\NormalFont\ShortTitle{Esther}
{\MTB The Book of
\par }{\MT Esther

\par }\ChapOne{1}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Now
it
came
about
in
the
days
of
Ahasuerus, (that
Ahasuerus
who
was ruler
of
a
hundred
and twenty-seven divisions
of
the kingdom,
from
India
as
far
as
Ethiopia:)
\VS{2}That
in
those
days,
when
King
Ahasuerus
was ruling
in Shushan,
his strong town,
\VS{3}In
the
third
year
of
his
rule
he
gave
a
feast
to
all
his
captains
and
his
servants;
and
the
captains
of
the
army
of
Persia
and
Media,
the great
men
and
the
rulers
of
the divisions
of
his kingdom,
were present
before
him;
\VS{4}And
for
a
long
time,
even
a
hundred
and
eighty
days,
he let
them
see
all
the
wealth
and
the
glory
of
his
kingdom
and
the
great power
and honour which
were
his.
\VS{5}And
at
the end
of
that
time,
the
king
gave
a
feast
for
all
the
people
who
were
present
in Shushan,
the king's town,
small
as well
as
great,
for
seven
days,
in
the outer square
of
the
garden
of
the king's house.
\VS{6}There
were fair hangings
of
white
and green
and
blue, fixed
with
cords
of
purple
and
the best
linen
to
silver
rings
and
pillars
of polished stone:
the seats
were
of
gold
and
silver
on
a floor
of red
and
white
and yellow
and black stone.
\VS{7}And
they
gave
them
drink
in
gold
vessels, every
vessel being different,
and
wine
of
the
kingdom, freely
given
by
the
king.
\VS{8}And
the
drinking
was
in keeping
with
the
law;
no
one
was forced:
for
the
king
had
given
orders
to
all
the chief
servants
of
his
house
to
do
as
was pleasing
to
every
man.
\VS{9}And
Vashti
the
queen
gave
a
feast
for
the
women
in
the
house
of
King
Ahasuerus.
\VS{10}On
the
seventh
day,
when
the
heart
of
the
king
was glad
with
wine,
he
gave
orders
to
Mehuman,
Biztha,
Harbona,
Bigtha,
and
Abagtha,
Zethar,
and Carcas,
the
seven unsexed
servants
who
were waiting
before
Ahasuerus
the
king,
\VS{11}That
Vashti
the
queen
was
to
come
before
him, crowned
with
her
crown,
and
let
the
people
and
the
captains
see
her:
for
she
was very
beautiful.
\VS{12}But
when
the servants
gave
her
the king's
order,
Vashti
the
queen
said
she
would not
come:
then
the
king
was
very
angry,
and
his heart
was
burning
with
wrath.
\VS{13}And
the
king
said
to
the
wise
men,
who
had
knowledge
of
the
times, (for
this
was
the king's
way
with
all
who
were
expert
in
law
and
in
the giving
of decisions:
\VS{14}And second only
to
him
were
Carshena,
Shethar,
Admatha,
Tarshish,
Meres,
Marsena,
and
Memucan,
the
seven
rulers
of
Persia
and
Media,
who
were friends
of
the
king,
and
had
the
first places
in
the
kingdom:)
\VS{15}What
is
to
be
done
by
law
to
Vashti
the
queen,
because
she
has
not
done
what
King
Ahasuerus,
by
his servants,
gave
her orders
to
do?
\VS{16}And
before
the
king
and
the
captains,
Memucan
gave
his
answer:
Vashti
the
queen
has
done wrong,
not
only
to
the
king,
but
to
all
the
captains
and
to
all
the
peoples
in
all
the divisions
of
the
kingdom
of
King
Ahasuerus;
\VS{17}For
news
of
what
the
queen
has
done
will
come
to
the ears
of
all
women,
and
they
will
no
longer
give
respect
to
their
husbands
when
it
is
said
to
them,
King
Ahasuerus
gave
orders
for
Vashti
the
queen
to
come
before
him
and
she
came
not.
\VS{18}And
the wives
of
the
captains
of
Persia
and
Media,
hearing
what
the
queen
has
done,
will
say
the
same
to
all
the king's
captains.
So
there
will
be
much shame
and
wrath.
\VS{19}If
it
is
pleasing
to
the
king,
let
an
order
go
out
from
him,
and
let
it
be
recorded
among
the
laws
of
the Persians
and
the
Medes,
so
that
it
may
never
be changed,
that
Vashti
is
never
again
to
come
before
King
Ahasuerus;
and
let
the
king
give
her
place
to
another
who
is
better
than
she.
\VS{20}And
when
this order,
given
by
the
king,
is
made public
through
all
his
kingdom (for
it
is
great),
all
the
wives
will
give honour
to
their
husbands,
great
as
well
as
small.
\VS{21}And
this suggestion
seemed
good
to
the
king
and
the
captains;
and
the
king
did
as
Memucan
said;
\VS{22}And
sent
letters
to
all
the divisions
of
the
kingdom,
to
every division
in
the
writing commonly
used
there,
and
to
every
people
in
the
language
which
was theirs,
saying
that
every
man
was
to
be
the ruler
in
his
house,
and
that
this order
was
to
be given
out
in
the
language
of
his
people.

\par }\Chap{2}{\PP \VerseOne{1}After
these
things,
when
the king's feelings
were calmer,
the
thought
of
Vashti
and
what
she
had
done
and
the
order
he
had
made
against
her, came
back
to
his
mind.
\VS{2}Then
the
servants
who
were waiting on
the
king
said
to
him, Let
search
be
made
for some fair
young
virgins
for
the
king:
\VS{3}Let
the
king
give
authority
to certain
men
in
all
the divisions
of
his
kingdom,
to get
together
all
the fair
young
virgins
and
send
them
to Shushan,
the king's town,
to
the women's
house,
under
the
care
of
Hegai,
the king's servant,
the
keeper
of
the
women:
and
let
the
things needed
for
making
them clean
be
given
to
them;
\VS{4}And
let
the
girl
who
is
pleasing
to
the
king
be queen
in
place
of
Vashti.
And
the
king
was
pleased
with
this suggestion;
and
he
did
so.
\VS{5}Now
there
was
a
certain
Jew
in Shushan
named
Mordecai,
the
son
of
Jair,
the
son
of
Shimei,
the
son
of
Kish,
a
Benjamite;
\VS{6}Who
had
been
taken
away
from
Jerusalem
among
those
who
had
been
made prisoner
with
Jeconiah,
king
of
Judah,
when
Nebuchadnezzar,
king
of
Babylon,
had
taken
him
away.
\VS{7}And
he
had
been
a
father
to
Hadassah,
that
is
Esther,
the
daughter
of
his father's brother:
for
she
had
no
father
or
mother,
and
she
was very
beautiful;
and
when
her
father
and
mother
were
dead,
Mordecai
took
her
for
his
daughter.
\VS{8}So
when
the
order
made
by
the
king
was publicly
given
out,
and
a number
of
girls
had
been
placed
in
the
care
of
Hegai
in
the king's
house
in Shushan,
Esther
was
taken
into
the king's
house
and
put
in
the
care
of
Hegai,
the
keeper
of
the
women.
\VS{9}And
he
was
pleased
with
the
girl
and
was
kind
to
her;
and
he
quickly
gave
her
what
was needed
for
making
her clean,
and
the things
which
were hers
by
right,
and
seven servant-girls
who
were
to
be hers
from
the king's
house:
and
he
had
her
and
her servant-girls moved
to
the
best
place
in
the women's part
of
the
house.
\VS{10}Esther
had
not said
what family
or
people
she came
from,
for
Mordecai
had
given
her
orders
not
to
do
so.
\VS{11}And
every
day
Mordecai
took
his
walk
before
the square
of
the women's
house,
to
see
how
Esther
was
and
what
would
be
done
to
her.
\VS{12}Now
every
girl,
when
her
turn
came,
had
to
go
in
to
King
Ahasuerus,
after undergoing,
for
a
space
of
twelve
months,
what
was ordered
by
the
law
for
the
women (for
this
was
the
time necessary
for making
them clean,
that
is,
six
months
with
oil
of
myrrh
and
six
months
with
sweet perfumes
and
such
things
as
are needed
for making
women clean):
\VS{13}And
in
this
way
the
girl
went
in
to
the
king;
whatever
she
had
a desire
for
was
given
to
her
to
take
with
her
from
the women's
house
into
the
house
of
the
king.
\VS{14}In
the
evening
she
went,
and
on
the
day
after
she
came
back
to
the
second
house
of
the
women,
into
the
keeping
of
Shaashgaz,
one
of
the king's unsexed servants
who
had
the
care
of
the king's
wives:
only
if
the
king
had
delight
in
her
and
sent
for
her
by
name
did
she
go
in
to
him
again.
\VS{15}Now
when
the
time
came
for
Esther,
the
daughter
of
Abihail,
his father's brother,
whom
Mordecai
had
taken
as
his
daughter,
to
go
in
to
the
king,
she
made
request
for
nothing
but
what
Hegai,
the king's servant
and
keeper
of
the
women,
had given
her.
And
Esther
was
looked
on kindly
by
all
who
saw
her.
\VS{16}So
Esther
was
taken
in
to
King
Ahasuerus
in
his
house
in
the
tenth
month,
which
is
the
month
Tebeth,
in
the
seventh
year
of
his
rule.
\VS{17}And
Esther
was more pleasing
to
the
king
than
all
the
women,
and
to
his eyes
she
was fairer
and more
full
of
grace
than
all
the
other
virgins:
so
he
put
his
crown
on
her
head
and
made
her queen
in
place
of
Vashti.
\VS{18}Then
the
king
gave
a
great
feast
for
all
his
captains
and
his
servants,
even Esther's
feast;
and
he
gave orders
through
all
the divisions
of
his
kingdom
for
a day
of rest
from
work,
and
gave wealth
from
his store.
\VS{19}And
when
the
virgins came
together
in
the
second house
of
the
women,
Mordecai took
his
seat
in
the doorway
of
the king's house.
\VS{20}Esther
had still
said
nothing
of
her family
or
her
people,
as
Mordecai
had
given
her
orders;
for
Esther
did
what
Mordecai
said,
as
when
she
was living
with
him.
\VS{21}In
those
days,
while
Mordecai
was
seated
at
the king's doorway,
two
of
the king's servants,
Bigthan
and
Teresh,
keepers
of
the door,
being
angry,
were
looking
for
a chance
to
make
an attack
on
King
Ahasuerus.
\VS{22}And
Mordecai,
having
knowledge
of
their
purpose,
sent
word
of
it
to
Esther
the
queen;
and
Esther
gave
the
news
to
the
king
in Mordecai's
name.
\VS{23}And
when
the
thing
had been
looked
into,
it
was seen
to
be true,
and
the
two
of
them
were put
to death
by
hanging
on
a
tree:
and
it
was put
down
in
the
records
before
the
king.

\par }\Chap{3}{\PP \VerseOne{1}After
these
things,
by
the
order
of
the
king,
Haman,
the
son
of Hammedatha
the
Agagite,
was
lifted
up
and given
a
position
of honour
and
a higher
place
than
all
the
other
captains
who
were
with
him.
\VS{2}And
all
the king's
servants
who
were
in
the king's house went
down
to
the earth
before
Haman
and
gave
him honour:
for
so
the
king
had
given
orders.
But
Mordecai
did
not go
down
before
him
or
give
him honour.
\VS{3}Then
the king's
servants
who
were
in
the king's house
said
to
Mordecai,
Why do
you
go against
the king's
order?
\VS{4}Now
when
they
had
said
this
to
him
day
after
day
and
he
gave
no
attention,
they
let
Haman
have
news
of
it,
to
see
if Mordecai's behaviour
would
be overlooked:
for
he
had
said
to
them
that
he
was
a
Jew.
\VS{5}And
when
Haman
saw
that
Mordecai
did
not go
down before
him
and
give
him honour,
Haman
was
full
of
wrath.
\VS{6}But
it
was
not
enough
for
him
to
make
an attack
on
Mordecai
only;
for
they
had
made
clear
to
him
who Mordecai's
people
were;
so
Haman
made
it
his purpose
to
put
an end
to
all
the
Jews,
even Mordecai's
people,
through
all
the
kingdom
of
Ahasuerus.
\VS{7}In
the
first
month,
the
month
Nisan,
in
the twelfth
year
of
King
Ahasuerus,
from
day
to
day
and
from
month
to
month
they
went
on looking
for
a sign given
by
Pur (that
is chance)
before
Haman, till
the sign
came
out
for
the thirteenth
day
of
the twelfth
month,
the
month
Adar.
\VS{8}And
Haman
said
to
King
Ahasuerus,
There
is
a
certain
nation living here
and
there
in small groups
among
the
people
in
all
the divisions
of
your
kingdom;
their
laws
are different
from
those
of
any
other
nation,
and
they
do
not
keep
the king's
laws:
for
this reason
it
is
not right
for
the
king
to let
them
be.
\VS{9}If
it
is
the king's pleasure, let
a statement ordering
their
destruction
be
put
in
writing:
and
I
will
give
to
those
responsible
for
the king's
business,
ten
thousand
talents
of
silver
for
the king's store-house.
\VS{10}And
the
king
took
his
ring
from
his
hand
and
gave
it
to
Haman,
the
son
of Hammedatha
the
Agagite,
the hater
of
the
Jews.
\VS{11}And
the
king
said
to
Haman,
The
money
is
yours,
and
the
people,
to
do
with
them
whatever
seems
right
to
you.
\VS{12}Then
on
the thirteenth
day
of
the
first
month,
the king's
scribes
were
sent
for,
and
they
put
in
writing Haman's
orders
to
all
the king's
captains
and
the
rulers
of
every division
of
his
kingdom
and
the
chiefs
of
every
people:
for
every division
of
the
kingdom
in
the
writing commonly
used
there,
and
to
every
people
in
the
language
which
was theirs;
it
was
signed
in
the
name
of
King
Ahasuerus
and stamped
with
the king's
ring.
\VS{13}And
letters
were
sent
by
the
runners
into
every division
of
the
kingdom ordering
the death
and
destruction
of
all
Jews,
young
and
old,
little
children
and
women,
on
the
same
day,
even
the thirteenth
day
of
the twelfth
month,
the
month
Adar,
and
the
taking
of
all
their goods
by
force.
\VS{14}A
copy
of
the
writing,
to
be
made public
in
every part
of
the kingdom,
was
sent
out
to
all
the
peoples,
so
that
they might
be
ready
when
that
day
came.
\VS{15}The
runners
went
out
quickly
by
the king's
order,
and
a public statement
was
made
in Shushan:
and
the
king
and
Haman
took wine together:
but
the
town
of Shushan
was troubled.

\par }\Chap{4}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Now
when
Mordecai saw
what
was
done, pulling
off
his robe,
he
put
on haircloth,
with
dust
on
his head,
and
went
out
into
the
middle
of
the
town,
crying
out
with
a
loud
and
bitter
cry.
\VS{2}And
he
came
even
before
the king's doorway;
for
no
one might
come
inside
the king's door
clothed
in haircloth.
\VS{3}And
in
every part
of
the
kingdom,
wherever
the king's
word
and
his
order
came,
there
was
great
sorrow among
the
Jews,
and
weeping
and
crying
and going without food;
and numbers
of
them
were stretched
on
the earth covered
with
dust
and haircloth.
\VS{4}And Esther's
women
and
her servants
came
and
gave
her
word
of
it.
Then
great
was
the grief
of
the
queen:
and
she
sent
robes
for
Mordecai,
so
that
his
clothing
of haircloth
might
be
taken
off;
but
he
would
not
have
them.
\VS{5}Then
Esther
sent
for
Hathach,
one
of
the king's unsexed servants
whom
he
had
given
her
for waiting
on
her,
and
she
gave
him
orders
to go
to
Mordecai
and
see
what
this
was
and
why
it
was.
\VS{6}So
Hathach
went
out
and saw
Mordecai
in
the
open
square
of
the
town
before
the king's doorway.
\VS{7}And
Mordecai
gave
him
an
account
of
what
had taken
place,
and
of
the
amount
of
money
which
Haman
had
said
he
would put
into
the king's store
for
the
destruction
of
the
Jews.
\VS{8}And
he
gave
him
the
copy
of
the
order
which
had
been
given
out
in Shushan
for
their
destruction, ordering
him
to
let
Esther
see
it,
and
to
make
it clear
to
her;
and
to say
to
her
that
she
was
to
go
in
to
the
king, requesting
his
mercy,
and
making prayer
for
her
people.
\VS{9}And
Hathach
came
back
and
gave
Esther
an
account
of
what
Mordecai
had
said.
\VS{10}Then
Esther
sent
Hathach
to
say
to
Mordecai:
\VS{11}It
is common
knowledge
among
all
the king's
servants
and
the
people
of
every
part
of
the
kingdom,
that
if
anyone,
man
or
woman,
comes
to
the
king
in
his
inner room
without being sent
for,
there
is
only
one
law
for
him,
that
he
is
to
be
put
to
death;
only
those
to
whom
the king's rod
of
gold
is stretched
out
may
keep
their
lives:
but
I
have
not
been sent
for
to
come
before
the
king
these
thirty
days.
\VS{12}And they
said these
words
to
Mordecai.
\VS{13}Then
Mordecai
sent
this
answer
back
to
Esther:
Do
not
have
the idea
that
you
in
the king's
house
will
be safe
from
the fate
of
all
the
Jews.
\VS{14}If
at
this
time
you say
nothing,
then help
and salvation
will
come
to
the
Jews
from
some
other
place,
but
you
and
your father's
family
will
come
to
destruction:
and
who
is
to say
that
you
have
not
come
to
the
kingdom
even
for
such
a
time
as
this?
\VS{15}Then
Esther
sent
them
back
to
Mordecai
with
this
answer:
\VS{16}Go,
get
together
all
the
Jews
who
are
present
in Shushan,
and
go
without
food
for
me,
taking
no
food
or
drink
night
or
day
for
three
days:
and
I
and
my
women
will
do
the
same;
and
so
I
will
go
in
to
the
king,
which
is
against
the
law:
and
if death
is
to
be
my
fate,
then
let
it
come.
\VS{17}So
Mordecai went
away
and
did
everything
as
Esther
had said.

\par }\Chap{5}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Now
on
the
third
day,
Esther
put
on
her queen's
robes,
and
took
her
place
in
the
inner
room
of
the king's
house, facing
the king's
house:
and
the
king
was
seated
on
his high
seat
in
the king's
house, facing
the
doorway
of
the
house.
\VS{2}And
when
the
king
saw
Esther
the
queen waiting
in
the inner room,
looking kindly
on
her
he
put
out
the rod
of
gold
in
his
hand
to
her.
So
Esther
came
near
and
put
her fingers
on
the
top
of
the rod.
\VS{3}Then
the
king
said,
What
is
your desire,
Queen
Esther,
and
what
is
your
request?
I
will
give
it
to
you,
even
to
the
half
of
my
kingdom.
\VS{4}And
Esther
in
answer
said,
If
it seems
good
to
the
king, let
the
king
and
Haman
come
today
to
the
feast
which
I
have
made ready
for
him.
\VS{5}Then
the
king
said, Let
Haman
come
quickly,
so
that
what
Esther
has
said
may
be
done.
So
the
king
and
Haman
came
to
the
feast
which
Esther
had
made ready.
\VS{6}And
while
they
were
drinking
wine
the
king
said
to
Esther,
What
is
your prayer?
for
it
will
be
given
to
you
and
what
is
your
request?
for
it
will
be
done,
even
to
the
half
of
my
kingdom.
\VS{7}Then
Esther
said
in
answer,
My prayer
and
my
request
is this:
\VS{8}If
I
have
the king's approval,
and
if
it
is
the king's pleasure
to
give
me
my prayer
and
do
my
request,
let
the
king
and
Haman
come
to
the
feast
which
I
will
make ready
for
them,
and
tomorrow
I
will
do
as
the
king
has
said.
\VS{9}Then
on
that
day
Haman
went
out
full
of
joy
and
glad
in
heart;
but
when
he
saw
Mordecai
in
the king's doorway,
and
he
did
not
get
to
his feet
or
give
any sign
of fear
before
him,
Haman
was
full
of
wrath
against
Mordecai.
\VS{10}But controlling
himself,
he
went
to
his
house;
and
he
sent
for
his
friends
and
Zeresh,
his
wife.
\VS{11}And
he gave
them
an
account
of
the glories
of
his
wealth,
and
the
number
of
children
he
had,
and
the ways
in
which
he
had
been honoured
by
the
king,
and
how
he
had
put
him
over
the
captains
and
servants
of
the
king.
\VS{12}And
Haman
said further,
Truly,
Esther
the
queen
let
no man
but
myself
come
in
to
the
feast
which
she
had
made ready
for
the
king;
and
tomorrow again
I
am
to
be
her guest
with
the
king.
\VS{13}But
all
this
is
nothing
to
me
while
I
see
Mordecai
the
Jew
seated
by
the king's doorway.
\VS{14}Then
his
wife
Zeresh
and
all
his
friends
said
to
him,
Let
a pillar,
fifty
cubits
high,
be
made ready
for
hanging
him,
and
in
the
morning
get
the
king
to
give
orders
for
the
hanging
of
Mordecai:
then
you
will
be able
to
go
to
the
feast
with
the
king
with
a
glad heart.
And
Haman
was
pleased
with
the suggestion,
and
he
had
the pillar
made.

\par }\Chap{6}{\PP \VerseOne{1}That
night
the
king
was unable
to
get
any
sleep;
and
he
sent
for
the
books
of
the
records;
and
while
some
one
was
reading
them
to
the
king,
\VS{2}It
came
out
that
it
was
recorded
in
the book
how
Mordecai
had
given
word
of
the designs
of
Bigthana
and
Teresh,
two
of
the king's servants,
keepers
of
the door,
by
whom
an attack
on
the
king
had
been designed.
\VS{3}And
the
king
said,
What honour
and reward
have
been given
to
Mordecai
for
this?
Then
the
servants
who
were waiting
on
the
king
said,
Nothing
has
been
done
for
him.
\VS{4}Then
the
king
said,
Who
is
in
the
outer
room?
Now
Haman
had
come
into
the
outer
room
to
get
the king's
authority
for
the
hanging
of
Mordecai
on
the pillar
which
he
had
made
ready
for
him.
\VS{5}And
the king's
servants
said
to
him,
See,
Haman
is waiting
in
the outer room.
And
the
king
said, Let
him
come
in.
\VS{6}So
Haman
came
in.
And
the
king
said
to
him,
What
is
to
be
done
to
the
man
whom
the
king
has
delight
in honouring?
Then
the
thought
came
into Haman's
mind,
Whom,
more
than
myself,
would
the
king
have
pleasure
in honouring?
\VS{7}And
Haman, answering
the
king,
said,
For
the
man
whom
the
king
has
delight
in honouring,
\VS{8}Let
them
take
the
robes
which
the
king generally
puts
on,
and
the
horse
on
which
the
king
goes,
and
the
crown
which
is
on
his
head:
\VS{9}And
let
the
robes
and
the
horse
be
given
to
one
of
the king's
most
noble
captains,
so
that
they
may
put
them
on
the
man
whom
the
king
has
delight
in honouring,
and
let
him go
on
horseback
through
the
streets
of
the
town,
with
men
crying
out
before
him,
So
let
it
be
done
to
the
man
whom
the
king
has
delight
in honouring.
\VS{10}Then
the
king
said
to
Haman,
Go
quickly,
and
take
the
robes
and
the
horse,
as
you
have
said,
and
do
even
so
to
Mordecai
the
Jew,
who
is
seated
at
the king's doorway:
see
that
you
do
everything
as
you
have
said.
\VS{11}Then
Haman
took
the
robes
and
the
horse,
and dressing
Mordecai
in
the
robes,
he
made
him go
on
horseback through
the
streets
of
the
town,
crying
out
before
him,
So let
it
be
done
to
the
man
whom
the
king
has
delight
in honouring.
\VS{12}And
Mordecai
came
back
to
the king's doorway.
But
Haman
went
quickly
back
to
his
house, sad
and
with
his
head
covered.
\VS{13}And
Haman
gave
his
wife
Zeresh
and
all
his
friends
an
account
of
what
had
taken
place.
Then
his
wise
men
and
his
wife
Zeresh
said
to
him,
If
Mordecai,
who
is starting
to get
the better
of
you,
is
of
the
seed
of
the
Jews,
you
will
not
be
able
to
do
anything
against
him,
but
you
will
certainly
go
down
before
him.
\VS{14}While
they
were
still
talking,
the king's servants
came
to
take
Haman
to
the
feast
which
Esther
had
made ready.

\par }\Chap{7}{\PP \VerseOne{1}So
the
king
and
Haman
came
to
take wine
with
Esther
the
queen.
\VS{2}And
the
king
said
to
Esther
again
on
the
second
day,
while
they
were
drinking,
What
is
your prayer,
Queen
Esther?
for
it
will
be
given
to
you;
and
what
is
your
request?
for
it
will
be
done,
even
to
the
half
of
my
kingdom.
\VS{3}Then
Esther
the
queen, answering,
said,
If
I
have
your approval,
O
king,
and
if
it
is
the king's pleasure,
let
my
life
be
given
to
me
in
answer
to
my prayer,
and
my
people
at
my
request:
\VS{4}For
we
are
given
up,
I
and
my
people,
to
destruction
and death
and
to
be cut
off.
If
we
had
been taken
as men-servants
and women-servants
for
a price,
I
would
have said
nothing,
for
our
trouble
is little
in comparison
with
the king's loss.
\VS{5}Then
King
Ahasuerus
said
to
Esther
the
queen,
Who
is
he
and
where
is
he
who
has
had
this evil
thought
in
his
heart?
\VS{6}And
Esther
said,
Our hater
and attacker
is
this
evil
Haman.
Then
Haman
was full
of fear
before
the
king
and
the
queen.
\VS{7}And
the
king
in
his
wrath
got
up
from
the
feast
and
went
into
the
garden:
and
Haman
got
to
his feet
to
make
a prayer
for
his
life
to
Esther
the
queen:
for
he
saw
that
the king's purpose
was
evil
against
him.
\VS{8}Then
the
king
came
back
from
the
garden
into
the
room
where
they
had
been
drinking;
and
Haman
was stretched
out
on
the seat
where
Esther
was.
Then
the
king
said,
Is
he taking
the
queen
by force
before
my eyes
in
my
house?
And
while
the
words
were
on
the king's
lips,
they
put
a cloth
over Haman's
face.
\VS{9}Then
Harbonah,
one
of
the unsexed servants waiting
before
the
king,
said,
See,
the pillar
fifty
cubits
high,
which
Haman
made
for
Mordecai,
who
said
a
good
word
for
the
king,
is
still
in
its
place
in Haman's
house.
Then
the
king
said, Put
him
to death
by
hanging
him
on
it.
\VS{10}So
Haman
was
put
to death
by
hanging
him
on
the pillar
he
had
made
for
Mordecai.
Then
the king's
wrath became less.

\par }\Chap{8}{\PP \VerseOne{1}That
day
the
king
gave
all
the
family
of
Haman,
the hater
of
the
Jews,
to
Esther
the
queen.
And
Mordecai
came
before
the
king,
for
Esther
had
made clear
what
he
was
to
her.
\VS{2}And
the
king
took
off
his
ring,
which
he
had
taken
from
Haman,
and
gave
it
to
Mordecai.
And
Esther
put
Mordecai
over
the
family
of
Haman.
\VS{3}Then
Esther
again
came
before
the
king,
falling
down
at
his
feet,
and
made
request
to
him
with
weeping,
that
he
would put
a stop
to
the
evil
purposes
of
Haman
the
Agagite
and
the
designs
which
he
had
made
against
the
Jews.
\VS{4}Then
the
king put
out
the rod
of
gold
to
Esther,
and
she
got
up
before
the
king.
\VS{5}And
she
said,
If
it
is
the king's pleasure
and
if
I
have
his approval
and
this
thing
seems
right
to
the
king
and
I
am pleasing
to
him,
then let
letters
be
sent
giving
orders
against
those
which
Haman,
the
son
of Hammedatha
the
Agagite,
sent
out
for
the
destruction
of
the
Jews
in
all divisions
of
the
kingdom:
\VS{6}For
how
is
it possible
for
me
to
see
the
evil
which
is
to
overtake
my
nation?
how
may
I
see
the
destruction
of
my
people?
\VS{7}Then
King
Ahasuerus
said
to
Esther
the
queen
and
to
Mordecai
the
Jew,
See
now,
I
have
given
Esther
the
family
of
Haman,
and
he
has come
to
his death
by
hanging,
because
he
made
an attack
on
the
Jews.
\VS{8}So
now send
a
letter
about
the
Jews,
writing
whatever
seems
good
to
you,
in
the king's
name,
and stamping
it
with
the king's
ring:
for
a
writing
signed
in
the king's
name
and stamped
with
the king's
ring
may
not
be changed.
\VS{9}Then
at
that
time,
on
the
twenty-third
day
of
the
third
month,
which
is
the
month
Sivan,
the king's
scribes
were
sent
for;
and
everything
ordered
by
Mordecai
was
put
in
writing
and
sent
to
the
Jews
and
the
captains
and
the
rulers
and
the
chiefs
of
all
the divisions
of
the
kingdom
from
India
to
Ethiopia,
a
hundred
and twenty-seven divisions,
to
every division
in
the
writing commonly
used
there,
and
to
every
people
in
their
language,
and
to
the
Jews
in
their
writing
and
their
language.
\VS{10}The
letters
were
sent
in
the
name
of
King
Ahasuerus
and stamped
with
his
ring,
and
they
were taken
by
men
on
horseback, going
on
the quick-running
horses used
for
the king's business,
the
offspring
of
his best
horses:
\VS{11}In
these letters
the
king
gave
authority
to
the
Jews
in
every
town
to come
together
and
make
a fight
for
their
lives,
and
to
send
death
and
destruction
on
the power
of
any
people
in
any
part
of
the
kingdom attacking
them
or
their
children
or
their
women,
and
to
take
their goods
from
them
by force,
\VS{12}On
one
day
in
every division
of
the
kingdom
of
Ahasuerus,
that
is,
on
the thirteenth
day
of
the twelfth
month,
the
month
Adar.
\VS{13}A
copy
of
the
writing,
to
be
made public
as
an order
in
every division
of
the kingdom,
was
given
out
to
all
the
peoples,
so
that
the
Jews might
be ready
when
that
day
came
to
give punishment
to
their haters.
\VS{14}So
the men
went
out
on
the quick-running
horses
used
on
the king's
business, wasting
no
time
and forced
on
by
the king's
order;
and
the
order
was
given
out
in Shushan,
the king's town.
\VS{15}And
Mordecai
went
out
from
before
the
king,
dressed
in king-like
robes
of
blue
and
white,
and
with
a
great
crown
of
gold
and
clothing
of
purple
and
the best
linen:
and
all
the
town
of Shushan
gave
loud cries
of
joy.
\VS{16}And
the
Jews
had light
and
joy
and honour.
\VS{17}And
in
every
part
of
the
kingdom
and
in
every
town,
wherever
the king's letter
and
his
order
came,
the
Jews
were glad
with
great
joy,
and
had
a
feast
and
a
good
day.
And
a
great number
of
the
people
of
the
land
became
Jews:
for
the
fear
of
the
Jews
had
come
on
them.

\par }\Chap{9}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Now
on
the thirteenth
day
of
the twelfth
month,
which
is
the
month
Adar,
when
the
time
came
for
the king's
order
to
be put
into
effect,
on
the very
day
when
the haters
of
the
Jews
had
been hoping
to
have
rule
over
them;
though
the
opposite
had
come
about,
and
the
Jews
had
rule
over
their haters;
\VS{2}On
that day,
the
Jews
came
together
in
their
towns
through
all
the divisions
of
the
kingdom
of
Ahasuerus,
for
the purpose
of attacking
all
those
who
were attempting
evil
against
them:
and
everyone
had
to
give
way
before
them,
for
the
fear
of
them
had
come
on
all
the
peoples.
\VS{3}And
all
the
chiefs
and
the
captains
and
the
rulers
and
those
who
did
the king's
business
gave
support
to
the
Jews;
because
the
fear
of
Mordecai
had
come
on
them.
\VS{4}For
Mordecai
was
great
in
the king's
house,
and word
of
him
went
out
through
every part
of
the
kingdom:
for
the
man
Mordecai
became
greater
and
greater.
\VS{5}So
the
Jews overcame
all
their attackers
with
the
sword
and
with death
and
destruction,
and
did
to
their haters
whatever
they
had
a
desire
to
do.
\VS{6}And
in Shushan
the
Jews put
to death
five
hundred
men.
\VS{7}They put
to death
Parshandatha,
Dalphon,
Aspatha,
\VS{8}Poratha,
Adalia,
Aridatha,
\VS{9}Parmashta,
Arisai,
Aridai,
and
Vaizatha,
\VS{10}The
ten
sons
of
Haman
the
son
of Hammedatha,
the hater
of
the
Jews;
but
they
put
not
a
hand
on
any
of
their goods.
\VS{11}On
that
day
the
number
of
those
who
had been
put
to death
in
the town
of Shushan
was given
to
the
king.
\VS{12}And
the
king
said
to
Esther
the
queen,
The
Jews
have
put
five
hundred
men
to death
in Shushan,
as well
as
the
ten
sons
of
Haman:
what
then
have
they
done
in
the
rest
of
the
kingdom!
Now
what
is
your prayer?
for
it
will
be
given
to
you;
what
other
request
have
you?
and
it
will
be
done.
\VS{13}Then
Esther
said,
If
it
is
the king's pleasure,
let
authority
be
given
to
the
Jews
in Shushan
to
do
tomorrow
as
has
been
done
today,
and
let
orders
be
given
for
the
hanging
of Haman's
ten
sons.
\VS{14}And
the
king
said
that
this
was
to
be
done,
and
the
order
was
given
out
in Shushan,
and
the
hanging
of Haman's
ten
sons
was effected.
\VS{15}For
the
Jews
who
were
in Shushan
came
together
again
on
the fourteenth
day
of
the
month
Adar
and
put
to death
three
hundred
men
in Shushan;
but
they
put
not
a
hand
on
their goods.
\VS{16}And
the other
Jews
in
every division
of
the
kingdom came
together, fighting
for
their
lives,
and got salvation
from
their haters
and
put
seventy-five
thousand
of
them
to
death;
but
they
did
not
put
a
hand
on
their goods.
\VS{17}This
they
did
on
the thirteenth
day
of
the
month
Adar;
and
on
the fourteenth
day
of
the
same
month
they
took
their
rest,
and
made
it
a
day
of
feasting
and
joy.
\VS{18}But
the
Jews
in Shushan
came
together
on
the thirteenth
and
on
the fourteenth
day
of
the month;
and
on
the fifteenth
day
they
took
their
rest,
and
made
it
a
day
of
feasting
and
joy.
\VS{19}So
the
Jews
of
the
country
places
living
in
unwalled
towns
make
the fourteenth
day
of
the
month
Adar
a
day
of
feasting
and
joy
and
a
good
day,
a
day
for
sending offerings
one
to
another.
\VS{20}And
Mordecai
sent
letters
to
all
the
Jews
in
every division
of
the
kingdom
of
Ahasuerus,
near
and
far,
\VS{21}Ordering
them
to
keep
the fourteenth
day
of
the
month
Adar
and
the fifteenth
day
of
the
same
month,
every
year,
\VS{22}As
days
on
which
the
Jews
had
rest
from
their haters,
and
the
month
which
for
them
was
turned
from
sorrow
to
joy,
and
from weeping
to
a
good
day:
and
that
they
were
to
keep
them
as
days
of
feasting
and
joy,
of
sending offerings
to
one
another
and
good
things
to
the
poor.
\VS{23}And
the
Jews
gave
their word
to
go
on
as
they
had
been
doing
and
as
Mordecai
had given
them orders
in
writing;
\VS{24}Because
Haman,
the
son
of Hammedatha
the
Agagite,
the hater
of
all
the
Jews,
had
made designs
for
their
destruction, attempting
to get
a decision
by
Pur (that
is, chance)
with
a
view
to putting
an end
to
them
and cutting
them
off;
\VS{25}But
when
the business
was
put
before
the
king,
he
gave
orders
by
letters
that
the
evil
design
which
he
had
made
against
the
Jews
was
to
be
turned
against
himself;
and
that
he
and
his
sons
were
to
be
put
to death
by
hanging.
\VS{26}So
these
days
were
named
Purim,
after
the
name
of
Pur.
And
so,
because
of
the
words
of
this
letter,
and
of
what
they
had
seen
in
connection
with
this
business,
and
what
had
come
to
them,
\VS{27}The
Jews
made
a rule
and
gave
an undertaking, causing
their
seed
and
all
those
who
were joined
to
them
to
do
the
same,
so
that
it might
be
in force
for ever,
that
they
would
keep
those
two
days,
as ordered
in
the
letter,
at
the fixed
time
every
year;
\VS{28}And
that
those
days
were
to
be
kept
in
memory
through
every
generation
and
every
family,
in
every division
of
the kingdom
and
every
town,
that
there might
never
be
a
time
when
these
days
of
Purim
would
not
be
kept
among
the
Jews,
or
when
the
memory
of
them
would
go
from
the minds
of
their
seed.
\VS{29}Then
Esther
the
queen,
daughter
of
Abihail,
and
Mordecai
the
Jew, sent
a
second
letter giving
the force
of
their
authority
to
the order
about
the
Purim.
\VS{30}And
he
sent
letters
to
all
the
Jews
in
the
hundred
and twenty-seven divisions
of
the
kingdom
of
Ahasuerus,
with
true
words
of
peace,
\VS{31}Giving
the force
of law
to
these
days
of
Purim
at
their fixed
times,
as
they
had
been ordered
by
Mordecai
the
Jew
and
Esther
the
queen,
and
in keeping
with
the rules
they
had
made
for
themselves
and
their
seed,
in
connection
with
their
time
of going without food
and
their
cry
for
help.
\VS{32}The
order given
by
Esther gave
the force
of law
to
the rules
about
the
Purim;
and
it
was
recorded
in
the
book.

\par }\Chap{10}{\PP \VerseOne{1}And
King
Ahasuerus
put
a tax
on
the
land
and
on
the
islands
of
the
sea.
\VS{2}And
all
his
acts
of
power
and
his
great
strength
and
the
full story
of
the high
place
which
the
king gave
Mordecai,
are
they
not
recorded
in
the
book
of
the history
of
the
kings
of
Media
and
Persia?
\VS{3}For
Mordecai
the
Jew
was
second
only
to
King
Ahasuerus,
and
great
among
the
Jews
and
respected
by
the body
of
his
countrymen; working
for
the
good
of
his
people,
and
saying words
of
peace
to
all
his
seed.
\par }