Esther
Chapter 1
1:1In the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus that reigned, from India even to Ethiopia, over a hundred,and seven and twenty provinces)
1:2In those days when the King Ahasuerus sat on his throne, which was in the palace of Shushan,
1:3In the third year of his reign, he made a feast to all his princes and his servants, even the power of Persia and Media,and to the captains and governors of the provinces which were before him,
1:4That he might show the riches and glory of his kingdom,and the honor of his great majesty many days, even a hundred and four score days.
1:5And when these days were expired, the King made a feast to all the people that were found in the palace of Shushan, both to great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the Kings palace,
1:6Under a hanging of white, green,and blue clothes, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple, in silver rings,and pillars of marble:the beds were of gold,and of silver upon a pavement of porphyry,and marble and alabaster,and blue color.
1:7And they gave them drink in vessels of gold,and changed vessel after vessel,and royal wine in abundance according to the power of the King.
1:8And the drinking was by an order, none might compel:for so the King had appointed to all the officers of his house,that they should do according to every man's pleasure.
1:9The Queen Vashti made a feast also for the women in the royal house of King Ahasuerus.
1:10Upon 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 eunuchs, (that served in the presence of King Ahasuerus)
1:11To bring Queen Vashti before the King with the crown royal,that he might show the people and the princes her beauty:for she was fair to look upon.
1:12But the Queen Vashti refused to come at the King's word, which he had given in charge to the eunuchs: therefore the King was very angry, and his wrath kindled in him.
1:13Then the King said to the wise men,that knew the times (for so was the Kings manner toward all that knew the law and the judgment:
1:14And the next to him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena,and Memucan the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the King's face,and sat the first in the kingdom)
1:15What shall we do to the Queen Vashti according to the law, because she did not according to the word of the King Ahasuerus by the commission of the eunuchs?
1:16Then Memucan answered before the King and the Princes, The Queen Vashti has not only done evil against the King,but against all the princes,and against all the people that are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.
1:17For the act of the Queen shall come abroad to all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their own eyes,and shall say, The King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the Queen to be brought in before him,but she came not.
1:18So shall the princesses of Persia and Media this day say to all the Kings Princes, when they hear of the act of the Queen:thus shall there be much despitefulness and wrath.
1:19If it please the King, let a royal decree proceed from him,and let it be written among the statutes of Persia,and Media, (and let it not be transgressed) that Vashti come no more before King Ahasuerus:and let the King give her royal estate to her companion that is better than she.
1:20And when the decree of the King who shall be made, shall be published throughout all his kingdom (though it be great) all the women shall give their husbands honor, both great and small.
1:21And this saying pleased the King and the princes,and the King did according to the word of Memucan.
1:22For he sent letters into all the provinces of the King, into every province according to the writing of it, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that he should publish it in the language of that same people.
2:1After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti,and what she had done,and what was decreed against her.
2:2And the Kings servants that ministered to him, said, Let them seek for the King beautiful young virgins,
2:3And let the King appoint officers through all the provinces of his kingdom,and let them gather all the beautiful young virgins to the palace of Shushan, into the house of the women, under the hand of Hegai the Kings eunuch, keeper of the women, to give them their things for purification.
2:4And the maid that shall please the King, let her reign in the stead of Vashti. And this pleased the King,and he did so.
2:5In the city of Shushan, there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish a man of Jemini,
2:6Which had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity that was carried away with Jeconiah King of Judah (whom Nebuchadnezzar King of Babel had carried away)
2:7And he nourished Hadassah,that is Esther, his uncle's daughter:for she had neither father nor mother,and the maid was fair,and beautiful to look on:and after the death of her father,and her mother, Mordecai took her for his own daughter
2:8And when the King's commandment, and his decree was published, and many maids were brought together to the palace of Shushan, under the hand of Hegai, Esther was brought also to the King's house under the hand of Hegai the keeper of the women.
2:9And the maid pleased him, and she obtained chesed before him: therefore he caused her things for purification to be given her speedily, and her state, and seven comely maids to be given her out of the King's house, and he gave change to her and to her maids of the best in the house of the women.
2:10But Esther showed not her people and her kindred:for Mordecai had charged her,that she should not tell it.
2:11And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know if Ester did well,and what should be done with her.
2:12And when the course of every maid came, 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 preparations accomplished, six months with oil of myrrh,and six months with sweet odors and in the purifying of the women:
2:13And thus went the maids to the King) whatever she required, was given her, to go with her out of the women's house to the kings house.
2:14In the evening she went,and on the morning she returned into the second house of the women under the hand of Shaashgaz the Kings eunuch, which kept the concubines:she came in to the King no more, except she pleased the King,and that she were called by name.
2:15Now when the course of Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai (which had taken her as his own daughter) came,that she should go in to the King, she sought nothing,but what Hegai the Kings eunuch the keeper of the women said:and Esther found favor in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
2:16So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
2:17And the King loved Esther above all the women,and she found chesed and favor in his sight more than all the virgins:so that he set the crown of the kingdom upon her head,and made her Queen instead of Vashti.
2:18Then the King made a great feast to all his princes,and his servants, who was the feast of Esther,and gave rest to the provinces,and gave gifts, according to the power of a King.
2:19And when the virgins were gathered the second time, then Mordecai sat in the Kings gate.
2:20Esther had not yet showed her kindred nor her people, as Mordecai had charged her:for Esther did after the word of Mordecai, as when she was nourished with him.
2:21In those days when Mordecai sat in the Kings gate, two of the Kings eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, which kept the door, were angry,and sought to lay hand on the King Ahasuerus.
2:22And the thing was known to Mordecai, and he told it to Queen Esther, and Esther certified the King of it in Mordecai's name:
2:23and when inquisition was made, it was found so: therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the Chronicles before the King.
Chapter 3
3:1After these things did King Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite,and exalted him,and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
3:2And all the Kings servants that were at the Kings gate, bowed their knees,and reverenced Haman:for the King had so commanded concerning him:but Mordecai bowed not the knee,neither did reverence.
3:3Then the Kings servants who were at the Kings gate, said to Mordecai, Why transgress you the King's commandment?
3:4And although they spoke daily to him, yet he would not hear them:therefore they told Haman,that they might see how Mordecai's matters would stand:for he had told them,that he was a Jew.
3:5And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not the knee to him, nor did reverence to him, then Haman was full of wrath.
3:6Now he thought it too little to lay hands only on Mordecai:and because they had showed him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews,that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
3:7In the first month (that is the month Nisan) in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is a lot) before Haman, from day to day,and from month to month, to the twelfth month,that is the month Adar.
3:8Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, There is a people scattered,and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom,and their laws are diverse from all people,and they do not observe the Kings laws:therefore it is not the Kings profit to suffer them.
3:9If it please the King, let it be written that they may he destroyed,and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver by the hands of them that have the charge of this business to bring it into the Kings treasury.
3:10Then the King took his ring from his hand and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite the Jews adversary.
3:11And the King said to Haman, Let the silver be yours,and the people to do with them as it pleases you.
3:12Then were the Kings scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written (according to all that Haman commanded) to the Kings officers, and to the captains that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people, and to every province, according to the writing of it, and to every people according to their language: in the name of King Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the Kings ring.
3:13And the letters were sent by posts into all the King's provinces, to root out, to kill and to destroy all the Jews, both young and old, children and women, in one day upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, (which is the month Adar) and to spoil them as a prey.
3:14The contents of the writing was,that there should be given a commandment in all provinces,and published to all people,that they should be ready against the same day.
3:15And the posts compelled by the King's commandment went forth, and the commandment was given in the palace at Shushan: and the King and Haman sat drinking, but the city of Shushan was in perplexity.
4:1Now when Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes,and put on sackcloth and ashes,and went out into the midst of the city,and cried with a great cry,and a bitter.
4:2And he came even before the Kings gate,but he might not enter within the Kings gate, being clothed with sackcloth.
4:3And in every province,and place, where the Kings charge and his commission came, there was great sorrow among the Jews,and fasting,and weeping and mourning,and many lay in sackcloth and in ashes.
4:4Then Esther's maids and her eunuchs came and told it her:therefore the Queen was very heavy,and she sent clothing to clothe Mordecai,and to take away his sackcloth from him,but he received it not.
4:5Then called Esther Hathach one of the Kings eunuchs, whom he had appointed to serve her,and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was,and why it was.
4:6So Hathach went forth to Mordecai to the street of the city, which was before the Kings gate.
4:7And Mordecai told him of all that which had come to him,and of the sum of the silver that Haman had promised to pay to the Kings treasures, because of the Jews,for to destroy them.
4:8Also he gave him the copy of the writing and commission that was given at Shushan, to destroy them,that he might show it to Esther and declare it to her,and to charge her that she should go in to the King,and make petition and supplication before him for her people.
4:9So when Hathach came, he told Esther the words of Mordecai.
4:10Then Esther said to Hathach,and commanded him to say to Mordecai,
4:11All the Kings servants and the people of the Kings provinces do know,that whoever, man or woman,that comes to the King into the inner court, which is not called, there is a law of his,that he shall die, except him to whom the King holds out the golden rod,that he may live. Now I have not been called to come to the King these thirty days.
4:12And they certified Mordecai of Esther's words.
4:13And Mordecai said, that they should answer Esther thus, Think not with your nephesh that you shall escape in the King's house, more than all the Jews.
4:14For if you hold your peace at this time, comfort and deliverance shall appear to the Jews out of another place,but you and your fathers house shall perish:and who knows whether you are come to the kingdom for such a time?
4:15Then Esther commanded to answer Mordecai,
4:16Go, and assemble all the Jews that are found in Shushan, and fast for me, and eat not, nor drink in three days, day nor night. I also and my maids will fast likewise, and so will I go in to the King, who is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
4:17So Mordecai went his way,and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.
Chapter 5
5:1And on the third day Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the court of the Kings palace within, over against the King's house: and the King sat upon his royal throne in the Kings palace over against the gate of the house.
5:2And when the King saw Esther the Queen standing in the court, she found favor in his sight:and the King held out the golden scepter that was in his hand:so Esther drew near,and touched the top of the scepter.
5:3Then said the King to her, What will you, Queen Esther? And what is your request? It shall be even given you to the half of the kingdom.
5:4Then said Esther, If it please the King, let the King and Haman come this day to the banquet,that I have prepared for him.
5:5And the King said, Cause Haman to make haste that he may do as Esther has said. So the King and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
5:6And the King said to Esther at the banquet of wine, What is your petition,that it may be given you? And what is your request? It shall even be performed to the half of the kingdom.
5:7Then answered Esther,and said, My petition and my request is,
5:8If I have found favor in the sight of the King,and if it please the King to give me 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 according to the Kings saying.
5:9Then went Haman forth the same day joyful and with a glad heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the Kings gate,that he stood not up, nor moved for him, then was Haman full of indignation at Mordecai.
5:10Nevertheless Haman restrained himself:and when he came home, he sent,and called for his friends,and Zeresh his wife.
5:11And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things in which the King had promoted him, and how that he had set him above the princes and servants of the King.
5:12Haman said moreover, Yes, Esther the Queen did let no man come in with the King to the banquet that she had prepared, save me:and Tomorrow I am invited to her also with the King.
5:13But all this does nothing avail me, as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the Kings gate.
5:14Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends to him, Let them make a tree of fifty cubits high, and Tomorrow speak to the King, that Mordecai may be hanged on it: then shall you go joyfully with the King to the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman, and he caused to make the tree.
6:1The same night the King slept not,and he commanded to bring the book of the records,and the chronicles:and they were read before the King.
6:2Then it was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana,and Teresh two of the Kings eunuchs, keepers of the door, who sought to lay hands on the King Ahasuerus.
6:3Then the King said, What honor and dignity has been given to Mordecai for this? And the Kings servants that ministered to him, said, There is nothing done for him.
6:4And the King said, Who is in the court? (Now Haman was come into the inner court of the King's house, that he might speak to the King to hang Mordecai on the tree that he had prepared for him.)
6:5And the Kings servants said to him, Behold, Haman stands in the court. And the King said, Let him come in.
6:6And when Haman came in, the King said to him, What shall be done to the man, whom the King will honor? Then Haman thought in his heart, to whom would the King do honor more than to me?
6:7And Haman answered the King, The man whom the King would honor,
6:8Let them bring for him royal apparel, which the King uses to wear,and the horse that the King rides upon,and that the crown royal may be set upon his head.
6:9And let the clothing and the horse be delivered by the hand of one of the Kings most noble princes,and let them apparel the man (whom the King will honor) and cause him to ride upon the horse through the street of the city,and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man, whom the King will honor.
6:10Then the King said to Haman, Make haste, take the clothing and the horse as you have said,and do so to Mordecai the Jew,that sits at the Kings gate:let nothing all of all that you have spoken.
6:11So Haman took the clothing and the horse,and arrayed Mordecai,and brought him on horse back through the street of the city,and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the King will honor.
6:12And Mordecai came again to the Kings gate,but Haman hurried home mourning and his head covered.
6:13And Haman told Zeresh his wife,and all his friends all that had happened to him. Then said his wise men,and Zeresh his wife to him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom you have begun to fall;you shall not prevail against him,but shall surely fall before him.
6:14And while they were yet talking with him, came the Kings eunuchs and hastened to bring Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
Chapter 7
7:1So the King and Haman came to banquet with the Queen Esther.
7:2And the King said again to Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is your petition, Queen Esther,that it may be given you? And what is your request? It shall be even performed to the half of the kingdom.
7:3And Esther the Queen answered,and said, If I have found favor in your sight, O King,and if it please the King, let my nephesh be given me at my petition,and my people at my request.
7:4For we are sold, I,and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain and to perish:but if we were sold for servants,and for handmaids, I would have held my tongue:although the adversary could not recompense the Kings loss.
7:5Then King Ahasuerus answered,and said to the Queen Esther, Who is he? And where is he that presume to do thus?
7:6And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the King and the Queen.
7:7And the King arose from the banquet of wine in his wrath,and went into the palace garden:but Haman stood up, to make request for his nephesh to the Queen Esther:for he saw that there was a mischief prepared for him of the King.
7:8And when the King came again out of the palace garden, into the house where they drank wine, Haman was fallen upon the bed where Esther sat! Therefore the King said, Will he force the Queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the Kings mouth, they covered Haman's face.
7:9And Harbonah one of the eunuchs, said in the presence of the King, Behold, there stands yet the tree in Haman house fifty cubits high, which Haman had prepared for Mordecai, that spoke good for the King. Then the King said, Hang him on it.
7:10So they hanged Haman on the tree,that he had prepared for Mordecai:then was the Kings wrath pacified.
Chapter 8
8:1The same day did King Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the adversary of the Jews to the Queen Esther. And Mordecai came before the King:for Esther told what he was to her.
8:2And the King took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman,and gave it to Mordecai:and Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
8:3And Esther spoke yet more before the King,and fell down at his feet weeping,and implored him that he would put away the wickedness of Haman the Agagite,and his device that he had imagined against the Jews.
8:4And the King held out the golden scepter toward Esther. Then arose Esther,and stood before the King,
8:5And said, If it please the King, and if I have found favor in his sight, and the thing be acceptable before the King, and I please him, let it be written, that the letters of the device of Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite may be called again, which he wrote to destroy the Jews, that are in all the King's provinces.
8:6For how can I suffer and see the evil,that shall come to my people? Or how can I suffer and see the destruction of my kindred?
8:7And the King Ahasuerus said to the Queen Esther,and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, whom they have hanged upon the tree, because he laid hand upon the Jews.
8:8Write you also for the Jews, as it is you in the King's name, and seal it with the King's ring (for the writings written in the King's name, and sealed with the King's ring, may no man revoke)
8:9Then were the Kings Scribes called at the same time, even in the third month, that is the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day of it: and it was written, according to all as Mordecai commanded, to the Jews and to the princes, and captains, and rulers of the provinces, which were from India even to Ethiopia, a hundred and seven and twenty provinces, to every province, according to the writing of it, and to every people after their speech, and to the Jews, according to their writing, and according to their language.
8:10And he wrote in the King Ahasuerus name, and sealed it with the King's ring: and he sent letters by posts on horseback and that rode on beasts of price, as dromedaries and letters of mares.
8:11In which the King gather the Jews (in what cities so ever they were) to gather themselves together,and to stand for their nephesh,and to root out, to slay and to destroy all the power of the people and of the province that vexed them, both children and women,and to spoil their goods:
8:12Upon one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, even in the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.
8:13The copy of the writing was, how there should be a commandment given in all and every province, published among all the people,and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
8:14So the posts rode upon beasts of price, and dromedaries, and went forth with speed, to execute the King's commandment, and the decree was given at Shushan the palace.
8:15And Mordecai went out from 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.
8:16And to the Jews was come light and joy and gladness,and honor.
8:17Also in all and every province, and in all and every city and place, where the King's commandment and his decree came, there was joy and gladness to the Jews, a feast and good day, and many of the people of the land became Jews: for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.
9:1So in the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, upon 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 (but it turned contrary: for the Jews had rule over them that hated them)
9:2The Jews gathered themselves together into 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.
9:3And all the rulers of the provinces,and the princes and the captains,and the officers of the King exalted the Jews:for the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.
9:4For Mordecai was great in the kings house,and the report of him went through all the provinces:for this man Mordecai grew greater and greater.
9:5Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with stroke of the sword and slaughter,and destruction,and did what they would to those that hated them.
9:6And at Shushan the palace slew the Jews and destroyed five hundred men,
9:7And Parshandatha,and Dalphon,and Aspatha,
9:8And Poratha,and Adalia,and Aridatha,
9:9And Parmashta,and Arisai,and Aridai,and Vajezatha--,
9:10The ten sons of Haman, the son of Hammedatha, the adversary of the Jews slew they:but they laid not their hands on the spoil.
9:11On the same day came the number of those that were slain, to the palace of Shushan before the King.
9:12And the King said to the Queen Esther, The Jews have slain in Shushan the palace and destroyed five hundred men,and the ten sons of Haman:what have they done in the rest of the Kings provinces? And what is your petition,that it may be given you? Or what is your request moreover,that it may be performed?
9:13Then said Esther, If it please the King, let it be granted also tomorrow to the Jews that are in Shushan, to do according to this days decree,that they may hang upon the tree Haman's ten sons.
9:14And the King charged to do so,and the decree was given at Shushan,and they hanged Haman's ten sons.
9:15So the Jews that were in Shushan, assembled themselves upon the fourteenth day of the month Adar,and slew three hundred men in Shushan,but on the spoil they laid not their hand.
9:16And the rest of the Jews that were in the King's provinces assembled themselves, and stood for their nepheshes, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of them that hated them, seventy and five thousand: but they laid not their hand on the spoil.
9:17This they did on the thirteenth day of the month Adar, and rested the fourteenth day of it, and kept it a day of feasting and joy.
9:18But the Jews that were in Shushan assembled themselves on the thirteenth day, and on the fourteenth of it, and they rested on the fifteenth of the same, and kept it a day of feasting and joy.
9:19Therefore the Jews of the villages that dwelt in the unwalled towns, kept the fourteenth day of the month Adar with joy and feasting, even a joyful day,and every one sent presents to his neighbor.
9:20And Mordecai wrote these words,and sent letters to all the Jews that were through all the provinces of the King Ahasuerus, both near and far,
9:21Enjoining them that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar,and the fifteenth day of the same, every year.
9:22According to the days in which the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned to them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a joyful day, to keep them the days of feasting, and joy, and to send presents every man to his neighbor, and gifts to the poor.
9:23And the Jews promised to do as they had begun,and as Mordecai had written to them,
9:24Because Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite all the Jews adversary, had imagined against the Jews, to destroy them,and had cast Pur (that is a lot) to consume and destroy them.
9:25And when she came before the King, he commanded by letters, Let this wicked devise (which he imagined against the Jews) turn upon his own head,and let them hang him and his sons on the tree.
9:26Therefore they called these days Purim, by the name of Pur,and because of all the words of this letter,and of that which they had seen besides this,and of that which had come to them.
9:27The Jews also ordained,and promised for them and for their seed,and for all that joined to them,that they would not fail to observe those two days every year, according to their writing,and according to their season,
9:28And that these days should be remembered,and kept throughout every generation and every family,and every province,and every city:even these days of Purim should not fail among the Jews,and the memorial of them should not perish from their seed.
9:29And Queen Esther the daughter of Abihail and Mordecai the Jew wrote with all authority (to confirm this letter of Purim the second time)
9:30And he sent letters to all the Jews to the hundred and seven and twenty provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,
9:31To confirm these days of Purim, according to their seasons, as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the Queen had appointed them,and as they had promised for their nepheshes and for their seed with fasting and prayer.
9:32And the decree of Esther confirmed these words of Purim,and was written in the book.
Chapter 10
10:1And the King Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land,and upon the isles of the sea.
10:2And all the acts of his power,and of his might,and the declaration of the dignity of Mordecai, which the King magnified him, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia?
10:3For Mordecai the Jew was the second to King Ahasuerus,and great among the Jews,and accepted among the multitude of his brethren, who procured the wealth of his people,and spoke peaceably to all his seed.