DP Tool Club 15/CD_ASCQ_15_070894.iso/vrac/olbible.zip/ESTHE

Text File | 1994-04-25 | 33KB | 543 lines

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                                   ESTHER



Chapter 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.

Chapter 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 hand 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.

Chapter 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.

Chapter 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 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.
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.

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, 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
    tomorrow 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
    tomorrow 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 tomorrow 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.

Chapter 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.

Chapter 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 the 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 had 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.

Chapter 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 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:
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.

Chapter 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 tomorrow 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.

Chapter 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.