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  Esther

1 Now it came to pass in the days of A-has-u-e-rus (this is A-has-u-e-rus who reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces), ²that in those days, when the king A-has-u-e-rus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which palace was in Shu-shan, ³in 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; ⁴when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even a hundred and eighty days. ⁵And when these days were fulfilled, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shu-shan the palace, both great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace. ⁶There were hangings of white cloth, of green, and of blue, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the couches were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and white, and yellow, and black marble. ⁷And they gave them drink in vessels of gold (the vessels being diverse one from another), and royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king. ⁸And the drinking was according to the law; none could compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure. ⁹Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king A-has-u-e-rus.

¹⁰On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Me-hu-man, Biz-tha, Har-bo-na, Big-tha, and A-bag-tha, Ze-thar, and Car-cas, the seven chamberlains that ministered in the presence of A-has-u-e-rus the king, ¹¹to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the royal crown, to show the peoples and the princes her beauty; for she was fair to look on. ¹²But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by the chamberlains: therefore was the king very angry, and his anger burned in him. ¹³Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for so was the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment; ¹⁴and the next unto him were Car-she-na, She-thar, Ad-ma-tha, Tarshish, Me-res, Mar-se-na, and Me-mu-can, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face, and sat first in the kingdom), ¹⁵What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she has not done the bidding of the king A-has-u-e-rus by the chamberlains? ¹⁶And Me-mu-can answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen has not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the peoples that are in all the provinces of the king A-has-u-e-rus. ¹⁷For this deed of the queen will come abroad unto all women, to make their husbands contemptible in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king A-has-u-e-rus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not. ¹⁸And this day will the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the deed of the queen say the like unto all the king’s princes. So will there arise much contempt and wrath. ¹⁹If it please the king, let there go forth 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 A-has-u-e-rus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she. ²⁰And when the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will give to their husbands honor, both to great and small. ²¹And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Me-mu-can: ²²for 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 should speak according to the language of his people.

2 After these things, when the wrath of king A-has-u-e-rus was pacified, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her. ²Then the king’s servants that ministered unto him said, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king: ³and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shu-shan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hegai the king’s chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them; ⁴and let the maiden that pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so. ⁵There was a certain Jew in Shu-shan the palace, whose name was Mor-de-ca-i, the son of Ja-ir, the son of Shim-i, the son of Kish, a Benjamite, ⁶who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives that had been carried away with Jec-o-ni-ah king of Judah, whom Neb-u-chad-nez-zar the king of Babylon had carried away. ⁷And he brought up Ha-das-sah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mor-de-ca-i took her for his own daughter. ⁸So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shu-shan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken into the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. ⁹And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with her portions, and the seven maidens who were meet to be given her out of the king’s house: and he removed her and her maidens to the best place of the house of the women. ¹⁰Esther had not made known her people nor her kindred; for Mor-de-ca-i had charged her that she should not make it known. ¹¹And Mor-de-ca-i walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Esther did, and what would become of her. ¹²Now when the turn of every maiden was come to go in to king A-has-u-e-rus, after that it had been done to her according to the law for the women twelve months (for so were the days of their purification’s accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors and with the things for the purifying of the women), ¹³then in this wise came the 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. ¹⁴In the evening she went, and on the next day she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Sha-ash-gaz, the king’s chamberlain, who kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and she was called by name. ¹⁵Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Ab-i-hail the uncle of Mor-de-ca-i, 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 favor in the sight of all them that looked upon her. ¹⁶So Esther was taken unto king A-has-u-e-rus into his royal house in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. ¹⁷And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness 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. ¹⁸Then 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 bounty of the king. ¹⁹And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mor-de-ca-i was sitting in the king’s gate. ²⁰Esther had not yet made known her kindred nor her people; as Mor-de-ca-i had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mor-de-ca-i, like as when she was brought up with him.

²¹In those days, while Mor-de-ca-i was sitting in the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, Big-than and Te-resh, of those that kept the threshold, were angry, and sought to lay hands on the king A-has-u-e-rus. ²²And the thing became known to Mor-de-ca-i, who showed it unto Esther the queen; and Esther told the king of this in Mor-de-ca-i’s name. ²³And when inquisition was made of the matter, and it was found to be so, they were both hung on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.

3 After these things, king A-has-u-e-rus promote Ha-man the son of Ham-me-da-tha the Ag-a-gite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him. ²And all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed down, and did reverence to Ha-man; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mor-de-ca-i bowed not down, nor did him reverence. ³Then the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, said unto Mor-de-ca-i, Why do you transgress the king’s commandment? ⁴Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily unto him, and he listened not unto them, that they told Ha-man, to see whether Mor-de-ca-i’s matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew. ⁵And when Ha-man saw that Mor-de-ca-i bowed not down, nor did him reverence, then was Ha-man full of wrath. ⁶But he scornfully thought to lay hands on Mor-de-ca-i alone; for they had made known to him the people of Mor-de-ca-i: therefore Ha-man sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of A-has-u-e-rus, even the people of Mor-de-ca-i.

⁷In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king A-has-u-e-rus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Ha-man from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. ⁸And Ha-man said unto king A-has-u-e-rus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; and their laws are diverse from those of every people; neither do they keep the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to tolerate them. ⁹If it please the king, let it be written that they be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those that have the charge of the king’s business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries. ¹⁰And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Ha-man the son of Ham-me-da-tha the Ag-a-gite, the Jews’ enemy. ¹¹And the king said unto Ha-man, The silver is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you. ¹²Then were the king’s scribes called in the first month, on the thirteenth day thereof; and there was written according to all that Ha-man commanded unto the king’s satraps, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the princes of every people, to every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king A-has-u-e-rus was it written, and it was sealed with the king’s ring. ¹³And letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to slay, 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. ¹⁴A copy of the writing, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published unto all the peoples, that they should be ready against that day. ¹⁵The posts went forth with speed by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given out in Shu-shan the palace. And the king and Ha-man sat down to drink; but the city of Shu-shan was perplexed.

4 Now when Mor-de-ca-i knew all that was done, he 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; ²and he came even before the king’s gate: for none might enter within the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth. ³And in every province, wherever 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. ⁴And Esther’s maidens and her chamberlains came and told it to her; and the queen was exceedingly grieved: and she sent raiment to clothe Mor-de-ca-i, and to take his sackcloth from off him; but he received it not.

⁵Then called Esther for Ha-tach, one of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and charged him to go to Mor-de-ca-i, to know what this was, and why it was. ⁶So Ha-tach went forth to Mor-de-ca-i unto the broad place of the city, which was before the king’s gate. ⁷And Mor-de-ca-i told him of all that had happened unto him, and the exact sum of the money that Ha-man had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. ⁸Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given out in Shu-shan to destroy them, to show 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. ⁹And Ha-tach came and told Esther the words of Mor-de-ca-i. ¹⁰Then Esther spoke unto Ha-tach, and gave him a message unto Mor-de-ca-i saying: ¹¹All 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 for him, that he be put to death, except those 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. ¹²And they told Esther’s words to Mor-de-ca-i. ¹³Then Mor-de-ca-i said, return this answer unto Esther, Think not with yourself that you shall escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. ¹⁴For if you altogether hold your peace at this time, then will relief and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish: and who knows whether you are not come to the kingdom for such a time as this? ¹⁵Then Esther said to them, return this answer unto Mor-de-ca-i, ¹⁶Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shu-shan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast in like manner; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. ¹⁷So Mor-de-ca-i went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

5 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 entrance of the house. ²And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor 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. ³Then the king said unto her, What is your purpose, queen Esther? and what is your request? it shall be given you even to the half of the kingdom. ⁴And Esther said, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Ha-man come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him. ⁵Then the king said, Cause Ha-man to hurry, that it may be done as Esther has said. So the king and Ha-man came to the banquet that Esther had prepared. ⁶And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is your petition? and it shall be granted you: and what is your request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed. ⁷Then Esther answered, and said, My petition and my request is: ⁸if I have found favor 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 Ha-man come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to-morrow as the king has said.

⁹Then Ha-man went forth that day joyful and glad of heart: but when Ha-man saw Mor-de-ca-i in the king’s gate, that he stood not up nor moved for him, he was filled with wrath against Mor-de-ca-i. ¹⁰Nevertheless Ha-man refrained himself, and went home; and he sent and brought his friends and Ze-resh his wife. ¹¹And Ha-man recounted unto them 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. ¹²Haman said moreover, yes, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to-morrow also am I invited by her together with the king. ¹³yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mor-de-ca-i the Jew sitting at the king’s gate. ¹⁴Then said Ze-resh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak unto the king that Mor-de-ca-i may be hung thereon: then go in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Ha-man; and he caused the gallows to be made.

6 On that night the king could not sleep; and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles, and they were read before the king. ²And it was found written, that Mor-de-ca-i had told of Big-tha-na and Te-resh, two of the king’s chamberlains, of those that kept the threshold, who had sought to lay hands on the king A-has-u-e-rus. ³And the king said, What honor and dignity has been bestowed on Mor-de-ca-i for this? Then the king’s servants that ministered unto him said, There is nothing done for him.

⁴And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Ha-man was come into the outward court of the king’s house, to speak unto the king to hang Mor-de-ca-i on the gallows that he had prepared for him. ⁵And the king’s servants said unto him, Behold, Ha-man stands in the court. And the king said, Let him come in. ⁶So Ha-man came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delights to honor? Now Ha-man said in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to myself? ⁷And Ha-man said unto the king, For the man whom the king delights to honor, ⁸let royal apparel be brought which the king use to wear, and the horse that the king rides upon, and on the head of which a royal crown is set: ⁹and let the apparel and the horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man therewith whom the king delights to honor, and cause him to ride on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, this shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor. ¹⁰Then the king said to Ha-man, Hurry now, and take the apparel and the horse, as you have said, and do even so to Mor-de-ca-i the Jew, that sits at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that you have spoken. ¹¹Then Ha-man took the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mor-de-ca-i, and caused him to ride through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, this shall it be done unto the man whom the king delights to honor.

¹²And Mor-de-ca-i came again to the king’s gate. But Ha-man hurried to his house, mourning and having his head covered. ¹³And Ha-man recounted unto Ze-resh his wife and all his friends everything that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Ze-resh his wife unto him, If Mor-de-ca-i, before whom you have begun to fall, be of the seed of the Jews, you shall not prevail against him, but shall surely fall before him. ¹⁴While they were yet talking with him, the king’s chamberlains came, and hurried to bring Ha-man unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.

7 So the king and Ha-man came to banquet with Esther the queen. ²And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is your petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted you: and what is your request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed. ³Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: ⁴for 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 would have held my peace, although the adversary could not have compensated for the king’s damage. ⁵Then king A-has-u-e-rus spoke and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that did presume in his heart to do so? ⁶And Esther said, An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Ha-man. Then Ha-man was afraid before the king and the queen.

⁷And the king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden: and Ha-man 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. ⁸Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Ha-man was fallen upon the couch whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he even force the queen before me in the house? As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Ha-man’s face. ⁹Then said Har-bo-nah, one of the chamberlains that was before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Ha-man has made for Mor-de-ca-i, who spoke good for the king, stands in the house of Ha-man. And the king said, Hang him on it. ¹⁰So they hung Ha-man on the gallows that he had prepared for Mor-de-ca-i. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.

8 On that day did king A-has-u-e-rus give the house of Ha-man the Jews’ enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mor-de-ca-i came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her. ²And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Ha-man, and gave it unto Mor-de-ca-i. And Esther set Mor-de-ca-i over the house of Ha-man.

³And Esther spoke yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Ha-man the Ag-a-gite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews. ⁴Then the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre. So Esther arose, and stood before the king. ⁵And she said, If it please the king, and if I have found favor 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 Ha-man, the son of Ham-me-da-tha the Ag-a-gite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews that are in all the king’s provinces: ⁶for how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred? ⁷Then king A-has-u-e-rus said unto Esther the queen and to Mor-de-ca-i the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Ha-man, and him they have hung upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews. ⁸Write also to the Jews, as it pleases 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. ⁹Then were the king’s scribes called at that time, in the third month Si-van, on the twenty-third day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mor-de-ca-i commanded unto the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, a hundred twenty-seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language. ¹⁰And he wrote the name of king A-has-u-e-rus, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by post on horseback, riding on swift steeds that were used in the king’s service, bred of the stud: ¹¹wherein the king granted the Jews that 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, their little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey, ¹²upon one day in all the provinces of king A-has-u-e-rus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. ¹³A copy of the writing, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published unto all the peoples, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. ¹⁴So the posts that rode upon swift steeds that were used in the king’s service went out, being hurried and pressed on by the king’s commandment; and the decree was given out in Shu-shan the palace.

¹⁵And Mor-de-ca-i went forth from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a robe of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shu-shan shouted and was glad. ¹⁶The Jews had light and gladness, and joy and honor. ¹⁷And in every province, and in every city, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had gladness and joy, a feast and a good day. *** And many from among the peoples of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews was fallen upon them.

9 Now in the twelfth month, which 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, on the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have rule over them, (whereas it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them,) ²the Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of king A-has-u-e-rus, to lay hands on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them was fallen upon all the peoples. ³And all the princes of the provinces, and the satraps, and the governors, and they that did the king’s business, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mor-de-ca-i was fallen upon them. ⁴For Mor-de-ca-i was great in the king’s house, and his fame went forth throughout all the provinces; for the man Mor-de-ca-i waxed greater and greater. ⁵And the Jews struck all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and with slaughter and destruction, and did what they would unto them that hated them. ⁶And in Shu-shan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men. ⁷And Par-shan-da-tha, and Dal-phon, and As-pa-tha, ⁸and Por-a-tha, and A-da-li-a, and Ar-i-da-tha, ⁹and Par-mash-ta, and Ar-i-sai, and Ar-i-dai, and Va-jez-a-tha, ¹⁰the ten sons of Ha-man the son of Ham-me-da-tha, the Jew’s enemy, they slew; but on the spoil they laid not their hand. ¹¹On that day the number of those that were slain in Shu-shan the palace was brought before the king. ¹²And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shu-shan the palace, and the ten sons of Ha-man; what then have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces! Now what is your petition? and it shall be granted you: or what is your request further? and it shall be done. ¹³Then Esther said, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews that are in Shu-shan to do to-morrow also according unto this day’s decree, and let Ha-man’s ten sons be hung upon the gallows. ¹⁴And the king commanded it to be done: and a decree was given out in Shu-shan; and they hung Ha-man’s ten sons. ¹⁵And the Jews that were in Shu-shan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men in Shu-shan; but on the spoil they laid not their hand. ¹⁶And 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 them that hated them seventy-five thousand; but on the spoil they laid not their hand. ¹⁷This was done on the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. ¹⁸But the Jews that were in Shu-shan 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. ¹⁹Therefore do the Jews of the villages, that dwell in the unwalled towns, make the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.

²⁰And Mor-de-ca-i wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of king A-has-u-e-rus, both near and far, ²¹to command them that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly, ²²as the days wherein the Jews had rest from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor. ²³And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mor-de-ca-i had written unto them; ²⁴because Ha-man the son of Ham-me-da-tha, the Ag-a-gite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them; ²⁵but when the matter came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he had devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hung on the gallows. ²⁶why they called these days Pu-rim, after the name of Pur. Therefore because of all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and that which had come unto them, ²⁷the Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so that it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to the writing thereof, and according to the appointed time thereof, every year; ²⁸and that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Pu-rim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the remembrance of them perish from their seed. ²⁹Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Ab-i-hail, and Mor-de-ca-i the Jew, wrote with all authority to confirm this second letter of Pu-rim. ³⁰And he sent letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty-seven provinces of the kingdom of A-has-u-e-rus, with words of peace and truth, ³¹to confirm these days of Pu-rim in their appointed times, according as Mor-de-ca-i the Jew and Esther the queen had commanded them, and as they had ordained for themselves and for their seed, in the matter of the fastings and their cry. ³²And the commandment of Esther confirmed these matters of Pu-rim; and it was written in the book.