EST 01:01 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:)
EST 01:02 [That] in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on
the throne of his kingdom, which [was] in Shushan the palace,
EST 01:03 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:
EST 01:04 When he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and
the honour of his excellent majesty many days, [even] and
hundred and fourscore days.
EST 01:05 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;
EST 01:06 [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.
EST 01:07 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.
EST 01:08 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.
EST 01:09 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women [in]
the royal house which [belonged] to king Ahasuerus.
EST 01:10 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,
EST 01:11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the
crown royal, to show the people and the princes her beauty: for
she [was] fair to look on.
EST 01:12 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.
EST 01:13 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:
EST 01:14 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;)
EST 01:15 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?
EST 01:16 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.
EST 01:17 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.
EST 01:18 [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.
EST 01:19 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.
EST 01:20 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.
EST 01:21 And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and
the king did according to the word of Memucan:
EST 01:22 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.
EST 02:01 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.
EST 02:02 Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him,
Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
EST 02:03 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]:
EST 02:04 And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen
instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
EST 02:05 [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;
EST 02:06 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.
EST 02:07 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.
EST 02:08 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.
EST 02:09 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.
EST 02:10 Esther had not showed her people nor her kindred: for
Mordecai had charged her that she should not show [it].
EST 02:11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the
women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of
her.
EST 02:12 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;)
EST 02:13 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.
EST 02:14 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.
EST 02:15 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.
EST 02:16 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.
EST 02:17 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.
EST 02:18 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.
EST 02:19 And when the virgins were gathered together the second
time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.
EST 02:20 Esther had not [yet] showed 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.
EST 02:21 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 hand on the
king Ahasuerus.
EST 02:22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told [it]
unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king [thereof]
in Mordecai's name.
EST 02:23 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.
EST 03:01 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.
EST 03:02 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.
EST 03:03 Then the king's servants, which [were] in the king's
gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's
commandment?
EST 03:04 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.
EST 03:05 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did
him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
EST 03:06 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone;
for they had showed 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.
EST 03:07 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.
EST 03:08 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.
EST 03:09 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.
EST 03:10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it
unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
EST 03:11 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.
EST 03:12 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.
EST 03:13 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.
EST 03:14 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.
EST 03:15 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.
EST 04:01 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;
EST 04:02 And came even before the king's gate: for none [might]
enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.
EST 04:03 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.
EST 04:04 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.
EST 04:05 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].
EST 04:06 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of
the city, which [was] before the king's gate.
EST 04:07 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.
EST 04:08 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree
that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to show [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.
EST 04:09 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
EST 04:10 Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him
commandment unto Mordecai;
EST 04:11 All the king's servants, and the people of the king's
provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, 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.
EST 04:12 And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.
EST 04:13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not
with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more
than all the Jews.
EST 04:14 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?
EST 04:15 Then Esther bade [them] return Mordecai [this answer],
EST 04:16 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.
EST 04:17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all
that Esther had commanded him.
EST 05:01 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.
EST 05:02 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.
EST 05:03 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.
EST 05:04 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.
EST 05:05 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.
EST 05:06 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.
EST 05:07 Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my
request [is];
EST 05:08 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.
EST 05:09 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.
EST 05:10 Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came
home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.
EST 05:11 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.
EST 05:12 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.
EST 05:13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see
Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
EST 05:14 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.
EST 06:01 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.
EST 06:02 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.
EST 06:03 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.
EST 06:04 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.
EST 06:05 And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman
standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.
EST 06:06 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?
EST 06:07 And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king
delighteth to honour,
EST 06:08 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:
EST 06:09 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.
EST 06:10 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.
EST 06:11 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.
EST 06:12 And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman
hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.
EST 06:13 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.
EST 06:14 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.
EST 07:01 So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the
queen.
EST 07:02 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.
EST 07:03 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:
EST 07:04 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.
EST 07:05 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?
EST 07:06 And Esther said, The adversary and enemy [is] this
wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the
queen.
EST 07:07 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.
EST 07:08 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 the
king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.
EST 07:09 And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the
king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman
had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king,
standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him
thereon.
EST 07:10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had
prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.
EST 08:01 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.
EST 08:02 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.
EST 08:03 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.
EST 08:04 Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward
Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,
EST 08:05 And said, If it please the king, and if I have found
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:
EST 08:06 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?
EST 08:07 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.
EST 08:08 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.
EST 08:09 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.
EST 08:10 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:
EST 08:11 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,
EST 08:12 Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus,
[namely], upon the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month, which
[is] the month Adar.
EST 08:13 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.
EST 08:14 [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.
EST 08:15 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.
EST 08:16 The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.
EST 08:17 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.
EST 09:01 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;)
EST 09:02 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.
EST 09:03 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.
EST 09:04 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.
EST 09:05 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.
EST 09:06 And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed
five hundred men.
EST 09:07 And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha,
EST 09:08 And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,
EST 09:09 And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha,
EST 09:10 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.
EST 09:11 On that day the number of those that were slain in
Shushan the palace was brought before the king.
EST 09:12 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.
EST 09:13 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.
EST 09:14 And the king commanded it so to be done: and the
decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons.
EST 09:15 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.
EST 09:16 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,
EST 09:17 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.
EST 09:18 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.
EST 09:19 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.
EST 09:20 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,
EST 09:21 To stablish [this] among them, that they should keep
the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of
the same, yearly,
EST 09:22 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.
EST 09:23 And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as
Mordecai had written unto them;
EST 09:24 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;
EST 09:25 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.
EST 09:26 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,
EST 09:27 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;
EST 09:28 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.
EST 09:29 Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and
Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this
second letter of Purim.
EST 09:30 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,
EST 09:31 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.
EST 09:32 And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of
Purim; and it was written in the book.
EST 10:01 And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land,
and [upon] the isles of the sea.
EST 10:02 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?
EST 10:03 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.
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