1:1 Now it came about in the days of Ahasuerus, (that Ahasuerus

who was ruler of a hundred and twenty-seven divisions of the

kingdom, from India as far as Ethiopia:)

1:2 That in those days, when King Ahasuerus was ruling in

Shushan, his strong town,

1:3 In the third year of his rule he gave a feast to all his

captains and his servants; and the captains of the army of

Persia and Media, the great men and the rulers of the divisions

of his kingdom, were present before him;

1:4 And for a long time, even a hundred and eighty days, he let

them see all the wealth and the glory of his kingdom and the

great power and honour which were his.

1:5 And at the end of that time, the king gave a feast for all

the people who were present in Shushan, the king's town, small

as well as great, for seven days, in the outer square of the

garden of the king's house.

1:6 There were fair hangings of white and green and blue, fixed

with cords of purple and the best linen to silver rings and

pillars of polished stone: the seats were of gold and silver on

a floor of red and white and yellow and black stone.

1:7 And they gave them drink in gold vessels, every vessel being

different, and wine of the kingdom, freely given by the king.

1:8 And the drinking was in keeping with the law; no one was

forced: for the king had given orders to all the chief servants

of his house to do as was pleasing to every man.

1:9 And Vashti the queen gave a feast for the women in the house

of King Ahasuerus.

1:10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was glad

with wine, he gave orders to Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha,

and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven unsexed servants who

were waiting before Ahasuerus the king,

1:11 That Vashti the queen was to come before him, crowned with

her crown, and let the people and the captains see her: for she

was very beautiful.

1:12 But when the servants gave her the king's order, Vashti the

queen said she would not come: then the king was very angry,

and his heart was burning with wrath.

1:13 And the king said to the wise men, who had knowledge of the

times, (for this was the king's way with all who were expert in

law and in the giving of decisions:

1:14 And second only to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha,

Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven rulers of

Persia and Media, who were friends of the king, and had the

first places in the kingdom:)

1:15 What is to be done by law to Vashti the queen, because she

has not done what King Ahasuerus, by his servants, gave her

orders to do?

1:16 And before the king and the captains, Memucan gave his

answer: Vashti the queen has done wrong, not only to the king,

but to all the captains and to all the peoples in all the

divisions of the kingdom of King Ahasuerus;

1:17 For news of what the queen has done will come to the ears

of all women, and they will no longer give respect to their

husbands when it is said to them, King Ahasuerus gave orders

for Vashti the queen to come before him and she came not.

1:18 And the wives of the captains of Persia and Media, hearing

what the queen has done, will say the same to all the king's

captains. So there will be much shame and wrath.

1:19 If it is pleasing to the king, let an order go out from

him, and let it be recorded among the laws of the Persians and

the Medes, so that it may never be changed, that Vashti is

never again to come before King Ahasuerus; and let the king

give her place to another who is better than she.

1:20 And when this order, given by the king, is made public

through all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will

give honour to their husbands, great as well as small.

1:21 And this suggestion seemed good to the king and the

captains; and the king did as Memucan said;

1:22 And sent letters to all the divisions of the kingdom, to

every division in the writing commonly used there, and to every

people in the language which was theirs, saying that every man

was to be the ruler in his house, and that this order was to be

given out in the language of his people.

2:1 After these things, when the king's feelings were calmer,

the thought of Vashti and what she had done and the order he

had made against her, came back to his mind.

2:2 Then the servants who were waiting on the king said to him,

Let search be made for some fair young virgins for the king:

2:3 Let the king give authority to certain men in all the

divisions of his kingdom, to get together all the fair young

virgins and send them to Shushan, the king's town, to the

women's house, under the care of Hegai, the king's servant, the

keeper of the women: and let the things needed for making them

clean be given to them;

2:4 And let the girl who is pleasing to the king be queen in

place of Vashti. And the king was pleased with this suggestion;

and he did so.

2:5 Now there was a certain Jew in Shushan named Mordecai, the

son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;

2:6 Who had been taken away from Jerusalem among those who had

been made prisoner with Jeconiah, king of Judah, when

Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had taken him away.

2:7 And he had been a father to Hadassah, that is Esther, the

daughter of his father's brother: for she had no father or

mother, and she was very beautiful; and when her father and

mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his daughter.

2:8 So when the order made by the king was publicly given out,

and a number of girls had been placed in the care of Hegai in

the king's house in Shushan, Esther was taken into the king's

house and put in the care of Hegai, the keeper of the women.

2:9 And he was pleased with the girl and was kind to her; and he

quickly gave her what was needed for making her clean, and the

things which were hers by right, and seven servant-girls who

were to be hers from the king's house: and he had her and her

servant-girls moved to the best place in the women's part of

the house.

2:10 Esther had not said what family or people she came from,

for Mordecai had given her orders not to do so.

2:11 And every day Mordecai took his walk before the square of

the women's house, to see how Esther was and what would be done

to her.

2:12 Now every girl, when her turn came, had to go in to King

Ahasuerus, after undergoing, for a space of twelve months, what

was ordered by the law for the women (for this was the time

necessary for making them clean, that is, six months with oil

of myrrh and six months with sweet perfumes and such things as

are needed for making women clean):

2:13 And in this way the girl went in to the king; whatever she

had a desire for was given to her to take with her from the

women's house into the house of the king.

2:14 In the evening she went, and on the day after she came back

to the second house of the women, into the keeping of

Shaashgaz, one of the king's unsexed servants who had the care

of the king's wives: only if the king had delight in her and

sent for her by name did she go in to him again.

2:15 Now when the time came for Esther, the daughter of Abihail,

his father's brother, whom Mordecai had taken as his daughter,

to go in to the king, she made request for nothing but what

Hegai, the king's servant and keeper of the women, had given

her. And Esther was looked on kindly by all who saw her.

2:16 So Esther was taken in to King Ahasuerus in his house in

the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year

of his rule.

2:17 And Esther was more pleasing to the king than all the

women, and to his eyes she was fairer and more full of grace

than all the other virgins: so he put his crown on her head and

made her queen in place of Vashti.

2:18 Then the king gave a great feast for all his captains and

his servants, even Esther's feast; and he gave orders through

all the divisions of his kingdom for a day of rest from work,

and gave wealth from his store.

2:19 And when the virgins came together in the second house of

the women, Mordecai took his seat in the doorway of the king's

house.

2:20 Esther had still said nothing of her family or her people,

as Mordecai had given her orders; for Esther did what Mordecai

said, as when she was living with him.

2:21 In those days, while Mordecai was seated at the king's

doorway, two of the king's servants, Bigthan and Teresh,

keepers of the door, being angry, were looking for a chance to

make an attack on King Ahasuerus.

2:22 And Mordecai, having knowledge of their purpose, sent word

of it to Esther the queen; and Esther gave the news to the king

in Mordecai's name.

2:23 And when the thing had been looked into, it was seen to be

true, and the two of them were put to death by hanging on a

tree: and it was put down in the records before the king.

3:1 After these things, by the order of the king, Haman, the son

of Hammedatha the Agagite, was lifted up and given a position

of honour and a higher place than all the other captains who

were with him.

3:2 And all the king's servants who were in the king's house

went down to the earth before Haman and gave him honour: for so

the king had given orders. But Mordecai did not go down before

him or give him honour.

3:3 Then the king's servants who were in the king's house said

to Mordecai, Why do you go against the king's order?

3:4 Now when they had said this to him day after day and he gave

no attention, they let Haman have news of it, to see if

Mordecai's behaviour would be overlooked: for he had said to

them that he was a Jew.

3:5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not go down before him

and give him honour, Haman was full of wrath.

3:6 But it was not enough for him to make an attack on Mordecai

only; for they had made clear to him who Mordecai's people

were; so Haman made it his purpose to put an end to all the

Jews, even Mordecai's people, through all the kingdom of

Ahasuerus.

3:7 In the first month, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of

King Ahasuerus, from day to day and from month to month they

went on looking for a sign given by Pur (that is chance) before

Haman, till the sign came out for the thirteenth day of the

twelfth month, the month Adar.

3:8 And Haman said to King Ahasuerus, There is a certain nation

living here and there in small groups among the people in all

the divisions of your kingdom; their laws are different from

those of any other nation, and they do not keep the king's

laws: for this reason it is not right for the king to let them

be.

3:9 If it is the king's pleasure, let a statement ordering their

destruction be put in writing: and I will give to those

responsible for the king's business, ten thousand talents of

silver for the king's store-house.

3:10 And the king took his ring from his hand and gave it to

Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the hater of the

Jews.

3:11 And the king said to Haman, The money is yours, and the

people, to do with them whatever seems right to you.

3:12 Then on the thirteenth day of the first month, the king's

scribes were sent for, and they put in writing Haman's orders

to all the king's captains and the rulers of every division of

his kingdom and the chiefs of every people: for every division

of the kingdom in the writing commonly used there, and to every

people in the language which was theirs; it was signed in the

name of King Ahasuerus and stamped with the king's ring.

3:13 And letters were sent by the runners into every division of

the kingdom ordering the death and destruction of all Jews,

young and old, little children and women, on the same day, even

the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month Adar, and

the taking of all their goods by force.

3:14 A copy of the writing, to be made public in every part of

the kingdom, was sent out to all the peoples, so that they

might be ready when that day came.

3:15 The runners went out quickly by the king's order, and a

public statement was made in Shushan: and the king and Haman

took wine together: but the town of Shushan was troubled.

4:1 Now when Mordecai saw what was done, pulling off his robe,

he put on haircloth, with dust on his head, and went out into

the middle of the town, crying out with a loud and bitter cry.

4:2 And he came even before the king's doorway; for no one might

come inside the king's door clothed in haircloth.

4:3 And in every part of the kingdom, wherever the king's word

and his order came, there was great sorrow among the Jews, and

weeping and crying and going without food; and numbers of them

were stretched on the earth covered with dust and haircloth.

4:4 And Esther's women and her servants came and gave her word

of it. Then great was the grief of the queen: and she sent

robes for Mordecai, so that his clothing of haircloth might be

taken off; but he would not have them.

4:5 Then Esther sent for Hathach, one of the king's unsexed

servants whom he had given her for waiting on her, and she gave

him orders to go to Mordecai and see what this was and why it

was.

4:6 So Hathach went out and saw Mordecai in the open square of

the town before the king's doorway.

4:7 And Mordecai gave him an account of what had taken place,

and of the amount of money which Haman had said he would put

into the king's store for the destruction of the Jews.

4:8 And he gave him the copy of the order which had been given

out in Shushan for their destruction, ordering him to let

Esther see it, and to make it clear to her; and to say to her

that she was to go in to the king, requesting his mercy, and

making prayer for her people.

4:9 And Hathach came back and gave Esther an account of what

Mordecai had said.

4:10 Then Esther sent Hathach to say to Mordecai:

4:11 It is common knowledge among all the king's servants and

the people of every part of the kingdom, that if anyone, man or

woman, comes to the king in his inner room without being sent

for, there is only one law for him, that he is to be put to

death; only those to whom the king's rod of gold is stretched

out may keep their lives: but I have not been sent for to come

before the king these thirty days.

4:12 And they said these words to Mordecai.

4:13 Then Mordecai sent this answer back to Esther: Do not have

the idea that you in the king's house will be safe from the

fate of all the Jews.

4:14 If at this time you say nothing, then help and salvation

will come to the Jews from some other place, but you and your

father's family will come to destruction: and who is to say

that you have not come to the kingdom even for such a time as

this?

4:15 Then Esther sent them back to Mordecai with this answer:

4:16 Go, get together all the Jews who are present in Shushan,

and go without food for me, taking no food or drink night or

day for three days: and I and my women will do the same; and so

I will go in to the king, which is against the law: and if

death is to be my fate, then let it come.

4:17 So Mordecai went away and did everything as Esther had

said.

5:1 Now on the third day, Esther put on her queen's robes, and

took her place in the inner room of the king's house, facing

the king's house: and the king was seated on his high seat in

the king's house, facing the doorway of the house.

5:2 And when the king saw Esther the queen waiting in the inner

room, looking kindly on her he put out the rod of gold in his

hand to her. So Esther came near and put her fingers on the top

of the rod.

5:3 Then the king said, What is your desire, Queen Esther, and

what is your request? I will give it to you, even to the half

of my kingdom.

5:4 And Esther in answer said, If it seems good to the king, let

the king and Haman come today to the feast which I have made

ready for him.

5:5 Then the king said, Let Haman come quickly, so that what

Esther has said may be done. So the king and Haman came to the

feast which Esther had made ready.

5:6 And while they were drinking wine the king said to Esther,

What is your prayer? for it will be given to you and what is

your request? for it will be done, even to the half of my

kingdom.

5:7 Then Esther said in answer, My prayer and my request is

this:

5:8 If I have the king's approval, and if it is the king's

pleasure to give me my prayer and do my request, let the king

and Haman come to the feast which I will make ready for them,

and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.

5:9 Then on that day Haman went out full of joy and glad in

heart; but when he saw Mordecai in the king's doorway, and he

did not get to his feet or give any sign of fear before him,

Haman was full of wrath against Mordecai.

5:10 But controlling himself, he went to his house; and he sent

for his friends and Zeresh, his wife.

5:11 And he gave them an account of the glories of his wealth,

and the number of children he had, and the ways in which he had

been honoured by the king, and how he had put him over the

captains and servants of the king.

5:12 And Haman said further, Truly, Esther the queen let no man

but myself come in to the feast which she had made ready for

the king; and tomorrow again I am to be her guest with the

king.

5:13 But all this is nothing to me while I see Mordecai the Jew

seated by the king's doorway.

5:14 Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, Let a

pillar, fifty cubits high, be made ready for hanging him, and

in the morning get the king to give orders for the hanging of

Mordecai: then you will be able to go to the feast with the

king with a glad heart. And Haman was pleased with the

suggestion, and he had the pillar made.

6:1 That night the king was unable to get any sleep; and he sent

for the books of the records; and while some one was reading

them to the king,

6:2 It came out that it was recorded in the book how Mordecai

had given word of the designs of Bigthana and Teresh, two of

the king's servants, keepers of the door, by whom an attack on

the king had been designed.

6:3 And the king said, What honour and reward have been given to

Mordecai for this? Then the servants who were waiting on the

king said, Nothing has been done for him.

6:4 Then the king said, Who is in the outer room? Now Haman had

come into the outer room to get the king's authority for the

hanging of Mordecai on the pillar which he had made ready for

him.

6:5 And the king's servants said to him, See, Haman is waiting

in the outer room. And the king said, Let him come in.

6:6 So Haman came in. And the king said to him, What is to be

done to the man whom the king has delight in honouring? Then

the thought came into Haman's mind, Whom, more than myself,

would the king have pleasure in honouring?

6:7 And Haman, answering the king, said, For the man whom the

king has delight in honouring,

6:8 Let them take the robes which the king generally puts on,

and the horse on which the king goes, and the crown which is on

his head:

6:9 And let the robes and the horse be given to one of the

king's most noble captains, so that they may put them on the

man whom the king has delight in honouring, and let him go on

horseback through the streets of the town, with men crying out

before him, So let it be done to the man whom the king has

delight in honouring.

6:10 Then the king said to Haman, Go quickly, and take the robes

and the horse, as you have said, and do even so to Mordecai the

Jew, who is seated at the king's doorway: see that you do

everything as you have said.

6:11 Then Haman took the robes and the horse, and dressing

Mordecai in the robes, he made him go on horseback through the

streets of the town, crying out before him, So let it be done

to the man whom the king has delight in honouring.

6:12 And Mordecai came back to the king's doorway. But Haman

went quickly back to his house, sad and with his head covered.

6:13 And Haman gave his wife Zeresh and all his friends an

account of what had taken place. Then his wise men and his wife

Zeresh said to him, If Mordecai, who is starting to get the

better of you, is of the seed of the Jews, you will not be able

to do anything against him, but you will certainly go down

before him.

6:14 While they were still talking, the king's servants came to

take Haman to the feast which Esther had made ready.

7:1 So the king and Haman came to take wine with Esther the

queen.

7:2 And the king said to Esther again on the second day, while

they were drinking, What is your prayer, Queen Esther? for it

will be given to you; and what is your request? for it will be

done, even to the half of my kingdom.

7:3 Then Esther the queen, answering, said, If I have your

approval, O king, and if it is the king's pleasure, let my life

be given to me in answer to my prayer, and my people at my

request:

7:4 For we are given up, I and my people, to destruction and

death and to be cut off. If we had been taken as men-servants

and women-servants for a price, I would have said nothing, for

our trouble is little in comparison with the king's loss.

7:5 Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen, Who is he and

where is he who has had this evil thought in his heart?

7:6 And Esther said, Our hater and attacker is this evil Haman.

Then Haman was full of fear before the king and the queen.

7:7 And the king in his wrath got up from the feast and went

into the garden: and Haman got to his feet to make a prayer for

his life to Esther the queen: for he saw that the king's

purpose was evil against him.

7:8 Then the king came back from the garden into the room where

they had been drinking; and Haman was stretched out on the seat

where Esther was. Then the king said, Is he taking the queen by

force before my eyes in my house? And while the words were on

the king's lips, they put a cloth over Haman's face.

7:9 Then Harbonah, one of the unsexed servants waiting before

the king, said, See, the pillar fifty cubits high, which Haman

made for Mordecai, who said a good word for the king, is still

in its place in Haman's house. Then the king said, Put him to

death by hanging him on it.

7:10 So Haman was put to death by hanging him on the pillar he

had made for Mordecai. Then the king's wrath became less.

8:1 That day the king gave all the family of Haman, the hater of

the Jews, to Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the

king, for Esther had made clear what he was to her.

8:2 And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from

Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther put Mordecai over

the family of Haman.

8:3 Then Esther again came before the king, falling down at his

feet, and made request to him with weeping, that he would put a

stop to the evil purposes of Haman the Agagite and the designs

which he had made against the Jews.

8:4 Then the king put out the rod of gold to Esther, and she got

up before the king.

8:5 And she said, If it is the king's pleasure and if I have his

approval and this thing seems right to the king and I am

pleasing to him, then let letters be sent giving orders against

those which Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, sent out

for the destruction of the Jews in all divisions of the

kingdom:

8:6 For how is it possible for me to see the evil which is to

overtake my nation? how may I see the destruction of my people?

8:7 Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai

the Jew, See now, I have given Esther the family of Haman, and

he has come to his death by hanging, because he made an attack

on the Jews.

8:8 So now send a letter about the Jews, writing whatever seems

good to you, in the king's name, and stamping it with the

king's ring: for a writing signed in the king's name and

stamped with the king's ring may not be changed.

8:9 Then at that time, on the twenty-third day of the third

month, which is the month Sivan, the king's scribes were sent

for; and everything ordered by Mordecai was put in writing and

sent to the Jews and the captains and the rulers and the chiefs

of all the divisions of the kingdom from India to Ethiopia, a

hundred and twenty-seven divisions, to every division in the

writing commonly used there, and to every people in their

language, and to the Jews in their writing and their language.

8:10 The letters were sent in the name of King Ahasuerus and

stamped with his ring, and they were taken by men on horseback,

going on the quick-running horses used for the king's business,

the offspring of his best horses:

8:11 In these letters the king gave authority to the Jews in

every town to come together and make a fight for their lives,

and to send death and destruction on the power of any people in

any part of the kingdom attacking them or their children or

their women, and to take their goods from them by force,

8:12 On one day in every division of the kingdom of Ahasuerus,

that is, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month

Adar.

8:13 A copy of the writing, to be made public as an order in

every division of the kingdom, was given out to all the

peoples, so that the Jews might be ready when that day came to

give punishment to their haters.

8:14 So the men went out on the quick-running horses used on the

king's business, wasting no time and forced on by the king's

order; and the order was given out in Shushan, the king's town.

8:15 And Mordecai went out from before the king, dressed in

king-like robes of blue and white, and with a great crown of

gold and clothing of purple and the best linen: and all the

town of Shushan gave loud cries of joy.

8:16 And the Jews had light and joy and honour.

8:17 And in every part of the kingdom and in every town,

wherever the king's letter and his order came, the Jews were

glad with great joy, and had a feast and a good day. And a

great number of the people of the land became Jews: for the

fear of the Jews had come on them.

9:1 Now on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the

month Adar, when the time came for the king's order to be put

into effect, on the very day when the haters of the Jews had

been hoping to have rule over them; though the opposite had

come about, and the Jews had rule over their haters;

9:2 On that day, the Jews came together in their towns through

all the divisions of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, for the purpose

of attacking all those who were attempting evil against them:

and everyone had to give way before them, for the fear of them

had come on all the peoples.

9:3 And all the chiefs and the captains and the rulers and those

who did the king's business gave support to the Jews; because

the fear of Mordecai had come on them.

9:4 For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and word of him

went out through every part of the kingdom: for the man

Mordecai became greater and greater.

9:5 So the Jews overcame all their attackers with the sword and

with death and destruction, and did to their haters whatever

they had a desire to do.

9:6 And in Shushan the Jews put to death five hundred men.

9:7 They put to death Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha,

9:8 Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha,

9:9 Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha,

9:10 The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the hater of

the Jews; but they put not a hand on any of their goods.

9:11 On that day the number of those who had been put to death

in the town of Shushan was given to the king.

9:12 And the king said to Esther the queen, The Jews have put

five hundred men to death in Shushan, as well as the ten sons

of Haman: what then have they done in the rest of the kingdom!

Now what is your prayer? for it will be given to you; what

other request have you? and it will be done.

9:13 Then Esther said, If it is the king's pleasure, let

authority be given to the Jews in Shushan to do tomorrow as has

been done today, and let orders be given for the hanging of

Haman's ten sons.

9:14 And the king said that this was to be done, and the order

was given out in Shushan, and the hanging of Haman's ten sons

was effected.

9:15 For the Jews who were in Shushan came together again on the

fourteenth day of the month Adar and put to death three hundred

men in Shushan; but they put not a hand on their goods.

9:16 And the other Jews in every division of the kingdom came

together, fighting for their lives, and got salvation from

their haters and put seventy-five thousand of them to death;

but they did not put a hand on their goods.

9:17 This they did on the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and

on the fourteenth day of the same month they took their rest,

and made it a day of feasting and joy.

9:18 But the Jews in Shushan came together on the thirteenth and

on the fourteenth day of the month; and on the fifteenth day

they took their rest, and made it a day of feasting and joy.

9:19 So the Jews of the country places living in unwalled towns

make the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of feasting and

joy and a good day, a day for sending offerings one to another.

9:20 And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews in every division

of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, near and far,

9:21 Ordering them to keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar

and the fifteenth day of the same month, every year,

9:22 As days on which the Jews had rest from their haters, and

the month which for them was turned from sorrow to joy, and

from weeping to a good day: and that they were to keep them as

days of feasting and joy, of sending offerings to one another

and good things to the poor.

9:23 And the Jews gave their word to go on as they had been

doing and as Mordecai had given them orders in writing;

9:24 Because Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the hater

of all the Jews, had made designs for their destruction,

attempting to get a decision by Pur (that is, chance) with a

view to putting an end to them and cutting them off;

9:25 But when the business was put before the king, he gave

orders by letters that the evil design which he had made

against the Jews was to be turned against himself; and that he

and his sons were to be put to death by hanging.

9:26 So these days were named Purim, after the name of Pur. And

so, because of the words of this letter, and of what they had

seen in connection with this business, and what had come to

them,

9:27 The Jews made a rule and gave an undertaking, causing their

seed and all those who were joined to them to do the same, so

that it might be in force for ever, that they would keep those

two days, as ordered in the letter, at the fixed time every

year;

9:28 And that those days were to be kept in memory through every

generation and every family, in every division of the kingdom

and every town, that there might never be a time when these

days of Purim would not be kept among the Jews, or when the

memory of them would go from the minds of their seed.

9:29 Then Esther the queen, daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai

the Jew, sent a second letter giving the force of their

authority to the order about the Purim.

9:30 And he sent letters to all the Jews in the hundred and

twenty-seven divisions of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with true

words of peace,

9:31 Giving the force of law to these days of Purim at their

fixed times, as they had been ordered by Mordecai the Jew and

Esther the queen, and in keeping with the rules they had made

for themselves and their seed, in connection with their time of

going without food and their cry for help.

9:32 The order given by Esther gave the force of law to the

rules about the Purim; and it was recorded in the book.

10:1 And King Ahasuerus put a tax on the land and on the islands

of the sea.

10:2 And all his acts of power and his great strength and the

full story of the high place which the king gave Mordecai, are

they not recorded in the book of the history of the kings of

Media and Persia?

10:3 For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus, and

great among the Jews and respected by the body of his

countrymen; working for the good of his people, and saying

words of peace to all his seed.