my kindred?

wherein he charged them to use their own laws in every city, and to help each other, and to treat their adversaries, and those who attacked them, as they pleased,

And let the copies be posted in conspicuous places throughout the kingdom, and let all the Jews be ready against this day, to fight against their enemies. And the following is the copy of the letter of the orders. [The great king Ahasuerus sends greetings to the rulers of provinces in a hundred and twenty-seven satrapies, from India to Ethiopia, even to those who are faithful to our interests. Many who have been frequently honored by the most abundant kindness of their benefactors have conceived ambitious designs, and not only endeavor to hurt our subjects, but moreover, not being able to bear prosperity, they also endeavor to plot against their own benefactors. And they not only would utterly abolish gratitude from among men, but also, elated by the boastings of men who are strangers to all that is good, they supposed that they shall escape the sin-hating vengeance of the ever-seeing God. And oftentimes evil exhortation has made partakers of the guilt of shedding innocent blood, and has involved in irremediable calamities, many of those who had been appointed to offices of authority, who had been entrusted with the management of their friends’ affairs; while men , by the false sophistry of an evil disposition, have deceived the simple candour of the ruling powers. And it is possible to see this , not so much from more ancient traditionary accounts, as it is immediately in your power to see it by examining what things have been wickedly perpetrated by the baseness of men unworthily holding power. And it is right to take heed with regard to the future, that we may maintain the government in undistributed peace for all men, adopting needful changes, and ever judging those cases which come under our notices, with truly equitable decision. For whereas Haman, a Macedonian, the son of Hammedatha, in reality an alien from the blood of the Persians, and differing widely from our mild course of government, having been hospitable entertained by us, obtained so large a share of our universal kindness, as to be called our father, and to continue the person next to the royal throne, reverenced of all; he however , overcome by the pride of his station , endeavored to deprive us of our dominion, and our life: having by various and subtle artifices demanded for destruction both Mordecai our deliverer and perpetual benefactor, and Esther the blameless consort of our kingdom, with their whole nation. For by these methods he thought, having surprised us in a defenceless state, to transfer the dominion of the Persians to the Macedonians. But we find that the Jews, who have been consigned to destruction by the most abominable of men, are not malefactors, but living according to the justest laws, and being the sons of the living God, the most high and mighty, who maintains the kingdom. to us as well as to our forefathers, in the most excellent order. You⌃ will therefore do well in refusing to obey the letter sent by Haman the son of Hammedatha, because he that has done these things, has been hanged with his whole family at the gates of Susa, Almighty God having swiftly returned to him a worthy recompence, We enjoin you then, having openly published a copy of this letter in every place, to give the Jews permission to use their own lawful customs, and to strengthen them, that on the thirteenth of the twelfth month Adar, on the self-same day, they may defend themselves against those who attack them in a time of affliction. For in the place of the destruction of the chosen race, Almighty God has granted them this time of gladness. Do you⌃ therefore also, among your notable feasts, keep a distinct day with all festivity, that both now and hereafter it may be a day of deliverance to us and who are well disposed toward the Persians, but to those that plotted against us a memorial of destruction. And every city and province collectively, which shall not do accordingly, shall be consumed with vengeance by spear and fire: it shall be made not only inaccessible to men, but most hateful to wild beasts and birds for ever.] And let the copies be posted in conspicuous places throughout the kingdom and let all the Jews be ready against this day, to fight against their enemies.

And the rest of the Jews who were in the kingdom assembled, and helped one another, and obtained rest from their enemies: for they destroyed fifteen thousand of them on the thirteenth day of Adar, but took no spoil.

Then shall the righteous man stand in great boldness Before the face of those who afflicted him, And those who make his labors of no account.

And if a man loves righteousness, The fruits of wisdom’s labor are virtues, For she teaches soberness and understanding, righteousness and courage; And there is nothing in life for men more profitable than these.

Dread princes will fear me when they hear of me: Among my people I will show myself a good ruler, and in war courageous.

When a righteous man was sold, wisdom forsook him not, But from sin she delivered him; She went down with him into a dungeon,

She entered into the soul of a servant of the Lord, And withstood terrible kings in wonders and signs.

They withstood enemies, and repelled foes.

Deliver him that is wronged from the hand of him that wrongeth him; And be not faint-hearted in giving judgement.

Refrain not speech, when it tendeth to safety; And hide not your wisdom for the sake of fair-seeming.

Strive for the truth to death, and the Lord God will fight for you.

Contend not with a mighty man, Lest haply you fall into his hands.

Hast you heard a word? let it die with you: Be of good courage, it will not burst you.

Timber girded and bound into a building will not be loosed with shaking: So a heart established in due season on well advised counsel will not be afraid.

Go not in a way of conflict; And stumble not in stony places.

Whoso fears the Lord shall not be afraid, and shall not play the coward; For he is his hope.

Joshua the son of Nun was valiant in war, And was the successor of Moses in prophecies: Who according to his name was made great For the saving of God’s elect, To take vengeance of the enemies that rose up against them, That he might give Israel their inheritance.

How was he glorified in the lifting up his hands, And in stretching out his sword against the cities!

Who before him so stood fast? For the Lord himself brought his enemies to him.

He called upon the Most High and Mighty One, When his foes pressed him round about; And the great Lord heard him.

Also in the time of Moses he did a work of mercy, He and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, In that they withstood the adversary, Hindered the people from sin, And stilled the murmuring of wickedness.

Also the Lord gave strength to Caleb, And it remained with him to his old age; So that he entered upon the height of the land, And his seed obtained it for a heritage:

He played with lions as with kids, And with bears as with lambs of the flock.

In his youth did he not kill a giant, And take away reproach from the people, When he lifted up his hand with a sling stone, And beat down the boasting of Goliath?

For he called upon the Most High Lord; And he gave him strength in his right hand, To kill a man mighty in war, To exalt the horn of his people.

Elijah it was, who was wrapped in a tempest: And Elisha was filled with his spirit; And in all his days he was not moved by the fear of any ruler, And no one brought him into subjection.

Also of Nehemiah the memorial is great; Who raised up for us the walls that were fallen, And set up the gates and bars, And raised up our homes again.

Be of good cheer, my people, the memorial of Israel.

They walked in the midst of the fire, praising God, and blessing the Lord.

Then Azarias stood, and prayed on this manner; and opening his mouth in the midst of the fire said,

But the angel of the Lord came down into the furnace together with Azarias and his fellows, and he struck the flame of the fire out of the furnace;

and made the midst of the furnace as it had been a moist whistling wind, so that the fire touched them not at all, neither hurt nor troubled them.

With that Susanna cried with a loud voice: and the two elders cried out against her.

And from that day forth was Daniel had in great reputation in the sight of the people.

But give me leave, O king, and I shall kill this dragon without sword or staff. The king said, I give you leave.

So they came to the king, and said, Deliver us Daniel, or else we will destroy you and your house.

And in the den there were seven lions, and they had given them every day two carcases, and two sheep: which then were not given to them, to the intent they might devour Daniel.

And he fought many battles, and won many strongholds, and killed the kings of the earth,

And they chose to die, that they might not be defiled with the meats, and that they might not profane the holy covenant: and they died.

In those days rose up Mattathias the son of John, the son of Simeon, a priest of the sons of Joarib, from Jerusalem; and he lived at Modin.

Judas, who was called Maccabaeus;

Wherefore should we live any longer?

And many of Israel came to them, and Mattathias and his sons were gathered together.

And the king’s officers answered and spoke to Mattathias, saying, You are a ruler and an honorable and great man in this city, and strengthened with sons and kindred:

And Mattathias answered and said with a loud voice, If all the nations that are in the house of the king’s dominion hearken to him, to fall away each one from the worship of his fathers, and have made choice to follow his commandments,

Heaven forbid that we should forsake the law and the ordinances.

We will not hearken to the king’s words, to go aside from our worship, on the right hand, or on the left.

And when he had left speaking these words, there came a Jew in the sight of all to sacrifice on the altar which was at Modin, according to the king’s commandment.

And Mattathias saw it, and his zeal was kindled, and his reins trembled, and he showed forth his wrath according to judgement, and ran, and killed him upon the altar.

And the king’s officer, who compelled men to sacrifice, he killed at that time, and pulled down the altar.

And Mattathias cried out in the city with a loud voice, saying, Whosoever is zealous for the law, and maintains the covenant, let him come forth after me.

And he and his sons fled into the mountains, and forsook all that they had in the city.

And it was told the king’s officers, and the forces that were in Jerusalem, the city of David, that certain men, who had broken the king’s commandment, were gone down into the secret places in the wilderness;

And they said, We will not come forth, neither will we do the word of the king, to profane the Sabbath day.

And they hurried to give them battle.

And they answered them not, neither cast they a stone at them, nor stopped up the secret places,

saying, Let us die all in our innocency: heaven and earth witness over us, that you⌃ put us to death without trial.

And one said to another, If we all do as our kindred have done, and fight not against the Gentiles for our lives and our ordinances, they will now quickly destroy us from off the earth.

And they took counsel on that day, saying, whoever shall come against us to battle on the Sabbath day, let us fight against him, and we shall in no wise all die, as our kindred died in the secret places.

Then were gathered together to them a company of Hasidaeans, mighty men of Israel, every one that offered himself willingly for the law.

And all those who fled from the evils were added to them, and became a stay to them.

And Mattathias and his friends went round about, and pulled down the altars;

And they pursued after the sons of pride, and the work prospered in their hand.

And they rescued the law out of the hand of the Gentiles, and out of the hand of the kings, neither suffered they the sinner to triumph.

And the days of Mattathias drew near that he should die, and he said to his sons, Now have pride and rebuke gotten strength, and a season of overthrow, and wrath of indignation.

And call to remembrance the deeds of our fathers which they did in their generations; and receive great glory and an everlasting name.

Caleb for bearing witness in the congregation obtained a heritage in the land.

Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, believed, and were saved out of the flame.

Daniel for his innocency was delivered from the mouth of lions.

And be not afraid of the words of a sinful man; for his glory shall be dung and worms.

And you⌃, my children, be strong, and show yourselves men in behalf of the law; for therein shall you⌃ obtain glory.

And Judas Maccabaeus, he has been strong and mighty from his youth: he shall be your captain, and shall fight the battle of the people.

And take you⌃ to you all the doers of the law, and avenge the wrong of your people.

And his son Judas, who was called Maccabaeus, rose up in his stead.

And all his kindred helped him, and so did all those who clave to his father, and they fought with gladness the battle of Israel.

And he got his people great glory, and put on a breastplate as a giant, and girded his warlike harness about him, and set battles in array, protecting the army with his sword.

And he was like a lion in his deeds, and as a lion’s whelp roaring for prey.

And he pursued the lawless, seeking them out, and he burned up those that troubled his people.

And the lawless shrunk for fear of him, and all the workers of lawlessness were sore troubled, and salvation prospered in his hand.

And he angered many kings, and made Jacob glad with his acts, and his memorial is blessed forever.

and he was renowned to the utmost part of the earth, and he gathered together such as were ready to perish.

And Judas perceived it, and he went forth to meet him, and struck him, and killed him: and many fell wounded to death, and the rest fled.

And they took their spoils, and Judas took the sword of Apollonius, and therewith he fought all his days.

And Seron, the commander of the army of Syria, heard say that Judas had gathered a gathering and a congregation of faithful men with him, and of such as went out to war;

And he came near to the going up of Bethhoron, and Judas went forth to meet him with a small company.