Esther 8

1On 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.

1That same day, King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. Mordecai also came into the king’s presence, because Esther had explained how he was related to her.

2And 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.

2The king took off his signet ring, which he had recovered from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. Then Esther put Mordecai in charge of Haman’s estate.

3And 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.

3Esther spoke to the king again, falling at his feet and crying. She begged him to stop the evil plan of Haman the Agagite and the plot he had created against the Jews.

4Then the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre. So Esther arose, and stood before the king.

4The king held out his gold scepter toward Esther. So Esther got up and stood before the king.

5And 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:

5She said, 'If it pleases the king, and if I have found favor with him, and if he thinks it is right and is happy with me, let an order be written to cancel the letters sent by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite. He wrote those letters to destroy the Jews in all of the king's provinces.'

6for 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?

6'For how can I stand to see the disaster that will happen to my people? How can I stand to see the destruction of my family?'

7Then 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.

7King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, 'Look, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and he has been hanged on the gallows because he attacked the Jews.'

8Write 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.

8'Now you may write a new decree for the Jews in the king’s name, however you see fit, and seal it with the king’s signet ring. No document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can ever be canceled.'

9Then were the king’s scribes called at that time, in the third month, which is the month Sivan, on the three and twentiethday 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.

9The king’s scribes were called on the twenty-third day of the third month, which is the month of Sivan. They wrote out everything Mordecai commanded for the Jews, and for the high officials, governors, and nobles of the 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia. The letters were written to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, including the Jews in their own script and language.

10And he wrote in the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, riding on swift steeds that were used in the king’s service, bred of the stud:

10Mordecai wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed the letters with the king’s signet ring. He sent the letters by messengers on fast horses that were specially bred for the king’s service.

11wherein 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,

11The king’s decree gave the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect their lives. They were allowed to destroy, kill, and wipe out any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, including women and children, and to take their property.

12upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.

12The day set for this throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar.

13A 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.

13A copy of the decree was to be issued as law in every province and announced to all the people, so that the Jews would be ready on that day to take revenge on their enemies.

14So 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.

14The messengers, riding on the king’s fast horses, hurried out as the king commanded. The decree was also posted in the fortress of Shushan.

15And 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.

15Mordecai left the king's presence wearing royal clothes of blue and white, a large gold crown, and a purple robe made of fine linen. The city of Shushan shouted for joy.

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

16For the Jews, it was a time of light and happiness, joy and honor.

17And 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.

17In every province and every city where the king’s decree arrived, there was joy and celebration among the Jews, with feasting and holiday. Many people of other nationalities even became Jews because they were afraid of the Jews.