Esther 8

1On that day King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews, and Mordecai came before the king, because Esther had told what he was to her.

2Then the king removed his signet ring, which he had taken away from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed Mordecai over the house of Haman.

3Then Esther spoke again before the king. She fell before his feet, wept, and pleaded with him to avert the evil of Haman the Agagite and his scheme that he had devised against the Jews.

4Then the king held out the golden scepter to Esther, and Esther rose and stood before the king.

5And she said, “If it seems good to the king, and if I have found favor before him, and if the matter is proper before the king, and if I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king.”

6For how could I bear to see the disaster that will come upon my people? And how could I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?

7Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Look, I have given Haman’s house to Esther, and they have hanged him on the gallows because he stretched out his hand against the Jews.”

8But you may write concerning the Jews as seems good in your eyes, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s signet ring, for a document that is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring cannot be revoked.

9Then the king’s scribes were summoned at that time, in the third month, that is, the month of Sivan, on its twenty-third day; and it was written exactly as Mordecai commanded, to the Jews and to the satraps, the governors, and the officials of the provinces from India to Cush, one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, to each province in its own script, to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their own script and their own language.

10He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, sealed it with the king’s signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on horses, riding the royal steeds bred from swift stock.

11that the king granted the Jews in every single city to assemble and to stand for their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate every armed force of any people or province that might attack them, including children and women, and to plunder their spoil.

12on one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.

13A copy of the written decree was to be issued as law in every province and province, being made public to all the peoples, and so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

14The couriers, mounted on the royal steeds, went out hastened and pressed on by the king’s command, and the decree was issued in Susa the citadel.

15And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal clothing of blue and white, with a large crown of gold and a robe of fine linen and purple; and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.

16For the Jews there was light and gladness and joy and honor.

17And in every province and province, and in every city and city, wherever the king’s word and his decree reached, there was joy and gladness for the Jews, a feast and a good day. And many from the peoples of the land were becoming Jews, because the fear of the Jews had fallen on them.