[1] Now it
came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from
[2] That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus
sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan
the palace,
[3] In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes
and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the
provinces, being before him:
[4] When he shewed the riches of his glorious
kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many
days, even an hundred and fourscore days.
[5] And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the
people that were present in Shushan the palace, both
unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's
palace;
[6] Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of
fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of
gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black,
marble.
[7] And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being
diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state
of the king.
[8] And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so
the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that
they should do according to every man's pleasure.
[9] Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the
women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
[10] On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine,
he commanded Mehuman, Biztha,
Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence
of Ahasuerus the king,
[11] To bring Vashti the queen before the king
with the crown royal, to shew the people and the
princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.
[12] But the queen Vashti refused to come at
the king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was
the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.
[13] Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so
was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment:
[14] And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven
princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, and which sat the first
in the kingdom;)
[15] What shall we do unto the queen Vashti
according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?
[16] And Memucan answered before the king and
the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to
the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in
all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
[17] For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so
that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be
reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came
not.
[18] Likewise shall the ladies of
[19] If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him,
and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be
not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto
another that is better than she.
[20] And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published
throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their
husbands honour, both to
great and small.
[21] And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did
according to the word of Memucan:
[22] For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every
province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their
language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should
be published according to the language of every people.
[1] After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti,
and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.
[2] Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be
fair young virgins sought for the king:
[3] And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his
kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women unto the
custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the
women; and let their things for purification be given them:
[4] And let the maiden which pleaseth the king
be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the
king; and he did so.
[5] Now in Shushan the palace there was a
certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair,
the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;
[6] Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which
had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah,
whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
[7] And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter:
for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful;
whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.
[8] So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was
heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan
the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was
brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai,
keeper of the women.
[9] And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he
speedily gave her her things for purification, with
such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given
her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best
place of the house of the women.
[10] Esther had not shewed
her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.
[11] And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's
house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.
[12] Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according
to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications
accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the
women;)
[13] Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired
was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's
house.
[14] In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the
second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz,
the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no
more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.
[15] Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail
the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in
unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai
the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained
favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
[16] So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus
into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth,
in the seventh year of his reign.
[17] And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained
grace and favour in his sight more than all the
virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen
instead of Vashti.
[18] Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his
servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave
gifts, according to the state of the king.
[19] And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then
Mordecai sat in the king's gate.
[20] Esther had not yet shewed
her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the
commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.
[21] In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the
king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh,
of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
[22] And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the
queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name.
[23] And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out;
therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of
the chronicles before the king.
[1] After these things did king Ahasuerus
promote Haman the son of Hammedatha
the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above
all the princes that were with him.
[2] And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed,
and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded
concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.
[3] Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto
Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's
commandment?
[4] Now it came to pass, when they spake daily
unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman,
to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was
a Jew.
[5] And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed
not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of
wrath.
[6] And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout
the whole
[7] In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of
king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur,
that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and
from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.
[8] And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people
scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy
kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the
king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.
[9] If it please the king, let it be written
that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to
the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the
king's treasuries.
[10] And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
[11] And the king said unto Haman, The silver
is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth
good to thee.
[12] Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the
first month, and there was written according to all that Haman
had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over
every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according
to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name
of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the
king's ring.
[13] And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces,
to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old,
little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the
twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a
prey.
[14] The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every
province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that
day.
[15] The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and
the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the
king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.
[1] When Mordecai perceived all that was done,
Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into
the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;
[2] And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the
king's gate clothed with sackcloth.
[3] And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his
decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping,
and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
[4] So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then
was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and
to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not.
[5] Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the
king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a
commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.
[6] So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the
street of the city, which was before the king's gate.
[7] And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the
sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to
the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.
[8] Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was
given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to
charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him,
and to make request before him for her people.
[9] And Hatach came and told Esther the words
of Mordecai.
[10] Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;
[11] All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do
know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the
inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death,
except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre,
that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these
thirty days.
[12] And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.
[13] Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself
that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than
all the Jews.
[14] For if thou altogether holdest thy peace
at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews
from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who
knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such
a time as this?
[15] Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,
[16] Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink
three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will
I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I
perish.
[17] So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had
commanded him.
[1] Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the
inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king
sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the
house.
[2] And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the
court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the
king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was
in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.
[3] Then said the king unto her, What wilt
thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.
[4] And Esther answered, If it seem good unto
the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto
the banquet that I have prepared for him.
[5] Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
[6] And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall
be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the
half of the kingdom it shall be performed.
[7] Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is;
[8] If I have found favour in the sight of the
king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my
request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet
that I shall prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king hath said.
[9] Then went Haman forth that day joyful and
with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the
king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of
indignation against Mordecai.
[10] Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and
when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh
his wife.
[11] And Haman told them of the glory of his
riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king
had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of
the king.
[12] Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the
queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had
prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king.
[13] Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long
as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
[14] Then said Zeresh his wife and all his
friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and tomorrow
speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in
merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.
[1] On that night could not the king sleep, and he
commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read
before the king.
[2] And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the
king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the
king Ahasuerus.
[3] And the king said, What honour
and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants
that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.
[4] And the king said, Who is in the court? Now
Haman was come into the outward court of the king's
house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had
prepared for him.
[5] And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman
standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him
come in.
[6] So Haman came in. And the king said unto
him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To
whom would the king delight to do honour more than to
myself?
[7] And Haman answered the king, For the man
whom the king delighteth to honour,
[8] Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth
to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and
the crown royal which is set upon his head:
[9] And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the
king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring
him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus
shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth
to honour.
[10] Then the king said to Haman,
Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and
do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the
king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou has spoken.
[11] Then took Haman the apparel and the horse,
and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the
city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the
king delighteth to honour.
[12] And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman
hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.
[13] And Haman told Zeresh
his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his
wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be
of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt
surely fall before him.
[14] And while they were yet talking with him, came the king's
chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the
banquet that Esther had prepared.
[1] So the king and Haman
came to banquet with Esther the queen.
[2] And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet
of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.
[3] Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let
my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:
[4] For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and
to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my
tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.
[5] Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said
unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he,
that durst presume in his heart to do so?
[6] And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is
this wicked Haman. Then Haman
was afraid before the king and the queen.
[7] And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into
the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request
for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined
against him by the king.
[8] Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of
the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the
bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before
me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.
[9] And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains,
said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the
king, standeth in the house of Haman.
Then the king said, Hang him thereon.
[10] So they hanged Haman on the gallows that
he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.
[1] On that day did the king Ahasuerus
give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther
the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for
Esther had told what he was unto her.
[2] And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai
over the house of Haman.
[3] And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears
to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the
Jews.
[4] Then the king held out the golden sceptre
toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,
[5] And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the
king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters
devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha
the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which
are in all the king's provinces:
[6] For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people?
or how can I endure to see the destruction of my
kindred?
[7] Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther
the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because
he laid his hand upon the Jews.
[8] Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's
ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the
king's ring, may no man reverse.
[9] Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month,
that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was
written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the
lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India
unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province
according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language,
and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.
[10] And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name,
and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and
riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:
[11] Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to
gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay,
and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would
assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a
prey,
[12] Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus,
namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.
[13] The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every
province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready
against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
[14] So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being
hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.
[15] And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal
apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment
of fine linen and purple: and the city of
[16] The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.
[17] And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's
commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and
gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became
Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.
[1] Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month
Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his
decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the
Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that
the Jews had rule over them that hated them;)
[2] The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all
the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on
such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of
them fell upon all people.
[3] And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the
deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of
Mordecai fell upon them.
[4] For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went out
throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.
[5] Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword,
and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated
them.
[6] And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew
and destroyed five hundred men.
[7] And Parshandatha, and Dalphon,
and Aspatha,
[8] And Poratha, and Adalia,
and Aridatha,
[9] And Parmashta, and Arisai,
and Aridai, and Vajezatha,
[10] The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the
spoil laid they not their hand.
[11] On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king.
[12] And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and
destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and
the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the
rest of the king's provinces? now what is thy
petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy
request further? and it shall be done.
[13] Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the
Jews which are in Shushan to do tomorrow also
according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten
sons be hanged upon the gallows.
[14] And the king commanded it so to be done: and the decree was given
at Shushan; and they hanged Haman's
ten sons.
[15] For the Jews that were in Shushan
gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and
slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey
they laid not their hand.
[16] But the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered
themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their
enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not
their hands on the prey,
[17] On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day
of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
[18] But the Jews that were at Shushan
assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof; and on the fourteenth
thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of
feasting and gladness.
[19] Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a
day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to
another.
[20] And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews
that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus,
both nigh and far,
[21] To stablish this among them, that they
should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the
same, yearly,
[22] As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the
month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a
good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending
portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.
[23] And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had
written unto them;
[24] Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the
enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had
cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to
destroy them;
[25] But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that
his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his
own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.
[26] Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of
that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them,
[27] The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and
upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that
they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to
their appointed time every year;
[28] And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every
generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days
of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish
from their seed.
[29] Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail,
and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter
of Purim.
[30] And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty
and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with
words of peace and truth,
[31] To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according
as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had
decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.
[32] And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it
was written in the book.
[1] And the king Ahasuerus
laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea.
[2] And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration
of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not
written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and
[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.