The Book of Esther

1:1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus

which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and

seven and twenty provinces:) 1:2 That in those days, when the king

Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the

palace, 1:3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all

his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the

nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him: 1:4 When he

shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his

excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.

1:5 And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all

the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great

and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's

palace; 1:6 Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with

cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble:

the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue,

and white, and black, marble.

1:7 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being

diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to

the state of the king.

1:8 And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so

the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they

should do according to every man's pleasure.

1:9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal

house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.

1:10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with

wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha,

Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence

of Ahasuerus the king, 1:11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king

with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty:

for she was fair to look on.

1:12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by

his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger

burned in him.

1:13 Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so

was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment: 1:14 And

the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres,

Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw

the king's face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;) 1:15 What

shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath

not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the

chamberlains? 1:16 And Memucan answered before the king and the

princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but

also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the

provinces of the king Ahasuerus.

1:17 For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so

that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be

reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought

in before him, but she came not.

1:18 Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto

all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen.

Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.

1:19 If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him,

and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes,

that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king

Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is

better than she.

1:20 And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published

throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give

to their husbands honour, both to great and small.

1:21 And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did

according to the word of Memucan: 1:22 For he sent letters into all

the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing

thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man

should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published

according to the language of every people.

2:1 After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased,

he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed

against her.

2:2 Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there

be fair young virgins sought for the king: 2:3 And let the king

appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may

gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to

the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king's

chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for

purification be given them: 2:4 And let the maiden which pleaseth the

king be queen instead of Vashti.

And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.

2:5 Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was

Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a

Benjamite; 2:6 Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the

captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah,

whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.

2:7 And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter:

for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and

beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took

for his own daughter.

2:8 So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was

heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the

palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the

king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.

2:9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and

he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as

belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her,

out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the

best place of the house of the women.

2:10 Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai

had charged her that she should not shew it.

2:11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's

house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.

2:12 Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus,

after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the

women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to

wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours,

and with other things for the purifying of the women;) 2:13 Then thus

came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her

to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house.

2:14 In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the

second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's

chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no

more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by

name.

2:15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of

Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto

the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain,

the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the

sight of all them that looked upon her.

2:16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in

the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his

reign.

2:17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained

grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he

set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of

Vashti.

2:18 Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his

servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces,

and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.

2:19 And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then

Mordecai sat in the king's gate.

2:20 Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai

had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as

when she was brought up with him.

2:21 In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the

king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door,

were wroth, and sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus.

2:22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the

queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name.

2:23 And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out;

therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the

book of the chronicles before the king.

3:1 After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of

Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all

the princes that were with him.

3:2 And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed,

and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him.

But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.

3:3 Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto

Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment? 3:4 Now it

came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not

unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters

would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.

3:5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence,

then was Haman full of wrath.

3:6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had

shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy

all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even

the people of Mordecai.

3:7 In the first month, that 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, to the twelfth month, that is,

the month Adar.

3:8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people

scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces

of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither

keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit

to suffer them.

3:9 If it please the king, let it be written that they may be

destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands

of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the

king's treasuries.

3:10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman

the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.

3:11 And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the

people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.

3:12 Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the

first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had

commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were

over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every

province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after

their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and

sealed with the king's ring.

3:13 And the letters were sent by posts 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, even upon the thirteenth

day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the

spoil of them for a prey.

3:14 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every

province was published unto all people, that they should be ready

against that day.

3:15 The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and

the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat

down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.

4:1 When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his

clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst

of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; 4:2 And came even

before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate

clothed with sackcloth.

4:3 And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and

his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting,

and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

4:4 So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then

was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe

Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it

not.

4:5 Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains,

whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment

to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.

4:6 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city,

which was before the king's gate.

4:7 And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of

the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's

treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.

4:8 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was

given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to

declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the

king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him

for her people.

4:9 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.

4:10 Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto

Mordecai; 4:11 All the king's servants, and the people of the king's

provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or women, shall come

unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one

law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall

hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been

called to come in unto the king these thirty days.

4:12 And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.

4:13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself

that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.

4:14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall

there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another

place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who

knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

4:15 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, 4:16 Go,

gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye

for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and

my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king,

which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

4:17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther

had commanded him.

5:1 Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal

apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over

against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in

the royal house, over against the gate of the house.

5:2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the

court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to

Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near,

and touched the top of the sceptre.

5:3 Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and

what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the

kingdom.

5:4 And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king

and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.

5:5 Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as

Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that

Esther had prepared.

5:6 And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy

petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even

to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.

5:7 Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is; 5:8

If I have found favour 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 shall prepare for them, and I will do

to morrow as the king hath said.

5:9 Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but

when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor

moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.

5:10 Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he

sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.

5:11 And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude

of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him,

and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the

king.

5:12 Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in

with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and

to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king.

5:13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the

Jew sitting at the king's gate.

5:14 Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a

gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto

the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily

with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he

caused the gallows to be made.

6:1 On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring

the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the

king.

6:2 And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and

Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who

sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.

6:3 And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to

Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto

him, There is nothing done for him.

6:4 And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into

the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang

Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.

6:5 And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in

the court. And the king said, Let him come in.

6:6 So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done

unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in

his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to

myself? 6:7 And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king

delighteth to honour, 6:8 Let the royal apparel be brought which the

king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the

crown royal which is set upon his head: 6:9 And let this apparel and

horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble

princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth

to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city,

and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the

king delighteth to honour.

6:10 Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and

the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that

sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast

spoken.

6:11 Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai,

and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and

proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the

king delighteth to honour.

6:12 And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to

his house mourning, and having his head covered.

6:13 And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing

that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto

him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast

begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely

fall before him.

6:14 And while they were yet talking with him, came the king's

chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther

had prepared.

7:1 So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.

7:2 And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the

banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be

granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even

to the half of the kingdom.

7:3 Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in

thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me

at my petition, and my people at my request: 7:4 For we are sold, I

and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we

had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue,

although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.

7:5 Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen,

Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?

7:6 And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman.

Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.

7:7 And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went

into the palace garden: and 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.

7:8 Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of

the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther

was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the

house? As the word went out of king's mouth, they covered Haman's

face.

7:9 And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king,

Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for

Mordecai, who spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of

Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.

7:10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for

Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.

8:1 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.

8:2 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.

8:3 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.

8:4 Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther

arose, and stood before the king, 8:5 And said, If it please the king,

and if I have 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: 8:6

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? 8:7 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.

8:8 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.

8:9 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.

8:10 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: 8:11 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, 8:12

Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the

thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.

8:13 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.

8:14 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.

8:15 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.

8:16 The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.

8:17 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.

9:1 Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the

thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree

drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the

Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the

contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;) 9:2 The

Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the

provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their

hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon

all people.

9:3 And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the

deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear

of Mordecai fell upon them.

9:4 For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went out

throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and

greater.

9:5 Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the

sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto

those that hated them.

9:6 And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred

men.

9:7 And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha, 9:8 And Poratha, and

Adalia, and Aridatha, 9:9 And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and

Vajezatha, 9:10 The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy

of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand.

9:11 On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the

palace was brought before the king.

9:12 And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and

destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of

Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king's provinces? now

what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy

request further? and it shall be done.

9:13 Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the

Jews which are in Shushan to do to morrow also according unto this

day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.

9:14 And the king commanded it so to be done: and the decree was given

at Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons.

9:15 For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on

the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men

at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand.

9:16 But the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered

themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from

their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but

they laid not their hands on the prey, 9:17 On the thirteenth day of

the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and

made it a day of feasting and gladness.

9:18 But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the

thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the

fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting

and gladness.

9:19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled

towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and

feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.

9:20 And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the

Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh

and far, 9:21 To stablish this among them, that they should keep the

fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same,

yearly, 9:22 As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies,

and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from

mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting

and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the

poor.

9:23 And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai

had written unto them; 9:24 Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the

Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to

destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and

to destroy them; 9:25 But when Esther came before the king, he

commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against

the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons

should be hanged on the gallows.

9:26 Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur.

Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had

seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them, 9:27 The

Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all

such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that

they would keep these two days according to their writing, and

according to their appointed time every year; 9:28 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 fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish

from their seed.

9:29 Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the

Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim.

9:30 And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty

and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace

and truth, 9:31 To confirm these days of Purim in their times

appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had

enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their

seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.

9:32 And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it

was written in the book.

10:1 And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the

isles of the sea.

10:2 And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the

declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced

him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings

of Media and Persia? 10:3 For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king

Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of

his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to

all his seed.