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 .
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