Bible, King James Version
Esther
Esth.9
[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.
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