On that day did the king
Ahasuerus
give
the house
of Haman
the Jews
' enemy
unto Esther
the queen
. And Mordecai
came
before
the king
; for Esther
had told
what he was unto her.
And the king took off
his ring
, which he had taken
from Haman
, and gave
it unto Mordecai
. And Esther
set
Mordecai
over the house
of Haman
.
And Esther spake
yet again
before
the king
, and fell down
at
his feet
, and besought
him with tears
to put away
the mischief
of Haman
the Agagite
, and his device
that he had devised
against the Jews
.
Then the king held out
the golden
sceptre
toward Esther
. So Esther
arose
, and stood
before
the king
,
And said, If it please
the king
, and if I have found
favour
in his sight
, and the thing
seem right
before
the king
, and I be pleasing
in his eyes
, let it be written
to reverse
the letters
devised
by Haman
the son
of Hammedatha
the Agagite
, which he wrote
to destroy
the Jews
which are in all the king's
provinces
:
For how can I endure
to see
the evil
that shall come
unto my people
? or how
can I endure
to see
the destruction
of my kindred
?
Then the king Ahasuerus
said
unto Esther
the queen
and to Mordecai
the Jew
, Behold, I have given
Esther
the house
of Haman
, and him they have hanged
upon the gallows
, because he laid
his hand
upon the Jews
.
Write ye also for the Jews
, as it liketh
you
, in the king's
name
, and seal
it with the king's
ring
: for the writing
which is written
in the king's
name
, and sealed
with the king's
ring
, may no man reverse
.
Then were the king's scribes
called
at that time
in the third
month
, that is , the month
Sivan
, on the three
and twentieth
day thereof; and it was written
according to all that Mordecai
commanded
unto the Jews
, and to the lieutenants
, and the deputies
and rulers
of the provinces
which are from India
unto Ethiopia
, an hundred
twenty
and seven
provinces
, unto every province
according to the writing
thereof, and unto every people
after their language
, and to the Jews
according to their writing
, and according to their language
.
And he wrote in the king
Ahasuerus
' name
, and sealed
it with the king's
ring
, and sent
letters
by
posts
on horseback
, and riders
on mules
, camels
, and young
dromedaries
:
Wherein the king granted
the Jews
which were in every city
to gather themselves together
, and to stand
for their life
, to destroy
, to slay
, and to cause to perish
, all the power
of the people
and province
that would assault
them, both little ones
and women
, and to take the spoil
of them for a prey
,
Upon one day
in all the provinces
of king
Ahasuerus
, namely , upon the thirteenth
day of the twelfth
month
, which is the month
Adar
.
The copy of the writing
for a commandment
to be given
in every province
was published
unto all people
, and that the Jews
should be ready
against that day
to avenge
themselves on their enemies
.
So the posts that rode
upon mules
and camels
went out
, being hastened
and pressed on
by the king's
commandment
. And the decree
was given
at Shushan
the palace
.
And Mordecai went out
from the presence
of the king
in royal
apparel
of blue
and white
, and with a great
crown
of gold
, and with a garment
of fine linen
and purple
: and the city
of Shushan
rejoiced
and was glad
.
The Jews had light
, and gladness
, and joy
, and honour
.
And in every province, and in every city
, whithersoever
the king's
commandment
and his decree
came
, the Jews
had joy
and gladness
, a feast
and a good
day
. And many
of the people
of the land
became Jews
; for the fear
of the Jews
fell
upon them.