On that day King Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman, ^athe enemy of the Jews, to Queen Esther; and Mordecai came before the king, because Esther had disclosed ^bwhat he was to her. 2 Then ^athe king took off his signet ring, which he had taken away from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

3 Then Esther spoke again ¹to the king, fell at his feet, wept, and pleaded for his compassion to avert the evil scheme of Haman the Agagite and his plot which he had devised against the Jews. 4 And ^athe king extended the golden scepter to Esther. So Esther got up and stood before the king. 5 Then she said, “^aIf it pleases the king and if I have found favor before him, and the matter seems proper to the king and I am pleasing in his sight, let it be written to revoke the ^bletters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to eliminate the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces. 6 For ^ahow can I endure to see the disaster which will happen to my people, and how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?” 7 So King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, ^aI have given the house of Haman to Esther, and they have hanged him on the wooden gallows because he had reached out with his hand against the Jews.

8 Now you write to the Jews ¹as you see fit, in the king’s name, and ^aseal it with the king’s signet ring; for a decree which is written in the name of the king and sealed with the king’s signet ring ^bmay not be revoked.”

9 ^aSo the king’s scribes were summoned at that time in the third month (that is, the month Sivan), on the twenty-third ¹day; and it was written in accordance with everything that Mordecai commanded the Jews, the satraps, the governors, and the officials of the provinces which extended ^bfrom India to ²Cush, 127 provinces, to ^cevery province according to its script, and to every people according to their language, as well as to the Jews according to their script and their language. 10 He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king’s signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on ^ahorses, riding on royal relay horses, offspring of racing mares. 11 ¹In the letters the king granted the Jews who were in each and every city the right ^ato assemble and to defend their lives, ^bto destroy, kill, and eliminate the entire army of any people or province which was going to attack them, including children and women, and ^cto plunder their spoils, 12 on ^aone day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (that is, the month Adar). 13 ^aA copy of the edict to be ¹issued as law in each and every province was published to all the peoples, so that the Jews would be ready for this day to avenge themselves on their enemies. 14 The couriers, hurrying and speeded by the king’s command, left, riding on the royal relay horses; and the decree was issued at the citadel in Susa.

15 Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king ^ain a royal robe of violet and white, with a large crown of gold and ^ba garment of fine linen and purple; and ^cthe city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. 16 For the Jews there was ^alight, joy, jubilation, and honor. 17 In each and every province and in each and every city, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree arrived, there was joy and jubilation for the Jews, a feast and a ^1aholiday. And ^bmany among the peoples of the land ²became Jews, because the dread of the Jews had fallen on them.

On that day King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) gave the ¹house of Haman, ^athe enemy of the Jews, to Queen Esther; and Mordecai came before the king, because Esther had disclosed ^bwhat ²relation he was to her. 2 ^aThe king took off his signet ring which he had taken away from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther put Mordecai in charge of the house of Haman.

3 Then Esther spoke again to the king and fell down at his feet and wept and implored him to avert the evil plot of Haman the Agagite and his plan which he had devised against the Jews because the decree to annihilate the Jews was still in effect. 4 Then ^athe king held out to Esther the golden scepter. So Esther arose and stood before the king. 5 Then she said, “^aIf it pleases the king and if I have found favor before him and the matter is proper in the king’s view and I am pleasing in his sight, let it be written to revoke the ^bletters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, which he wrote in order to destroy the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces. 6 For ^ahow can I endure to see the tragedy that will happen to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?” 7 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, ^aI have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows because he stretched out his hand against the Jews.

8 Also, concerning the Jews, write as you see fit, in the king’s name, and ^aseal it with the king’s signet ring—for ^ba decree which is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring may not be revoked.”

9 ^aSo the king’s scribes were called at that time in the third month (that is, the month of Sivan) on the twenty-third day; and it was written in accordance with everything that Mordecai commanded, to the Jews, to the chief rulers (satraps) , and the governors and officials of the provinces which extended ^bfrom India to Ethiopia (Cush) , 127 provinces, to ^cevery province in its own script (writing) , and to every people in their own language and to the Jews according to their script and their language. 10 He wrote a decree in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by couriers on ^ahorseback, riding on the royal mail relay horses, the offspring of the racing mares. 11 In it the king granted the Jews who were in every city ^athe right to assemble and to defend their lives; ^bto destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force that might attack them, their little children, and women; and to ^ctake the enemies’ goods as plunder, 12 on ^aone day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar). 13 ^aA copy of the edict was to be issued as a law in every province and as a proclamation to all peoples, so that the Jews would be ready on that day, to avenge themselves on their enemies. 14 So the couriers, who were mounted on the royal relay horses, left quickly, urged on by the king’s command; and the decree was issued at the citadel in Susa the capital.

15 Then Mordecai departed from the presence of the king ^ain royal apparel of blue and white, with a large crown of gold and with ^ba robe of fine linen and purple wool; and ^cthe city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. 16 For at this time the Jews had ^alight a dawn of new hope and gladness and joy and honor. 17 In each and every province and in each and every city, wherever the king’s command and his decree arrived, the Jews celebrated with gladness and joy, a feast and a ^aholiday. And ^bmany among the peoples of the land ¹became Jews, for the fear of the Jews and their God had fallen on them.

On that day King Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman, ^athe adversary of the Jews, to Queen Esther; and Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told ^bwhat he was to her. 2 ^aAnd the king removed his signet ring, which he had taken away from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

3 Then Esther spoke again to the king, fell at his feet, wept, and implored him to ¹repeal the evil scheme of Haman the Agagite and his scheme which he had devised against the Jews. 4 ^aAnd the king extended the golden scepter to Esther. So Esther arose and stood before the king. 5 Then she said, “^aIf it seems good to the king, and if I have found favor before him and the matter seems proper to the king and I am good in his eyes, let it be written to turn back the ^bletters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to cause the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces to perish. 6 For ^ahow can I endure to see the calamity which will befall my people, and how can I endure to see the perishing of my kinsmen?”

7 So King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, ^aI have given the house of Haman to Esther, and him they have hanged on the ¹gallows because he had sent forth his hand against the Jews. 8 Now you write to the Jews, according to what is good in your eyes, in the king’s name, and ^aseal it with the king’s signet ring; for a written decree which is written in the name of the king and sealed with the king’s signet ring ^bmay not be turned back.”

9 ^aSo the king’s scribes were called at that time in the third month (that is, the month Sivan), on the twenty-third ¹day; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, the satraps, the governors, and the princes of the provinces which extended ^bfrom India to ²Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to ^cevery province according to its script, and to every people according to their tongue as well as to the Jews according to their script and their tongue. 10 And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king’s signet ring and sent letters by the hand of couriers on ^ahorses, riding on steeds sired by the ¹royal stud. 11 ¹In them the king gave the Jews who were in each and every city the right ^ato assemble and to make a stand for their lives, ^bto destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish the entire military force of any people or province which would act as their adversaries, including little ones and women, and ^cto plunder their spoil, 12 on ^aone day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (that is, the month Adar). 13 ^aA copy of that which was written down to be given as law in each and every province was revealed to all the peoples, so that the Jews would be ready for this day to avenge themselves on their enemies. 14 The couriers, hurried and hastened by the king’s word, went out, riding on the royal steeds; and the law was given out at the citadel in Susa.

15 Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king ^ain royal robes of ¹blue and fine white, with a large crown of gold and ^ba garment of fine linen and purple; and ^cthe city of Susa cried aloud and was glad. 16 For the Jews there was ^alight and gladness and joy and honor. 17 And in each and every province and in each and every city, wherever the king’s word and his law reached, there was gladness and joy for the Jews, a feast and a ^1aholiday. And ^bmany among the peoples of the land became Jews, for the dread of the Jews had fallen on them.

On that day King Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman, ^athe enemy of the Jews, to Queen Esther; and Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had disclosed ^bwhat he was to her. 2 ^aThe king took off his signet ring which he had taken away from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

3 Then Esther spoke again to the king, fell at his feet, wept and implored him to avert the evil scheme of Haman the Agagite and his plot which he had devised against the Jews. 4 ^aThe king extended the golden scepter to Esther. So Esther arose and stood before the king. 5 Then she said, “^aIf it pleases the king and if I have found favor before him and the matter seems proper to the king and I am pleasing in his sight, let it be written to revoke the ^bletters 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 ^ahow can I endure to see the calamity which will befall my people, and how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?” 7 So King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, ^aI have given the house of Haman to Esther, and him they have hanged on the gallows because he had stretched out his hands against the Jews.

8 Now you write to the Jews ¹as you see fit, in the king’s name, and ^aseal it with the king’s signet ring; for a decree which is written in the name of the king and sealed with the king’s signet ring ^bmay not be revoked.”

9 ^aSo the king’s scribes were called at that time in the third month (that is, the month Sivan), on the twenty-third ¹day; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, the satraps, the governors and the princes of the provinces which extended ^bfrom India to ²Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to ^cevery province according to its script, and to every people according to their language as well as to the Jews according to their script and their language. 10 He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king’s signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on ^ahorses, riding on steeds sired by the royal stud. 11 ¹In them the king granted the Jews who were in each and every city the right ^ato assemble and to defend their lives, ^bto destroy, to kill and to annihilate the entire army of any people or province which might attack them, including children and women, and ^cto plunder their spoil, 12 on ^aone day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (that is, the month Adar). 13 ^aA copy of the edict to be ¹issued as law in each and every province was published to all the peoples, so that the Jews would be ready for this day to avenge themselves on their enemies. 14 The couriers, hastened and impelled by the king’s command, went out, riding on the royal steeds; and the decree was given out at the citadel in Susa.

15 Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king ^ain royal robes of ¹blue and white, with a large crown of gold and ^ba garment of fine linen and purple; and ^cthe city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. 16 For the Jews there was ^alight and gladness and joy and honor. 17 In each and every province and in each and every city, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree arrived, there was gladness and joy for the Jews, a feast and a ^1aholiday. And ^bmany among the peoples of the land became Jews, for the dread of the Jews had fallen on them.