Esther 1
1 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:) 2 That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of
his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace, 3 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: 4 When he
shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent
majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days. 5 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; 6 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. 7 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. 8 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. 9 Also Vashti the queen made a
feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus. 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, 11 To bring
Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and
the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. 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. 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: 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;) 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? 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 21 And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did
according to the word of Memucan: 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.
Esther 2
1 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. 2
Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young
virgins sought for the king: 3 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: 4 And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be
queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so. 5 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; 6 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. 7 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. 8 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. 9 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. 10 Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for
Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it. 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. 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;) 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 19
And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat
in the king's gate. 20 Esther had not yet shewed 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. 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 hands on the king Ahasuerus. 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. 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.
Esther 3
1 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. 2 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. 3 Then the king's servants, which were in the
king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?
4 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. 5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed
not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. 6 And he thought scorn
to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed 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. 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 from day to day, and from month to month, to the
twelfth month, that is, the month Adar. 8 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. 9 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. 10
And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of
Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
Esther 4
1 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; 2 And came even before the king's gate: for none might
enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth. 3 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. 4 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. 5
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. 6 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street
of the city, which was before the king's gate. 7 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. 8 Also he gave
him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy
them, to shew 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. 9 And Hatach came and told Esther the words
of Mordecai. 10 Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto
Mordecai; 11 All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do
know, that whosoever, whether man or women, 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. 12
And they told to Mordecai Esther's words. 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. 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? 15 Then Esther
bade them return Mordecai this answer, 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.
17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded
him.
Esther 5
1 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. 2 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. 3 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. 4 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. 5 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. 6 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. 7 Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is; 8
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. 9 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. 10 Nevertheless Haman refrained
himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh
his wife. 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. 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. 13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see
Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate. 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.
Esther 6
1 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. 2 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. 3 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. 4 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. 5 And the king's servants
said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him
come in. 6 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? 7 And Haman
answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour, 8 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: 9 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. 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. 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. 12 And Mordecai came again to
the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head
covered. 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. 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.
Esther 7
1 So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. 2 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. 3 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: 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 enemy could not countervail the king's damage. 5 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? 6 And Esther said, The adversary
and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the
queen. 7 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. 8 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
king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. 9 And Harbonah, one of the
chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high,
which Haman had made for Mordecai, who spoken good for the king, standeth in the
house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. 10 So they hanged Haman on
the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath
pacified.
Esther 8
1 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. 2 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. 3 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. 4 Then the king held out the
golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king, 5 And
said, If it please the king, and if I have 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: 6 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? 7 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. 8 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. 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 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. 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: 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, 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. 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. 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. 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. 16 The Jews had light,
and gladness, and joy, and honour. 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.
Esther 9
1 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;) 2 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. 3 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. 4 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. 5 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. 6 And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred
men. 7 And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha, 8 And Poratha, and Adalia,
and Aridatha, 9 And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha, 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. 11 On that day the number of those that were
slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king. 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. 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. 14 And the king commanded it so to be done: and the decree was
given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons. 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. 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, 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. 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. 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. 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, 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, 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. 23 And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai
had written unto them; 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; 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. 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, 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; 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. 29 Then Esther the queen, the daughter of
Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second
letter of Purim. 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, 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. 32
And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in
the book.
Esther 10
1 And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the
sea. 2 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? 3 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.