2049 verses about Courage

Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs, whom he had appointed to attend her, and commanded him to go to Mordecai, to find out what this was, and why it was.

So Hathach went out to Mordecai, to city square which was before the king’s gate.

He also gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given out in Shushan to destroy them, to show it to Esther, and to declare it to her, and to urge her to go in to the king, to make supplication to him, and to make request before him, for her people.

Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a message to Mordecai:

Then Mordecai asked them to return this answer to Esther: “Don’t think to yourself that you will escape in the king’s house any more than all the Jews.

For if you remain silent now, then relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Who knows if you haven’t come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Then Esther asked them to answer Mordecai,

“Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day. I and my maidens will also fast the same way. Then I will go in to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.”

So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

Now on the third day, Esther put on her royal clothing, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, next to the king’s house. The king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, next to the entrance of the house.

When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther came near, and touched the top of the scepter.

Then Esther the queen answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request.

Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen, “Who is he, and where is he who dared presume in his heart to do so?”

Esther spoke yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and begged him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his plan that he had planned against the Jews.

Then the king held out to Esther the golden scepter. So Esther arose, and stood before the king.

He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by courier on horseback, riding on royal horses that were bred from swift steeds.

In those letters, the king granted the Jews who were in every city to gather themselves together, and to defend their life, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, their little ones and women, and to plunder their possessions,

A copy of the letter, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, that the Jews should be ready for that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

the Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the King Ahasuerus, to lay hands on those who wanted to harm them. No one could withstand them, because the fear of them had fallen on all the people.

The other Jews who were in the king’s provinces gathered themselves together, defended their lives, had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy-five thousand of those who hated them; but they didn’t lay their hand on the plunder.

Be it still my consolation, yes, let me exult in pain that doesn’t spare, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

Surely then you shall lift up your face without spot; Yes, you shall be steadfast, and shall not fear:

“Be silent, leave me alone, that I may speak. Let come on me what will.

he runs at him with a stiff neck, with the thick shields of his bucklers;

Upright men shall be astonished at this. The innocent shall stir up himself against the godless.

Far be it from me that I should justify you. Until I die I will not put away my integrity from me.

If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand up.

Brace yourself like a man, for I will question you, then you answer me!

He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength. He goes out to meet the armed men.

He mocks at fear, and is not dismayed, neither does he turn back from the sword.

The quiver rattles against him, the flashing spear and the javelin.

He eats up the ground with fierceness and rage, neither does he stand still at the sound of the trumpet.

As often as the trumpet sounds he snorts, ‘Aha!’ He smells the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

“Now brace yourself like a man. I will question you, and you will answer me.

Behold, if a river overflows, he doesn’t tremble. He is confident, though the Jordan swells even to his mouth.

None is so fierce that he dare stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before me?

His heart is as firm as a stone, yes, firm as the lower millstone.

When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid. They retreat before his thrashing.

The arrow can’t make him flee. Sling stones are like chaff to him.

Clubs are counted as stubble. He laughs at the rushing of the javelin.

I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people who have set themselves against me on every side.

For by you, I advance through a troop. By my God, I leap over a wall.

He makes my feet like deer’s feet, and sets me on my high places.

I will pursue my enemies, and overtake them. Neither will I turn again until they are consumed.

For you have armed me with strength to the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.

Who is the King of glory? Yahweh strong and mighty, Yahweh mighty in battle.

Though an army should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. Though war should rise against me, even then I will be confident.

Now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me; I will offer sacrifices of joy in his tent. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to Yahweh.

Wait for Yahweh. Be strong, and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for Yahweh.

Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in Yahweh.

Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help.

Brandish the spear and block those who pursue me. Tell my soul, “I am your salvation.”

Through you, will we push down our adversaries. Through your name, will we tread them under who rise up against us.

Strap your sword on your thigh, mighty one: your splendor and your majesty.

In your majesty ride on victoriously on behalf of truth, humility, and righteousness. Let your right hand display awesome deeds.

Therefore we won’t be afraid, though the earth changes, though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas;

I have put my trust in God. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Through God we shall do valiantly, for it is he who will tread down our adversaries.

“Kings of armies flee! They flee!” She who waits at home divides the plunder,

Rebuke the wild animal of the reeds, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the peoples. Being humbled, may it bring bars of silver. Scatter the nations that delight in war.

The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.

Yes, you turn back the edge of his sword, and haven’t supported him in battle.

Through God, we will do valiantly. For it is he who will tread down our enemies.

His heart is established. He will not be afraid in the end when he sees his adversaries.

Yahweh is on my side. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Yahweh is on my side among those who help me. Therefore I will look in triumph at those who hate me.

All the nations surrounded me, but in Yahweh’s name, I cut them off.

They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me. In Yahweh’s name I indeed cut them off.

The right hand of Yahweh is exalted! The right hand of Yahweh does valiantly!”

I will also speak of your statutes before kings, and will not be disappointed.

The arrogant mock me excessively, but I don’t swerve from your law.

In the day that I called, you answered me. You encouraged me with strength in my soul.

Blessed be Yahweh, my rock, who teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to battle:

A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence.

If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.

for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.

The wicked flee when no one pursues; but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

The lion, which is mightiest among animals, and doesn’t turn away for any;

She arms her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come.

Behold, it is Solomon’s carriage! Sixty mighty men are around it, of the mighty men of Israel.

They all handle the sword, and are expert in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh, because of fear in the night.

Tell him, ‘Be careful, and keep calm. Don’t be afraid, neither let your heart be faint because of these two tails of smoking torches, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.

Take counsel together, and it will be brought to nothing; speak the word, and it will not stand: for God is with us.”

Behold, their valiant ones cry outside; the ambassadors of peace weep bitterly.

Tell those who have a fearful heart, “Be strong. Don’t be afraid. Behold, your God will come with vengeance, God’s retribution. He will come and save you.

You who tell good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who tell good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with strength. Lift it up. Don’t be afraid. Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold, your God!”

Behold, all those who are incensed against you will be disappointed and confounded. Those who strive with you will be like nothing, and shall perish.

You will seek them, and won’t find them, even those who contend with you. Those who war against you will be as nothing, as a non-existent thing.

For I, Yahweh your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I will help you.’

Don’t be afraid, you worm Jacob, and you men of Israel. I will help you,” says Yahweh, “and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

Yahweh will go out like a mighty man. He will stir up zeal like a man of war. He will raise a war cry. Yes, he will shout aloud. He will triumph over his enemies.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and flame will not scorch you.

Don’t be afraid; for I am with you. I will bring your offspring from the east, and gather you from the west.

Don’t fear, neither be afraid. Haven’t I declared it to you long ago, and shown it? You are my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? Indeed, there is not. I don’t know any other Rock.”

“I will go before you, and make the rough places smooth. I will break the doors of brass in pieces, and cut apart the bars of iron.

For the Lord Yahweh will help me. Therefore I have not been confounded. Therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be disappointed.

He who justifies me is near. Who will bring charges against me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me.

“Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law: Don’t fear the reproach of men, and don’t be dismayed at their insults.