Armenian Apostolic Church Library Online

Esther
Chapter 1

1. Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who

reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, over a hundred and seven and twenty

provinces),

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 showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his

excellent majesty many days, even a hundred and fourscore days.

5 And when these days were fulfilled, the king made a feast unto all the

people that were present in Shushan the palace, both great and small, seven

days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace.

6 [There were hangings of] white [cloth], [of] green, and [of] blue,

fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of

marble: the couches were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and

white, and yellow, 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 bounty of

the king.

8 And the drinking was according to the law; none could 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 ministered in the presence of Ahasuerus

the king,

11 to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to

show the peoples 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 the

chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in

him.

13 Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for so was

the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment;

14 and the next unto him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish,

Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw

the king's face, and sat first in the kingdom),

15 What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she

hath not done the bidding 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 peoples that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.

17 For this deed of the queen will come abroad unto all women, to make

their husbands contemptible 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 And this day will the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of

the deed of the queen say [the like] unto all the king's princes. So [will

there arise] much contempt and wrath.

19 If it please the king, let there go forth 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 kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will give to

their husbands honor, 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 should speak

according to the language of his people.

1. After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was pacified, 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 Hegai the king's

chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be

given them;

4 and let the maiden that pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti.

And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.

5 There was a certain Jew in Shushan the palace, 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 captives that 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 maiden was fair and beautiful;

and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her 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 taken into 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 her portions, and the

seven maidens who were meet to be given her out of the king's house: and he

removed her and her maidens to the best place of the house of the women.

10 Esther had not made known her people nor her kindred; for Modecai had

charged her that she should not make it known.

11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house,

to know how Esther did, and what would become of her.

12 Now when the turn of every maiden was come to go in to king Ahasuerus,

after that it had been done to her according to the law for the women

twelve months (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished,

[to wit], six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors and

with the things for the purifying of the women),

13 then in this wise came the 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, who kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more,

except the king delighted in her, and 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 favor 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 favor

and kindness 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 bounty of the king.

19 And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then

Mordecai was sitting in the king's gate.

20 Esther had not yet made known 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 was sitting in the king's gate, two of

the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those that kept the

threshold, were wroth, and sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus.

22 And the thing became known to Mordecai, who showed it unto Esther the

queen; and Esther told the king [thereof] in Modecai's name.

23 And when inquisition was made of the matter, and it was found to be

so, 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 down,

and did reverence to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him.

But Mordecai bowed not down, nor did him reverence.

3 Then the king's servants, that 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 down, nor did him reverence,

then was Haman full of wrath.

6 But he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had made

known to him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all

the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the

people of Mordecai.

7. In the first month, which 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], which is the month

Adar.

8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered

abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of thy kingdom;

and their laws are diverse from [those of] every 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 be destroyed: and I

will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those that have

the charge of the [king's] 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 in the first month, on the

thirteenth day thereof; and there was written according to all that Haman

commanded unto the king's satraps, and to the governors that were over

every province, and to the princes of every people, to every province

according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language;

in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and it was sealed with the

king's ring.

13 And letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to

destroy, to slay, 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 A copy of the writing, that the decree should be given out in every

province, was published unto all the peoples, that they should be ready

against that day.

15 The posts went forth in haste by the king's commandment, and the

decree was given out in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down

to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.

1. Now when Mordecai knew 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 he came even before the king's gate: for none might enter within

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 And Esther's maidens and her chamberlains came and told it her; and the

queen was exceedingly grieved: and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and

to take his sackcloth from off him; but he received it not.

5. Then called Esther for Hathach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he

had appointed to attend upon her, and charged him to go to Mordecai, to

know what this was, and why it was.

6 So Hathach went forth to Mordecai unto the broad place of the city,

which was before the king's gate.

7 And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and the exact

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

out in Shushan to destroy them, to show 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 Hathach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.

10 Then Esther spake unto Hathach, and gave him a message unto Mordecai

[saying]:

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 for him, that he be

put to death, except those 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 bade them return answer unto 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 will

relief and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place, but thou and

thy father's house will perish: and who knoweth whether thou art not come

to the kingdom for such a time as this?

15 Then Esther bade them return answer unto Mordecai,

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 in like manner; 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 entrance of the house.

2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the

court, that she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to

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 given thee even to the half of the kingdom.

4 And Esther said, 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 it may be done as

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 favor 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

to-morrow as the king hath said.

9. Then went Haman forth that day joyful and glad of heart: but when Haman

saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up nor moved for him, he

was filled with wrath against Mordecai.

10 Nevertheless Haman refrained himself, and went home; and he sent and

fetched his friends and Zeresh his wife.

11 And Haman recounted unto them 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

also am I invited by her together 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 fifty cubits high, and in the morning 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, of those that kept the threshold,

who had sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus.

3 And the king said, What honor and dignity hath been bestowed on

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 honor? Now Haman said in his heart, To

whom would the king delight to do honor more than to myself?

7 And Haman said unto the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to

honor,

8 let royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the

horse that the king rideth upon, and on the head of which a crown royal is

set:

9 and let the apparel and the horse be delivered to the hand of one of

the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man therewith whom

the king delighteth to honor, and cause him to ride 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 honor.

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 hast spoken.

11 Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and

caused him to ride through the street of the city, and proclaimed before

him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor.

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 recounted unto Zeresh his wife and all his friends

everything that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his

wife unto him, If Mordecai, before whom thou hast begun to fall, be of the

seed of the Jews, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall

before him.

14 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? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.

3 Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favor 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

peace, although the adversary could not have compensated for the king's

damage.

5 Then spake the king Ahasuerus 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, An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman.

Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.

7. And the king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine [and went]

into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to

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 couch whereon Esther was.

Then said the king, Will he even force the queen before me in the house? As

the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.

9 Then said Harbonah, one of the chamberlains that were before the king,

Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman hath made for

Mordecai, who spake good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. And

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 to Esther the golden sceptre. So Esther arose,

and stood before the king.

5 And she said, If it please the king, and if I have found favor 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 that 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 to the Jews, as it pleaseth 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

Sivan, on the three and twentieth [day] thereof; and it was written

according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the satraps,

and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from India unto

Ethiopia, a 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 the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king's

ring, and sent letters by post on horseback, riding on swift steeds that

were used in the king's service, bred of the stud:

11 wherein the king granted the Jews that 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, [their] 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 A copy of the writing, that the decree should be given out in every

province, was published unto all the peoples, and that the Jews should be

ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

14 So the posts that rode upon swift steeds that were used in the king's

service went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment;

and the decree was given out in Shushan the palace.

15. And Mordecai went forth from the presence of the king in royal apparel

of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a robe of fine

linen and purple: and the city of Shushan shouted and was glad.

16 The Jews had light and gladness, and joy and honor.

17 And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's

commandment and his decree came, the Jews had gladness and joy, a feast and

a good day. And many from among the peoples of the land became Jews; for

the fear of the Jews was fallen upon them.

1. Now in the twelfth month, which 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, on the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have

rule over them, (whereas 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 was fallen upon

all the peoples.

3 And all the princes of the provinces, and the satraps, and the

governors, and they that did the king's business, helped the Jews; because

the fear of Mordecai was fallen upon them.

4 For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went forth

throughout all the provinces; for the man Mordecai waxed greater and

greater.

5 And the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and

with slaughter and destruction, and did what they would unto them 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 Vaizatha,

10 the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Jew's enemy, slew

they; but on the spoil they laid 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 then 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

that are in Shushan to do to-morrow 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 a decree was given out in

Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons.

15 And the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the

fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men in

Shushan; but on the spoil they laid not their hand.

16 And 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 them that hated them seventy and five thousand; but on

the spoil they laid not their hand.

17 [This was done] on the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the

fourteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and

gladness.

18 But the Jews that were in 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 do the Jews of the villages, that dwell in the unwalled

towns, make 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 enjoin 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 had rest from their enemies, and the

month which was turned unto them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning

into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness,

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 plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that

is the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;

25 but when [the matter] came before the king, he commanded by letters

that his wicked device, which he had 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 because of all the words of this letter, and of that which they

had seen concerning this matter, and that 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 that it should not fail, that

they would keep these two days according to the writing thereof, and

according to the appointed time thereof, 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 remembrance 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 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 appointed times, according as

Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had

ordained for themselves and for their seed, in the matter of the fastings

and their cry.

32 And the commandment 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 full account 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 Persia?

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 good of

his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.