The California Collection/TheCaliforniaCollection.cdr/his051/esther.txt

Text File | 1988-11-08 | 32.3 KB | 592 lines

ESTHER 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:)
ESTHER 1:2 {That} in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on
the throne of his kingdom, which {was} in Shushan the palace,
ESTHER 1:3 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:
ESTHER 1:4 When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and
the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even {an} hundred
and fourscore days.
ESTHER 1:5 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;
ESTHER 1:6 {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.
ESTHER 1:7 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.
ESTHER 1:8 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.
ESTHER 1:9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women {in}
the royal house which {belonged} to king Ahasuerus.
ESTHER 1:10 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,
ESTHER 1:11 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.
ESTHER 1:12 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.
ESTHER 1:13 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:
ESTHER 1:14 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;)
ESTHER 1:15 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?
ESTHER 1:16 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.
ESTHER 1:17 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.
ESTHER 1:18 {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.
ESTHER 1:19 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.
ESTHER 1:20 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.
ESTHER 1:21 And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and
the king did according to the word of Memucan:
ESTHER 1:22 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.
ESTHER 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.
ESTHER 2:2 Then said the king's servants that ministered unto
him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
ESTHER 2:3 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}:
ESTHER 2:4 And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen
instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
ESTHER 2:5 {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;
ESTHER 2:6 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.
ESTHER 2:7 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.
ESTHER 2:8 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.
ESTHER 2:9 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.
ESTHER 2:10 Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for
Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew {it}.
ESTHER 2:11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the
women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of
her.
ESTHER 2:12 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};)
ESTHER 2:13 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.
ESTHER 2:14 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.
ESTHER 2:15 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.
ESTHER 2:16 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.
ESTHER 2:17 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.
ESTHER 2:18 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.
ESTHER 2:19 And when the virgins were gathered together the
second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.
ESTHER 2:20 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.
ESTHER 2:21 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.
ESTHER 2:22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told {it}
unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king {thereof} in
Mordecai's name.
ESTHER 2:23 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.
ESTHER 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.
ESTHER 3:2 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.
ESTHER 3:3 Then the king's servants, which {were} in the king's
gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's
commandment?
ESTHER 3:4 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.
ESTHER 3:5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did
him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
ESTHER 3:6 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.
ESTHER 3:7 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.
ESTHER 3:8 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.
ESTHER 3:9 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.
ESTHER 3:10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it
unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
ESTHER 3:11 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.
ESTHER 3:12 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.
ESTHER 3:13 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.
ESTHER 3:14 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.
ESTHER 3:15 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.
ESTHER 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;
ESTHER 4:2 And came even before the king's gate: for none {might}
enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.
ESTHER 4:3 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.
ESTHER 4:4 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.
ESTHER 4:5 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}.
ESTHER 4:6 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of
the city, which {was} before the king's gate.
ESTHER 4:7 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.
ESTHER 4:8 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.
ESTHER 4:9 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
ESTHER 4:10 Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him
commandment unto Mordecai;
ESTHER 4:11 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.
ESTHER 4:12 And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.
ESTHER 4:13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not
with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more
than all the Jews.
ESTHER 4:14 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?
ESTHER 4:15 Then Esther bade {them} return Mordecai {this
answer},
ESTHER 4:16 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.
ESTHER 4:17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all
that Esther had commanded him.
ESTHER 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.
ESTHER 5:2 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.
ESTHER 5:3 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.
ESTHER 5:4 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.
ESTHER 5:5 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.
ESTHER 5:6 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.
ESTHER 5:7 Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my
request {is};
ESTHER 5:8 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 to morrow as the king hath said.
ESTHER 5:9 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.
ESTHER 5:10 Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he
came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his
wife.
ESTHER 5:11 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.
ESTHER 5:12 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 to morrow am I invited unto her also with the
king.
ESTHER 5:13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see
Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
ESTHER 5:14 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.
ESTHER 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.
ESTHER 6:2 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.
ESTHER 6:3 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.
ESTHER 6:4 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.
ESTHER 6:5 And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman
standeth in the court.  And the king said, Let him come in.
ESTHER 6:6 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?
ESTHER 6:7 And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king
delighteth to honour,
ESTHER 6:8 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:
ESTHER 6:9 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.
ESTHER 6:10 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.
ESTHER 6:11 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.
ESTHER 6:12 And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman
hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.
ESTHER 6:13 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.
ESTHER 6:14 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.
ESTHER 7:1 So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the
queen.
ESTHER 7:2 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.
ESTHER 7:3 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:
ESTHER 7:4 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.
ESTHER 7:5 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?
ESTHER 7:6 And Esther said, The adversary and enemy {is} this
wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the
queen.
ESTHER 7:7 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.
ESTHER 7:8 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.
ESTHER 7:9 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 spoken good for the king,
standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him
thereon.
ESTHER 7:10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had
prepared for Mordecai.  Then was the king's wrath pacified.
ESTHER 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.
ESTHER 8:2 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.
ESTHER 8:3 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.
ESTHER 8:4 Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward
Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,
ESTHER 8:5 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:
ESTHER 8:6 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?
ESTHER 8:7 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.
ESTHER 8:8 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.
ESTHER 8:9 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.
ESTHER 8:10 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:
ESTHER 8:11 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,
ESTHER 8:12 Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus,
{namely}, upon the thirteenth {day} of the twelfth month, which
{is} the month Adar.
ESTHER 8:13 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.
ESTHER 8:14 {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.
ESTHER 8:15 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.
ESTHER 8:16 The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and
honour.
ESTHER 8:17 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.
ESTHER 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;)
ESTHER 9:2 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.
ESTHER 9:3 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.
ESTHER 9:4 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.
ESTHER 9:5 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.
ESTHER 9:6 And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed
five hundred men.
ESTHER 9:7 And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha,
ESTHER 9:8 And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,
ESTHER 9:9 And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha,
ESTHER 9:10 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.
ESTHER 9:11 On that day the number of those that were slain in
Shushan the palace was brought before the king.
ESTHER 9:12 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.
ESTHER 9:13 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.
ESTHER 9:14 And the king commanded it so to be done: and the
decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons.
ESTHER 9:15 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.
ESTHER 9:16 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,
ESTHER 9:17 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.
ESTHER 9:18 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.
ESTHER 9:19 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.
ESTHER 9:20 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,
ESTHER 9:21 To stablish {this} among them, that they should keep
the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of
the same, yearly,
ESTHER 9:22 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.
ESTHER 9:23 And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and
as Mordecai had written unto them;
ESTHER 9:24 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;
ESTHER 9:25 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.
ESTHER 9:26 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,
ESTHER 9:27 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;
ESTHER 9:28 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.
ESTHER 9:29 Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and
Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this
second letter of Purim.
ESTHER 9:30 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,
ESTHER 9:31 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.
ESTHER 9:32 And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of
Purim; and it was written in the book.
ESTHER 10:1 And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land,
and {upon} the isles of the sea.
ESTHER 10:2 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?
ESTHER 10:3 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.