Esther 8

¹ On that day King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was to her relation, 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.

³ Then Esther spoke again to the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the evil device of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews. ⁴ Then the king held out the golden scepter toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king, ⁵ and said, “If it pleases the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and the thing seem right before 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 who are in all the king’s provinces. ⁶ For how can I endure to see the evil that will come to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?”

⁷ Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and he is hanged on the gallows, because he laid his hand on the Jews. ⁸ Write you also for the Jews, as it seemeth good to 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.”

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 unto the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governors, and the princes of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, a 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.

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, mounted on mules and camels, to all the king’s provinces, to every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.

¹¹ That the king would permit the Jews who 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 spoil their goods, ¹² upon one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. ¹³ A copy of the writing was to be issued as law in every province, and it was published to all peoples, that the Jews should be ready for that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

¹⁴ So the posts went out hastily by the king’s command; and the decree was issued in Shushan the palace. And the king and Mordecai wrote with all authority to the Jews, to the satraps, and the governors, and the princes of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, to every province in its writing, and to every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing and according to their language.

¹⁵ 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.

¹⁶ The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honor. ¹⁷ And in every province, and in every city, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, 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.