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ISA-11:9 ...for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD,

as the waters cover the sea.

Copyright (c) 1985-2007

11 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 .

12 That in those days when the king Ahasuerus sat on the

throne of his kingdom which was in Shushan the palace .

13 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 .

14 When he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the

honour of his excellent majesty many days even and hundred and

fourscore days .

15 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 .

16 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 .

17 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 .

18 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 .

19 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the

royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus .

110 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 .

111 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 .

112 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 .

113 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 .

114 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 .

115 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 .

116 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 .

117 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 .

118 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 .

119 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 .

120 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 .

121 And the saying pleased the king and the princes and the

king did according to the word of Memucan .

122 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 .

* 21 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 .

22 Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him Let

there be fair young virgins sought for the king .

23 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 .

24 And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead

of Vashti And the thing pleased the king and he did so .

25 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 .

26 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 .

27 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 .

28 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 .

29 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 .

210 Esther had not showed her people nor her kindred for

Mordecai had charged her that she should not show it .

211 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the

women's house to know how Esther did and what should become of

her .

212 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 .

213 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 .

214 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 .

215 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 .

216 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 .

217 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 .

218 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 .

219 And when the virgins were gathered together the second

time then Mordecai sat in the king's gate .

220 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 .

221 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

222 And the thing was known to Mordecai who told it unto

Esther the queen and Esther certified the king thereof in

Mordecai's name .

223 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 .

* 31 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 .

32 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 .

33 Then the king's servants which were in the king's gate said

unto Mordecai Why transgressest thou the king's commandment .

34 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 .

35 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not nor did him

reverence then was Haman full of wrath .

36 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 .

37 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 .

38 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 .

39 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 .

310 And the king took his ring from his hand and gave it unto

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

311 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 .

312 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 .

313 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 .

314 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 .

315 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 .

* 41 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 .

42 And came even before the king's gate for none might enter

into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth .

43 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 .

44 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 .

45 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

46 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the

city which was before the king's gate .

47 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 .

48 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 .

49 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai .

410 Again Esther spake unto Hatach and gave him commandment

unto Mordecai .

411 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 .

412 And they told to Mordecai Esther's words .

413 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther Think not with

thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house more than all

the Jews .

414 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 .

415 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer .

416 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 .

417 So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that

Esther had commanded him .

* 51 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 .

52 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 .

53 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 .

54 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 .

55 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 .

56 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 .

57 Then answered Esther and said My petition and my request is

58 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 .

59 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

510 Nevertheless Haman refrained himself and when he came home

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

511 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 .

512 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 .

513 Yet all this availeth me nothing so long as I see Mordecai

the Jew sitting at the king's gate .

514 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 .

* 61 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 .

62 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 .

63 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 .

64 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 .

65 And the king's servants said unto him Behold Haman standeth

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

66 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 .

67 And Haman answered the king For the man whom the king

delighteth to honour .

68 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 .

69 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 .

610 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 .

611 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 .

612 And Mordecai came again to the king's gate But Haman

hasted to his house mourning and having his head covered .

613 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 .

614 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 .

* 71 So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the

queen .

72 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 .

73 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 .

74 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 .

75 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 .

76 And Esther said The adversary and enemy is this wicked

Haman Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen .

77 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 .

78 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 .

79 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 .

710 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared

for Mordecai Then was the king's wrath pacified .

* 81 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 .

82 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 .

83 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 .

84 Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther So

Esther arose and stood before the king .

85 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 .

86 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 .

87 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 .

88 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 .

89 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 .

810 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 .

811 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 .

812 Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus namely

upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month which is the month

Adar .

813 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 .

814 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 .

815 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 .

816 The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honour .

817 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 .

* 91 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 .

92 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 .

93 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 .

94 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 .

95 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 .

96 And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five

hundred men .

97 And Parshandatha and Dalphon and Aspatha .

98 And Poratha and Adalia and Aridatha .

99 And Parmashta and Arisai and Aridai and Vajezatha .

910 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 .

911 On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan

the palace was brought before the king .

912 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

913 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 .

914 And the king commanded it so to be done and the decree was

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

915 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 .

916 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 .

917 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 .

918 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 .

919 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 .

920 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 .

921 To stablish this among them that they should keep the

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

same yearly .

922 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 .

923 And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun and as

Mordecai had written unto them .

924 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

925 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 .

926 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 .

927 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 .

928 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 .

929 Then Esther the queen the daughter of Abihail and Mordecai

the Jew wrote with all authority to confirm this second letter

of Purim .

930 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 .

931 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 .

932 And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim

and it was written in the book .

* 101 And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land and

upon the isles of the sea .

102 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 .

103 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 .