Efther chofen queen. ESTHER. Haman's rage against the Feas daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mor- Now it came to pafs, when they decai, who had taken her for his daugh-fpake daily unto him, and he hearkened ter, was come to go in unto the king, not unto them, that they told Haman, to fhe required nothing but what Hegai the fee whether Mordecai's matters would king's chamberlain, the keeper of the ftand: for he had told them that he was women, appointed. And Efther obtain- a Jew. ed favour in the fight of all them that looked upon her. 16 So Efther was taken unto king Ahafuerus into his houfe royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. 5 And when Haman faw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. 6 And he thought fcorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had fhewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman fought to deftroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahafuerus, even the people of 17 And the king loved Efther above all the women, and the obtained grace and favour in his fight more than all the virgins; fo that he fet the royal crown | Mordecai. upon her head, and made her queen inftead of Vashti. 18 Then the king made a great feaft unto all his princes and his fervants, even Efther's feaft; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the ftate of the king. 19 And when the virgins were gathered together the fecond time, then Mordecai fat in the king's gate. 7 In the first month, that is, the month Nifan, in the twelfth year of king Ahafuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, be fore Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar. 8 And Haman faid unto king Abafuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and difperfed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and 20 Efther had not yet fhewed her kin- their laws are diverfe from all people; dred nor her people; as Mordecai had neither keep they the king's laws: there charged her for Efther did the com-fore it is not for the king's profit to fufmandment of Mordecai, like as when the fer them. was brought up with him. 21 In those days, while Mordecai fat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Terefh, of thofe which kept the door, were wroth, and fought to lay hand on the king Ahafuerus. 22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Efther the queen; and Efther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name. 23 And when inquifition 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. CHAP. III. 9 If it pleafe the king, let it be written that they may be deftroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of filver to the hands of thofe that have the charge of the bufinefs, to bring it into the king's treafuries. 10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the fon of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. II And the king faid unto Haman, The filver is given to thee, the people alfo, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee. 12 Then were the king's fcribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all Haman advanced by the king, and defpifed that Haman had commanded unto the by Mordecai, fecketh revenge upon all king's lieutenants, and to the governors the Jews. that were over every province, and to the AFTER these things did king Ahafue- rulers of every people of every province rus promote Haman the fon of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and fet his feat above all the princes that avere with him. 2 And all the king's fervants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had fo commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence. 3 Then the king's fervants, which quere in the king's gate, faid unto Mordecai, Why tranfgreffeft thou the king's commandment? according to the writing thereof, and ta every people after their language; in the name of king Ahafuerus was it written, and fealed with the king's ring. 13 And the letters were fent by posts into all the king's provinces, to deftroy, to kill, and to caufe 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 WHEN rent his largement and deliverance arifeto the Jews clothes, and put on fackcloth with afhes, 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 fackcloth. 3 And in every province, whitherfoever 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 fackcloth and ashes. 4 So Efther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved: and fhe fent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his fackcloth from him: but he received it not. s Then called Efther 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 fum of the money that Haman had promifed to pay to the king's treafuries for the Jews, to deftroy them. 8 Allo he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shufhan to deftroy them, to fhew it unto Efther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that the fhould go in unto the king, to make fupplication unto him, and to make requeft before him for her people. 9 And Hatach came and told Efther the words of Mordecai. 10 Again Efther fpake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai; 11 All the king's fervants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whofoever, whether man or woman, fhall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for fuch a time as this? 15 T Then Efther bade them return Mordecai this answer, 16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are prefent in Shufhan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will faft likewife; and fo will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, Į perish. 17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Efther had commanded him. CHAP. V. Efther obtaining the king's favour, inviteth the king and Haman to a banquet. Now it came to pals on the third Ο day, that Efther put on her royal apparel, and ftood in the inner court of the king's houfe, over against the king's houfe: and the king fat upon his royal throne in the royal houfe, over against the gate of the houfe. 2 And it was fo, when the king faw Efther the queen ftanding in the court, that the obtained favour in his fight and the king held out to Efther the golden fcep tre that was in his hand. So Efther drew near, and touched the top of the fceptre. 3 Then faid the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Efther? and what is thy requeft? it fhall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom. 4 And Efther anfwered, If it feem 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 faid, Cause Haman to make hafte, that he may do as Efther bath faid. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Efther had prepared. 6 And the king faid unto Efther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy requeft? even to the half of the kingdom it thall be performed. 7 Then answered Efther, and faid, My petition and my request is; 8 If I have found favour in the fight of the king, and if it pleafe the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I fhall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath faid. 9 Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman faw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he ftood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai. Mordecai bonoured. 5 And the king's fervants faid unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king faid, Let him come in. 6 So Haman came in.. And the king faid unto him, What fhall 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 myfelf? And Haman aufwered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour, 8 Let the royal apparel be brought which the king ufeth to wear, and the horfe that the king rideth upon, and the 10 Neverthelefs Haman refrained him- crown royal which is fet upon his head: felf: and when he came home, he fent 9 And let this apparel and horse be deand called for his friends, and Zerefh|livered to the hand of one of the king's his wife. moft noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delight eth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the ftreet of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus fhall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour. II 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 fervants of the king. 12 Haman said moreover, Yea, Efther 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 alfo with the king. 13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, fo long as I fee Mordecai the Jew fitting at the king's gate. 14 Then faid Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow fpeak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleafed Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made. CHAP. VI. I Abafuerus rewardeth Mordecai, 11 Haman doeth him honour. N that night could not the king fleep, 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 Terefh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who fought to lay hand on the king Ahafuerus. 3 And the king faid, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then faid the king's fervants that miniftered unto him, There is nothing| done for him. Io Then the king faid to Haman, Make hafte, and take the apparel and. the horse, as thou haft faid, and do even fo to Mordecai the Jew, that fitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou haft spoken. III Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horfeback through the ftreet of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus fhall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour. 12 And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hafted 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 faid his wife men and Zerefh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the feed of the Jews, before whom thou haft begun to fall, thou fhalt not prevail against him, but thalt furely fall before him. 14 And while they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hafted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Efther had prepared. CHAP. VII. 1 Ffther fueth for her own fe, and her people. 7 The king causeth Haman to be banged on his own gallosus. the king and Haman came to ban And the king faid, Who is in the Squet with Efther the queen. court? Now Haman was come into the! outward court of the king's house, to fpeak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. 1 2 And the king faid again unto Efther on the fecond day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Efther? and it fhall be granted thee; and what is thy request? Haman banged. Chap. viii. Mordecai's honour. requeft? and it fhall be performed, even 4 Then the king held out the golden 3 Then Efther the queen answered and faid, If I have found favour in thy fight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given ine at my petition, and my people at my requeft: For we are fold, I and my people, to be deftroyed, to be flain, and to perifh. But if we had been fold for bondmen and bond women, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage. 5 Then the king Ahafuerus anfwered and faid unto Efther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durft prefume in his heart to do fo? 6 And Efther faid, The adverfary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen. 7 And the king arifing from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden and Haman ftood up to make request for his life to Efther the queen; for he faw that there was evil determined against him by the king. 5 And faid, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his fight, and the thing feem right before the king, and I be pleafing in his eyes, let it be written to reverfe the letters devifed by Haman the fon of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to deftroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces: 6 For how can I endure to see the evil that fhall come unto my people; or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred? 7 Then the king Ahafuerus faid unto Efther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Efther the houfe of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews. 8 Write ye alfo for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and feal 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 rever'e. 8 Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the ban- 9 Then were the king's fcribes called quet of wine; and Haman was fallen up- at that time in the third month, that is, on the bed whereon Efther avas. Then the month Sivan, on the three and twenfaid the king, Will he force the queen alfo ticth day thereof; and it was written acbefore me in the houfe? As the word cording to all that Mordecai commandwent out of the king's mouth, they co-ed unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, vered Haman's face. 9 And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, faid before the king, Behold alfo, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had fpoken good for the king, standeth in the houfe of Haman. Then the king faid, Hang him thereon. To So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified. CHAP. VIII. ON 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. TO And he wrote in the king Ahafuerus's name, and fealed it with the king's ring, and fent letters by poft on horfe back, and riders on mules, camels, and Mordecai is advanced. 7 Ahasuerus grant-young dromedaries: 2 And the king took off his ring which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Efther fet Mordecai over the houfe of Haman. 3 And Efther fpake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and be fought him with tears to put away the mifchief of Haman the Agagi e, and his device that he had devifed against the Jews. 12 Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahaliterus, namely, upon the thir teenth 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 suas published unto all people, and that the Jews fhould be ready against Ff that The Jews flay their enemies, ESTHER. with the ten fons of Haman. flew they; but on the spoil laid they not their band. that day to avenge themselves on their Enemies. 14 So the pots that rode upon mules and camels went out, being haftened and preffed on by the king's commandment. And the decree was given at Shufhan the palace. 15 ¶ And Mordecai went out from the prefence 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 Shufhan rejoiced and was glad. 16 The Jews had light, and gladnefs, and joy, and honour. II On that day the number of those that were flain in Shufhan the palace was brought before the king. 12 And the king faid unto Esther the queen, The Jews have flain and destroyed five hundred men in Shufhan the palace, and the ten fons of Haman; what have they done in the reft of the king's provinces? now what is thy petition? and it fhall be granted thee: or what is thy requeft further? and it fhall be done. 13 Then faid Efther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which 17 And in every province, and in every are in Shufhan to do to morrow alfo accity, whitherfoever the king's command-cording unto this day's decree, and let ment and his decree came, the Jews had Haman's ten fons be hanged upon the joy and gladnefs, a feaft and a good day. gallows. And many of the people of the land be came Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them. CHAP. IX. 1 The Ferus flag their enemies, with the ten fons of Haman. 20 The two days of Purim are made feftival. NOW OW in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the fame, 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 themfelves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahafuerus, to lay hand on fuch as fought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people. 14 And the king commanded it fo to be done: and the decree was given at Shufhan; and they hanged Haman's ten fons. 15 For the Jews that avere in Shufhan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day alfo of the month Adar, and flew three hundred men at Shufhan; but on the prey they laid not their hand. 16 But the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themfelves together, and ftood for their lives, and had reft from their enemies, and flew of their foes feventy 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 fame refted they, and made it a day of feafting and gladnefs.. 18 But the Jews that were at Shufhan affembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the fame they refted, and made a day of feafting and gladnefs. And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; becaute the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. 19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, 4 For Mordecai was great in the king's that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made houfe, and his fame went out throughout the fourteenth day of the month Adar all the provinces: for this man Mordecai a day of gladness and feafting, and a waxed greater and greater. good day, and of fending portions one to another. 5 Thus the Jews fmote all their enemies with the ftroke of the fword, and laughter, and deftruction, and did what they would unto thofe that hated them. 6 And in Shufhan the palace the Jews Aew and deftroyed five hundred men. 7 And Parliandatha, and Dalphon, and Afpatha, 8 And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha, 9 And Parmafhta, and Arifai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha, 10 The ten fons of Haman the fon of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, 20 ¶ And Mordecai wrote these things, and fent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahafuerus, both nigh and far, 2rTo ftablish this among them, that they fhould keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the fame, yearly, 22 As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from forrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feafting |