
The Book of Esther (from the Greek Septuagint)

    {1:1} In the second year of the reign of Ahasuerus the great, on
the first day of the month of Nisan, Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son
of Shimei, the son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, had a dream.
{1:2} He was a Jew, and dwelt in the city of Susa, a great man, who was
a servant in the king's court. {1:3} He was also one of the captives,
which Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon carried from Jerusalem with
Jeconiah king of Judea; and this was his dream:

   {1:4} Behold a noise of a tumult, with thunder and earthquakes and
uproar in the land: {1:5} And behold, two great dragons came forth
ready to fight, and their cry was great. {1:6} And at their cry all
nations were prepared to battle, that they might fight against the
righteous people. {1:7} And lo, a day of darkness and obscurity,
tribulation and anguish, affliction and great uproar, upon the earth.
{1:8} And the whole righteous nation was troubled, fearing their own
evils, and were ready to perish. {1:9} Then they cried unto God, and
upon their cry, as if from a little fountain, arose the greatest flood
and many overflowing waters. {1:10} The light and the sun rose up, and
the lowly were exalted, and devoured the glorious.

   {1:11} Now when Mordecai, who had seen this dream, and what God had
determined to do, was awake, he kept this dream in mind, and until
night by all means desired to understand it. {2:1} And Mordecai took
his rest in the court with Gabatha and Tharra, the two eunuchs of the
king, and keepers of the palace. {2:2} And he heard their plan, and
searched out their purposes, and learned that they were about to lay
hands upon Ahasuerus the king; and so he testified to the king about
them. {2:3} Then the king examined the two eunuchs, and after they had
confessed, they were strangled. {2:4} And the king made a record of
these things, and Mordecai also wrote thereof. {2:5} So the king
commanded, Mordecai to serve in the court, and for this he rewarded
him. {2:6} However, Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, was in
great honor with the king, and sought to injure Mordecai and his people
because of the two eunuchs of the king.

   {3:1} Now it happened in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus
who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty-seven
provinces), {3:2} that in those days, when the King Ahasuerus sat on
the throne of his kingdom, whose palace was in Susa, {3:3} in the third
year of his reign, he made a feast for all his princes and his
servants; and the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of
the provinces, were before him. {3:4} He displayed the riches of his
glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty for many days,
even one hundred eighty days.

   {3:5} When these days were fulfilled, the king made a seven day
feast for all the people who were present in Susa, the palatial city,
both great and small, in the court of the garden of the king's palace.
{3:6} There were hangings of white, green, and blue material, fastened
with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and marble pillars.
The couches were of gold and silver, on a pavement of red, white,
yellow, and black marble. {3:7} They gave them drinks in golden vessels
of various kinds, including royal wine in abundance, according to the
bounty of the king. {3:8} In accordance with the law, the drinking was
not compulsory; for so the king had instructed all the officials of his
house, that they should do according to every man's wishes. {3:9} Also
Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which
belonged to King Ahasuerus.

   {3:10} On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with
wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha,
Zethar, and Carcass, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of
Ahasuerus the king, {3:11} to bring Vashti the queen before the king
with the royal crown, to show the people and the princes her beauty;
for she was beautiful. {3:12} But the queen Vashti refused to come at
the king's commandment by the eunuchs. Therefore the king was very
angry, and his anger burned in him.

   {3:13} Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for
it was the king's custom to consult those who knew law and judgment;
{3:14} and the next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish,
Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who
saw the king's face, and sat first in the kingdom), {3:15} "What shall
we do to the queen Vashti according to law, because she has not done
the bidding of the King Ahasuerus by the eunuchs?"

   {3:16} Memucan answered before the king and the princes, "Vashti the
queen has not done wrong to just the king, but also to all the princes,
and to all the people who are in all the provinces of the King
Ahasuerus. {3:17} For this deed of the queen will become known to all
women, causing them to show contempt for their husbands, when it is
reported, 'King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in
before him, but she didn't come.' {3:18} Today, the princesses of
Persia and Media who have heard of the queen's deed will tell all the
king's princes. This will cause much contempt and wrath. {3:19} If it
please the king, let a royal commandment go from him, and let it be
written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it cannot
be altered, that Vashti may never again come before King Ahasuerus; and
let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she.
{3:20} When the king's decree, which he shall make, is published
throughout all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will give
their husbands honor, both great and small."

   {3:21} This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king
did according to the word of Memucan: {3:22} for he sent letters into
all the king's provinces, into every province according to its writing,
and to every people in their language, that every man should rule his
own house, speaking in the language of his own people.

   {4:1} After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus was
pacified, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was
decreed against her. {4:2} Then the king's servants who served him
said, "Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king.  {4:3} Let
the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that
they may gather together all the beautiful young virgins to Susa, the
palatial city, to the women's house, to the custody of Hegai the king's
eunuch, keeper of the women. Let cosmetics be given them;  {4:4} and
let the maiden who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti." The
idea pleased the king, and he did so.

   {4:5} There was a certain Jew in Susa, the palatial city, whose name
was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a
Benjamite, {4:6} who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the
captives who had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom
Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.  {4:7} He brought
up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter; for she had neither
father nor mother. The maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her
father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.
{4:8} So it happened, when the king's commandment and his decree was
heard, and when many maidens were gathered together to Susa, the
palatial city, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken into the
king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.

   {4:9} The maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness from him. He
quickly gave her cosmetics and her portions of food, and the seven
choice maidens who were to be given her out of the king's house. He
moved her and her maidens to the best place in the women's house.
{4:10} Esther had not made known her people or her relatives, because
Mordecai had instructed her that she should not make it known. {4:11}
Mordecai walked every day in front of the court of the women's house,
to find out how Esther was doing, and what would become of her.

   {4:12} Each young woman's turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after
her purification for twelve months (for so were the days of their
purification accomplished, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months
with sweet fragrances and with preparations for beautifying women).
{4:13} The young woman then came to the king in this way: whatever she
desired was given her to go with her out of the women's house to the
king's house. {4:14} In the evening she went, and on the next day she
returned into the second women's house, to the custody of Shaashgaz,
the king's eunuch, who kept the concubines. She came in to the king no
more, unless the king delighted in her and she was called by name.

   {4:15} Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the
uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, came to go in to
the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's eunuch, the
keeper of the women, advised. Esther obtained favor in the sight of all
those who looked at her. {4:16} So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus
into his royal house in the tenth month, which is the month Tevet, in
the seventh year of his reign. {4:17} The king loved Esther more than
all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more
than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown on her head, and
made her queen instead of Vashti. {4:18} Then the king made a great
feast for all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he
proclaimed a holiday in the provinces, and gave gifts according to the
king's bounty.

   {4:19} When the virgins were gathered together the second time,
Mordecai was sitting inside the king's gate. {4:20} Esther had not yet
made known her relatives or her people, as Mordecai had commanded her;
for Esther obeyed Mordecai, as she did when she was brought up by him.

   {4:21} In those days, while Mordecai was sitting inside the king's
gate, two of the king's eunuchs, Bigtha and Teresh, who were
doorkeepers, were angry, and sought to lay hands on the King Ahasuerus.
{4:22} This matter became known to Mordecai, who informed Esther the
queen; and Esther informed the king in Mordecai's name. {4:23} When the
matter was investigated, and it was found to be so, they were both
hanged on a tree; and it was written in the Book of the Chronicles in
the king's presence.

   {5:1} After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of
Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all
the princes who were with him. {5:2} All the king's servants who were
inside the king's gate bowed down, and paid homage to Haman; for the
king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai didn't bow down or
pay him homage. {5:3} Then the king's servants, who were inside the
king's gate, said to Mordecai, "Why do you disobey the king's
commandment?"

   {5:4} Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily to him, and he
didn't listen to them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's
reason would stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew. {5:5} When
Haman saw that Mordecai didn't bow down, nor pay him homage, Haman was
full of wrath. {5:6} But he scorned the thought of laying hands on
Mordecai alone, for they had made known to him Mordecai's people.
Therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai,
throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.

   {5:7} In the first month, which 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, and chose the twelfth month,
which is the month Adar. {5:8} Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is
a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in
all the provinces of your kingdom, and their laws are different than
those of other peoples. They do not keep the king's laws. Therefore it
is not to the king's benefit to allow them to remain. {5:9} If it
pleases the king, let it be written that they be destroyed; and I will
pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who are in
charge of the king's business, to bring it into the king's treasuries."
{5:10} The king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the
son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. {5:11} The king said to
Haman, "The silver is given to you, the people also, to do with them as
it seems good to you."

   {5:12} Then the king's scribes were called in on the first month, on
the thirteenth day of the month; and all that Haman commanded was
written to the king's satraps, and to the governors who were over every
province, and to the princes of every people, to every province
according its writing, and to every people in their language. It was
written in the name of King Ahasuerus, and it was sealed with the
king's ring. {5:13} Letters were sent by couriers 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, on the thirteenth
day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to plunder their
possessions.

   {6:1} This is a copy of the letters:

   "The great king Ahasuerus writes these things to the princes and
governors, who are under him from India unto Ethiopia in one hundred
twenty-seven provinces.

   {6:2} "After I became lord over many nations and had dominion over
the whole world, not lifted up with presumption of my authority, but
carrying myself always with equity and mildness, I purposed to settle
my subjects continually in a quiet life, and make my kingdom peaceable
and open for passage to the utmost coasts, to renew peace, which is
desired of all men.

   {6:3} "Now when I asked my counselors how this might be brought to
pass, Haman, who excelled in wisdom among us and was approved for his
constant good will and steadfast fidelity and had the honor of the
second place in the kingdom, {6:4} declared to us that in all nations
throughout the world there was scattered a certain malicious people,
who had laws contrary to all nations and continually despised the
commandments of kings, so that the uniting of our kingdoms, honorably
intended by us, cannot go forward. {6:5} Seeing this, we understand
that this people alone is continually in opposition unto all men,
differing in the strange ways of their laws and bringing about evil to
our state, working all the mischief they can, so that our kingdom may
not be firmly established:

   {6:6} "Therefore have we commanded that all those who are signified
in writing to you by Haman, who is ordained over these affairs and is
next unto us, shall all, with their wives and children, be utterly
destroyed by the sword of their enemies, without all mercy and pity, by
the fourteenth day of the twelfth month Adar of this present year:
{6:7} Thus may they, who from of old and now also are malicious, may in
one day with violence go into the grave, and so ever hereafter cause
our affairs to be well settled and without trouble."

   {6:8} A copy of the letter, that the decree should be given out in
every province, was published to all the peoples, that they should be
ready against that day. {6:9} The couriers went forth in haste by the
king's commandment, and the decree was given out in Susa, the palatial
city. The king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Susa was
perplexed.

   {7:1} Now when Mordecai found out all that was done, Mordecai tore
his clothes and put on sackcloth with ashes and went out into the midst
of the city and wailed loudly and bitterly. {7:2} He came even before
the king's gate, for no one is allowed inside the king's gate clothed
with sackcloth. {7:3} In every province, wherever the king's
commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the
Jews with fasting and weeping and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth
and ashes.

   {7:4} Esther's maidens and her eunuchs came and told her this, and
the queen was exceedingly grieved. She sent clothing to Mordecai, to
replace his sackcloth; but he didn't accept it. {7:5} 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. {7:6} So Hathach went out to Mordecai, to the city
square which was before the king's gate. {7:7} Mordecai told him of all
that had happened to him and the exact sum of the money that Haman had
promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the destruction of the
Jews. {7:8} He also gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that
was given out in Susa 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.

   {7:9} Hathach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai: {7:10}
"'Remember,' he says, 'the days of your humiliation, when I nurtured
you in my hand, because Haman, who is second only to the king, is
against us to the death. {7:11} And you, invoke the Lord and persuade
the king for us and free us from death.'" {7:12} Then Esther spoke to
Hathach, and gave him a message for Mordecai: {7:13} "All the king's
servants and the people of the king's provinces know that whoever,
whether man or woman, comes to the king into the inner court without
being called, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except
those to whom the king might hold out the golden scepter that he may
live. I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days."
{7:14} They told Esther's words to Mordecai. {7:15} Then Mordecai asked
them to return answer to Esther: "Don't think to yourself that you will
escape in the king's house any more than all the Jews.  {7:16} 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?"
{7:17} Then Esther asked them to answer Mordecai: {7:18} "Go, gather
together all the Jews who are present in Susa and fast for me: 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." {7:19} So Mordecai went his way and did
according to all that Esther had commanded him.

   {7:20} Then Mordecai thought upon all the works of the Lord and made
his prayer unto him, saying, {7:21}  "O Lord, Lord, the King Almighty,
the whole world is in your power and if you have appointed to save
Israel, then no man can contradict you: {7:22} For you have made heaven
and earth and all the wondrous things under the heavens. {7:23} You are
Lord of all things; there is no man who can withstand you, for you are
the Lord. {7:24} You know all things and you know, Lord, that it was
neither in contempt nor pride nor for any desire of glory that I didn't
bow down to proud Haman. {7:25} For I would have been content, with
good will for the salvation of Israel, to kiss the soles of his feet.
{7:26} But I didn't, so that I might not prefer the glory of man above
the glory of God: neither will I worship any but thee, O God; neither
will I do so in pride. {7:27} And now, O Lord God and King, spare thy
people, for their eyes are upon us to bring us to naught; yes, they
desire to destroy the inheritance which has been yours from the
beginning. {7:28} Despise not the portion which you have delivered out
of Egypt for your own self. {7:29} Hear my prayer and be merciful to
your inheritance: turn our sorrow into joy, so that we may live, O
Lord, and praise thy name; and destroy not the mouths of those who
praise thee, O Lord."

   {7:30} All Israel, in the same way, cried out most earnestly to the
Lord, because their death was before their eyes.

   {8:1} Queen Esther also was in fear of death and resorted to the
Lord. {8:2} And she put away her glorious apparel, and put on the
garments of anguish and mourning; and instead of precious ointments,
she covered her head with ashes and dung; and she humbled her body
greatly, and all the aspects of her beauty she covered with her torn
hair.

   {8:3} And she prayed to the Lord God of Israel, saying, "O my Lord,
you alone are our King. Help me, a desolate woman, who has no helper
but you, {8:4} for my danger is close at hand. {8:5} From my youth I
have heard, in the tribe of my family, how you, O Lord, took Israel
from among all peoples, and our fathers from all their predecessors,
for a perpetual inheritance, and you have performed whatsoever you
promised them. {8:6} And now we have sinned before you; therefore you
have given us into the hands of our enemies, {8:7} because we worshiped
their gods. O Lord, you are righteous!

   {8:8} "Nevertheless, it does not satisfy them that we are in bitter
captivity, but they have struck a deal with their idols. {8:9} They
will abolish the purpose that you with your mouth have ordained, and
destroy your inheritance, and silence the mouth of those who praise
you, and quench the glory of your house and of your altar, {8:10} and
open the mouths of the heathen to bring forth the praises of the idols,
to magnify a fleshly king for ever.

   {8:11} "O Lord, don't give your scepter to those who are nothing,
and let them not laugh at our fall; but turn their schemes upon
themselves, and make an example of him who began this against us.
{8:12} Remember, O Lord, make yourself known in the time of our
affliction and give me boldness, O King of the nations and Lord of all
power. {8:13} Give me eloquent speech in my mouth before the king; turn
his heart to hate him that fights against us, so that there may be an
end of him and of all that are likeminded to him. {8:14} But deliver us
with your hand and help me, for I am desolate and have no other help
but you.

   {8:15} "You know all things, O Lord; you know that I hate the glory
of the unrighteous and abhor the bed of the uncircumcised and of all
the heathen. {8:16} You know my necessity, for I abhor the sign of my
high estate, which is upon my head in the days when I show myself, and
that I abhor it as a menstruous rag, and that I wear it not when I am
in private by myself. {8:17} You know that your handmaid has not eaten
at Haman's table, and that I have not greatly esteemed the king's
feast, nor drunk the wine of the drink offerings. {8:18} Neither has
your handmaid had any joy, since the day that I was brought here to the
present, except in you, O Lord God of Abraham. {8:19} O mighty God
above all, hear the voice of the forlorn and deliver us out of the
hands of the mischievous and deliver me out of my fear."

   {9:1} And on the third day, when she ended her prayers, she put away
her mourning garments and put on her glorious apparel. {9:2} And being
gloriously adorned, after she called upon God, who knows all and saves
all, she took two maids with her; {9:3} and on the one, she leaned,
carrying herself daintily, {9:4} and the other followed, bearing up her
train. {9:5} She was ruddy through the perfection of her beauty, and
her countenance was cheerful and very amiable, but her heart was in
anguish out of fear. {9:6} Then, having passed through all the doors,
she stood before the king, who sat upon his royal throne and was
clothed with all his robes of majesty, all glittering with gold and
precious stones; and he was very dreadful. {9:7} Then, lifting up his
countenance which shined with majesty, he looked very fiercely upon
her; and the queen fell down and was pale and fainted and bowed herself
upon the head of the maid who went before her.

   {9:8} Then God changed the spirit of the king into mildness, who in
a fright leaped from his throne and took her in his arms, till she came
to herself again, and comforted her with loving words and said to her,
{9:9} "Esther, what is the matter? I am your brother, be of good cheer.
{9:10} You shall not die, though our commandment be general. Come
near." {9:11} And so he held up his golden scepter, and laid it upon
her neck, {9:12} and embraced her, and said, "Speak to me." {9:13} Then
she said to him, "I saw you, my lord, as an angel of God, and my heart
was troubled for fear of your majesty. {9:14} For you are wonderful,
lord, and your countenance is full of grace." {9:15} And as she was
speaking, she fell down out of faintness. {9:16} Then the king was
troubled and all his servants comforted her.

   [Alternate text from the Hebrew, verses 17-18:] {9:17} Now it
happened on the third day that 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. {9:18} 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.

   {9:19} Then the king asked her, "What would you like, Queen Esther?
What is your request? It shall be given you even to half of the
kingdom." {9:20} Esther said, "If it seems good to the king, let the
king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him."
{9:21} Then the king said, "Bring Haman quickly, so that it may be done
as Esther has said." So the king and Haman came to the banquet that
Esther had prepared. {9:22} The king said to Esther at the banquet of
wine, "What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your
request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be performed." {9:23}
Then Esther answered and said, "My petition and my request is this.
{9:24} If I have found favor 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 will prepare for them, and I will
do tomorrow as the king has said."

   {9:25} Then Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But
when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he didn't stand up or
move for him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai. {9:26}
Nevertheless Haman restrained himself and went home. There he sent and
called for his friends and Zeresh his wife. {9:27} Haman recounted to
them the glory of his riches, the multitude of his children, all the
things in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him
above the princes and servants of the king. {9:28} Haman also said,
"Yes, Esther the queen let no man come in with the king to the banquet
that she had prepared but myself; and tomorrow I am also invited by her
together with the king. {9:29} Yet all this avails me nothing, so long
as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate." {9:30} Then
Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, "Let a gallows be made
fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak to the king about hanging
Mordecai on it. Then go in merrily with the king to the banquet." This
pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.

   {10:1} On that night, the king couldn't sleep. He commanded the book
of records of the chronicles to be brought, and they were read to the
king. {10:2} It was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigtha and
Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who were doorkeepers, who had tried
to lay hands on the King Ahasuerus. {10:3} The king said, "What honor
and dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?" Then the king's
servants who attended him said, "Nothing has been done for him." {10:4}
The king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had come into the outer
court of the king's house, to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai
on the gallows that he had prepared for him. {10:5} The king's servants
said to him, "Behold, Haman stands in the court." The king said, "Let
him come in."

   {10:6} So Haman came in. The king said to him, "What shall be done
to the man whom the king delights to honor?" Now Haman said in his
heart, "Who would the king delight to honor more than myself?" {10:7}
Haman said to the king, "For the man whom the king delights to honor,
{10:8} let royal clothing be brought which the king uses to wear, and
the horse which the king rides on, and the royal crown which is set
upon his head. {10:9} Let the clothing and the horse be delivered to
the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array
the man whom the king delights to honor with them, and have him ride on
horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him, 'Thus shall
it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!'"

   {10:10} Then the king said to Haman, "Hurry and take the clothing
and the horse, as you have said, and do this for Mordecai the Jew, who
sits at the king's gate. Let nothing fail of all that you have spoken."
{10:11} Then Haman took the clothing and the horse, and arrayed
Mordecai, and had him ride through the city square, and proclaimed
before him, "Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to
honor!" {10:12} Mordecai came back to the king's gate, but Haman
hurried to his house, mourning and having his head covered.

   {10:13} Haman recounted to Zeresh his wife and all his friends
everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his
wife said to him, "If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is
of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him, but you will
surely fall before him." {10:14} While they were yet talking with him,
the king's eunuchs came and hurried to bring Haman to the banquet that
Esther had prepared.

   {11:1} So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.
{11:2} The king said again to Esther, on the second day at the banquet
of wine, "What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you.
What is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be
performed." {11:3} Then Esther the queen answered, "If I have found
favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be
given me at my petition, and my people at my request. {11:4} For we are
sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But
if we had been sold for bondservants and bondmaids, I would have held
my peace, although the adversary could not have compensated for the
king's loss." {11:5} Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen, "Who
is he and where is he, who dared presume in his heart to do so?" {11:6}
Esther said, "An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman!" Then
Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.

   {11:7} The king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went
into the palace garden. 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. {11:8} Then the king returned out of the palace garden
into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman had fallen on the
couch where Esther was. Then the king said, "Will he even assault the
queen in front of me in the house?" As the word went out of the king's
mouth, they covered Haman's face. {11:9} Then Harbona, one of the
eunuchs who were with the king said, "Behold, the gallows fifty cubits
high, which Haman has made for Mordecai, who spoke good for the king,
is standing at Haman's house." The king said, "Hang him on it!" {11:10}
So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai.
Then the king's wrath was pacified.

   {12:1} On that day, King Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman, the
Jews' enemy, to Esther the queen. Mordecai came before the king; for
Esther had revealed what he was to her.  {12:2} 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.

   {12:3} 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 plan that he had devised against the Jews. {12:4} Then
the king held out to Esther the golden scepter. So Esther arose and
stood before the king. {12:5} She said, "If it pleases the king and if
I have found favor in his sight, and if it seems right to the king and
I am 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. {12:6} For how
can I endure to see the evil that would come to my people? How can I
endure to see the destruction of my relatives?"

   {12:7} Then 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.
{12:8} Write 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 not be reversed by
any man."

   {12:9} Then the king's scribes were called at that time, in the
third month Sivan, on the twenty-third day of the month; 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 its writing, and to every people in their
language, and to the Jews in their writing, and in their language.
{12:10} 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 bread from swift steeds. {12:11} 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,
{12:12} on one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the
thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar:

   {13:1} "The great king Ahasuerus to the princes and governors of the
one hundred twenty seven provinces from India to Ethiopia and to all
our faithful subjects, greeting.

   {13:2} "Many, the more often they are honored with the great bounty
of their gracious princes, the more proud they become, {13:3} and they
endeavor to hurt, not only our subjects, but also, being unable to bear
abundance, take it in hand to practice against those that do them good.
{13:4} And they take, not only thankfulness away from among men, but
also, lifted up with the glorious words of lewd persons who were never
good, they think to escape the justice of God, who sees all things and
hates evil.

   {13:5} "Oftentimes also, the pleasing words of those who are trusted
to manage their friends' affairs, have caused many who are in authority
to be partakers of innocent blood and have enwrapped them in remediless
calamities-- {13:6} thus beguiling with the falsehood and deceit of
their lewd disposition, the innocence and goodness of princes.

   {13:7} "Now you may see this, as we have declared, not so much by
ancient histories, but also if you search what has been wickedly done
of late, through the pestilent behavior of those who are unworthily
placed in authority. {13:8} And we must take care for the time to come,
that our kingdom may be quiet and peaceable for all men, {13:9} both by
changing our purposes and by always judging things which are evident
with more equal proceeding.

   {13:10} "For Haman, a Macedonian, the son of Hammedatha, being
indeed a stranger from the Persian blood, and far distant from our
goodness and as a stranger received of us, {13:11} had obtained so much
of the favor that we show toward every nation, that he was called our
father and was continually honored above all as the person next to the
king. {13:12} But he, not bearing his great dignity, went about to
deprive us of our kingdom and life, {13:13} and, by manifold and
cunning deceits, sought of us the destruction also of Mordecai, who
saved our life and continually procured our good, as also of blameless
Esther, partaker of our kingdom, with their whole nation. {13:14} For
by these means he thought, finding us destitute of friends, to have
transferred the kingdom of the Persians to the Macedonians.

   {13:15} "But we find that the Jews, whom this wicked wretch had
delivered to utter destruction, are no evildoers, but live by most just
laws, {13:16} and that they be children of the most high and most
mighty living God, who has ordered the kingdom both unto us and unto
our progenitors, in the most excellent way. {13:17} Wherefore, you
shall do well not to put in execution the letters sent to you by Haman
the son of Hammedatha, {13:18} for he, who was the worker of these
things, is hanged at the gates of Susa with all his family: God, who
rules all things, speedily rendering vengeance to him according to his
deserts.

   {13:19} "Therefore you shall publish the copy of this letter in all
places that the Jews may freely live after their own laws. {13:20} And
you shall aid them, so that even on the same day, the thirteenth day of
the twelfth month Adar, they may be avenged on them, who in the time of
their affliction would have set upon them. {13:21} For Almighty God has
turned to joy for them the day wherein the chosen people would have
perished. {13:22} You shall therefore among your solemn feasts keep it
a high day with all feasting: {13:23} that both now and hereafter there
may be safety to us and the well-meaning Persians; but to those who
conspire against us, a memorial of destruction. {13:24} Therefore every
city and country whatsoever, which does not do according to these
things, shall be destroyed without mercy with fire and sword and shall
be made not only unacceptable for men, but also most hateful to wild
beasts and fowl for ever."

   {13:25} A copy of the letter, that the decree should be given out in
every province, was published to all the peoples, so that the Jews
would be ready for that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
{13:26} So the couriers who rode on royal horses went out, hastened and
pressed on by the king's commandment. The decree was given out in Susa,
the palatial city.

   {13:27} Mordecai went out of 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 Susa shouted and was
glad. {13:28} The Jews had light, gladness, joy, and honor. {13:29} In
every province and in every city, wherever the king's commandment and
his decree came, the Jews had gladness, joy, a feast, and a good day.
Many from among the peoples of the land became Jews; for the fear of
the Jews had fallen upon them.

   {14:1} Now in the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, on the
thirteenth day of the month, when the king's commandment and his decree
drew near to being put into execution, on the day that the enemies of
the Jews hoped to conquer them, (but it was turned out the opposite
happened, that the Jews conquered those who hated them), {14:2} 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.

   {14:3} All the princes of the provinces, the satraps, the governors,
and those who did the king's business, helped the Jews, because the
fear of Mordecai had fallen on them. {14:4} For Mordecai was great in
the king's house and his fame went out throughout all the provinces;
for the man Mordecai grew greater and greater. {14:5} The Jews struck
all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and with slaughter and
destruction, and did what they wanted to those who hated them.

   {14:6} In Susa, the palatial city, the Jews killed and destroyed
five hundred men. {14:7} They killed Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha,
{14:8} Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, {14:9} Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and
Vaizatha, {14:10} the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the
Jew's enemy, but they didn't lay their hand on the plunder.

   {14:11} On that day, the number of those who were slain in Susa, the
palatial city, was brought before the king. {14:12} The king said to
Esther the queen, "The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men
in Susa, the palatial city, including the ten sons of Haman; what then
have they done in the rest of the king's provinces! Now what is your
petition? It shall be granted you. What is your further request? It
shall be done." {14:13} Then Esther said, "If it pleases the king, let
it be granted to the Jews who are in Susa to do tomorrow also according
to this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged on the
gallows." {14:14} The king commanded this to be done. A decree was
given out in Susa; and they hanged Haman's ten sons.

   {14:15} The Jews who were in Susa gathered themselves together on
the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and killed three hundred men
in Susa; but they didn't lay their hand on the spoil. {14:16} 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. {14:17} This was done on the thirteenth day
of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of that month they rested
and made it a day of feasting and gladness. {14:18} But the Jews who
were in Susa assembled together on the thirteenth and on the fourteenth
days of the month; and, on the fifteenth day of that month, they rested
and made it a day of feasting and gladness. {14:19} Therefore the Jews
of the villages, who live in the unwalled towns, make the fourteenth
day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, a good day, and a
day of sending presents of food to one another. {14:20} Mordecai wrote
these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the
provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both near and far, {14:21} to enjoin
them that they should keep the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the
month Adar yearly, {14:22} as the days in which the Jews had rest from
their enemies, and the month which was turned for them from sorrow to
gladness and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them
days of feasting and gladness and of sending presents of food to one
another and gifts to the needy.

   {14:23} The Jews accepted the custom which they had begun, as
Mordecai had written to them; {14:24} because Haman the son of
Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against
the Jews to destroy them and had cast "Pur," that is the lot, to
consume them and to destroy them; {14:25} but when this became known to
the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked plan, which he had
devised against the Jews, should return on his own head, and that he
and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. {14:26} Therefore they
called these days "Purim," from the word "Pur." Therefore because of
all the words of this letter and of what they had seen concerning this
matter and of what had come to them, {14:27} the Jews established, and
imposed on themselves and on their descendants and on all those who
joined themselves to them, so that it should not fail, that they would
keep these two days according to what was written and according to its
appointed time every year; {14:28} 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 fall
from among the Jews, nor their memory perish from their seed.

   {14:29} Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai
the Jew, wrote with all authority to confirm this second letter of
Purim. {14:30} He sent letters to all the Jews, to the one hundred
twenty-seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace
and truth, {14:31} to confirm these days of Purim in their appointed
times, as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had decreed, and as
they had imposed upon themselves and their descendants, in the matter
of the fastings and their cry. {14:32} The commandment of Esther
confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.

   {15:1} King Ahasuerus laid a tribute on the land and on the islands
of the sea. {15:2} All the acts of his power and of his might, and the
full account of the greatness of Mordecai, to which the king promoted
him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of
Media and Persia? {15:3} For Mordecai the Jew was next to King
Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted by the multitude of
his brothers, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all
his descendants.

   {15:4} Then Mordecai said, "God has done these things. {15:5} For I
remember a dream which I saw concerning these matters, and nothing
thereof has failed. {15:6} A little fountain became a river, and there
was light and the sun and much water: this river is Esther, whom the
king married and made queen; {15:7} and the two dragons are myself and
Haman. {15:8} And the nations were those which were assembled to
destroy the name of the Jews; {15:9} and my nation is this Israel, who
cried to God and were saved, for the Lord has saved his people, and the
Lord has delivered us from all those evils, and God has wrought signs
and great wonders, which have not been done among the Gentiles. {15:10}
Therefore he has made two lots, one for the people of God and another
for all the Gentiles. {15:11} And these two lots came at the hour and
time and day of judgment, before God among all nations. {15:12} So God
remembered his people and justified his inheritance. {15:13} Therefore
those days shall be given to them in the month Adar, the fourteenth and
fifteenth day of the same month, with an assembly and joy and with
gladness before God, according to the generations for ever among his
people."

   {15:14} In the fourth year of the reign of Ptolemeus and Cleopatra,
Dositheus, who said he was a priest and Levite, and Ptolemeus his son,
brought this letter of Purim, which they said was the same, and that
Lysimachus the son of Ptolemeus, who was in Jerusalem, had translated
it.


