20 Mordekai wrote these things in a book and sent them to the Yehudim, as many as were in the kingdom of Ahashverosh (Ahasuerus), both those who were near and those who were far away, 21 to establish these as joyful days and to keep the fourteenth and fifteenth of Adar; 22 for on these days the Yehudim obtained rest from their enemies; and in that month, which was Adar, in which a change was made for them from mourning to joy, and from sorrow to a holiday, to spend the whole of it in good days of[fn] feasting and gladness, sending portions to their friends and to the poor. 23 And the Yehudim consented to this as Mordekai wrote to them, 24 showing how Haman the son of Hamedata the person from Makedonia fought against them, how he made a decree and threw[fn] lots to destroy them utterly; 25 also how he went in to the king, telling him to hang Mordekai; but all the calamities he tried to bring upon the Yehudim came upon himself, and he was hanged, along with his children. 26 Therefore these days were called Purim, because of the lots (for in their language they are called Purim) because of the words of this letter, and because of all they suffered on this account, and all that happened to them. 27 Mordekai established it, and the Yehudim took upon themselves, upon their offspring, and upon those who were joined to them to observe it, neither would they on any account behave differently; but these days were to be a memorial kept in every generation, city, family, and province. 28 These days of Purim shall be kept forever, and their memorial shall not fail in any generation.

29 Queen Ester the daughter of Aminadav and Mordekai the Yehudi (Jew) wrote all that they had done, and gave the confirmation of the letter about Purim. 31 Mordekai and Ester the queen established this decision on their own, pledging their own well-being to their plan. 32 And Ester established it by a command forever, and it was written for a memorial.