Then he saidto them, "Go,eatof the fat,drinkof the sweet,and sendportionsto him who has nothingprepared;for this dayis holyto our Lord.Do not be grieved,for the joyof the LORDis your strength."
A joyfulheartis goodmedicine,But a brokenspiritdriesup the bones.
Go[then], eatyour breadin happinessand drinkyour winewith a cheerfulheart;for Godhas alreadyapprovedyour works.
Let Israelbe gladin his Maker;Let the sonsof Zionrejoicein their King.
I will rejoicegreatlyin the LORD,My soulwill exultin my God;For He has clothedme with garmentsof salvation,He has wrappedme with a robeof righteousness,As a bridegroomdeckshimself with a garland,And as a brideadornsherself with her jewels.
Thereforethe Jewsof the ruralareas,who livein the ruraltowns,makethe fourteenthdayof the monthAdar[a] holidayfor rejoicingand feastingand sendingportions[of food] to oneanother.
that in a greatordealof afflictiontheir abundanceof joyand their deeppovertyoverflowedin the wealthof their liberality.
because on those daysthe Jewsridthemselvesof their enemies,and [it was a] monthwhichwas turnedfor them from sorrowinto gladnessand from mourninginto a holiday;that they should makethem daysof feastingand rejoicingand sendingportions[of food] to oneanotherand giftsto the poor.
moreover,that everymanwhoeatsand drinksseesgoodin allhis labor--it is the giftof God.
Thereis nothingbetterfor a man[than] to eatand drinkand tellhimselfthat his laboris good.ThisalsoI have seenthat it is from the handof God.
Divideyour portionto seven,or evento eight,for you do not knowwhatmisfortunemay occuron the earth.
althoughI myselfmight haveconfidenceevenin the flesh.Ifanyoneelsehas a mindto put confidencein the flesh,I far more:
"But givethat which is withinas charity,and thenall thingsare cleanfor you.
"I have comeinto my garden,my sister,[my] bride;I have gatheredmy myrrhalongwith my balsam.I have eatenmy honeycomband my honey;I have drunkmy wineand my milk.Eat,friends;Drinkand imbibedeeply,O lovers."
Hereis whatI have seento be goodand fitting:to eat,to drinkand enjoyoneself in allone's laborin whichhe toilsunderthe sun[during] the fewyearsof his lifewhichGodhas givenhim; for thisis his reward.
So rejoice,O sonsof Zion,And be gladin the LORDyour God;For He has givenyou the earlyrainfor [your] vindication.And He has poureddownfor you the rain,The earlyand latterrainas before.
And thosewho dwellon the earth[will] rejoiceoverthem and celebrate;and they will sendgiftsto one another,becausethesetwoprophetstormentedthosewho dwellon the earth.
Askyour youngmenand they will tellyou. Therefore let [my] youngmenfindfavorin your eyes,for we have comeon a festiveday.Pleasegivewhateveryou findat handto your servantsand to your sonDavid.'"
So the Levitescalmedallthe people,saying,"Be still,for the dayis holy;do not be grieved."
Allthe peoplewentaway to eat,to drink,to sendportionsand to celebratea greatfestival,becausethey understoodthe wordswhichhad been madeknownto them.
Everycookingpotin Jerusalemand in Judahwill be holyto the LORDof hosts;and allwho sacrificewill comeand takeof them and boilin them. And there will nolongerbe a Canaanitein the houseof the LORDof hostsin that day.
On the eighthdayhe sentthe peopleawayand they blessedthe king.Then they wentto their tentsjoyfuland gladof heartfor allthe goodnessthat the LORDhad shownto DavidHis servantand to IsraelHis people.
Splendorand majestyare beforeHim, Strengthand joyare in His place.
For You are the gloryof their strength,And by Your favorour hornis exalted.
And nowsaysthe LORD,who formedMe from the wombto be His Servant,To bringJacobbackto Him, so that Israelmight be gatheredto Him (For I am honoredin the sightof the LORD,And My Godis My strength),
