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

\par }\ChapOne{1}{\PP \VerseOne{1}And
it
came
to
pass
in
the
days
of
Ahasuerus (that
is,
the
Ahasuerus
that
reigned
from
India
even
to
Ethiopia,
over
a
hundred
and twenty-seven
provinces),
\VS{2}in
those
days,
when
the
king
Ahasuerus
sat
on
the
throne
of
his
kingdom,
which
was
in Shushan
the
fortress,
\VS{3}in
the
third
year
of
his
reign,
he
made
a
feast
to
all
his
princes
and
his
servants;
the power
of
Persia
and
Media,
the
nobles
and
the
princes
of
the
provinces being
before
him;
\VS{4}when
he shewed
the
glorious
wealth
of
his
kingdom
and
the splendid magnificence
of
his grandeur
many
days,
a
hundred
and
eighty
days.
\VS{5}And
when
these
days
were
expired,
the
king
made
a
feast
to
all
the
people
that
were
present
in Shushan
the
fortress,
both
to
great
and
small,
seven
days,
in
the
court
of
the
garden
of
the king's
palace.
\VS{6}White, green,
and
blue [hangings]
were
fastened
with
cords
of byssus
and
purple
to
silver
rings
and
pillars
of
white marble;
couches
of
gold
and
silver [lay]
upon
a
pavement
of red
and
white marble,
and
alabaster,
and black marble.
\VS{7}And
they
gave
drink
in
vessels
of
gold (the
vessels being diverse
one
from another),
and
royal
wine
in abundance,
according
to
the king's
bounty.
\VS{8}And
the
drinking
was,
according
to commandment,
without constraint;
for
so
the
king
had
appointed
to
all
the magnates
of
his
house,
that
they
should
do
according
to
every man's
pleasure.
\VS{9}Also
the
queen
Vashti
made
a
feast
for
the
women
of
the
royal
house
which belonged
to
king
Ahasuerus.
\VS{10}On
the
seventh
day,
when
the king's
heart
was merry
with
wine,
he
commanded
Mehuman,
Biztha,
Harbona,
Bigtha,
and
Abagtha,
Zethar,
and Carcas,
the
seven chamberlains
that
served
in
the
presence
of
king
Ahasuerus,
\VS{11}to
bring
Vashti
the
queen
before
the
king
with
the
royal
crown
to shew
the
peoples
and
the
princes
her
beauty;
for
she
was
of
beautiful
countenance.
\VS{12}But
the
queen
Vashti
refused
to
come
at
the
word
of
the
king
which
was [sent]
by
the chamberlains;
and
the
king
was
very wroth,
and
his
fury
burned
in
him.
\VS{13}And
the
king
said
to
the
wise
men
who
knew
the
times (for
so
was
the king's
business [conducted]
before
all
that
knew
law
and
judgment;
\VS{14}and
the
next
to
him
were
Carshena,
Shethar,
Admatha,
Tarshish,
Meres,
Marsena, [and]
Memucan,
the
seven
princes
of
Persia
and
Media,
who
saw
the king's
face,
and
who
sat
first
in
the
kingdom),
\VS{15}What
shall
be
done
to
the
queen
Vashti
according
to
law,
because
she
has
not performed
the word
of
the
king
Ahasuerus
by
the chamberlains?
\VS{16}Then
said
Memucan
before
the
king
and
the
princes,
The
queen
Vashti
has
not
done wrong
to
the
king
only,
but
also
to
all
the
princes,
and
to
all
the
peoples
that
are
in
all
the
provinces
of
the
king
Ahasuerus.
\VS{17}For
the
act
of
the
queen
will
come abroad
to
all
women,
so
as
to
render
their
husbands contemptible
in
their
eyes,
when
they
shall
say,
The
king
Ahasuerus
commanded
the
queen
Vashti
to
be
brought
in
before
him,
and
she
came
not!
\VS{18}And
the
princesses
of
Persia
and
Media
who
have
heard
of
the queen's
act,
will
say
it
this
day
to
all
the king's
princes,
and
there
will
be
contempt
and anger
enough.
\VS{19}If
it
please
the
king,
let
a
royal
order
go
forth
from
him,
and
let
it
be
written
among
the
laws
of
the Persians
and
the
Medes,
that
it
may
not
pass,
That
Vashti
come
no
more
before
king
Ahasuerus;
and
let
the
king
give
her
royal estate
to
another
that
is
better
than
she;
\VS{20}and
when
the king's
edict
which
he
shall
make
shall
be
heard
throughout
his
realm —
for
it
is
great —
all
the
wives
shall
give
to
their
husbands honour,
from
the
greatest
to
the least.
\VS{21}And
the
saying
pleased
the
king
and
the
princes;
and
the
king
did according
to
the
word
of
Memucan.
\VS{22}And
he
sent
letters
into
all
the king's
provinces,
into
every
province
according
to
the
writing thereof,
and
to
every
people
according
to
their
language,
That
every
man
should bear
rule
in
his
own
house,
and
should
speak
according
to
the
language
of
his
people.

\par }\Chap{2}{\PP \VerseOne{1}After
these
things,
when
the
fury
of
king
Ahasuerus
was appeased,
he
remembered
Vashti,
and
what
she
had
done,
and
what
was
decreed
against
her.
\VS{2}Then
said
the king's
servants
that
attended upon
him, Let there
be
maidens,
virgins
of
beautiful countenance,
sought
for
the
king;
\VS{3}and
let
the
king
appoint
officers
in
all
the
provinces
of
his
kingdom,
that
they
may
gather
together
all
the
young
virgins
of
beautiful countenance
to Shushan
the
fortress,
to
the
house
of
the
women, unto
the
custody
of
Hegai
the king's chamberlain,
keeper
of
the
women;
and
let
their
things
for purification
be
given.
\VS{4}And
let
the maiden
that pleaseth
the
king
be queen
instead
of
Vashti.
And
the
thing
pleased
the
king;
and
he
did
so.
\VS{5}There
was
in Shushan
the
fortress
a
certain
Jew,
whose
name
was
Mordecai,
the
son
of
Jair,
the
son
of
Shimei,
the
son
of
Kish,
a
Benjaminite,
\VS{6}who
had
been
carried
away
from
Jerusalem
with
the
captives
who
had
been
carried
away
with
Jeconiah
king
of
Judah,
whom
Nebuchadnezzar
the
king
of
Babylon
had
carried
away.
\VS{7}And
he
brought
up
Hadassah,
that
is,
Esther,
his uncle's
daughter;
for
she
had
neither
father
nor
mother —
and
the maiden
was
fair
and
beautiful —
and
when
her
father
and
mother
were
dead,
Mordecai
took
her
for
his
own
daughter.
\VS{8}And
it
came
to
pass
when
the king's
commandment
and
his
decree
was
heard,
and
when
many
maidens
were
gathered
together unto Shushan
the
fortress, unto
the
custody
of
Hegai,
that
Esther
also
was
brought
into
the king's
house, unto
the
custody
of
Hegai,
keeper
of
the
women.
\VS{9}And
the maiden
pleased
him,
and
obtained favour
before
him;
and
he speedily
gave
her
her things
for purification,
and
her
portions,
and
the
seven
maidens
selected
to
be
given
her,
out
of
the king's
house;
and
he
removed
her
and
her
maids
to
the
best [place]
of
the
house
of
the
women.
\VS{10}Esther
had
not
made
known
her
people
nor
her
birth;
for
Mordecai
had
charged
her
that
she
should
not
make
it
known.
\VS{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.
\VS{12}And
when
every maiden's
turn
came
to
go
in
to
king
Ahasuerus
after
that
she
had
been treated
for
twelve
months,
according
to
the
manner
of
the
women (for
so
were
the
days
of
their purification
accomplished —
six
months
with
oil
of
myrrh,
and
six
months
with
spices,
and
with
things
for
the purifying
of
the
women,
\VS{13}and
thus
came
the maiden
in unto
the
king),
whatever
she
desired
was
given
her
to
go
with
her
out
of
the
house
of
the
women
to
the king's
house.
\VS{14}In
the
evening
she
went,
and
on
the morrow
she
returned
into
the
second
house
of
the
women, unto
the
custody
of
Shaashgaz,
the king's chamberlain,
keeper
of
the
concubines.
She
came
in
to
the
king
no
more,
unless
the
king delighted
in
her,
and
she
were
called
by
name.
\VS{15}And
when
the
turn
of
Esther,
the
daughter
of
Abihail
the
uncle
of
Mordecai,
who
had
taken
her
for
his
daughter,
came
to
go
in
to
the
king,
she
required
nothing
but
what
Hegai
the king's chamberlain,
keeper
of
the
women, appointed.
And
Esther
obtained
grace
in
the
sight
of
all
them
that
saw
her.
\VS{16}So
Esther
was
taken
to
king
Ahasuerus,
into
his
royal
house,
in
the
tenth
month,
that
is,
the
month
Tebeth,
in
the
seventh
year
of
his
reign.
\VS{17}And
the
king
loved
Esther
above
all
the
women,
and
she
obtained
grace
and favour
in
his
sight more
than
all
the
virgins,
and
he
set
the
royal
crown
upon
her
head,
and
made
her queen
instead
of
Vashti.
\VS{18}And
the
king
made
a
great
feast
to
all
his
princes
and
his
servants, Esther's
feast;
and
he
made
a release
to
the
provinces,
and
gave presents
according
to
the king's
bounty.
\VS{19}And
when
the
virgins
were
gathered
together
the
second
time,
Mordecai
sat
in
the king's
gate.
\VS{20}(Esther,
as
Mordecai
had
charged
her,
had
not
yet
made
known
her
birth
nor
her
people;
for
Esther
did
what
Mordecai
told
her,
like
as
when
she
was
brought
up
with
him.)
\VS{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 threshold,
were wroth,
and
sought
to
lay
hand
on
the
king
Ahasuerus.
\VS{22}And
the
thing
became
known
to
Mordecai,
and
he
related
it
to
Esther
the
queen,
and
Esther
told
it
to
the
king
in Mordecai's
name.
\VS{23}And
the
matter
was
investigated
and
found
out;
and
they
were
both
hanged
on
a
tree.
And
it
was
written
in
the
book
of
the
chronicles
before
the
king.

\par }\Chap{3}{\PP \VerseOne{1}After
these
things
king
Ahasuerus
promoted
Haman
the
son
of Hammedatha
the
Agagite,
and
advanced
him,
and
set
his
seat
above
all
the
princes
that
were
with
him.
\VS{2}And
all
the king's
servants
that
were
in
the king's
gate
bowed
and
did
Haman reverence,
for
the
king
had
so
commanded
concerning
him.
But
Mordecai
bowed
not,
nor
did [him] reverence.
\VS{3}Then
the king's
servants,
who
were
in
the king's
gate,
said
to
Mordecai,
Why transgressest thou
the king's
commandment?
\VS{4}And
it
came
to
pass
as
they
spoke
daily
to
him,
and
he hearkened
not
to
them,
that
they
informed
Haman,
to
see
whether Mordecai's
matters
would
stand;
for
he
had
told
them
that
he
was
a
Jew.
\VS{5}And
when
Haman
saw
that
Mordecai
bowed
not,
nor
did
him reverence,
Haman
was
full
of
fury.
\VS{6}But
he scorned
to
lay
hands
on
Mordecai
alone;
for
they
had
made
known
to
him
the
people
of
Mordecai;
therefore
Haman
sought
to
destroy
all
the
Jews
that
were
in
all
the
kingdom
of
Ahasuerus —
the
people
of
Mordecai.
\VS{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
for
each
day
and
for
each
month,
to
the twelfth [month],
that
is,
the
month
Adar.
\VS{8}And
Haman
said
to
king
Ahasuerus,
There
is
a
people
scattered abroad
and
dispersed
among
the
peoples
in
all
the
provinces
of thy
kingdom;
and
their
laws
are diverse
from [those
of]
every
people,
and
they
keep
not
the king's
laws;
and
it
is
not
for
the king's profit
to suffer
them.
\VS{9}If
it
please
the
king, let
it
be
written
that
they
may
be
destroyed,
and
I
will
pay
ten
thousand
talents
of
silver
into
the
hands
of
those
that
have
charge
of
the affairs,
to
bring [it]
into
the king's
treasuries.
\VS{10}And
the
king
took
his
ring
from
his
hand,
and
gave
it
to
Haman
the
son
of Hammedatha
the
Agagite,
the Jews'
enemy.
\VS{11}And
the
king
said
to
Haman,
The
silver
is
given
to thee,
the
people
also,
to
do
with
them
as
seems
good
to thee.
\VS{12}Then
were
the king's
scribes
called,
in
the
first
month,
on
the thirteenth
day
of
the [month],
and
there
was
written
according
to
all
that
Haman
commanded unto
the king's
satraps,
and
to
the
governors
over
every
province,
and
to
the
princes
of
every
people;
to
every
province
according
to
the
writing thereof,
and
to
every
people
according
to
their
language:
in
the
name
of
king
Ahasuerus
was
it
written,
and
sealed
with
the king's
ring.
\VS{13}And
the
letters
were
sent
by
couriers
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,
upon
the thirteenth
of
the twelfth
month,
that
is,
the
month
Adar,
and [to
take]
the
spoil
of
them
for
a
prey.
\VS{14}That
the
decree might
be
given
in
every
province,
a
copy
of
the
writing
was
published
to
all
peoples,
that
they
should
be
ready
against
that
day.
\VS{15}The
couriers
went
out, being
hastened
by
the king's
commandment,
and
the
decree
was
given
in Shushan
the
fortress.
And
the
king
and
Haman
sat
down
to
drink;
but
the
city
of Shushan
was
in consternation.

\par }\Chap{4}{\PP \VerseOne{1}And
when
Mordecai
knew
all
that
was
done,
Mordecai rent
his
garments,
and
put
on
sackcloth
with
ashes,
and
went
out
into
the
midst
of
the
city,
and
cried
with
a
loud
and
bitter
cry,
\VS{2}and
came
even
before
the king's
gate;
for
none might
enter
into
the king's
gate
clothed
with
sackcloth.
\VS{3}And
in
every
province,
wherever
the king's
commandment
and
his
decree
came,
there
was
great
mourning among
the
Jews,
and
fasting,
and
weeping,
and
wailing:
many
lay
in
sackcloth
and
ashes.
\VS{4}And Esther's
maids
and
her chamberlains
came
and
told [it]
her;
and
the
queen
was
exceedingly grieved:
and
she
sent raiment
to
clothe
Mordecai,
and
to
take
away
his
sackcloth
from
him;
but
he
received [it]
not.
\VS{5}Then
Esther
called
for Hatach, [one]
of
the king's chamberlains,
whom
he
had
appointed
to
wait
upon
her,
and
gave
him
a
commandment
to
Mordecai,
to
know
what
it
was,
and
why
it
was.
\VS{6}And Hatach
went
forth
to
Mordecai, unto
the public place
of
the
city
which
was
before
the king's
gate.
\VS{7}And
Mordecai
told
him
of
all
that
had
happened
to
him,
and
of
the sum
of
money
that
Haman
had
promised
to
pay
to
the king's
treasuries
for
the
Jews,
to
destroy
them.
\VS{8}And
he
gave
him
a
copy
of
the
writing
of
the
decree
that
had
been
given
at Shushan
to
destroy
them,
to shew [it]
to
Esther,
and
to
declare [it]
to
her,
and
to
charge
her
that
she
should
go
in unto
the
king,
to
make supplication
to
him,
and
to
make
request
before
him,
for
her
people.
\VS{9}And Hatach
came
and
told
Esther
the
words
of
Mordecai.
\VS{10}And
Esther
spoke
to Hatach,
and
gave
him
commandment unto
Mordecai:
\VS{11}All
the king's
servants
and
the
people
of
the king's
provinces
do
know
that
whoever, whether
man
or
woman,
shall
come
to
the
king
into
the
inner
court,
who
is
not
called,
there
is
{\BD{
one}}
law,
to
put [him]
to
death,
except [such]
to
whom
the
king
shall hold
out
the
golden sceptre,
that
he
may
live;
and
I
have
not
been
called
to
come
in unto
the
king
these
thirty
days.
\VS{12}And they
told
Mordecai Esther's
words.
\VS{13}And
Mordecai bade
to
answer
Esther:
Imagine
not
in thy
heart
that thou shalt
escape
in
the king's
house,
more
than
all
the
Jews.
\VS{14}For
if thou altogether holdest thy peace
at
this
time,
then
shall
there
arise
relief
and
deliverance
to
the
Jews
from
another
place;
but thou
and thy father's
house
shall
perish.
And
who
knows
whether thou art [not]
come
to
the
kingdom
for
such
a
time
as
this?
\VS{15}And
Esther bade
to
answer
Mordecai:
\VS{16}Go,
gather
together
all
the
Jews
that
are
found
in Shushan,
and
fast
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.
\VS{17}And
Mordecai went
his
way,
and
did
according
to
all
that
Esther
had
commanded
him.

\par }\Chap{5}{\PP \VerseOne{1}And
it
came
to
pass
on
the
third
day,
that
Esther
put
on
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
entrance
to
the
house.
\VS{2}And
it
was
so,
when
the
king
saw
the
queen
Esther
standing
in
the
court,
that
she
obtained
grace
in
his
sight;
and
the
king
held
out
to
Esther
the
golden sceptre
that
was
in
his
hand;
and
Esther
drew
near,
and
touched
the
top
of
the sceptre.
\VS{3}And
the
king
said
to
her,
What wilt thou,
queen
Esther?
and
what
is thy
request?
it
shall
be
given thee
even
to
the
half
of
the
kingdom.
\VS{4}And
Esther
said,
If
it seem
good
to
the
king, let
the
king
and
Haman
come
this
day
to
the
banquet
that
I
have
prepared
for
him.
\VS{5}And
the
king
said,
Hasten
Haman,
that
it
may
be
done
as
Esther
has
said.
And
the
king
and
Haman
came
to
the
banquet
that
Esther
had
prepared.
\VS{6}And
the
king
said
to
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
done.
\VS{7}And
Esther
answered
and
said,
My
petition
and
my
request
is,
\VS{8}If
I
have
found
grace
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
according
to
the king's
word.
\VS{9}And
Haman
went
forth
that
day
joyful
and
glad
of
heart;
but
when
Haman
saw
Mordecai
in
the king's
gate,
that
he
stood
not
up
nor
moved
for
him,
he
was
full
of
fury
against
Mordecai.
\VS{10}But
Haman
controlled
himself,
and
came
home;
and
he
sent
and called
for
his
friends,
and
Zeresh
his
wife.
\VS{11}And
Haman
told
them
of
the
glory
of
his
riches,
and
the
multitude
of
his
children,
and
all
wherein
the
king
had
promoted
him,
and
how
he
had
advanced
him
above
the
princes
and
servants
of
the
king.
\VS{12}And
Haman
said,
Yea,
Esther
the
queen
let
no man
come
in
with
the
king
to
the
banquet
that
she
had
prepared
but
myself;
and to-morrow
also
I
am
invited
to
her
with
the
king.
\VS{13}Yet
all
this
is
of
no avail
to
me
so long
as
I
see
Mordecai
the
Jew
sitting
at
the king's
gate.
\VS{14}Then
said
Zeresh
his
wife
and
all
his
friends
to
him,
Let
a
gallows
be
made
of
fifty
cubits
high,
and
in
the
morning
speak
to
the
king
that
Mordecai
may
be
hanged
on
it:
then
go
in merrily
with
the
king
to
the
banquet.
And
the
thing
pleased
Haman;
and
he
caused
the
gallows
to
be
made.

\par }\Chap{6}{\PP \VerseOne{1}On
that
night
sleep
fled
from
the
king.
And
he
commanded
to
bring
the
book
of
records
of
the
chronicles;
and
they
were
read
before
the
king.
\VS{2}And
it
was
found
written,
that
Mordecai
had
told
of
Bigthana
and
Teresh,
two
of
the king's chamberlains,
keepers
of
the threshold,
who
had
sought
to
lay
hand
on
king
Ahasuerus.
\VS{3}And
the
king
said,
What honour
and
dignity
has
been
done
to
Mordecai
for
this?
And
the king's
servants
that
attended
upon
him
said,
Nothing
has
been
done
for
him.
\VS{4}And
the
king
said,
Who
is
in
the
court?
Now
Haman
had
come
into
the outward
court
of
the king's
house,
to
speak
to
the
king
to
hang
Mordecai
on
the
gallows
that
he
had
prepared
for
him.
\VS{5}And
the king's
servants
said
to
him,
Behold,
Haman
is
standing
in
the
court.
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
with
the
man
whom
the
king
delights
to honour?
Now
Haman
thought
in
his
heart,
To
whom
would
the
king
delight
to
do honour
more
than
to
me?
\VS{7}And
Haman
answered
the
king,
For
the
man
whom
the
king
delights
to honour,
\VS{8}let
the
royal
apparel
be
brought
with
which
the
king arrays himself,
and
the
horse
that
the
king
rides
upon,
and
on
the
head
of
which
the
royal
crown
is
set;
\VS{9}and
let
the
apparel
and
horse
be
delivered
into
the
hand
of
one
of
the king's
most
noble
princes,
and
let
them
array
the
man
whom
the
king
delights
to honour,
and
cause
him
to
ride
on
the
horse
through
the
street
of
the
city,
and
proclaim
before
him,
Thus
shall
it
be
done
to
the
man
whom
the
king
delights
to honour!
\VS{10}And
the
king
said
to
Haman,
Make
haste,
take
the
apparel
and
the
horse,
as thou hast
said,
and
do
so
to
Mordecai
the
Jew,
who
sits
at
the king's
gate:
let
nothing
fail
of
all
that thou hast
said.
\VS{11}And
Haman
took
the
apparel
and
the
horse,
and
arrayed
Mordecai,
and
caused
him
to
ride through
the
street
of
the
city,
and
proclaimed
before
him,
Thus
shall
it
be
done
to
the
man
whom
the
king
delights
to honour!
\VS{12}And
Mordecai
came
again
to
the king's
gate.
But
Haman hasted
to
his
house,
mourning
and
having
his
head
covered.
\VS{13}And
Haman
recounted
to
Zeresh
his
wife
and
to
all
his
friends
all
that
had befallen
him.
Then
said
his
wise
men
and
Zeresh
his
wife
to
him,
If
Mordecai
be
of
the
seed
of
the
Jews,
before
whom thou hast
begun
to
fall, thou shalt
not
prevail
against
him,
but wilt
certainly
fall
before
him.
\VS{14}While
they
were
yet
talking
with
him,
the king's chamberlains
came,
and hasted
to
bring
Haman
to
the
banquet
that
Esther
had
prepared.

\par }\Chap{7}{\PP \VerseOne{1}And
the
king
and
Haman
came
to
drink
with
Esther
the
queen.
\VS{2}And
the
king
said
again
to
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?
even
to
the
half
of
the
kingdom
it
shall
be
done.
\VS{3}And
Esther
the
queen
answered
and
said,
If
I
have
found
grace
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;
\VS{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 adversary
could
not compensate
the king's damage.
\VS{5}And
king
Ahasuerus
spoke
and
said
to
Esther
the
queen,
Who
is
he,
and
where
is
he
that
has
filled
his
heart
to
do
so?
\VS{6}And
Esther
said,
The adversary
and
enemy
is
this
wicked
Haman.
Then
Haman
was
terrified
before
the
king
and
the
queen.
\VS{7}And
the
king
in
his
wrath
rose
up
from
the
banquet
of
wine, [and
went]
into
the
palace
garden;
but
Haman
stayed
to
make
request
for
his
life
to
Esther
the
queen,
for
he
saw
that
there
was
evil
determined
against
him
by
the
king.
\VS{8}And
the
king
returned
out
of
the
palace
garden
into
the
house
of
the
banquet
of
wine,
and
Haman
was
fallen
upon
the
couch
on
which
Esther
was.
And
the
king
said,
Will
he
even force
the
queen
before
me
in
the
house?
The
word
went
forth
out
of
the king's
mouth,
and
they
covered Haman's
face.
\VS{9}And
Harbonah,
one
of
the chamberlains,
said
before
the
king,
Behold,
also,
the
gallows
fifty
cubits
high,
that
Haman
made
for
Mordecai,
who
spoke
good
for
the
king,
stands
in
the
house
of
Haman.
And
the
king
said,
Hang
him
on
it!
\VS{10}So
they
hanged
Haman
on
the
gallows
that
he
had
prepared
for
Mordecai.
And
the king's
wrath
was appeased.

\par }\Chap{8}{\PP \VerseOne{1}On
that
day
did
king
Ahasuerus
give
the
house
of
Haman
the Jews' oppressor
to
Esther
the
queen.
And
Mordecai
came
before
the
king;
for
Esther
had
told
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
set
Mordecai
over
the
house
of
Haman.
\VS{3}And
Esther
spoke
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
which
he
had
devised
against
the
Jews.
\VS{4}And
the
king held
out
the
golden sceptre
toward
Esther.
And
Esther
arose
and
stood
before
the
king,
\VS{5}and
said,
If
it please
the
king
and
if
I
have
found
grace
before
him,
and
the
thing
seem
right
to
the
king,
and
I
be pleasing
in
his
sight, let
it
be
written
to
reverse
the
letters
devised
by
Haman
the
son
of Hammedatha
the
Agagite,
which
he
wrote
to
destroy
the
Jews
that
are
in
all
the king's
provinces.
\VS{6}For
how
shall
I
endure
to
see
the
evil
that
shall
befall
my
people?
and
how
shall
I
endure
to
see
the
destruction
of
my
kindred?
\VS{7}And
king
Ahasuerus
said
to
queen
Esther
and
to
Mordecai
the
Jew,
Behold,
I
have
given
Esther
the
house
of
Haman,
and
him
they
have
hanged
upon
the
gallows,
because
he
stretched
forth
his
hand
against
the
Jews.
\VS{8}Write ye
then
for
the
Jews
as
seems
good
to
you,
in
the king's
name,
and
seal [it]
with
the king's
ring.
For
a
writing
that
is
written
in
the king's
name,
and
sealed
with
the king's
ring,
cannot
be reversed.
\VS{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,
to
the
Jews,
and
to
the
satraps,
and
the
governors,
and
the
princes
of
the
provinces
which
are
from
India
even
to
Ethiopia,
a
hundred
and twenty-seven
provinces,
to
every
province
according
to
the
writing thereof,
and
to
every
people
according
to
their
language,
and
to
the
Jews
according
to
their
writing
and
according
to
their
language.
\VS{10}And
he
wrote
in
the
name
of
king
Ahasuerus,
and
sealed [it]
with
the king's
ring,
and
sent
letters
by
couriers
on
horseback
riding
on coursers,
horses
of blood reared
in
the breeding studs:
\VS{11}[stating]
that
the
king
granted
the
Jews
that
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
might assault
them, [their]
little
ones
and
women,
and
to [take]
the
spoil
of
them
for
a
prey,
\VS{12}upon
one
day
in
all
the
provinces
of
king
Ahasuerus, upon
the thirteenth
of
the twelfth
month,
that
is,
the
month
Adar.
\VS{13}That
the
decree might
be
given
in
every
province,
a
copy
of
the
writing
was
published
to
all
the
peoples,
and
that
the
Jews
should
be ready
against
that
day
to
avenge themselves
on
their
enemies.
\VS{14}The
couriers
mounted
on coursers [and]
horses
of blood
went
out, being
hastened
and pressed
on
by
the king's
commandment.
And
the
decree
was
given
at Shushan
the
fortress.
\VS{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
mantle
of byssus
and
purple;
and
the
city
of Shushan
shouted
and
was
glad.
\VS{16}The
Jews
had light,
and
joy,
and
gladness,
and honour.
\VS{17}And
in
every
province,
and
in
every
city,
wherever
the king's
commandment
and
his
decree
came,
the
Jews
had
joy
and
gladness,
a
feast
and
a
good
day.
And
many
among
the
peoples
of
the
land
became
Jews;
for
the
fear
of
the
Jews
had
fallen
upon
them.

\par }\Chap{9}{\PP \VerseOne{1}And
in
the twelfth
month,
that
is,
the
month
Adar,
on
the thirteenth
day thereof,
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 (but
it
was
turned
to
the contrary,
that
the
Jews
had power
over
them
that
hated
them),
\VS{2}the
Jews
gathered
themselves
together
in
their
cities
throughout
the
provinces
of
king
Ahasuerus,
to
lay
hand
on
such
as
sought
their hurt.
And
no
man
could
withstand
them;
for
the
fear
of
them
had
fallen
upon
all
the
peoples.
\VS{3}And
all
the
princes
of
the
provinces,
and
the
satraps,
and
the
governors
and
officers
of
the
king, helped
the
Jews;
for
the
fear
of
Mordecai
had
fallen
upon
them.
\VS{4}For
Mordecai
was
great
in
the king's
house,
and
his
fame
went
forth
throughout
the
provinces;
for
the
man
Mordecai
became
continually
greater.
\VS{5}And
the
Jews
smote
all
their
enemies
with
the stroke
of
the
sword
and
slaughter
and
destruction,
and
did
what
they
would
to
those
that
hated
them.
\VS{6}And
in Shushan
the
fortress
the
Jews
slew
and
destroyed
five
hundred
men.
\VS{7}And
Parshandatha,
and
Dalphon,
and
Aspatha,
\VS{8}and
Poratha,
and
Adalia,
and
Aridatha,
\VS{9}and
Parmashta,
and
Arisai,
and
Aridai,
and Vajezatha,
\VS{10}the
ten
sons
of
Haman
the
son
of Hammedatha,
the oppressor
of
the
Jews,
they
slew;
but
they
laid
not
their
hands
on
the prey.
\VS{11}On
that
day
the
number
of
those
that
were
slain
in Shushan
the
fortress
was
brought
before
the
king.
\VS{12}And
the
king
said
to
Esther
the
queen,
The
Jews
have
slain
and
destroyed
five
hundred
men
in Shushan
the
fortress,
and
the
ten
sons
of
Haman;
what
have
they
done
in
the
rest
of
the king's
provinces?
And
what
is thy
petition?
and
it
shall
be
granted thee;
and
what
is thy
request
further?
and
it
shall
be
done.
\VS{13}And
Esther
said,
If
it please
the
king,
let
it
be
granted
to
the
Jews
that
are
in Shushan
to
do to-morrow
also
according
to
this day's
decree,
and
let Haman's
ten
sons
be
hanged
upon
the
gallows.
\VS{14}And
the
king
commanded
it
so
to
be
done:
and
the
decree
was
given
at Shushan;
and
they
hanged Haman's
ten
sons.
\VS{15}And
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
they
laid
not
their
hand
on
the prey.
\VS{16}And
the other
Jews
that
were
in
the king's
provinces
gathered
themselves
together,
and
stood
for
their
life,
and
had
rest
from
their
enemies;
and
they
slew
of
them
that
hated
them
seventy-five
thousand (but
they
laid
not
their
hand
on
the prey),
\VS{17}on
the thirteenth
day
of
the
month
Adar;
and
on
the fourteenth
of
the
same
they
rested,
and
made
it
a
day
of
feasting
and
joy.
\VS{18}But
the
Jews
that
were
at Shushan
gathered
themselves
together
on
the thirteenth [day] thereof,
and
on
the fourteenth thereof;
and
on
the fifteenth
of
the
same
they
rested,
and
made
it
a
day
of
feasting
and
joy.
\VS{19}Therefore
the
Jews
of
the
villages
that
dwell
in
the
country
towns
make
the fourteenth
of
the
month
Adar
a
day
of
joy
and
feasting,
and
a
good
day,
and
on
which
they send
portions
one
to
another.
\VS{20}And
Mordecai
wrote
these
things,
and
sent
letters
to
all
the
Jews
near
and
far
that
were
in
all
the
provinces
of
king
Ahasuerus,
\VS{21}to
establish [this]
among
them,
that
they
should
keep
the fourteenth
day
of
the
month
Adar,
and
the fifteenth
day
of
the
same,
yearly,
\VS{22}as
the
days
on
which
the
Jews
rested
from
their
enemies,
and
the
month
that
was
turned
to
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.
\VS{23}And
the
Jews
undertook
to
do
as
they
had
begun,
and
as
Mordecai
had
written
to
them.
\VS{24}For
Haman
the
son
of Hammedatha
the
Agagite,
the oppressor
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;
\VS{25}and
when [Esther]
came
before
the
king,
he
commanded
by
letters
that
his
wicked device,
which
he
had
devised
against
the
Jews,
should
return
upon
his
own
head;
and
they
hanged
him
and
his
sons
on
the
gallows.
\VS{26}Therefore
they
called
these
days
Purim
after
the
name
of
Pur.
Therefore,
according
to
all
the
words
of
this
letter,
and
for
what
they
had
seen
concerning
this
matter
and
what
had
happened
to
them,
\VS{27}the
Jews ordained
and
took
upon
them,
and
upon
their
seed,
and
upon
all
such
as joined
themselves
to
them,
so
that
it
should
not
fail,
that
they
would
observe
these
two
days
according
to
their
writing
and
according
to
their fixed
time,
every
year;
\VS{28}and
that
these
days
should
be
remembered
and
observed
throughout
every
generation,
in
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 cease
from
among
their
seed.
\VS{29}And
queen
Esther
the
daughter
of
Abihail,
and
Mordecai
the
Jew,
wrote
with
all
authority
to
confirm
this
second
letter
of
Purim.
\VS{30}And
he
sent
letters
to
all
the
Jews,
to
the
hundred
and twenty-seven
provinces
of
the
kingdom
of
Ahasuerus,
words
of
peace
and
truth,
\VS{31}to
confirm
these
days
of
Purim
in
their fixed
times,
according
as
Mordecai
the
Jew
and
queen
Esther
had enjoined
them,
and
as
they
had decreed
for
themselves
and
for
their
seed,
as
to
the
matters
of
the fastings
and
their
cry.
\VS{32}And
the
decree
of
Esther
confirmed
these
matters
of
Purim;
and
it
was
written
in
the
book.

\par }\Chap{10}{\PP \VerseOne{1}And
king
Ahasuerus
laid
a
tribute
upon
the
land
and
the
isles
of
the
sea.
\VS{2}And
all
the
acts
of
his
power
and
of
his
might,
and
the declaration
of
the
greatness
of
Mordecai,
to
which
the
king
advanced
him,
are
they
not
written
in
the
book
of
the
chronicles
of
the
kings
of
Media
and
Persia?
\VS{3}For
Mordecai
the
Jew
was
second
to
king
Ahasuerus,
and
great
among
the
Jews,
and
accepted
of
the
multitude
of
his
brethren,
seeking
the
welfare
of
his
people,
and
speaking
peace
to
all
his
seed.
\par }