Esther 3

1After 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.

1Later on, King Ahasuerus honored Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite. He promoted him and gave him a higher position than all the other officials.

2And 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.

2All the king’s officials at the palace gate bowed down and paid honor to Haman, because the king had ordered it. But Mordecai would not bow down or show him honor.

3Then the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king’s commandment?

3Then the palace officials at the gate asked Mordecai, 'Why are you disobeying the king’s command?'

4Now 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.

4Day after day they spoke to him, but he refused to listen. So they told Haman about it to see if Mordecai’s behavior would be allowed, since he had told them he was a Jew.

5And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not down, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.

5When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or honor him, he became furious.

6But 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.

6But he thought it was not enough to kill only Mordecai. Since they told him who Mordecai’s people were, Haman looked for a way to destroy all the Jews throughout the entire kingdom of Ahasuerus.

7In 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.

7In the first month (the month of Nisan), during the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus’s reign, they cast the 'Pur' (which means the lot) in Haman’s presence. They did this for every day and every month to pick a time, and the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.

8And 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.

8Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, 'There is a certain group of people scattered among the populations in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws are different from everyone else’s, and they don't obey the king’s laws. It is not in the king’s best interest to let them stay.'

9If 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.

9'If it pleases the king, let an order be written to destroy them. I will pay 375 tons of silver to the government officials to be put into the royal treasury.'

10And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy.

10So the king took off his signet ring and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.

11And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.

11The king told Haman, 'Keep the money, and do with these people whatever you think is best.'

12Then 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.

12On the thirteenth day of the first month, the king’s secretaries were called. They wrote out Haman’s orders to the king’s high officials, the governors of every province, and the leaders of every nation. These were written in the script of each province and the language of each people. The decree was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with his ring.

13And 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.

13Messengers were sent with these letters to all the king’s provinces. The order was to destroy, kill, and completely wipe out all the Jews—young and old, women and children—on a single day. This was to happen on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and their possessions were to be taken.

14A 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.

14A copy of the decree was to be issued as law in every province and made known to all the people, so they would be ready for that day.

15The 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.

15The messengers went out quickly by the king’s command, and the decree was also issued in the fortress of Shushan. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shushan was in a state of confusion.