1On 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.2And 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.3And 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.4Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,5And 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' provinces:6For 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?7Then 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.8Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king' name, and seal it with the king' ring: for the writing which is written in the king' name, and sealed with the king' ring, may no man reverse.9Then were the king' 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.10And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus'name, and sealed it with the king' ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:11Wherein 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,12Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely , upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.13The 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.14So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king' commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.15And 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.16The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.17And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king' 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 8
English Standard Version
Esther Saves the Jews
1On that day King Ahasuerus gave to 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. (Es 2:7; Es 2:15; Es 7:6)2And the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman. (Es 3:10)3Then Esther spoke again to the king. She fell at his feet and wept and pleaded with him to avert the evil plan of Haman the Agagite and the plot that he had devised against the Jews. (Es 3:1; Es 9:24)4When the king held out the golden scepter to Esther, Esther rose and stood before the king. (Es 4:11; Es 5:2)5And she said, “If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and if the thing seems right before the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let an order be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king. (Es 3:13; Es 5:8; Es 7:3; Es 8:3)6For how can I bear to see the calamity that is coming to my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?” (Es 7:4)7Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows,[1] because he intended to lay hands on the Jews. (Es 8:1)8But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king’s ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king’s ring cannot be revoked.” (Es 1:19; Es 3:12; Es 8:10; Da 6:8; Da 6:12; Da 6:15)9The king’s scribes were summoned at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day. And an edict was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews, to the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language. (Ezr 8:36; Es 1:1; Es 1:22; Es 3:12)10And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king’s signet ring. Then he sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on swift horses that were used in the king’s service, bred from the royal stud, (1Ki 4:28; Es 3:12)11saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included, and to plunder their goods, (Es 3:13; Es 7:4; Es 9:2; Es 9:10; Es 9:15; Es 9:18)12on one day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. (Es 3:13; Es 9:1)13A copy of what was written was to be issued as a decree in every province, being publicly displayed to all peoples, and the Jews were to be ready on that day to take vengeance on their enemies. (Es 3:14; Es 4:8)14So the couriers, mounted on their swift horses that were used in the king’s service, rode out hurriedly, urged by the king’s command. And the decree was issued in Susa the citadel. (Es 8:10)15Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown[2] and a robe of fine linen and purple, and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. (Ge 41:42; 1Ch 15:27; Es 3:15; Da 5:29)16The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor. (Ps 97:11)17And in every province and in every city, wherever the king’s command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them. (1Sa 25:8; Es 9:2; Es 9:19; Es 9:22; Es 9:27)