Esther 2

1After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was pacified, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.

1Later, when King Ahasuerus was no longer angry, he thought about Vashti, what she had done, and the decree he had signed against her.

2Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:

2The king’s personal attendants suggested, 'Let us search for beautiful young women for the king.'

3and 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;

3'The king should appoint officials in every province of his empire to bring all these beautiful young women to the harem at the fortress of Shushan. Put them under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch in charge of the women, and give them their beauty treatments.'

4and let the maiden that pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.

4'Then let the young woman who pleases the king the most become queen instead of Vashti.' This advice sounded good to the king, and he followed it.

5There 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,

5At that time, there was a Jewish man in the fortress of Shushan named Mordecai. He was the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin.

6who 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.

6Mordecai had been taken away from Jerusalem as a captive by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, along with King Jeconiah of Judah and many others.

7And 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.

7Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, also known as Esther, whom he had raised because she had no father or mother. The girl had a beautiful figure and a lovely face. When her parents died, Mordecai took her in and raised her as his own daughter.

8So 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.

8When the king’s order and decree were announced, many young women were brought to the fortress of Shushan and put under the care of Hegai. Esther was also taken to the king’s palace and placed in the care of Hegai, the guardian of the women.

9And 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.

9Hegai liked Esther, and she won his favor. He immediately provided her with beauty treatments and special food. He also assigned seven choice female servants from the king’s palace to her and moved her and her servants to the best place in the harem.

10Esther had not made known her people nor her kindred; for Mordecai had charged her that she should not make it known.

10Esther did not tell anyone about her family or her background, because Mordecai had told her to keep it a secret.

11And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Esther did, and what would become of her.

11Every day Mordecai walked back and forth in front of the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was doing and what was happening to her.

12Now 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),

12Before a young woman could go to King Ahasuerus, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments as required by the law. This involved six months of treatment with oil of myrrh and six months with perfumes and other cosmetics.

13then 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.

13When it was time for a woman to go to the king, she was allowed to take anything she wanted with her from the harem to the king’s palace.

14In 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.

14She would go there in the evening, and the next morning she would return to a second harem. There she would be under the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch in charge of the concubines. She would not go back to the king again unless he was especially pleased with her and summoned her by name.

15Now 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.

15When it was Esther’s turn to go to the king (she was the daughter of Abihail and the cousin of Mordecai, who had adopted her), she followed the advice of Hegai, the king’s eunuch in charge of the women. She didn't ask for anything except what he suggested. And everyone who saw Esther admired her.

16So 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.

16Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus in his royal palace during the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

17And 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.

17The king loved Esther more than any of the other women. She won his favor and approval more than all the other young women, so he placed the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

18Then 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.

18The king gave a great banquet for all his nobles and officials in honor of Esther. He also declared a holiday for the provinces and gave out gifts with royal generosity.

19And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai was sitting in the king’s gate.

19When the young women were gathered together a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate.

20Esther 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.

20Esther still had not revealed her family background or her nationality, just as Mordecai had told her. She continued to follow Mordecai’s instructions just as she had when he was raising her.

21In 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.

21During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, who guarded the entrance, became angry. They began plotting to assassinate King Ahasuerus.

22And the thing became known to Mordecai, who showed it unto Esther the queen; and Esther told the king thereof in Mordecai’s name.

22Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther. Then Esther told the king, giving the credit to Mordecai.

23And 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.

23When the report was investigated and found to be true, the two men were hanged on a gallows. All of this was recorded in the book of the history of the king's reign.