CHAPTER1
1NowitcametopassinthedaysofAhasuerus,(thisis Ahasueruswhichreigned,fromIndiaevenuntoEthiopia, overanhundredandsevenandtwentyprovinces:)
2Thatinthosedays,whenthekingAhasuerussatonthe throneofhiskingdom,whichwasinShushanthepalace, 3Inthethirdyearofhisreign,hemadeafeastuntoallhis princesandhisservants;thepowerofPersiaandMedia, thenoblesandprincesoftheprovinces,beingbeforehim: 4Whenheshewedtherichesofhisgloriouskingdomand thehonourofhisexcellentmajestymanydays,evenan hundredandfourscoredays.
5Andwhenthesedayswereexpired,thekingmadeafeast untoallthepeoplethatwerepresentinShushanthepalace, bothuntogreatandsmall,sevendays,inthecourtofthe gardenoftheking'spalace;
6Wherewerewhite,green,andblue,hangings,fastened withcordsoffinelinenandpurpletosilverringsand pillarsofmarble:thebedswereofgoldandsilver,upona pavementofred,andblue,andwhite,andblack,marble
7Andtheygavethemdrinkinvesselsofgold,(thevessels beingdiverseonefromanother,)androyalwinein abundance,accordingtothestateoftheking
8Andthedrinkingwasaccordingtothelaw;nonedid compel:forsothekinghadappointedtoalltheofficersof hishouse,thattheyshoulddoaccordingtoeveryman's pleasure.
9AlsoVashtithequeenmadeafeastforthewomeninthe royalhousewhichbelongedtokingAhasuerus
10Ontheseventhday,whentheheartofthekingwas merrywithwine,hecommandedMehuman,Biztha, Harbona,Bigtha,andAbagtha,Zethar,andCarcas,the sevenchamberlainsthatservedinthepresenceof Ahasuerustheking,
11TobringVashtithequeenbeforethekingwiththe crownroyal,toshewthepeopleandtheprincesherbeauty: forshewasfairtolookon
12ButthequeenVashtirefusedtocomeattheking's commandmentbyhischamberlains:thereforewastheking verywroth,andhisangerburnedinhim
13Thenthekingsaidtothewisemen,whichknewthe times,(forsowastheking'smannertowardallthatknew lawandjudgment:
14AndthenextuntohimwasCarshena,Shethar,Admatha, Tarshish,Meres,Marsena,andMemucan,theseven princesofPersiaandMedia,whichsawtheking'sface,and whichsatthefirstinthekingdom;)
15WhatshallwedountothequeenVashtiaccordingto law,becauseshehathnotperformedthecommandmentof thekingAhasuerusbythechamberlains?
16AndMemucanansweredbeforethekingandtheprinces, Vashtithequeenhathnotdonewrongtothekingonly,but alsotoalltheprinces,andtoallthepeoplethatareinall theprovincesofthekingAhasuerus
17Forthisdeedofthequeenshallcomeabroaduntoall women,sothattheyshalldespisetheirhusbandsintheir eyes,whenitshallbereported,ThekingAhasuerus commandedVashtithequeentobebroughtinbeforehim, butshecamenot.
18LikewiseshalltheladiesofPersiaandMediasaythis dayuntoalltheking'sprinces,whichhaveheardofthe deedofthequeen.Thusshalltherearisetoomuch contemptandwrath
19Ifitpleasetheking,lettheregoaroyalcommandment fromhim,andletitbewrittenamongthelawsofthe PersiansandtheMedes,thatitbenotaltered,ThatVashti comenomorebeforekingAhasuerus;andletthekinggive herroyalestateuntoanotherthatisbetterthanshe.
20Andwhentheking'sdecreewhichheshallmakeshall bepublishedthroughoutallhisempire,(foritisgreat,)all thewivesshallgivetotheirhusbandshonour,bothtogreat andsmall
21Andthesayingpleasedthekingandtheprinces;andthe kingdidaccordingtothewordofMemucan:
22Forhesentlettersintoalltheking'sprovinces,into everyprovinceaccordingtothewritingthereof,andto everypeopleaftertheirlanguage,thateverymanshould bearruleinhisownhouse,andthatitshouldbepublished accordingtothelanguageofeverypeople
CHAPTER2
1Afterthesethings,whenthewrathofkingAhasuerus wasappeased,herememberedVashti,andwhatshehad done,andwhatwasdecreedagainsther
2Thensaidtheking'sservantsthatministereduntohim, Lettherebefairyoungvirginssoughtfortheking:
3Andletthekingappointofficersinalltheprovincesof hiskingdom,thattheymaygathertogetherallthefair youngvirginsuntoShushanthepalace,tothehouseofthe women,untothecustodyofHegetheking'schamberlain, keeperofthewomen;andlettheirthingsforpurification begiventhem:
4Andletthemaidenwhichpleaseththekingbequeen insteadofVashti.Andthethingpleasedtheking;andhe didso
5NowinShushanthepalacetherewasacertainJew, whosenamewasMordecai,thesonofJair,thesonof Shimei,thesonofKish,aBenjamite;
6WhohadbeencarriedawayfromJerusalemwiththe captivitywhichhadbeencarriedawaywithJeconiahking ofJudah,whomNebuchadnezzarthekingofBabylonhad carriedaway.
7AndhebroughtupHadassah,thatis,Esther,hisuncle's daughter:forshehadneitherfathernormother,andthe maidwasfairandbeautiful;whomMordecai,whenher fatherandmotherweredead,tookforhisowndaughter
8Soitcametopass,whentheking'scommandmentand hisdecreewasheard,andwhenmanymaidenswere gatheredtogetheruntoShushanthepalace,tothecustody ofHegai,thatEstherwasbroughtalsountotheking's house,tothecustodyofHegai,keeperofthewomen.
9Andthemaidenpleasedhim,andsheobtainedkindness ofhim;andhespeedilygaveherherthingsforpurification, withsuchthingsasbelongedtoher,andsevenmaidens, whichweremeettobegivenher,outoftheking'shouse: andhepreferredherandhermaidsuntothebestplaceof thehouseofthewomen.
10Estherhadnotshewedherpeoplenorherkindred:for Mordecaihadchargedherthatsheshouldnotshewit
11AndMordecaiwalkedeverydaybeforethecourtofthe women'shouse,toknowhowEstherdid,andwhatshould becomeofher
12Nowwheneverymaid'sturnwascometogointoking Ahasuerus,afterthatshehadbeentwelvemonths, accordingtothemannerofthewomen,(forsowerethe daysoftheirpurificationsaccomplished,towit,sixmonths withoilofmyrrh,andsixmonthswithsweetodours,and withotherthingsforthepurifyingofthewomen;)
13Thenthuscameeverymaidenuntotheking;whatsoever shedesiredwasgivenhertogowithheroutofthehouseof thewomenuntotheking'shouse
14Intheeveningshewent,andonthemorrowshe returnedintothesecondhouseofthewomen,tothe custodyofShaashgaz,theking'schamberlain,whichkept theconcubines:shecameinuntothekingnomore,except thekingdelightedinher,andthatshewerecalledbyname
15NowwhentheturnofEsther,thedaughterofAbihail theuncleofMordecai,whohadtakenherforhisdaughter, wascometogoinuntotheking,sherequirednothingbut whatHegaitheking'schamberlain,thekeeperofthe women,appointed.AndEstherobtainedfavourinthesight ofallthemthatlookeduponher
16SoEstherwastakenuntokingAhasuerusintohishouse royalinthetenthmonth,whichisthemonthTebeth,inthe seventhyearofhisreign
17AndthekinglovedEstheraboveallthewomen,andshe obtainedgraceandfavourinhissightmorethanallthe virgins;sothathesettheroyalcrownuponherhead,and madeherqueeninsteadofVashti
18Thenthekingmadeagreatfeastuntoallhisprincesand hisservants,evenEsther'sfeast;andhemadeareleaseto theprovinces,andgavegifts,accordingtothestateofthe king.
19Andwhenthevirginsweregatheredtogetherthesecond time,thenMordecaisatintheking'sgate
20Estherhadnotyetshewedherkindrednorherpeople; asMordecaihadchargedher:forEstherdidthe commandmentofMordecai,likeaswhenshewasbrought upwithhim.
21Inthosedays,whileMordecaisatintheking'sgate,two oftheking'schamberlains,BigthanandTeresh,ofthose whichkeptthedoor,werewroth,andsoughttolayhandon thekingAhasuerus
22AndthethingwasknowntoMordecai,whotolditunto Estherthequeen;andEsthercertifiedthekingthereofin Mordecai'sname
23Andwheninquisitionwasmadeofthematter,itwas foundout;thereforetheywerebothhangedonatree:andit waswritteninthebookofthechroniclesbeforetheking
CHAPTER3
1AfterthesethingsdidkingAhasueruspromoteHaman thesonofHammedathatheAgagite,andadvancedhim, andsethisseatabovealltheprincesthatwerewithhim
2Andalltheking'sservants,thatwereintheking'sgate, bowed,andreverencedHaman:forthekinghadso commandedconcerninghimButMordecaibowednot,nor didhimreverence.
3Thentheking'sservants,whichwereintheking'sgate, saiduntoMordecai,Whytransgressestthoutheking's commandment?
4Nowitcametopass,whentheyspakedailyuntohim, andhehearkenednotuntothem,thattheytoldHaman,to seewhetherMordecai'smatterswouldstand:forhehad toldthemthathewasaJew
5AndwhenHamansawthatMordecaibowednot,nordid himreverence,thenwasHamanfullofwrath
6AndhethoughtscorntolayhandsonMordecaialone; fortheyhadshewedhimthepeopleofMordecai: whereforeHamansoughttodestroyalltheJewsthatwere throughoutthewholekingdomofAhasuerus,eventhe peopleofMordecai
7Inthefirstmonth,thatis,themonthNisan,inthetwelfth yearofkingAhasuerus,theycastPur,thatis,thelot, beforeHamanfromdaytoday,andfrommonthtomonth, tothetwelfthmonth,thatis,themonthAdar
8AndHamansaiduntokingAhasuerus,Thereisacertain peoplescatteredabroadanddispersedamongthepeoplein alltheprovincesofthykingdom;andtheirlawsarediverse fromallpeople;neitherkeeptheytheking'slaws:therefore itisnotfortheking'sprofittosufferthem
9Ifitpleasetheking,letitbewrittenthattheymaybe destroyed:andIwillpaytenthousandtalentsofsilverto thehandsofthosethathavethechargeofthebusiness,to bringitintotheking'streasuries
10Andthekingtookhisringfromhishand,andgaveit untoHamanthesonofHammedathatheAgagite,theJews' enemy
11AndthekingsaiduntoHaman,Thesilverisgivento thee,thepeoplealso,todowiththemasitseemethgoodto thee
12Thenweretheking'sscribescalledonthethirteenthday ofthefirstmonth,andtherewaswrittenaccordingtoall thatHamanhadcommandeduntotheking'slieutenants, andtothegovernorsthatwereovereveryprovince,andto therulersofeverypeopleofeveryprovinceaccordingto thewritingthereof,andtoeverypeopleaftertheirlanguage; inthenameofkingAhasueruswasitwritten,andsealed withtheking'sring
13Andthelettersweresentbypostsintoalltheking's provinces,todestroy,tokill,andtocausetoperish,all Jews,bothyoungandold,littlechildrenandwomen,in oneday,evenuponthethirteenthdayofthetwelfthmonth, whichisthemonthAdar,andtotakethespoilofthemfora prey
14Thecopyofthewritingforacommandmenttobegiven ineveryprovincewaspublisheduntoallpeople,thatthey shouldbereadyagainstthatday
15Thepostswentout,beinghastenedbytheking's commandment,andthedecreewasgiveninShushanthe palaceAndthekingandHamansatdowntodrink;butthe cityShushanwasperplexed
CHAPTER4
1WhenMordecaiperceivedallthatwasdone,Mordecai renthisclothes,andputonsackclothwithashes,andwent outintothemidstofthecity,andcriedwithaloudanda bittercry;
2Andcameevenbeforetheking'sgate:fornonemight enterintotheking'sgateclothedwithsackcloth.
3Andineveryprovince,whithersoevertheking's commandmentandhisdecreecame,therewasgreat mourningamongtheJews,andfasting,andweeping,and wailing;andmanylayinsackclothandashes
4SoEsther'smaidsandherchamberlainscameandtoldit her.Thenwasthequeenexceedinglygrieved;andshesent raimenttoclotheMordecai,andtotakeawayhissackcloth fromhim:buthereceiveditnot
5ThencalledEstherforHatach,oneoftheking's chamberlains,whomhehadappointedtoattenduponher, andgavehimacommandmenttoMordecai,toknowwhat itwas,andwhyitwas
6SoHatachwentforthtoMordecaiuntothestreetofthe city,whichwasbeforetheking'sgate.
7AndMordecaitoldhimofallthathadhappeneduntohim, andofthesumofthemoneythatHamanhadpromisedto paytotheking'streasuriesfortheJews,todestroythem.
8Alsohegavehimthecopyofthewritingofthedecree thatwasgivenatShushantodestroythem,toshewitunto Esther,andtodeclareituntoher,andtochargeherthatshe shouldgoinuntotheking,tomakesupplicationuntohim, andtomakerequestbeforehimforherpeople
9AndHatachcameandtoldEstherthewordsofMordecai.
10AgainEstherspakeuntoHatach,andgavehim commandmentuntoMordecai;
11Alltheking'sservants,andthepeopleoftheking's provinces,doknow,thatwhosoever,whethermanor woman,shallcomeuntothekingintotheinnercourt,who isnotcalled,thereisonelawofhistoputhimtodeath, exceptsuchtowhomthekingshallholdoutthegolden sceptre,thathemaylive:butIhavenotbeencalledto comeinuntothekingthesethirtydays.
12AndtheytoldtoMordecaiEsther'swords
13ThenMordecaicommandedtoanswerEsther,Thinknot withthyselfthatthoushaltescapeintheking'shouse,more thanalltheJews
14Forifthoualtogetherholdestthypeaceatthistime,then shallthereenlargementanddeliverancearisetotheJews fromanotherplace;butthouandthyfather'shouseshallbe destroyed:andwhoknowethwhetherthouartcometothe kingdomforsuchatimeasthis?
15ThenEstherbadethemreturnMordecaithisanswer, 16Go,gathertogetheralltheJewsthatarepresentin Shushan,andfastyeforme,andneithereatnordrinkthree days,nightorday:Ialsoandmymaidenswillfastlikewise; andsowillIgoinuntotheking,whichisnotaccordingto thelaw:andifIperish,Iperish
17SoMordecaiwenthisway,anddidaccordingtoallthat Estherhadcommandedhim
CHAPTER5
1Nowitcametopassonthethirdday,thatEstherputon herroyalapparel,andstoodintheinnercourtoftheking's house,overagainsttheking'shouse:andthekingsatupon hisroyalthroneintheroyalhouse,overagainstthegateof thehouse
2Anditwasso,whenthekingsawEstherthequeen standinginthecourt,thatsheobtainedfavourinhissight: andthekingheldouttoEstherthegoldensceptrethatwas
inhishandSoEstherdrewnear,andtouchedthetopofthe sceptre.
3Thensaidthekinguntoher,Whatwiltthou,queen Esther?andwhatisthyrequest?itshallbeevengiventhee tothehalfofthekingdom.
4AndEstheranswered,Ifitseemgooduntotheking,let thekingandHamancomethisdayuntothebanquetthatI havepreparedforhim.
5Thenthekingsaid,CauseHamantomakehaste,thathe maydoasEstherhathsaidSothekingandHamancame tothebanquetthatEstherhadprepared
6AndthekingsaiduntoEstheratthebanquetofwine, Whatisthypetition?anditshallbegrantedthee:andwhat isthyrequest?eventothehalfofthekingdomitshallbe performed
7ThenansweredEsther,andsaid,Mypetitionandmy requestis;
8IfIhavefoundfavourinthesightoftheking,andifit pleasethekingtograntmypetition,andtoperformmy request,letthekingandHamancometothebanquetthatI shallprepareforthem,andIwilldotomorrowastheking hathsaid.
9ThenwentHamanforththatdayjoyfulandwithaglad heart:butwhenHamansawMordecaiintheking'sgate, thathestoodnotup,normovedforhim,hewasfullof indignationagainstMordecai
10NeverthelessHamanrefrainedhimself:andwhenhe camehome,hesentandcalledforhisfriends,andZeresh hiswife
11AndHamantoldthemofthegloryofhisriches,andthe multitudeofhischildren,andallthethingswhereinthe kinghadpromotedhim,andhowhehadadvancedhim abovetheprincesandservantsoftheking
12Hamansaidmoreover,Yea,Estherthequeendidletno mancomeinwiththekinguntothebanquetthatshehad preparedbutmyself;andtomorrowamIinviteduntoher alsowiththeking.
13Yetallthisavailethmenothing,solongasIsee MordecaitheJewsittingattheking'sgate
14ThensaidZereshhiswifeandallhisfriendsuntohim, Letagallowsbemadeoffiftycubitshigh,andtomorrow speakthouuntothekingthatMordecaimaybehanged thereon:thengothouinmerrilywiththekinguntothe banquetAndthethingpleasedHaman;andhecausedthe gallowstobemade
CHAPTER6
1Onthatnightcouldnotthekingsleep,andhe commandedtobringthebookofrecordsofthechronicles; andtheywerereadbeforetheking
2Anditwasfoundwritten,thatMordecaihadtoldof BigthanaandTeresh,twooftheking'schamberlains,the keepersofthedoor,whosoughttolayhandontheking Ahasuerus
3Andthekingsaid,Whathonouranddignityhathbeen donetoMordecaiforthis?Thensaidtheking'sservants thatministereduntohim,Thereisnothingdoneforhim
4Andthekingsaid,Whoisinthecourt?NowHamanwas comeintotheoutwardcourtoftheking'shouse,tospeak untothekingtohangMordecaionthegallowsthathehad preparedforhim
5Andtheking'sservantssaiduntohim,Behold,Haman standethinthecourt.Andthekingsaid,Lethimcomein.
6SoHamancameinAndthekingsaiduntohim,What shallbedoneuntothemanwhomthekingdelightethto honour?NowHamanthoughtinhisheart,Towhomwould thekingdelighttodohonourmorethantomyself?
7AndHamanansweredtheking,Forthemanwhomthe kingdelightethtohonour,
8Lettheroyalapparelbebroughtwhichthekingusethto wear,andthehorsethatthekingridethupon,andthe crownroyalwhichissetuponhishead:
9Andletthisapparelandhorsebedeliveredtothehandof oneoftheking'smostnobleprinces,thattheymayarray themanwithalwhomthekingdelightethtohonour,and bringhimonhorsebackthroughthestreetofthecity,and proclaimbeforehim,Thusshallitbedonetotheman whomthekingdelightethtohonour
10ThenthekingsaidtoHaman,Makehaste,andtakethe apparelandthehorse,asthouhastsaid,anddoevensoto MordecaitheJew,thatsittethattheking'sgate:letnothing failofallthatthouhastspoken
11ThentookHamantheapparelandthehorse,andarrayed Mordecai,andbroughthimonhorsebackthroughthestreet ofthecity,andproclaimedbeforehim,Thusshallitbe doneuntothemanwhomthekingdelightethtohonour.
12AndMordecaicameagaintotheking'sgateBut Hamanhastedtohishousemourning,andhavinghishead covered.
13AndHamantoldZereshhiswifeandallhisfriends everythingthathadbefallenhimThensaidhiswisemen andZereshhiswifeuntohim,IfMordecaibeoftheseedof theJews,beforewhomthouhastbeguntofall,thoushalt notprevailagainsthim,butshaltsurelyfallbeforehim
14Andwhiletheywereyettalkingwithhim,camethe king'schamberlains,andhastedtobringHamanuntothe banquetthatEstherhadprepared
CHAPTER7
1SothekingandHamancametobanquetwithEstherthe queen
2AndthekingsaidagainuntoEstherontheseconddayat thebanquetofwine,Whatisthypetition,queenEsther? anditshallbegrantedthee:andwhatisthyrequest?andit shallbeperformed,eventothehalfofthekingdom
3ThenEstherthequeenansweredandsaid,IfIhavefound favourinthysight,Oking,andifitpleasetheking,letmy lifebegivenmeatmypetition,andmypeopleatmy request:
4Forwearesold,Iandmypeople,tobedestroyed,tobe slain,andtoperishButifwehadbeensoldforbondmen andbondwomen,Ihadheldmytongue,althoughthe enemycouldnotcountervailtheking'sdamage
5ThenthekingAhasuerusansweredandsaiduntoEsther thequeen,Whoishe,andwhereishe,thatdurstpresume inhishearttodoso?
6AndEsthersaid,Theadversaryandenemyisthiswicked HamanThenHamanwasafraidbeforethekingandthe queen
7Andthekingarisingfromthebanquetofwineinhis wrathwentintothepalacegarden:andHamanstoodupto
makerequestforhislifetoEstherthequeen;forhesaw thattherewasevildeterminedagainsthimbytheking. 8Thenthekingreturnedoutofthepalacegardenintothe placeofthebanquetofwine;andHamanwasfallenupon thebedwhereonEstherwas.Thensaidtheking,Willhe forcethequeenalsobeforemeinthehouse?Astheword wentoutoftheking'smouth,theycoveredHaman'sface
9AndHarbonah,oneofthechamberlains,saidbeforethe king,Beholdalso,thegallowsfiftycubitshigh,which HamanhadmadeforMordecai,whohadspokengoodfor theking,standethinthehouseofHamanThentheking said,Hanghimthereon
10SotheyhangedHamanonthegallowsthathehad preparedforMordecaiThenwastheking'swrathpacified
CHAPTER8
1OnthatdaydidthekingAhasuerusgivethehouseof HamantheJews'enemyuntoEstherthequeen.And Mordecaicamebeforetheking;forEstherhadtoldwhathe wasuntoher
2Andthekingtookoffhisring,whichhehadtakenfrom Haman,andgaveituntoMordecaiAndEstherset MordecaioverthehouseofHaman
3AndEstherspakeyetagainbeforetheking,andfell downathisfeet,andbesoughthimwithtearstoputaway themischiefofHamantheAgagite,andhisdevicethathe haddevisedagainsttheJews.
4ThenthekingheldoutthegoldensceptretowardEsther SoEstherarose,andstoodbeforetheking, 5Andsaid,Ifitpleasetheking,andifIhavefoundfavour inhissight,andthethingseemrightbeforetheking,andI bepleasinginhiseyes,letitbewrittentoreversethe lettersdevisedbyHamanthesonofHammedathathe Agagite,whichhewrotetodestroytheJewswhicharein alltheking'sprovinces:
6ForhowcanIenduretoseetheevilthatshallcomeunto mypeople?orhowcanIenduretoseethedestructionof mykindred?
7ThenthekingAhasuerussaiduntoEstherthequeenand toMordecaitheJew,Behold,IhavegivenEstherthehouse ofHaman,andhimtheyhavehangeduponthegallows, becausehelaidhishandupontheJews.
8WriteyealsofortheJews,asitlikethyou,intheking's name,andsealitwiththeking'sring:forthewritingwhich iswrittenintheking'sname,andsealedwiththeking's ring,maynomanreverse
9Thenweretheking'sscribescalledatthattimeinthe thirdmonth,thatis,themonthSivan,onthethreeand twentiethdaythereof;anditwaswrittenaccordingtoall thatMordecaicommandeduntotheJews,andtothe lieutenants,andthedeputiesandrulersoftheprovinces whicharefromIndiauntoEthiopia,anhundredtwentyand sevenprovinces,untoeveryprovinceaccordingtothe writingthereof,anduntoeverypeopleaftertheirlanguage, andtotheJewsaccordingtotheirwriting,andaccordingto theirlanguage.
10AndhewroteinthekingAhasuerus'name,andsealedit withtheking'sring,andsentlettersbypostsonhorseback, andridersonmules,camels,andyoungdromedaries: 11WhereinthekinggrantedtheJewswhichwereinevery citytogatherthemselvestogether,andtostandfortheir
life,todestroy,toslay,andtocausetoperish,allthepower ofthepeopleandprovincethatwouldassaultthem,both littleonesandwomen,andtotakethespoilofthemfora prey,
12UpononedayinalltheprovincesofkingAhasuerus, namely,uponthethirteenthdayofthetwelfthmonth, whichisthemonthAdar
13Thecopyofthewritingforacommandmenttobegiven ineveryprovincewaspublisheduntoallpeople,andthat theJewsshouldbereadyagainstthatdaytoavenge themselvesontheirenemies
14Sothepoststhatrodeuponmulesandcamelswentout, beinghastenedandpressedonbytheking'scommandment. AndthedecreewasgivenatShushanthepalace
15AndMordecaiwentoutfromthepresenceofthekingin royalapparelofblueandwhite,andwithagreatcrownof gold,andwithagarmentoffinelinenandpurple:andthe cityofShushanrejoicedandwasglad
16TheJewshadlight,andgladness,andjoy,andhonour.
17Andineveryprovince,andineverycity,whithersoever theking'scommandmentandhisdecreecame,theJews hadjoyandgladness,afeastandagoodday.Andmanyof thepeopleofthelandbecameJews;forthefearoftheJews felluponthem
CHAPTER9
1Nowinthetwelfthmonth,thatis,themonthAdar,onthe thirteenthdayofthesame,whentheking'scommandment andhisdecreedrewneartobeputinexecution,intheday thattheenemiesoftheJewshopedtohavepowerover them,(thoughitwasturnedtothecontrary,thattheJews hadruleoverthemthathatedthem;)
2TheJewsgatheredthemselvestogetherintheircities throughoutalltheprovincesofthekingAhasuerus,tolay handonsuchassoughttheirhurt:andnomancould withstandthem;forthefearofthemfelluponallpeople.
3Andalltherulersoftheprovinces,andthelieutenants, andthedeputies,andofficersoftheking,helpedtheJews; becausethefearofMordecaifelluponthem.
4ForMordecaiwasgreatintheking'shouse,andhisfame wentoutthroughoutalltheprovinces:forthisman Mordecaiwaxedgreaterandgreater.
5ThustheJewssmotealltheirenemieswiththestrokeof thesword,andslaughter,anddestruction,anddidwhat theywoulduntothosethathatedthem.
6AndinShushanthepalacetheJewsslewanddestroyed fivehundredmen.
7AndParshandatha,andDalphon,andAspatha, 8AndPoratha,andAdalia,andAridatha, 9AndParmashta,andArisai,andAridai,andVajezatha, 10ThetensonsofHamanthesonofHammedatha,the enemyoftheJews,slewthey;butonthespoillaidtheynot theirhand
11Onthatdaythenumberofthosethatwereslainin Shushanthepalacewasbroughtbeforetheking
12AndthekingsaiduntoEstherthequeen,TheJewshave slainanddestroyedfivehundredmeninShushanthe palace,andthetensonsofHaman;whathavetheydonein therestoftheking'sprovinces?nowwhatisthypetition? anditshallbegrantedthee:orwhatisthyrequestfurther? anditshallbedone
13ThensaidEsther,Ifitpleasetheking,letitbegranted totheJewswhichareinShushantodotomorrowalso accordinguntothisday'sdecree,andletHaman'stensons behangeduponthegallows.
14Andthekingcommandeditsotobedone:andthe decreewasgivenatShushan;andtheyhangedHaman'sten sons
15FortheJewsthatwereinShushangatheredthemselves togetheronthefourteenthdayalsoofthemonthAdar,and slewthreehundredmenatShushan;butonthepreythey laidnottheirhand
16ButtheotherJewsthatwereintheking'sprovinces gatheredthemselvestogether,andstoodfortheirlives,and hadrestfromtheirenemies,andslewoftheirfoesseventy andfivethousand,buttheylaidnottheirhandsontheprey, 17OnthethirteenthdayofthemonthAdar;andonthe fourteenthdayofthesamerestedthey,andmadeitaday offeastingandgladness
18ButtheJewsthatwereatShushanassembledtogether onthethirteenthdaythereof,andonthefourteenththereof; andonthefifteenthdayofthesametheyrested,andmade itadayoffeastingandgladness.
19ThereforetheJewsofthevillages,thatdweltinthe unwalledtowns,madethefourteenthdayofthemonth Adaradayofgladnessandfeasting,andagoodday,andof sendingportionsonetoanother
20AndMordecaiwrotethesethings,andsentlettersunto alltheJewsthatwereinalltheprovincesoftheking Ahasuerus,bothnighandfar,
21Tostablishthisamongthem,thattheyshouldkeepthe fourteenthdayofthemonthAdar,andthefifteenthdayof thesame,yearly,
22AsthedayswhereintheJewsrestedfromtheirenemies, andthemonthwhichwasturneduntothemfromsorrowto joy,andfrommourningintoagoodday:thattheyshould makethemdaysoffeastingandjoy,andofsending portionsonetoanother,andgiftstothepoor.
23AndtheJewsundertooktodoastheyhadbegun,andas Mordecaihadwrittenuntothem;
24BecauseHamanthesonofHammedatha,theAgagite, theenemyofalltheJews,haddevisedagainsttheJewsto destroythem,andhadcastPur,thatis,thelot,toconsume them,andtodestroythem;
25ButwhenEsthercamebeforetheking,hecommanded bylettersthathiswickeddevice,whichhedevisedagainst theJews,shouldreturnuponhisownhead,andthatheand hissonsshouldbehangedonthegallows
26WhereforetheycalledthesedaysPurimafterthename ofPurThereforeforallthewordsofthisletter,andofthat whichtheyhadseenconcerningthismatter,andwhichhad comeuntothem,
27TheJewsordained,andtookuponthem,andupontheir seed,anduponallsuchasjoinedthemselvesuntothem,so asitshouldnotfail,thattheywouldkeepthesetwodays accordingtotheirwriting,andaccordingtotheirappointed timeeveryyear;
28Andthatthesedaysshouldberememberedandkept throughouteverygeneration,everyfamily,everyprovince, andeverycity;andthatthesedaysofPurimshouldnotfail fromamongtheJews,northememorialofthemperish fromtheirseed
29ThenEstherthequeen,thedaughterofAbihail,and MordecaitheJew,wrotewithallauthority,toconfirmthis secondletterofPurim
30AndhesentthelettersuntoalltheJews,tothehundred twentyandsevenprovincesofthekingdomofAhasuerus, withwordsofpeaceandtruth,
31ToconfirmthesedaysofPurimintheirtimesappointed, accordingasMordecaitheJewandEstherthequeenhad enjoinedthem,andastheyhaddecreedforthemselvesand fortheirseed,themattersofthefastingsandtheircry
32AndthedecreeofEstherconfirmedthesemattersof Purim;anditwaswritteninthebook
CHAPTER10
1AndthekingAhasueruslaidatributeupontheland,and upontheislesofthesea
2Andalltheactsofhispowerandofhismight,andthe declarationofthegreatnessofMordecai,whereuntothe kingadvancedhim,aretheynotwritteninthebookofthe chroniclesofthekingsofMediaandPersia?
3ForMordecaitheJewwasnextuntokingAhasuerus,and greatamongtheJews,andacceptedofthemultitudeofhis brethren,seekingthewealthofhispeople,andspeaking peacetoallhisseed.