Bible, King James Version
Esther
Esth.8
[1] On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of
Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came
before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.
[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 Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
[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.
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