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The Holy
Bible
Esther
Chapter 1
1 Now it came to pass
in the days of Ahasuerus, (this
is Ahasuerus which reigned, from
India even unto Ethiopia, over an
hundred and seven and twenty
provinces:)
2 That in those days, when
the king Ahasuerus sat on the
throne of his kingdom, which was
in Shushan the palace,
3 In the third year of his
reign, he made a feast unto all
his princes and his servants; the
power of Persia and Media, the
nobles and princes of the
provinces, being before him:
4 When he shewed the
riches of his glorious kingdom
and the honour of his excellent
majesty many days, even an
hundred and fourscore days.
5 And when these days were
expired, the king made a feast
unto all the people that were
present in Shushan the palace,
both unto great and small, seven
days, in the court of the garden
of the king's palace;
6 Where were white, green,
and blue, hangings, fastened with
cords of fine linen and purple to
silver rings and pillars of
marble: the beds were of gold and
silver, upon a pavement of red,
and blue, and white, and black,
marble.
7 And they gave them drink
in vessels of gold, (the vessels
being diverse one from another,)
and royal wine in abundance,
according to the state of the
king.
8 And the drinking was
according to the law; none did
compel: for so the king had
appointed to all the officers of
his house, that they should do
according to every man's
pleasure.
9 Also Vashti the queen
made a feast for the women in the
royal house which belonged to
king Ahasuerus.
10 On the seventh day,
when the heart of the king was
merry with wine, he commanded
Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha,
and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas,
the seven chamberlains that
served in the presence of
Ahasuerus the king,
11 To bring Vashti the
queen before the king with the
crown royal, to shew the people
and the princes her beauty: for
she was fair to look on.
12 But the queen Vashti
refused to come at the king's
commandment by his chamberlains:
therefore was the king very
wroth, and his anger burned in
him.
13 Then the king said to
the wise men, which knew the
times, (for so was the king's
manner toward all that knew law
and judgment:
14 And the next unto him
was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha,
Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and
Memucan, the seven princes of
Persia and Media, which saw the
king's face, and which sat the
first in the kingdom;)
15 What shall we do unto
the queen Vashti according to
law, because she hath not
performed the commandment of the
king Ahasuerus by the
chamberlains?
16 And Memucan answered
before the king and the princes,
Vashti the queen hath not done
wrong to the king only, but also
to all the princes, and to all
the people that are in all the
provinces of the king
Ahasuerus.
17 For this deed of the
queen shall come abroad unto all
women, so that they shall despise
their husbands in their eyes,
when it shall be reported, The
king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti
the queen to be brought in before
him, but she came not.
18 Likewise shall the
ladies of Persia and Media say
this day unto all the king's
princes, which have heard of the
deed of the queen. Thus shall
there arise too much contempt and
wrath.
19 If it please the king,
let there go a royal commandment
from him, and let it be written
among the laws of the Persians
and the Medes, that it be not
altered, That Vashti come no more
before king Ahasuerus; and let
the king give her royal estate
unto another that is better than
she.
20 And when the king's
decree which he shall make shall
be published throughout all his
empire, (for it is great,) all
the wives shall give to their
husbands honour, both to great
and small.
21 And the saying pleased
the king and the princes; and the
king did according to the word of
Memucan:
22 For he sent letters
into all the king's provinces,
into every province according to
the writing thereof, and to every
people after their language, that
every man should bear rule in his
own house, and that it should be
published according to the
language of every people.
Chapter 2
1 After these things,
when the wrath of king Ahasuerus
was appeased, he remembered
Vashti, and what she had done,
and what was decreed against
her.
2 Then said the king's
servants that ministered unto
him, Let there be fair young
virgins sought for the king:
3 And let the king appoint
officers in all the provinces of
his kingdom, that they may gather
together all the fair young
virgins unto Shushan the palace,
to the house of the women unto
the custody of Hege the king's
chamberlain, keeper of the women;
and let their things for
purification be given them:
4 And let the maiden which
pleaseth the king be queen
instead of Vashti. And the thing
pleased the king; and he did
so.
5 Now in Shushan the
palace there was a certain Jew,
whose name was Mordecai, the son
of Jair, the son of Shimei, the
son of Kish, a Benjamite;
6 Who had been carried
away from Jerusalem with the
captivity which had been carried
away with Jeconiah king of Judah,
whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of
Babylon had carried away.
7 And he brought up
Hadassah, that is, Esther, his
uncle's daughter: for she had
neither father nor mother, and
the maid was fair and beautiful;
whom Mordecai, when her father
and mother were dead, took for
his own daughter.
8 So it came to pass, when
the king's commandment and his
decree was heard, and when many
maidens were gathered together
unto Shushan the palace, to the
custody of Hegai, that Esther was
brought also unto the king's
house, to the custody of Hegai,
keeper of the women.
9 And the maiden pleased
him, and she obtained kindness of
him; and he speedily gave her her
things for purification, with
such things as belonged to her,
and seven maidens, which were
meet to be given her, out of the
king's house: and he preferred
her and her maids unto the best
place of the house of the
women.
10 Esther had not shewed
her people nor her kindred: for
Mordecai had charged her that she
should not shew it.
11 And Mordecai walked
every day before the court of the
women's house, to know how Esther
did, and what should become of
her.
12 Now when every maid's
turn was come to go in to king
Ahasuerus, after that she had
been twelve months, according to
the manner of the women, (for so
were the days of their
purifications accomplished, to
wit, six months with oil of
myrrh, and six months with sweet
odours, and with other things for
the purifying of the women;)
13 Then thus came every
maiden unto the king; whatsoever
she desired was given her to go
with her out of the house of the
women unto the king's house.
14 In the evening she
went, and on the morrow she
returned into the second house of
the women, to the custody of
Shaashgaz, the king's
chamberlain, which kept the
concubines: she came in unto the
king no more, except the king
delighted in her, and that she
were called by name.
15 Now when the turn of
Esther, the daughter of Abihail
the uncle of Mordecai, who had
taken her for his daughter, was
come to go in unto the king, she
required nothing but what Hegai
the king's chamberlain, the
keeper of the women, appointed.
And Esther obtained favour in the
sight of all them that looked
upon her.
16 So Esther was taken
unto king Ahasuerus into his
house royal in the tenth month,
which is the month Tebeth, in the
seventh year of his reign.
17 And the king loved
Esther above all the women, and
she obtained grace and favour in
his sight more than all the
virgins; so that he set the royal
crown upon her head, and made her
queen instead of Vashti.
18 Then the king made a
great feast unto all his princes
and his servants, even Esther's
feast; and he made a release to
the provinces, and gave gifts,
according to the state of the
king.
19 And when the virgins
were gathered together the second
time, then Mordecai sat in the
king's gate.
20 Esther had not yet
shewed her kindred nor her
people; as Mordecai had charged
her: for Esther did the
commandment of Mordecai, like as
when she was brought up with
him.
21 In those days, while
Mordecai sat in the king's gate,
two of the king's chamberlains,
Bigthan and Teresh, of those
which kept the door, were wroth,
and sought to lay hand on the
king Ahasuerus.
22 And the thing was known
to Mordecai, who told it unto
Esther the queen; and Esther
certified the king thereof in
Mordecai's name.
23 And when inquisition
was made of the matter, it was
found out; therefore they were
both hanged on a tree: and it was
written in the book of the
chronicles before the king.
Chapter 3
1 After these things
did king Ahasuerus promote Haman
the son of Hammedatha the
Agagite, and advanced him, and
set his seat above all the
princes that were with him.
2 And all the king's
servants, that were in the king's
gate, bowed, and reverenced
Haman: for the king had so
commanded concerning him. But
Mordecai bowed not, nor did him
reverence.
3 Then the king's
servants, which were in the
king's gate, said unto Mordecai,
Why transgressest thou the king's
commandment?
4 Now it came to pass,
when they spake daily unto him,
and he hearkened not unto them,
that they told Haman, to see
whether Mordecai's matters would
stand: for he had told them that
he was a Jew.
5 And when Haman saw that
Mordecai bowed not, nor did him
reverence, then was Haman full of
wrath.
6 And he thought scorn to
lay hands on Mordecai alone; for
they had shewed him the people of
Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought
to destroy all the Jews that were
throughout the whole kingdom of
Ahasuerus, even the people of
Mordecai.
7 In the first month, that
is, the month Nisan, in the
twelfth year of king Ahasuerus,
they cast Pur, that is, the lot,
before Haman from day to day, and
from month to month, to the
twelfth month, that is, the month
Adar.
8 And Haman said unto king
Ahasuerus, There is a certain
people scattered abroad and
dispersed among the people in all
the provinces of thy kingdom; and
their laws are diverse from all
people; neither keep they the
king's laws: therefore it is not
for the king's profit to suffer
them.
9 If it please the king,
let it be written that they may
be destroyed: and I will pay ten
thousand talents of silver to the
hands of those that have the
charge of the business, to bring
it into the king's
treasuries.
10 And the king took his
ring from his hand, and gave it
unto Haman the son of Hammedatha
the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
11 And the king said unto
Haman, The silver is given to
thee, the people also, to do with
them as it seemeth good to
thee.
12 Then were the king's
scribes called on the thirteenth
day of the first month, and there
was written according to all that
Haman had commanded unto the
king's lieutenants, and to the
governors that were over every
province, and to the rulers of
every people of every province
according to the writing thereof,
and to every people after their
language; in the name of king
Ahasuerus was it written, and
sealed with the king's ring.
13 And the letters were
sent by posts into all the king's
provinces, to destroy, to kill,
and to cause to perish, all Jews,
both young and old, little
children and women, in one day,
even upon the thirteenth day of
the twelfth month, which is the
month Adar, and to take the spoil
of them for a prey.
14 The copy of the writing
for a commandment to be given in
every province was published unto
all people, that they should be
ready against that day.
15 The posts went out,
being hastened by the king's
commandment, and the decree was
given in Shushan the palace. And
the king and Haman sat down to
drink; but the city Shushan was
perplexed.
Chapter 4
1 When Mordecai
perceived all that was done,
Mordecai rent his clothes, and
put on sackcloth with ashes, and
went out into the midst of the
city, and cried with a loud and a
bitter cry;
2 And came even before the
king's gate: for none might enter
into the king's gate clothed with
sackcloth.
3 And in every province,
whithersoever the king's
commandment and his decree came,
there was great mourning among
the Jews, and fasting, and
weeping, and wailing; and many
lay in sackcloth and ashes.
4 So Esther's maids and
her chamberlains came and told it
her. Then was the queen
exceedingly grieved; and she sent
raiment to clothe Mordecai, and
to take away his sackcloth from
him: but he received it not.
5 Then called Esther for
Hatach, one of the king's
chamberlains, whom he had
appointed to attend upon her, and
gave him a commandment to
Mordecai, to know what it was,
and why it was.
6 So Hatach went forth to
Mordecai unto the street of the
city, which was before the king's
gate.
7 And Mordecai told him of
all that had happened unto him,
and of the sum of the money that
Haman had promised to pay to the
king's treasuries for the Jews,
to destroy them.
8 Also he gave him the
copy of the writing of the decree
that was given at Shushan to
destroy them, to shew it unto
Esther, and to declare it unto
her, and to charge her that she
should go in unto the king, to
make supplication unto him, and
to make request before him for
her people.
9 And Hatach came and told
Esther the words of Mordecai.
10 Again Esther spake unto
Hatach, and gave him commandment
unto Mordecai;
11 All the king's
servants, and the people of the
king's provinces, do know, that
whosoever, whether man or woman,
shall come unto the king into the
inner court, who is not called,
there is one law of his to put
him to death, except such to whom
the king shall hold out the
golden sceptre, that he may live:
but I have not been called to
come in unto the king these
thirty days.
12 And they told to
Mordecai Esther's words.
13 Then Mordecai commanded
to answer Esther, Think not with
thyself that thou shalt escape in
the king's house, more than all
the Jews.
14 For if thou altogether
holdest thy peace at this time,
then shall there enlargement and
deliverance arise to the Jews
from another place; but thou and
thy father's house shall be
destroyed: and who knoweth
whether thou art come to the
kingdom for such a time as
this?
15 Then Esther bade them
return Mordecai this answer,
16 Go, gather together all
the Jews that are present in
Shushan, and fast ye for me, and
neither eat nor drink three days,
night or day: I also and my
maidens will fast likewise; and
so will I go in unto the king,
which is not according to the
law: and if I perish, I
perish.
17 So Mordecai went his
way, and did according to all
that Esther had commanded
him.
Chapter 5
1 Now it came to pass
on the third day, that Esther put
on her royal apparel, and stood
in the inner court of the king's
house, over against the king's
house: and the king sat upon his
royal throne in the royal house,
over against the gate of the
house.
2 And it was so, when the
king saw Esther the queen
standing in the court, that she
obtained favour in his sight: and
the king held out to Esther the
golden sceptre that was in his
hand. So Esther drew near, and
touched the top of the
sceptre.
3 Then said the king unto
her, What wilt thou, queen
Esther? and what is thy request?
it shall be even given thee to
the half of the kingdom.
4 And Esther answered, If
it seem good unto the king, let
the king and Haman come this day
unto the banquet that I have
prepared for him.
5 Then the king said,
Cause Haman to make haste, that
he may do as Esther hath said. So
the king and Haman came to the
banquet that Esther had
prepared.
6 And the king said unto
Esther at the banquet of wine,
What is thy petition? and it
shall be granted thee: and what
is thy request? even to the half
of the kingdom it shall be
performed.
7 Then answered Esther,
and said, My petition and my
request is;
8 If I have found favour
in the sight of the king, and if
it please the king to grant my
petition, and to perform my
request, let the king and Haman
come to the banquet that I shall
prepare for them, and I will do
tomorrow as the king hath
said.
9 Then went Haman forth
that day joyful and with a glad
heart: but when Haman saw
Mordecai in the king's gate, that
he stood not up, nor moved for
him, he was full of indignation
against Mordecai.
10 Nevertheless Haman
refrained himself: and when he
came home, he sent and called for
his friends, and Zeresh his
wife.
11 And Haman told them of
the glory of his riches, and the
multitude of his children, and
all the things wherein the king
had promoted him, and how he had
advanced him above the princes
and servants of the king.
12 Haman said moreover,
Yea, Esther the queen did let no
man come in with the king unto
the banquet that she had prepared
but myself; and to morrow am I
invited unto her also with the
king.
13 Yet all this availeth
me nothing, so long as I see
Mordecai the Jew sitting at the
king's gate.
14 Then said Zeresh his
wife and all his friends unto
him, Let a gallows be made of
fifty cubits high, and tomorrow
speak thou unto the king that
Mordecai may be hanged thereon:
then go thou in merrily with the
king unto the banquet. And the
thing pleased Haman; and he
caused the gallows to be
made.
Chapter 6
1 On that night could
not the king sleep, and he
commanded to bring the book of
records of the chronicles; and
they were read before the
king.
2 And it was found
written, that Mordecai had told
of Bigthana and Teresh, two of
the king's chamberlains, the
keepers of the door, who sought
to lay hand on the king
Ahasuerus.
3 And the king said, What
honour and dignity hath been done
to Mordecai for this? Then said
the king's servants that
ministered unto him, There is
nothing done for him.
4 And the king said, Who
is in the court? Now Haman was
come into the outward court of
the king's house, to speak unto
the king to hang Mordecai on the
gallows that he had prepared for
him.
5 And the king's servants
said unto him, Behold, Haman
standeth in the court. And the
king said, Let him come in.
6 So Haman came in. And
the king said unto him, What
shall be done unto the man whom
the king delighteth to honour?
Now Haman thought in his heart,
To whom would the king delight to
do honour more than to
myself?
7 And Haman answered the
king, For the man whom the king
delighteth to honour,
8 Let the royal apparel be
brought which the king useth to
wear, and the horse that the king
rideth upon, and the crown royal
which is set upon his head:
9 And let this apparel and
horse be delivered to the hand of
one of the king's most noble
princes, that they may array the
man withal whom the king
delighteth to honour, and bring
him on horseback through the
street of the city, and proclaim
before him, Thus shall it be done
to the man whom the king
delighteth to honour.
10 Then the king said to
Haman, Make haste, and take the
apparel and the horse, as thou
hast said, and do even so to
Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at
the king's gate: let nothing fail
of all that thou has spoken.
11 Then took Haman the
apparel and the horse, and
arrayed Mordecai, and brought him
on horseback through the street
of the city, and proclaimed
before him, Thus shall it be done
unto the man whom the king
delighteth to honour.
12 And Mordecai came again
to the king's gate. But Haman
hasted to his house mourning, and
having his head covered.
13 And Haman told Zeresh
his wife and all his friends
every thing that had befallen
him. Then said his wise men and
Zeresh his wife unto him, If
Mordecai be of the seed of the
Jews, before whom thou hast begun
to fall, thou shalt not prevail
against him, but shalt surely
fall before him.
14 And while they were yet
talking with him, came the king's
chamberlains, and hasted to bring
Haman unto the banquet that
Esther had prepared.
Chapter 7
1 So the king and Haman
came to banquet with Esther the
queen.
2 And the king said again
unto Esther on the second day at
the banquet of wine, What is thy
petition, queen Esther? and it
shall be granted thee: and what
is thy request? and it shall be
performed, even to the half of
the kingdom.
3 Then Esther the queen
answered and said, If I have
found favour in thy sight, O
king, and if it please the king,
let my life be given me at my
petition, and my people at my
request:
4 For we are sold, I and
my people, to be destroyed, to be
slain, and to perish. But if we
had been sold for bondmen and
bondwomen, I had held my tongue,
although the enemy could not
countervail the king's
damage.
5 Then the king Ahasuerus
answered and said unto Esther the
queen, Who is he, and where is
he, that durst presume in his
heart to do so?
6 And Esther said, The
adversary and enemy is this
wicked Haman. Then Haman was
afraid before the king and the
queen.
7 And the king arising
from the banquet of wine in his
wrath went into the palace
garden: and Haman stood up to
make request for his life to
Esther the queen; for he saw that
there was evil determined against
him by the king.
8 Then the king returned
out of the palace garden into the
place of the banquet of wine; and
Haman was fallen upon the bed
whereon Esther was. Then said the
king, Will he force the queen
also before me in the house? As
the word went out of the king's
mouth, they covered Haman's
face.
9 And Harbonah, one of the
chamberlains, said before the
king, Behold also, the gallows
fifty cubits high, which Haman
had made for Mordecai, who had
spoken good for the king,
standeth in the house of Haman.
Then the king said, Hang him
thereon.
10 So they hanged Haman on
the gallows that he had prepared
for Mordecai. Then was the king's
wrath pacified.
Chapter 8
1 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.
2 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.
3 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.
4 Then the king held out
the golden sceptre toward Esther.
So Esther arose, and stood before
the king,
5 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:
6 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?
7 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.
8 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.
9 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.
10 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:
11 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,
12 Upon one day in all the
provinces of king Ahasuerus,
namely, upon the thirteenth day
of the twelfth month, which is
the month Adar.
13 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.
14 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.
15 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.
16 The Jews had light, and
gladness, and joy, and
honour.
17 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.
Chapter 9
1 Now in the twelfth
month, that is, the month Adar,
on the thirteenth day of the
same, when the king's commandment
and his decree drew near to be
put in execution, in the day that
the enemies of the Jews hoped to
have power over them, (though it
was turned to the contrary, that
the Jews had rule over them that
hated them;)
2 The Jews gathered
themselves together in their
cities throughout all the
provinces of the king Ahasuerus,
to lay hand on such as sought
their hurt: and no man could
withstand them; for the fear of
them fell upon all people.
3 And all the rulers of
the provinces, and the
lieutenants, and the deputies,
and officers of the king, helped
the Jews; because the fear of
Mordecai fell upon them.
4 For Mordecai was great
in the king's house, and his fame
went out throughout all the
provinces: for this man Mordecai
waxed greater and greater.
5 Thus the Jews smote all
their enemies with the stroke of
the sword, and slaughter, and
destruction, and did what they
would unto those that hated
them.
6 And in Shushan the
palace the Jews slew and
destroyed five hundred men.
7 And Parshandatha, and
Dalphon, and Aspatha,
8 And Poratha, and Adalia,
and Aridatha,
9 And Parmashta, and
Arisai, and Aridai, and
Vajezatha,
10 The ten sons of Haman
the son of Hammedatha, the enemy
of the Jews, slew they; but on
the spoil laid they not their
hand.
11 On that day the number
of those that were slain in
Shushan the palace was brought
before the king.
12 And the king said unto
Esther the queen, The Jews have
slain and destroyed five hundred
men in Shushan the palace, and
the ten sons of Haman; what have
they done in the rest of the
king's provinces? now what is thy
petition? and it shall be granted
thee: or what is thy request
further? and it shall be
done.
13 Then said Esther, If it
please the king, let it be
granted to the Jews which are in
Shushan to do tomorrow also
according unto this day's decree,
and let Haman's ten sons be
hanged upon the gallows.
14 And the king commanded
it so to be done: and the decree
was given at Shushan; and they
hanged Haman's ten sons.
15 For the Jews that were
in Shushan gathered themselves
together on the fourteenth day
also of the month Adar, and slew
three hundred men at Shushan; but
on the prey they laid not their
hand.
16 But the other Jews that
were in the king's provinces
gathered themselves together, and
stood for their lives, and had
rest from their enemies, and slew
of their foes seventy and five
thousand, but they laid not their
hands on the prey,
17 On the thirteenth day
of the month Adar; and on the
fourteenth day of the same rested
they, and made it a day of
feasting and gladness.
18 But the Jews that were
at Shushan assembled together on
the thirteenth day thereof; and
on the fourteenth thereof; and on
the fifteenth day of the same
they rested, and made it a day of
feasting and gladness.
19 Therefore the Jews of
the villages, that dwelt in the
unwalled towns, made the
fourteenth day of the month Adar
a day of gladness and feasting,
and a good day, and of sending
portions one to another.
20 And Mordecai wrote
these things, and sent letters
unto all the Jews that were in
all the provinces of the king
Ahasuerus, both nigh and far,
21 To stablish this among
them, that they should keep the
fourteenth day of the month Adar,
and the fifteenth day of the
same, yearly,
22 As the days wherein the
Jews rested from their enemies,
and the month which was turned
unto them from sorrow to joy, and
from mourning into a good day:
that they should make them days
of feasting and joy, and of
sending portions one to another,
and gifts to the poor.
23 And the Jews undertook
to do as they had begun, and as
Mordecai had written unto
them;
24 Because Haman the son
of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the
enemy of all the Jews, had
devised against the Jews to
destroy them, and had cast Pur,
that is, the lot, to consume
them, and to destroy them;
25 But when Esther came
before the king, he commanded by
letters that his wicked device,
which he devised against the
Jews, should return upon his own
head, and that he and his sons
should be hanged on the
gallows.
26 Wherefore they called
these days Purim after the name
of Pur. Therefore for all the
words of this letter, and of that
which they had seen concerning
this matter, and which had come
unto them,
27 The Jews ordained, and
took upon them, and upon their
seed, and upon all such as joined
themselves unto them, so as it
should not fail, that they would
keep these two days according to
their writing, and according to
their appointed time every
year;
28 And that these days
should be remembered and kept
throughout every generation,
every family, every province, and
every city; and that these days
of Purim should not fail from
among the Jews, nor the memorial
of them perish from their
seed.
29 Then Esther the queen,
the daughter of Abihail, and
Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all
authority, to confirm this second
letter of Purim.
30 And he sent the letters
unto all the Jews, to the hundred
twenty and seven provinces of the
kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words
of peace and truth,
31 To confirm these days
of Purim in their times
appointed, according as Mordecai
the Jew and Esther the queen had
enjoined them, and as they had
decreed for themselves and for
their seed, the matters of the
fastings and their cry.
32 And the decree of
Esther confirmed these matters of
Purim; and it was written in the
book.
Chapter 10
1 And the king
Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the
land, and upon the isles of the
sea.
2 And all the acts of his
power and of his might, and the
declaration of the greatness of
Mordecai, whereunto the king
advanced him, are they not
written in the book of the
chronicles of the kings of Media
and Persia?
3 For Mordecai the Jew was
next unto king Ahasuerus, and
great among the Jews, and
accepted of the multitude of his
brethren, seeking the wealth of
his people, and speaking peace to
all his seed.
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