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 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.

---

¹ On that day ^H3117 did the king ^H4428 Ahasuerus ^H325 give ^H5414 the house ^H1004 of Haman ^H2001 the Jews' ^H3064 enemy ^H6887 unto Esther ^H635 the queen. ^H4436 And Mordecai ^H4782 came ^H935 before ^H6440 the king; ^H4428 for Esther ^H635 had told ^H5046 what he was unto her.

² And the king ^H4428 took off ^H5493 his ring, ^H2885 which he had taken ^H5674 from Haman, ^H2001 and gave ^H5414 it unto Mordecai. ^H4782 And Esther ^H635 set ^H7760 Mordecai ^H4782 over the house ^H1004 of Haman. ^H2001

³ And Esther ^H635 spake ^H1696 yet again ^H3254 before ^H6440 the king, ^H4428 and fell down ^H5307 at ^H6440 his feet, ^H7272 and besought ^H2603 him with tears ^H1058 to put away ^H5674 the mischief ^H7451 of Haman ^H2001 the Agagite, ^H91 and his device ^H4284 that he had devised ^H2803 against the Jews. ^H3064

⁴ Then the king ^H4428 held out ^H3447 the golden ^H2091 sceptre ^H8275 toward Esther. ^H635 So Esther ^H635 arose, ^H6965 and stood ^H5975 before ^H6440 the king, ^H4428

⁵ And said, ^H559 If it please ^H2896 the king, ^H4428 and if I have found ^H4672 favour ^H2580 in his sight, ^H6440 and the thing ^H1697 seem right ^H3787 before ^H6440 the king, ^H4428 and I be pleasing ^H2896 in his eyes, ^H5869 let it be written ^H3789 to reverse ^H7725 the letters ^H5612 devised ^H4284 by Haman ^H2001 the son ^H1121 of Hammedatha ^H4099 the Agagite, ^H91 which he wrote ^H3789 to destroy ^H6 the Jews ^H3064 which are in all the king's ^H4428 provinces: ^H4082

⁶ For how ^H349 can I endure ^H3201 to see ^H7200 the evil ^H7451 that shall come ^H4672 unto my people? ^H5971 or how ^H349 can I endure ^H3201 to see ^H7200 the destruction ^H13 of my kindred? ^H4138

⁷ Then the king ^H4428 Ahasuerus ^H325 said ^H559 unto Esther ^H635 the queen ^H4436 and to Mordecai ^H4782 the Jew, ^H3064 Behold, I have given ^H5414 Esther ^H635 the house ^H1004 of Haman, ^H2001 and him they have hanged ^H8518 upon the gallows, ^H6086 because he laid ^H7971 his hand ^H3027 upon the Jews. ^H3064

⁸ Write ^H3789 ye also for the Jews, ^H3064 as it liketh ^H2896 you, ^H5869 in the king's ^H4428 name, ^H8034 and seal ^H2856 it with the king's ^H4428 ring: ^H2885 for the writing ^H3791 which is written ^H3789 in the king's ^H4428 name, ^H8034 and sealed ^H2856 with the king's ^H4428 ring, ^H2885 may no man reverse. ^H7725

⁹ Then were the king's ^H4428 scribes ^H5608 called ^H7121 at that time ^H6256 in the third ^H7992 month, ^H2320 that is, the month ^H2320 Sivan, ^H5510 on the three ^H7969 and twentieth ^H6242 day thereof; and it was written ^H3789 according to all that Mordecai ^H4782 commanded ^H6680 unto the Jews, ^H3064 and to the lieutenants, ^H323 and the deputies ^H6346 and rulers ^H8269 of the provinces ^H4082 which are from India ^H1912 unto Ethiopia, ^H3568 an hundred ^H3967 twenty ^H6242 and seven ^H7651 provinces, ^H4082 unto every province ^H4082 according to the writing ^H3791 thereof, and unto every people ^H5971 after their language, ^H3956 and to the Jews ^H3064 according to their writing, ^H3791 and according to their language. ^H3956

¹⁰ And he wrote ^H3789 in the king ^H4428 Ahasuerus' ^H325 name, ^H8034 and sealed ^H2856 it with the king's ^H4428 ring, ^H2885 and sent ^H7971 letters ^H5612 by ^H3027 posts ^H7323 on horseback, ^H5483 and riders ^H7392 on mules, ^H7409 camels, ^H327 and young ^H1121 dromedaries: ^H7424

¹¹ Wherein the king ^H4428 granted ^H5414 the Jews ^H3064 which were in every city ^H5892 to gather themselves together, ^H6950 and to stand ^H5975 for their life, ^H5315 to destroy, ^H8045 to slay, ^H2026 and to cause to perish, ^H6 all the power ^H2428 of the people ^H5971 and province ^H4082 that would assault ^H6696 them, both little ones ^H2945 and women, ^H802 and to take the spoil ^H7998 of them for a prey, ^H962

¹² Upon one ^H259 day ^H3117 in all the provinces ^H4082 of king ^H4428 Ahasuerus, ^H325 namely, upon the thirteenth ^{H7969 H6240} day of the twelfth ^{H8147 H6240} month, ^H2320 which is the month ^H2320 Adar. ^H143

¹³ The copy ^H6572 of the writing ^H3791 for a commandment ^H1881 to be given ^H5414 in every province ^H4082 was published ^H1540 unto all people, ^H5971 and that the Jews ^H3064 should be ready ^{H6264 H6259} against that day ^H3117 to avenge ^H5358 themselves on their enemies. ^H341

¹⁴ So the posts ^H7323 that rode ^H7392 upon mules ^H7409 and camels ^H327 went out, ^H3318 being hastened ^H926 and pressed on ^H1765 by the king's ^H4428 commandment. ^H1697 And the decree ^H1881 was given ^H5414 at Shushan ^H7800 the palace. ^H1002

¹⁵ And Mordecai ^H4782 went out ^H3318 from the presence ^H6440 of the king ^H4428 in royal ^H4438 apparel ^H3830 of blue ^H8504 and white, ^H2353 and with a great ^H1419 crown ^H5850 of gold, ^H2091 and with a garment ^H8509 of fine linen ^H948 and purple: ^H713 and the city ^H5892 of Shushan ^H7800 rejoiced ^H6670 and was glad. ^H8056

¹⁶ The Jews ^H3064 had light, ^H219 and gladness, ^H8057 and joy, ^H8342 and honour. ^H3366

¹⁷ And in every province, ^H4082 and in every city, ^H5892 whithersoever ^H4725 the king's ^H4428 commandment ^H1697 and his decree ^H1881 came, ^H5060 the Jews ^H3064 had joy ^H8057 and gladness, ^H8342 a feast ^H4960 and a good ^H2896 day. ^H3117 And many ^H7227 of the people ^H5971 of the land ^H776 became Jews; ^H3054 for the fear ^H6343 of the Jews ^H3064 fell ^H5307 upon them.

---

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 to Esther the golden sceptre. So Esther arose, and stood before the king.

⁵ And she said, If it please the king, and if I have found favor 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 that 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 to the Jews, as it pleaseth 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 Sivan, on the three and twentieth `day' thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, a 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 the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by post on horseback, riding on swift steeds that were used in the king's service, bred of the stud:

¹¹ wherein the king granted the Jews that 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, `their' 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 A copy of the writing, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published unto all the peoples, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

¹⁴ So the posts that rode upon swift steeds that were used in the king's service went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment; and the decree was given out in Shushan the palace.

¹⁵ And Mordecai went forth from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a robe of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan shouted and was glad.

¹⁶ The Jews had light and gladness, and joy and honor.

¹⁷ And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had gladness and joy, a feast and a good day. And many from among the peoples of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews was fallen upon them.

---

¹ On that day hath the king Ahasuerus given to Esther the queen the house of Haman, adversary of the Jews, and Mordecai hath come in before the king, for Esther hath declared what he `is' to her,

² and the king turneth aside his signet, that he hath caused to pass away from Haman, and giveth it to Mordecai, and Esther setteth Mordecai over the house of Haman.

³ And Esther addeth, and speaketh before the king, and falleth before his feet, and weepeth, and maketh supplication to him, to cause the evil of Haman the Agagite to pass away, and his device that he had devised against the Jews;

⁴ and the king holdeth out to Esther the golden sceptre, and Esther riseth, and standeth before the king,

⁵ and saith, `If to the king `it be' good, and if I have found grace before him, and the thing hath been right before the king, and I `be' good in his eyes, let it be written to bring back the letters -- a device of Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite -- that he wrote to destroy the Jews who `are' in all provinces of the king,

⁶ for how do I endure when I have looked on the evil that doth find my people? and how do I endure when I have looked on the destruction of my kindred?'

⁷ And the king Ahasuerus saith to Esther the queen, and to Mordecai the Jew, `Lo, the house of Haman I have given to Esther, and him they have hanged on the tree, because that he put forth his hand on the Jews,

⁸ and ye, write ye for the Jews, as `it is' good in your eyes, in the name of the king, and seal with the signet of the king -- for the writing that is written in the name of the king, and sealed with the signet of the king, there is none to turn back.'

⁹ And the scribes of the king are called, at that time, in the third month -- it `is' the month of Sivan -- in the three and twentieth of it, and it is written, according to all that Mordecai hath commanded, unto the Jews, and unto the lieutenants, and the governors, and the heads of the provinces, that `are' from Hodu even unto Cush, seven and twenty and a hundred provinces -- province and province according to its writing, and people and people according to its tongue, and unto the Jews according to their writing, and according to their tongue.

¹⁰ And he writeth in the name of the king Ahasuerus, and sealeth with the signet of the king, and sendeth letters by the hand of the runners with horses, riders of the dromedary, the mules, the young mares,

¹¹ that the king hath given to the Jews who `are' in every city and city, to be assembled, and to stand for their life, to cut off, to slay, and to destroy the whole force of the people and province who are distressing them, infants and women, and their spoil to seize.

¹² In one day, in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth of the twelfth month -- it `is' the month of Adar --

¹³ a copy of the writing to be made law in every province and province is revealed to all the peoples, and for the Jews being ready at this day to be avenged of their enemies.

¹⁴ The runners, riding on the dromedary, `and' the mules, have gone out, hastened and pressed by the word of the king, and the law hath been given in Shushan the palace.

¹⁵ And Mordecai went out from before the king, in royal clothing of blue and white, and a great crown of gold, and a garment of fine linen and purple, and the city of Shushan hath rejoiced and been glad;

¹⁶ to the Jews hath been light, and gladness, and joy, and honour,

¹⁷ and in every province and province, and in every city and city, the place where the word of the king, even his law, is coming, gladness and joy `are' to the Jews, a banquet, and a good day; and many of the peoples of the land are becoming Jews, for a fear of the Jews hath fallen upon them.

---

¹ On that day did king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' oppressor to Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was to her.

² And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

³ And Esther spoke 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 which he had devised against the Jews.

⁴ And the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. And Esther arose and stood before the king,

⁵ and said, If it please the king and if I have found grace before him, and the thing seem right to the king, and I be pleasing in his sight, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews that are in all the king's provinces.

⁶ For how shall I endure to see the evil that shall befall my people? and how shall I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?

⁷ And king Ahasuerus said to queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he stretched forth his hand against the Jews.

⁸ Write ye then for the Jews as seems good to you, in the king's name, and seal [it] with the king's ring. For a writing that is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, cannot be reversed.

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, to the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governors, and the princes of the provinces which are from India even to Ethiopia, a hundred and twenty-seven provinces, to every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people according to their language, and to the Jews according to their writing and according to their language.

¹⁰ And he wrote in the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed [it] with the king's ring, and sent letters by couriers on horseback riding on coursers, horses of blood reared in the breeding studs:

¹¹ [stating] that the king granted the Jews that 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 might assault them, [their] 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, upon the thirteenth of the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.

¹³ That the decree might be given in every province, a copy of the writing was published to all the peoples, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

¹⁴ The couriers mounted on coursers [and] horses of blood went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the fortress.

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 mantle of byssus and purple; and the city of Shushan shouted and was glad.

¹⁶ The Jews had light, and joy, and gladness, and honour.

¹⁷ And in every province, and in every city, wherever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many among the peoples of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews had fallen upon them.

---

¹ On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy to Esther the queen. Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was to her.

² The king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

³ 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 device that he had devised against the Jews.

⁴ Then the king held out to Esther the golden scepter. So Esther arose, and stood before the king.

⁵ She said, If it please the king, and if I have found favor 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 who are in all the king's provinces:

⁶ for how can I endure to see the evil that shall come to my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my relatives?

⁷ Then the king Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, See, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged on the gallows, because he laid his hand on the Jews.

⁸ Write you also to the Jews, as it pleases 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 Sivan, on the three and twentieth [day] of it; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from India to Ethiopia, one hundred twenty-seven provinces, to every province according to the writing of it, and to every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.

¹⁰ He wrote the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by post on horseback, riding on swift steeds that were used in the king's service, bred of the stud:

¹¹ in which the king granted the Jews who were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for 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 take the spoil of them for a prey,

¹² on one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, [namely], on the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.

¹³ A copy of the writing, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

¹⁴ So the posts who rode on swift steeds that were used in the king's service went out, being hurried and pressed on by the king's commandment; and the decree was given out in Shushan the palace.

¹⁵ Mordecai went forth from the presence of the king in royal clothing of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a robe of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan shouted and was glad.

¹⁶ The Jews had light and gladness, and joy and honor.

¹⁷ In every province, and in every city, wherever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had gladness and joy, a feast and a good day. Many from among the peoples of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews was fallen on them.

---

¹ That day the king gave all the family of Haman, the hater of the Jews, to Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had made clear what he was to her.

² And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther put Mordecai over the family of Haman.

³ Then Esther again came before the king, falling down at his feet, and made request to him with weeping, that he would put a stop to the evil purposes of Haman the Agagite and the designs which he had made against the Jews.

⁴ Then the king put out the rod of gold to Esther, and she got up before the king.

⁵ And she said, If it is the king's pleasure and if I have his approval and this thing seems right to the king and I am pleasing to him, then let letters be sent giving orders against those which Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, sent out for the destruction of the Jews in all divisions of the kingdom:

⁶ For how is it possible for me to see the evil which is to overtake my nation? how may I see the destruction of my people?

⁷ Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, See now, I have given Esther the family of Haman, and he has come to his death by hanging, because he made an attack on the Jews.

⁸ So now send a letter about the Jews, writing whatever seems good to you, in the king's name, and stamping it with the king's ring: for a writing signed in the king's name and stamped with the king's ring may not be changed.

⁹ Then at that time, on the twenty-third day of the third month, which is the month Sivan, the king's scribes were sent for; and everything ordered by Mordecai was put in writing and sent to the Jews and the captains and the rulers and the chiefs of all the divisions of the kingdom from India to Ethiopia, a hundred and twenty-seven divisions, to every division in the writing commonly used there, and to every people in their language, and to the Jews in their writing and their language.

¹⁰ The letters were sent in the name of King Ahasuerus and stamped with his ring, and they were taken by men on horseback, going on the quick-running horses used for the king's business, the offspring of his best horses:

¹¹ In these letters the king gave authority to the Jews in every town to come together and make a fight for their lives, and to send death and destruction on the power of any people in any part of the kingdom attacking them or their children or their women, and to take their goods from them by force,

¹² On one day in every division of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, that is, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month Adar.

¹³ A copy of the writing, to be made public as an order in every division of the kingdom, was given out to all the peoples, so that the Jews might be ready when that day came to give punishment to their haters.

¹⁴ So the men went out on the quick-running horses used on the king's business, wasting no time and forced on by the king's order; and the order was given out in Shushan, the king's town.

¹⁵ And Mordecai went out from before the king, dressed in king-like robes of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold and clothing of purple and the best linen: and all the town of Shushan gave loud cries of joy.

¹⁶ And the Jews had light and joy and honour.

¹⁷ And in every part of the kingdom and in every town, wherever the king's letter and his order came, the Jews were glad with great joy, and had a feast and a good day. And a great number of the people of the land became Jews: for the fear of the Jews had come on them.