Esther 3

1After these things, king Assuerus advanced Aman, the son of Amadathi, who was of the race of Agag: and he set his throne above all the princes that were with him.

1After these things hath the king Ahasuerus exalted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and lifteth him up, and setteth his throne above all the heads who <FI>are<Fi> with him,

2And all the king's servants, that were at the doors of the palace, bent their knees, and worshipped Aman: for so the emperor had commanded them, only Mardochai did not bend his knee, nor worship him.

2and all servants of the king, who <FI>are<Fi> in the gate of the king, are bowing and doing obeisance to Haman, for so hath the king commanded for him; and Mordecai doth not bow nor do obeisance.

3And the king's servants that were chief at the doors of the palace, said to him: Why dost thou alone not observe the king's commandment?

3And the servants of the king, who <FI>are<Fi> in the gate of the king, say to Mordecai, `Wherefore <FI>art<Fi> thou transgressing the command of the king?'

4And when they were saying this often, and he would not hearken to them, they told Aman, desirous to know whether he would continue in his resolution: for he had told them that he was a Jew.

4And it cometh to pass, in their speaking unto him, day by day, and he hath not hearkened unto them, that they declare <FI>it<Fi> to Haman, to see whether the words of Mordecai do stand, for he hath declared to them that he <FI>is<Fi> a Jew.

5Now when Aman had heard this, and had proved by experience that Mardochai did not bend his knee to him, nor worship him, he was exceeding angry.

5And Haman seeth that Mordecai is not bowing and doing obeisance to him, and Haman is full of fury,

6And he counted it nothing to lay his hands upon Mardochai alone: for he had heard that he was of the nation of the Jews, and he chose rather to destroy all the nation of the Jews that were in the kingdom of Assuerus.

6and it is contemptible in his eyes to put forth a hand on Mordecai by himself, for they have declared to him the people of Mordecai, and Haman seeketh to destroy all the Jews who <FI>are<Fi> in all the kingdom of Ahasuerus--the people of Mordecai.

7In the first month (which is called Nisan) in the twelfth year of the reign of Assuerus, the lot was cast into an urn, which in Hebrew is called Phur, before Aman, on what day and what month the nation of the Jews should be destroyed: and there came out the twelfth month, which is called Adar.

7In the first month--it <FI>is<Fi> the month of Nisan--in the twelfth year of the king Ahasuerus, hath one caused to fall Pur (that <FI>is<Fi> the lot) before Haman, from day to day, and from month to month, <FI>to<Fi> the twelfth, it <FI>is<Fi> the month of Adar.

8And Aman said to king Assuerus: There is a people scattered through all the provinces of thy kingdom, and separated one from another, that use new laws and ceremonies, and moreover despise the king's ordinances: and thou knowest very well that it is not expedient for thy kingdom that they should grow insolent by impunity.

8And Haman saith to the king Ahasuerus, `There is one people scattered and separated among the peoples, in all provinces of thy kingdom, and their laws <FI>are<Fi> diverse from all people, and the laws of the king they are not doing, and for the king it is not profitable to suffer them;

9If it please thee, decree that they may be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents to thy treasurers.

9if to the king <FI>it be<Fi> good, let it be written to destroy them, and ten thousand talents of silver I weigh into the hands of those doing the work, to bring <FI>it<Fi> in unto the treasuries of the king.'

10And the king took the ring that he used, from his own hand, and gave it to Aman, the son of Amadathi of the race of Agag, the enemy of the Jews.

10And the king turneth aside his signet from off his hand, and giveth it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, adversary of the Jews;

11And he said to him: As to the money which thou promisest, keep it for thyself: and as to the people, do with them as seemeth good to thee.

11and the king saith to Haman, `The silver is given to thee, and the people, to do with it as <FI>it is<Fi> good in thine eyes.'

12And the king's scribes were called in the first month Nisan, on the thirteenth day of the same mouth: and they wrote, as Aman had commanded, to all the king's lieutenants, and to the judges of the provinces, and of divers nations, as every nation could read, and hear according to their different languages, in the name of king Assuerus: and the letters, sealed with his ring,

12And scribes of the king are called, on the first month, on the thirteenth day of it, and it is written according to all that Haman hath commanded, unto lieutenants of the king, and unto the governors who <FI>are<Fi> over province and province, and unto the heads of people and people, province and province, according to its writing, and people and people according to its tongue, in the name of the king Ahasuerus it hath been written and sealed with the signet of the king,

13Were sent by the king's messengers to all provinces, to kill and destroy all the Jews, both young and old, little children, and women, in one day, that is, on the thirteenth of the twelfth month, which is called Adar, and to make a spoil of their goods.

13and letters to be sent by the hand of the runners unto all provinces of the king, to cut off, to slay, and to destroy all the Jews, from young even unto old, infant and women, on one day, on the thirteenth of the twelfth month--it <FI> is<Fi> the month of Adar--and their spoil to seize,

14And the contents of the letters were to this effect, that all provinces might know and be ready against that day.

14a copy of the writing to be made law in every province and province is revealed to all the peoples, to be ready for this day.

15The couriers that were sent made haste to fulfil the king's commandment. And immediately the edict was hung up in Susan, the king and Aman feasting together, and all the Jews that were in the city weeping.

15The runners have gone forth, hastened by the word of the king, and the law hath been given in Shushan the palace, and the king and Haman have sat down to drink, and the city Shushan is perplexed.