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Esther




The Book of Esther

Chapter 1

1 Now it came to pass in the days of Xerxes [Ahasuerus] (this is Xerxes who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over a hundred and seven and twenty provinces),

2 that in those days, when the king Xerxes 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 to 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 showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even a hundred and fourscore days.

5 When these days were fulfilled, the king made a feast to all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace.

6 There were hangings of white cloth, of green, and of blue, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble. The couches were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, white, yellow, and black marble.

7 They gave them drink in vessels of gold (the vessels being different one from another), and royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king.

8 The drinking was according to the law. None could compel, for so the king 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 Xerxes.

10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas (the seven chamberlains that ministered in the presence of Xerxes the king),

11 to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the peoples 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 the chamberlains. Therefore the king was very angry, and his anger burned in him.

13 Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment.

14 The next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and sat first in the kingdom):

15 What will we do to the queen Vashti according to law, because she did not do the bidding of the king Xerxes by the chamberlains?

16 Memucan answered before the king, and the princes: Vashti the queen did not do wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the peoples that are in all the provinces of the king Xerxes.

17 For this deed of the queen will come abroad to all women, to make their husbands contemptible in their eyes, when it will be reported: The king Xerxes commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she did not come.

18 Today the princesses of Persia and Media will hear of the deed of the queen, and say the like to all the king's princes. So there will arise much contempt and wrath.

19 If it please the king, let there go forth a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it is not altered, that Vashti no longer come before king Xerxes. Let the king give her royal estate to another that is better than she.

20 When the king's decree which he makes is published throughout all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will give honor to their husbands, both to great and small.

21 The saying pleased the king and the princes. The king did according to the word of Memucan.

22 He sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing of it, to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and should speak according to the language of his people.

Chapter 2

1 After these things, when the wrath of king Xerxes was pacified, he remembered Vashti, what she did, and what was decreed against her.

2 Then the king's servants that ministered to him said: Let there be fair young virgins found for the king.

3 Let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins to Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, to the custody of Hegai the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women. Let their things for purification be given them.

4 Let the maiden that pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti. The thing pleased the king, and he did so.

5 There was a certain Yahudi [Jew] in Shushan the palace, whose name was Mordecai (the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite),

6 who was carried away from Yerusalem with the captives that were carried away with Yekonyah king of Yahudah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon carried away.

7 He brought up Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle's daughter. She had neither father nor mother, but the maiden was fair and beautiful. When her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her 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 to Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken into the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.

9 The maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him. He speedily gave her her things for purification, with her portions, and the seven maidens who were to be given her out of the king's house. He removed her and her maidens to the best place of the house of the women.

10 Esther did not make known her people nor her kindred, for Mordecai charged her that she should not make it known.

11 Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what would become of her.

12 Now when the turn of every maiden was come to go in to king Xerxes, after it was done to her according to the law for the women twelve months (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors, and with the things for the purifying of the women),

13 then in this way the maiden came to the king: whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women to the king's house.

14 In the evening she went, and the next day she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, who kept the concubines. She came in to the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and she were called by name.

15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who took her for his daughter, was come to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. Esther obtained favor in the sight of all those who looked upon her.

16 So Esther was taken to king Xerxes into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

17 The king loved Esther above all the women. She obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins, so he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

18 Then the king made a great feast to all his princes, and his servants, even Esther's feast. He made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the bounty of the king.

19 When the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai was sitting in the king's gate.

20 Esther had not yet made known her kindred nor her people, as Mordecai charged her. Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.

21 In those days, while Mordecai was sitting in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those that kept the threshold, were angry, and sought to lay hands on the king Xerxes.

22 The thing became known to Mordecai, who showed it to Esther the queen, and Esther told the king of it in Mordecai's name.

23 When inquisition was made of the matter, and it was found to be so, they were both hanged on a tree. It was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.

Chapter 3

1 After these things king Xerxes promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes with him.

2 All the king's servants who were in the king's gate bowed down, and did reverence to Haman. For the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down, nor do him reverence.

3 Then the king's servants, who were in the king's gate, said to Mordecai: Why do you transgress the king's commandment?

4 Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily to him, and he did not hearken to them, they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand. For he had told them he was a Yahudi [Jew].

5 When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down, nor do him reverence, then Haman was full of wrath.

6 But he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they made known to him the people of Mordecai. Therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Yahudim that were throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes, even the people of Mordecai.

7 In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Xerxes, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.

8 Haman said to king Xerxes: There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws are different from those of every people. They do not keep 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 are destroyed. I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who have the charge of the king's business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.

10 The king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Yahudim's enemy.

11 The king said to Haman: The silver is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you.

12 Then the king's scribes were called in the first month, on the thirteenth day. There was written according to all Haman commanded to the king's satraps, to the governors that were over every province, to the princes of every people, to every province according to the writing, and to every people after their language. It was written in the name of king Xerxes, and it was sealed with the king's ring.

13 Letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Yahudim, 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 A copy of the writing, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, that they should be ready against that day.

15 The posts went forth in haste by the king's commandment, and the decree was given out in Shushan the palace. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shushan was perplexed.

Chapter 4

1 Now when Mordecai knew all that was done, Mordecai tore his clothes, put on sackcloth with ashes, went out into the middle of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry.

2 He came even before the king's gate, for none might enter within the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

3 In every province, where ever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Yahudim, with fasting, weeping, and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

4 Esther's maidens and her chamberlains came and told it to her. The queen was exceedingly grieved. She sent garments to clothe Mordecai, and to take his sackcloth from off him. But he would not receive it.

5 Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he appointed to attend upon her, and charged him to go to Mordecai, to know what this was, and why it was.

6 So Hathach went forth to Mordecai to the broad place of the city, which was before the king's gate.

7 Mordecai told him of all that happened to him, and the exact sum of the money that Haman promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Yahudim, to destroy them.

8 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given out in Shushan to destroy them, to show it to Esther, to declare it to her, and to charge her that she should go in to the king, to make supplication to him, and to make request before him, for her people.

9 Hathach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.

10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a message to Mordecai, saying:

11 All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know that whosoever is not called, whether man or woman, will come to the king into the inner court, there is one law for him, that he is put to death, except those to whom the king holds out the golden sceptre, that he may live. I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.

12 They told to Mordecai Esther's words.

13 Then Mordecai bade them return answer to Esther: Do not think with yourself that you will escape in the king's house, more than all the Yahudim.

14 For if you altogether hold your peace at this time, then relief and deliverance will arise to the Yahudim from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Who knows whether you are not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

15 Then Esther bade them return answer to Mordecai:

16 Go, gather together all the Yahudim that are present in Shushan, and you fast for me. Do not eat nor drink three days, night or day. Also I and my maidens will fast in like manner. So I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law. If I perish, I perish.

17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all Esther commanded him.

Chapter 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, opposite the king's house. The king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, opposite the entrance of the house.

2 It was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight. 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 the king said to her: What will you, queen Esther? What is your request? It will be given you even to the half of the kingdom.

4 Esther said: If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet I prepared for him.

5 Then the king said: Cause Haman to make haste, that it may be done as Esther said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet Esther prepared.

6 The king said to Esther at the banquet of wine: What is your petition? It will be granted you. What is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom it will be performed.

7 Then Esther answered, and said: My petition and my request is,

8 if I found favor 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 I prepared for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king said.

9 Then Haman went forth that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he did not stand up nor move for him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.

10 Nevertheless Haman refrained himself, and went home. He sent, fetched his friends, and Zeresh his wife.

11 Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, the multitude of his children, all the things where the king promoted him, and how he advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.

12 Haman said moreover: Yea, Esther the queen let no man come in with the king to the banquet she prepared but myself. Tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king.

13 Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Yahudi sitting at the king's gate.

14 Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him: Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak to the king that Mordecai may be hanged there. Then go in merrily with the king to the banquet. The thing pleased Haman, and he caused the gallows to be made.

Chapter 6

1 On that night the king could not sleep. He commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles, and they were read before the king.

2 It was found written that Mordecai told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, of those who kept the threshold, who tried to lay hands on the king Xerxes.

3 The king said: What honor and dignity was bestowed on Mordecai for this? Then the king's servants that ministered to him said: There is nothing done for him.

4 The king said: Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak to the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows he prepared for him.

5 The king's servants said to him: Behold, Haman stands in the court. The king said: Let him come in.

6 So Haman came in. The king said to him: What will be done to the man whom the king delights to honor? Now Haman said in his heart: To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to myself?

7 Haman said to the king: For the man whom the king delights to honor,

8 let royal apparel be brought which the king used to wear, and the horse that the king rides upon, and on the head of which a crown royal is set.

9 Let the apparel and the horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man whom the king delights to honor, and cause him to ride on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him: Thus will it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.

10 Then the king said to Haman: Make haste, take the apparel, and the horse, as you said, and do even so to Mordecai the Yahudi, who sits at the king's gate. Let nothing fail of all you spoke.

11 Then Haman took the apparel and the horse, arrayed Mordecai, caused him to ride through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him: Thus will it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.

12 Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning, and having his head covered.

13 Haman recounted to Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that befell him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him: If Mordecai, before whom you begin to fall, is of the seed of the Yahudim, you will not prevail against him, but will surely fall before him.

14 While they were yet talking with him, the king's chamberlains came, and hurried to bring Haman to the banquet Esther prepared.

Chapter 7

1 So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.

2 The king said again to Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine: What is your petition, queen Esther? It will be granted you. What is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom it will be performed.

3 Then Esther the queen answered, and said: If I found favor in your 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 killed, and to perish. If we were sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I would hold my peace, although the adversary could not have compensated for the king's damage.

5 Then the king Xerxes spoke, and said to Esther the queen: Who is he, and where is he, who dare presume in his heart to do so?

6 Esther said: An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.

7 The king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine, and went into the palace garden. Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen. 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. Haman was fallen upon the couch where Esther was. Then the king said: Will he even force the queen before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.

9 Then Harbonah, one of the chamberlains that were before the king, said: Behold, the gallows fifty cubits high which Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke good for the king, stands in the house of Haman. The king said: Hang him on it.

10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows he prepared for Mordecai. Then the king's wrath was pacified.

Chapter 8

1 On that day the king Xerxes gave the house of Haman the Yahudim's enemy to Esther the queen. Mordecai came before the king, for Esther told who he was to her.

2 The king took off his ring, which he took from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

3 Esther spoke yet again before the king, fell down at his feet, and begged him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device he devised against the Yahudim.

4 Then the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre. So Esther arose, and stood before the king.

5 She said: If it please the king, and if I found favor 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 Yahudim that 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 the king Xerxes said to Esther the queen, and to Mordecai the Yahudi: Behold, I gave Esther the house of Haman, and they hanged him upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Yahudim.

8 Write you also to the Yahudim, as it pleases you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring. For no man may reverse the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring.

9 Then the king's scribes were called at that time, in the third month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day. It was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Yahudim, to the satraps, and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from India to Ethiopia, a hundred twenty and seven provinces, to every province according to the writing of it, to every people after their language, and to the Yahudim according to their writing, according to their language.

10 He wrote the name of king Xerxes, sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by post on horseback, riding on swift steeds that were used in the king's service, bred of the stud.

11 The king granted the Yahudim in every city to gather themselves together, to stand for their life, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, their little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,

12 upon one day in all the provinces of king Xerxes, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.

13 A copy of the writing, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, and that the Yahudim should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

14 So the posts that rode upon swift steeds that were used in the king's service went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. The decree was given out in Shushan the palace.

15 Mordecai went forth from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, with a great crown of gold, with a robe of fine linen, and purple. The city of Shushan shouted, and was glad.

16 The Yahudim had light, gladness, joy, and honor.

17 In every province, and in every city, where ever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Yahudim had gladness and joy, a feast and a good day. Many from among the peoples of the land became Yahudim, for the fear of the Yahudim was fallen upon them.

Chapter 9

1 Now in the twelfth month, which 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, on the day the enemies of the Yahudim hoped to have rule over them (but it was turned to the contrary, that the Yahudim had rule over them that hated them),

2 the Yahudim gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Xerxes, to lay hand on such as tried to hurt them. No man could withstand them, for the fear of them was fallen upon all the peoples.

3 All the princes of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and those who did the king's business, helped the Yahudim, because the fear of Mordecai was fallen upon them.

4 Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went forth throughout all the provinces. For the man Mordecai became greater and greater.

5 The Yahudim smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, with slaughter and destruction, and did what they would to those who hated them.

6 In Shushan the palace the Yahudim killed and destroyed five hundred men.

7 They killed Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha,

8 Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha,

9 Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha,

10 the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Yahudi's enemy. But on the spoil they did not lay their hand.

11 On that day the number of those slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king.

12 The king said to Esther the queen: The Yahudim killed and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman. What then have they done in the rest of the king's provinces! Now what is your petition? It will be granted you. Or what is your request further? It will be done.

13 Then Esther said: If it please the king, let it be granted to the Yahudim that are in Shushan to do tomorrow also according to this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.

14 The king commanded it to be done so. A decree was given out in Shushan, and they hanged Haman's ten sons.

15 The Yahudim that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and killed three hundred men in Shushan. But on the spoil they did not lay their hand.

16 The other Yahudim that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, stood for their lives, had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy and five thousand of those who hated them. But they did not lay their hand on the spoil.

17 This was done on the thirteenth day of the month Adar. On the fourteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

18 But the Yahudim that were in Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day and on the fourteenth. On the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

19 Therefore the Yahudim of the villages, that dwell in the unwalled towns, make the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, a good day, and of sending portions one to another.

20 Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters to all the Yahudim in all the provinces of the king Xerxes, both near and far,

21 to enjoin them that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,

22 as the days when the Yahudim had rest from their enemies, the month which was turned to them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into a good day. That they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.

23 The Yahudim undertook to do as they began, and as Mordecai wrote to them,

24 because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Yahudim, plotted against the Yahudim to destroy them, and cast Pur (that is the lot) to consume them, to destroy them.

25 But when the matter came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Yahudim, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

26 So they called these days Purim, after the name of Pur. Therefore because of all the words of this letter, and of what they saw concerning this matter, and what came to them,

27 the Yahudim ordained, took upon them, upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves to them, so that it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to the writing, and according to the appointed time, every year.

28 These days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city. These days of Purim should not fail from among the Yahudim, nor the remembrance of them perish from their seed.

29 Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Yahudi, wrote with all authority to confirm this second letter of Purim.

30 He sent letters to all the Yahudim, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Xerxes, with words of peace and truth,

31 to confirm these days of Purim in their appointed times, according as Mordecai the Yahudi and Esther the queen enjoined them, as they ordained for themselves and for their seed, in the matter of the fastings and their cry.

32 The commandment of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim. It was written in the book.

Chapter 10

1 The king Xerxes laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea.

2 All the acts of his power, of his might, and the full account of the greatness of Mordecai when the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?

3 Mordecai the Yahudi was next to king Xerxes, great among the Yahudim, accepted of the multitude of his brothers, seeking the good of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.



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