Esth 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 spoke 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 to Esther the golden sceptre. So Esther arose, and stood before
the king.
5
And she 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 that 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 concerning 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, which is the
month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according
to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews, even to the satraps, and the governors
and princes of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, a hundred twenty
and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto
every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and
according to their language.
10
And they wrote in the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king's ring,
and sent letters by posts on horseback, riding on swift steeds that were used in the
king's service, bred of the stud;
11
that the king had granted the Jews that were in every city to gather themselves together,
and to stand for their life, to destroy, and to slay, and to cause to perish, all
the forces 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 Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day
of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.
13
The copy of the writing, to be given out for a decree in every province, was to be
published unto all the peoples, and that the Jews 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; and the decree was given
out in Shushan the castle.
15
And Mordecai went forth from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and
white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a rob of fine linen and purple; and
the city of Shushan shouted 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 gladness and joy, a feast and a good day. And many from
among the peoples of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews was fallen upon
them.