Esther 8

1 That same day King Xerxes awarded Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai entered the king’s presence because Esther had revealed his relation to her.

2 The king removed the signet ring he had recovered from Haman and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed Mordecai over the estate of Haman.

3 And once again, Esther addressed the king. She fell at his feet weeping and begged him to revoke the evil scheme of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews.

4 The king extended the gold scepter toward Esther, and she arose and stood before the king.

5 “If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if I have found favor in his sight, and the matter seems proper to the king, and I am pleasing in his sight, may an order be written to revoke the letters that the scheming Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces.

6 For how could I bear to see the disaster that would befall my people? How could I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?”

7 So King Xerxes said to Esther the Queen and Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given Haman’s estate to Esther, and he was hanged on the gallows because he attacked the Jews.

8 Now you may write in the king’s name as you please regarding the Jews, and seal it with the royal signet ring. For a decree that is written in the name of the king and sealed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked.”

9 At once the royal scribes were summoned, and on the twenty-third day of the third month (the month of Sivan), they recorded all of Mordecai’s orders to the Jews and to the satraps, governors, and princes of the 127 provinces from India to Cush—writing to each province in its own script, to every people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language.

10 Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes and sealed it with the royal signet ring. He sent the documents by mounted couriers riding on swift horses bred from the royal mares.

11 By these letters the king permitted the Jews in each and every city the right to assemble and defend themselves, to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province hostile to them, including women and children, and to plunder their possessions.

12 The single day appointed throughout all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar.

13 A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued in every province and published to all the people, so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

14 The couriers rode out in haste on their royal horses, pressed on by the command of the king. And the edict was also issued in the citadel of Susa.

15 Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal garments of blue and white, with a large gold crown and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.

16 For the Jews it was a time of light and gladness, of joy and honor.

17 In every province and every city, wherever the king’s edict and decree reached, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many of the people of the land themselves became Jews, because 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 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.

1 In that day king Ahasuerus gave to Esther the queen the house of Haman the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king: for Esther told how he belonged unto her.

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

3 And Esther spake again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him that he would put away the wickedness of Haman the Agagite, and his devices which he had devised against the Jews.

4 And the king stretched out the golden sceptre unto Esther. And Esther arose, and stood before the king.

5 And he said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and if it please the king, and if I please him, then let it be written, that the letters of the plots of Haman the son of Medatha the Agagite be revoked, which he wrote to destroy the Jews throughout all the king's provinces.

6 For how can I see the evil that shall befall my people? And how can I see my people perish?

7 And king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen, and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given the house of Haman unto Esther, and he is hanged upon a tree, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.

8 Now therefore write ye for the Jews, as ye please, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring. For the writing that was written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, no man hath had to revoke.

9 And the king's scribes were called at that time in the third month, which is the moon of Sivan, on the three and twentieth day; and it was written, as Mordecai commanded, unto the Jews, and to the princes, and to the governors, and to the captains of the provinces, from India even unto the Moors, even an hundred and twenty and seven provinces, to every province according to their writings, and to every people according to their language, and to the Jews according to their writing and their language.

10 And it was written in the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed with the king's rings. And he sent the letters by messengers riding upon young mouths,

11 Wherein the king gave the Jews, where they were in the cities, to assemble themselves together, and to stand for their lives, and to destroy, and to slay, and to destroy all the power of the people and of the land, which they feared, with their children and their wives, and to spoil their substance,

12 On one day in all the lands of king Ahasuerus, even on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the moon Adar.

13 And the content of the scripture was, that a commandment should be given in all countries, to open unto all nations, that the Jews should be sent in that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

14 And the messengers that rode upon the mouths went out quickly and in haste according to the king's word: and the commandment was posted in Shushan the palace.

15 And Mordecai went out from the king in royal apparel, yellow and white, and with a great crown of gold, clothed in a linen and purple mantle: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.

16 But unto the Jews was light, and joy, and. Delight and honor come.

17 And in every land, and in every city, whither the king's word and commandment came, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, and gladness and good days; and many of the people of the land became Jews: for the fear of the Jews was upon them.