After these events King Ahasuerus ^ahonored Haman, the son of Hammedatha ^bthe Agagite, and ^cpromoted him and ¹established his authority over all the officials who were with him. 2 All the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid ¹homage to Haman; for so the king had commanded regarding him. But ^aMordecai neither bowed down nor paid ²homage. 3 Then the king’s servants who were at ^athe king’s gate said to Mordecai, “^bWhy are you violating the king’s command?” 4 Now it was when they had spoken daily to him and he would not listen to them, that they told Haman to see whether Mordecai’s reason would ¹stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew. 5 When Haman saw that ^aMordecai neither bowed down nor paid ¹homage to him, Haman was filled with rage. 6 But he ¹considered it beneath his dignity to ²kill Mordecai alone, for they had told him who the people of Mordecai were; so Haman ^asought to annihilate all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who were found throughout the kingdom of Ahasuerus.

7 In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, ¹Pur, that is the lot, was ^acast before Haman from day to day and from month to month, ²until the twelfth month, that is ^bthe month Adar. 8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; ^atheir laws are different from those of all other people and they do not ¹comply with the king’s laws, so it is not in the king’s interest to let them remain. 9 If it is pleasing to the king, let it be ¹decreed that they be eliminated, and I will pay ²ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who carry out the king’s business, to put into the king’s treasuries.” 10 Then ^athe king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha ^bthe Agagite, ^cthe enemy of the Jews. 11 And the king said to Haman, “The silver is ¹yours, and the people also, to do with them as you please.”

12 ^aThen the king’s scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and it was written just as Haman commanded to ^bthe king’s satraps, to the governors who were over each province and to the officials of each people, each province according to its script, each people according to its language, being written ^cin the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet ring. 13 Letters were sent by ^acouriers to all the king’s provinces ^bto annihilate, kill, and destroy all the Jews, both young and old, women and children, ^cin one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to ^dseize their possessions as plunder. 14 ^aA copy of the edict to be ¹issued as law in every province was published to all the peoples so that they would be ready for this day. 15 The couriers went out, speeded by the king’s ¹order while the decree was ²issued at the citadel in Susa; and while the king and Haman sat down to drink, ^athe city of Susa was agitated.

After these things, King Ahasuerus ^amagnified Haman, the son of Hammedatha ^bthe Agagite, and ^cadvanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him. 2 And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate were bowing down and prostrating themselves before Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But ^aMordecai would not bow down or prostrate himself. 3 So the king’s servants who were at ^athe king’s gate said to Mordecai, “^bWhy do you trespass against the king’s command?” 4 Now it happened when they had spoken daily to him and he would not listen to them, that they told Haman to see whether Mordecai’s words would stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew. 5 Then Haman saw that ^aMordecai was not bowing down or prostrating himself before him. So Haman was filled with wrath. 6 But he despised in his eyes to send forth his hand against Mordecai alone, for they had told him who the people of Mordecai were; therefore Haman ^asought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.

7 In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, ¹Pur, that is the lot, was ^acast before Haman from day to day and from month to month, ²until the twelfth month, that is ^bthe month Adar. 8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and separated among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; ^atheir laws are different from those of all other people, and they do not do the king’s laws, so it is not worth it for the king to let them remain. 9 If it seems good to the king, let it be written down that they should perish, and I will pay ¹10,000 talents of silver into the hands of those who do this work, to bring into the king’s treasuries.” 10 Then ^athe king removed his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha ^bthe Agagite, ^cthe adversary of the Jews. 11 And the king said to Haman, “The silver is ¹yours, and the people also, to do with them according to what is good in your eyes.”

12 ^aThen the king’s scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and it was written just as Haman commanded to ^bthe king’s satraps, to the governors who were over each province, and to the princes of each people, each province according to its script, each people according to its tongue, being written ^cin the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet ring. 13 And letters were sent by the hand of ^acouriers to all the king’s provinces ^bto destroy, to kill, and to cause all the Jews to perish, both young and old, little ones and women, ^cin one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to ^dplunder their spoil. 14 ^aA copy of that which was written down to be given as law in every province was revealed to all the peoples so that they should be ready for this day. 15 The couriers went out, hastened by the word of the king. And the law was given at the citadel in Susa. Now the king and Haman sat down to drink, but ^athe city of Susa was in confusion.

After these events King Ahasuerus ^apromoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha ^bthe Agagite, and ^cadvanced him and ¹established his authority over all the princes who were with him. 2 All the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down ¹and paid homage to Haman; for so the king had commanded concerning him. But ^aMordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage. 3 Then the king’s servants who were at ^athe king’s gate said to Mordecai, “^bWhy are you transgressing the king’s command?” 4 Now it was when they had spoken daily to him and he would not 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 When Haman saw that ^aMordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage to him, Haman was filled with rage. 6 But he ¹disdained to ²lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him who the people of Mordecai were; therefore Haman ^asought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.

7 In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, ¹Pur, that is the lot, was ^acast before Haman from day to day and from month to month, ²until the twelfth month, that is ^bthe month Adar. 8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; ^atheir laws are different from those of all other people and they do not observe the king’s laws, so it is not in the king’s interest to let them remain. 9 If it is pleasing to the king, let it be ¹decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who carry on the king’s business, to put into the king’s treasuries.” 10 Then ^athe king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha ^bthe Agagite, ^cthe enemy of the Jews. 11 The king said to Haman, “The silver is ¹yours, and the people also, to do with them as you please.”

12 ^aThen the king’s scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and it was written just as Haman commanded to ^bthe king’s satraps, to the governors who were over each province and to the princes of each people, each province according to its script, each people according to its language, being written ^cin the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet ring. 13 Letters were sent by ^acouriers to all the king’s provinces ^bto destroy, to kill and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women and children, ^cin one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to ^dseize their possessions as plunder. 14 ^aA copy of the edict to be ¹issued as law in every province was published to all the peoples so that they should be ready for this day. 15 The couriers went out impelled by the king’s command while the decree was ¹issued at the citadel in Susa; and while the king and Haman sat down to drink, ^athe city of Susa was in confusion.

After these things King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) promoted ^aHaman, the son of Hammedatha ^bthe ¹Agagite, and ^cadvanced him and ²established his authority over all the officials who were with him. 2 All the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate in royal service bowed down and honored and paid homage to Haman; for this is what the king had commanded in regard to him. But ^aMordecai a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin neither bowed down nor paid homage to him. 3 Then the king’s servants who were at ^athe king’s gate said to Mordecai, “^bWhy are you disregarding the king’s command?” 4 Now it happened when they had spoken to him day after day and he would not listen to them, that they told Haman to see whether Mordecai’s reason for his behavior would stand as valid; for he had told them that he was a Jew. 5 When Haman saw that ^aMordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage to him, he was furious. 6 But he disdained laying hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him who the people of Mordecai were (his nationality) ; so Haman ^adetermined to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who lived throughout the kingdom of Ahasuerus.

7 In the first month, the month of Nisan (Mar-Apr) , in the ¹twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, Haman cast Pur, that is, the lot, ^acast before him day after day to find a lucky day to approach the king, month after month, until the twelfth month, ^bthe month of Adar (Feb-Mar) . 8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; ^atheir laws are different from those of all other people, and they do not observe the king’s laws. Therefore it is not in the king’s interest to tolerate them and let them stay here. 9 If it pleases the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who carry out the king’s business, to put into the king’s treasuries.” 10 Then ^athe king removed his signet ring from his hand that is, the special ring which was used to seal his letters and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha ^bthe Agagite, ^cthe enemy of the Jews. 11 The king said to Haman, “The silver is given to you, and the people also, to do with them as you please.”

12 ^aThen the king’s scribes (secretaries) were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and it was written just as Haman commanded to ^bthe king’s satraps (chief rulers) , and to the governors who were over each province and to the officials of each people, each province according to its script (writing) , each people according to their own language; being written ^cin the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet ring. 13 Letters were sent by ^acouriers to all the king’s provinces ^bto destroy, to kill and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women and children, ^cin one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar (March 7, 473 B.C.), and to ^dseize their belongings as plunder. 14 ^aA copy of the edict to be decreed as law in every province was published to all the peoples, so that they would be ready for this day. 15 The couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued at the citadel in Susa. And while the king and Haman sat down to drink, ^athe city of Susa was perplexed by the unusual and alarming decree.