1 That|strong="H3588" same|strong="H1931" day|strong="H3117" King|strong="H4428" Xerxes gave|strong="H5414" Queen|strong="H4436" Esther|strong="H0635" everything that|strong="H3588" belonged to|strong="H0935" Haman|strong="H2001", the|strong="H0853" enemy|strong="H6887" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0853" Jews|strong="H3064". Esther|strong="H0635" told|strong="H5046" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" that|strong="H3588" Mordecai|strong="H4782" was|strong="H1931" her|strong="H5046" cousin. Then|strong="H0853" Mordecai|strong="H4782" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" see|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428".
2 The|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" had|strong="H0834" gotten his|strong="H5414" ring|strong="H2885" back|strong="H1004" from|strong="H5493" Haman|strong="H2001". The|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" took|strong="H5493" the|strong="H0853" ring|strong="H2885" off|strong="H5921" his|strong="H5414" finger|strong="H2885" and|strong="H4428" gave|strong="H5414" it|strong="H7760" to|strong="H5921" Mordecai|strong="H4782". Then|strong="H0853" Esther|strong="H0635" put|strong="H5414" Mordecai|strong="H4782" in|strong="H5921" charge|strong="H5921" of|strong="H4428" everything|strong="H0834" that|strong="H0834" belonged to|strong="H5921" Haman|strong="H2001".
3 Then|strong="H1696" Esther|strong="H0635" spoke|strong="H1696" to|strong="H1696" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" again|strong="H3254". She|strong="H0834" fell|strong="H5307" at|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" king’s|strong="H4428" feet|strong="H7272" and|strong="H4428" began crying|strong="H1058". She|strong="H0834" begged the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" to|strong="H1696" cancel the|strong="H0853" evil|strong="H7451" plan|strong="H2803" of|strong="H4428" Haman|strong="H2001" the|strong="H0853" Agagite|strong="H0091". Haman|strong="H2001" had|strong="H0834" thought|strong="H2803" up|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" plan|strong="H2803" to|strong="H1696" hurt the|strong="H0853" Jews|strong="H3064".
4 Then|strong="H6965" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" held out|strong="H6440" the|strong="H0853" gold|strong="H2091" scepter|strong="H8275" to|strong="H6440" Esther|strong="H0635". Esther|strong="H0635" got|strong="H6965" up|strong="H6965" and|strong="H6965" stood|strong="H5975" in|strong="H4428" front|strong="H6440" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428".
5 Then|strong="H0853" she|strong="H0834" said|strong="H0559", “King|strong="H4428", if|strong="H0518" you|strong="H0834" like|strong="H0834" me|strong="H6440" and|strong="H1121" if|strong="H0518" it|strong="H0518" pleases|strong="H5869" you|strong="H0834", please do|strong="H0518" this|strong="H1697" for|strong="H5921" me|strong="H6440". Please do|strong="H0518" this|strong="H1697" if|strong="H0518" you|strong="H0834" think|strong="H5869" it|strong="H0518" is|strong="H0834" a|strong="H0518" good|strong="H2896" idea|strong="H1697". If|strong="H0518" the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" is|strong="H0834" happy|strong="H2896" with|strong="H5921" me|strong="H6440", please write|strong="H3789" a|strong="H0518" command|strong="H1697" that|strong="H0834" would|strong="H0559" stop the|strong="H3605" command|strong="H1697" Haman|strong="H2001" sent|strong="H7725" out|strong="H6440". Haman|strong="H2001" the|strong="H3605" Agagite|strong="H0091" thought|strong="H0559" of|strong="H1121" a|strong="H0518" plan|strong="H1697" to|strong="H0559" destroy|strong="H0006" the|strong="H3605" Jews|strong="H3064" in|strong="H5921" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" king’s|strong="H4428" provinces|strong="H4082", and|strong="H1121" he|strong="H0834" sent|strong="H7725" out|strong="H6440" commands|strong="H0559" for|strong="H5921" this|strong="H1697" to|strong="H0559" happen|strong="H4672".
6 I|strong="H0834" am begging the|strong="H0853" king because|strong="H3588" I|strong="H0834" could|strong="H3201" not|strong="H3201" bear to|strong="H3201" see|strong="H7200" these|strong="H5971" terrible|strong="H7451" things|strong="H0834" happen|strong="H4672" to|strong="H3201" my|strong="H7200" people|strong="H5971". I|strong="H0834" could|strong="H3201" not|strong="H3201" bear to|strong="H3201" see|strong="H7200" my|strong="H7200" family killed.”
7 King|strong="H4428" Xerxes answered|strong="H0559" Queen|strong="H4436" Esther|strong="H0635" and|strong="H3027" Mordecai|strong="H4782" the|strong="H0853" Jew|strong="H3064", “Because|strong="H5921" Haman|strong="H2001" was|strong="H0834" against|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" Jews|strong="H3064", I|strong="H0834" have|strong="H0834" given|strong="H5414" his|strong="H5414" property|strong="H0834" to|strong="H0559" Esther|strong="H0635". And|strong="H3027" my|strong="H5414" soldiers have|strong="H0834" hanged|strong="H8518" him|strong="H5414" on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" hanging|strong="H8518" post.
8 Now|strong="H3588" write|strong="H3789" another command|strong="H5921" by|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0834" authority|strong="H5921" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0834" king|strong="H4428". Write|strong="H3789" it|strong="H5921" to|strong="H7725" help the|strong="H0834" Jews|strong="H3064" in|strong="H5921" a|strong="H3588" way|strong="H5921" that|strong="H0834" seems|strong="H5869" best|strong="H2896" to|strong="H7725" you|strong="H0859". Then|strong="H0859" seal|strong="H2856" the|strong="H0834" order with|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0834" king’s|strong="H4428" special ring|strong="H2885". No|strong="H0369" official letter|strong="H3791" written|strong="H3789" by|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0834" authority|strong="H5921" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0834" king|strong="H4428" and|strong="H4428" sealed|strong="H2856" with|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0834" king’s|strong="H4428" ring|strong="H2885" can|strong="H0834" be|strong="H8034" canceled.”
9 Very|strong="H5704" quickly the|strong="H3605" king’s|strong="H4428" secretaries were|strong="H0834" called|strong="H7121". This|strong="H1931" was|strong="H0834" done|strong="H3605" on|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" 23rd day|strong="H2320" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" third|strong="H7992" month|strong="H2320", the|strong="H3605" month|strong="H2320" of|strong="H4428" Sivan|strong="H5510". They|strong="H0834" wrote|strong="H3789" out|strong="H0413" all|strong="H3605" of|strong="H4428" Mordecai’s|strong="H4782" commands|strong="H6680" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" Jews|strong="H3064", and|strong="H3967" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" satraps|strong="H0323", the|strong="H3605" governors|strong="H6346", and|strong="H3967" officials|strong="H8269" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" 127 provinces|strong="H4082". These|strong="H1931" provinces|strong="H4082" reached|strong="H5704" from|strong="H5704" India|strong="H1912" to|strong="H0413" Ethiopia|strong="H3568". The|strong="H3605" commands|strong="H6680" were|strong="H0834" written|strong="H3789" in|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" language|strong="H3956" of|strong="H4428" each|strong="H3605" province|strong="H4082" and|strong="H3967" translated into|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" language|strong="H3956" of|strong="H4428" each|strong="H3605" group of|strong="H4428" people|strong="H5971". The|strong="H3605" commands|strong="H6680" were|strong="H0834" written|strong="H3789" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" Jews|strong="H3064" in|strong="H0413" their|strong="H3605" own language|strong="H3956" and|strong="H3967" alphabet.
10 Mordecai|strong="H3789" wrote|strong="H3789" commands by|strong="H3027" the|strong="H7971" authority|strong="H3027" of|strong="H1121" King|strong="H4428" Xerxes. Then|strong="H7971" he|strong="H7971" sealed|strong="H2856" the|strong="H7971" letters|strong="H5612" with|strong="H3027" the|strong="H7971" king’s|strong="H4428" ring|strong="H2885" and|strong="H1121" sent|strong="H7971" them|strong="H7971" by|strong="H3027" messengers|strong="H7323" on|strong="H7392" horses|strong="H5483". The|strong="H7971" messengers|strong="H7323" rode|strong="H7392" fast horses|strong="H5483", which were|strong="H1121" raised especially for|strong="H3027" the|strong="H7971" king|strong="H4428".
11 The|strong="H3605" king’s|strong="H4428" commands in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" letters said this|strong="H0834": The|strong="H3605" Jews|strong="H3064" in|strong="H5921" every|strong="H3605" city|strong="H5892" have|strong="H0834" the|strong="H3605" right to|strong="H5921" gather|strong="H6950" together|strong="H5921" to|strong="H5921" protect themselves|strong="H5315". They|strong="H0834" have|strong="H0834" the|strong="H3605" right to|strong="H5921" ruin, kill|strong="H2026", and|strong="H4428" completely|strong="H3605" destroy|strong="H8045" any|strong="H3605" army|strong="H5971" from|strong="H5921" any|strong="H3605" group who|strong="H0834" might|strong="H0834" attack them|strong="H5414" and|strong="H4428" their|strong="H3605" women|strong="H0802" and|strong="H4428" children|strong="H2945". And|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" Jews|strong="H3064" have|strong="H0834" the|strong="H3605" right to|strong="H5921" take|strong="H0962" and|strong="H4428" destroy|strong="H8045" the|strong="H3605" property|strong="H0834" of|strong="H4428" their|strong="H3605" enemies.
12 The|strong="H3605" day|strong="H3117" set for|strong="H3117" the|strong="H3605" Jews to|strong="H3117" do|strong="H3605" this|strong="H1931" was|strong="H1931" the|strong="H3605" 13th day|strong="H3117" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" twelfth month|strong="H2320", the|strong="H3605" month|strong="H2320" of|strong="H4428" Adar|strong="H0143". They|strong="H3117" were|strong="H3117" permitted to|strong="H3117" do|strong="H3605" this|strong="H1931" in|strong="H4428" all|strong="H3605" King|strong="H4428" Xerxes’ provinces|strong="H4082".
13 A|strong="H1961" copy|strong="H6572" of|strong="H3117" the|strong="H3605" letter|strong="H3791" with|strong="H3117" the|strong="H3605" king’s command was|strong="H1961" to|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" sent|strong="H5414" out|strong="H3605". It|strong="H5414" became|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" law|strong="H1881" in|strong="H3117" every|strong="H3605" province|strong="H4082". They|strong="H3117" announced it|strong="H5414" to|strong="H1961" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" of|strong="H3117" every|strong="H3605" nation|strong="H5971" living in|strong="H3117" the|strong="H3605" kingdom. They|strong="H3117" did|strong="H3117" this|strong="H2088" so|strong="H1961" that|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" Jews|strong="H3064" would|strong="H3605" be|strong="H1961" ready for|strong="H3117" that|strong="H3605" special day|strong="H3117". They|strong="H3117" would|strong="H3605" be|strong="H1961" allowed|strong="H5414" to|strong="H1961" pay|strong="H5414" their|strong="H3605" enemies|strong="H0341" back.
14 The|strong="H5414" messengers|strong="H7323" hurried|strong="H1765" out|strong="H3318", riding|strong="H7392" on|strong="H7392" the|strong="H5414" king’s|strong="H4428" horses|strong="H7409". The|strong="H5414" king|strong="H4428" commanded them|strong="H5414" to|strong="H5414" hurry|strong="H0926". And|strong="H4428" the|strong="H5414" command|strong="H1697" was|strong="H4428" also|strong="H4428" put|strong="H5414" in|strong="H4428" the|strong="H5414" capital city of|strong="H4428" Susa|strong="H7800".
15 Mordecai|strong="H4782" left|strong="H3318" the|strong="H6440" king|strong="H4428". He|strong="H3318" was|strong="H4428" wearing special clothes|strong="H3830" from|strong="H3318" the|strong="H6440" king|strong="H4428". His|strong="H6440" clothes|strong="H3830" were|strong="H6440" blue|strong="H8504" and|strong="H4428" white|strong="H2353", and|strong="H4428" he|strong="H3318" had|strong="H4428" on|strong="H2091" a|strong="H3318" large|strong="H1419" gold|strong="H2091" crown|strong="H5850". He|strong="H3318" also|strong="H4428" had|strong="H4428" a|strong="H3318" purple|strong="H0713" robe|strong="H3830" made|strong="H8055" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H6440" best linen|strong="H0948". There was|strong="H4428" a|strong="H3318" special celebration in|strong="H4428" Susa|strong="H7800". The|strong="H6440" people were|strong="H6440" very|strong="H1419" happy|strong="H8055".
16 It|strong="H1961" was|strong="H1961" an|strong="H1961" especially happy|strong="H8057" day for|strong="H1961" the|strong="H1961" Jews|strong="H3064", a|strong="H1961" day of|strong="H8057" great joy|strong="H8057" and|strong="H8057" happiness|strong="H8057".
17 Wherever|strong="H0834" the|strong="H3605" king’s|strong="H4428" command|strong="H1697" went in|strong="H5921" every|strong="H3605" province|strong="H4082" and|strong="H0776" every|strong="H3605" city|strong="H5892", there|strong="H3605" was|strong="H0834" joy|strong="H8057" and|strong="H0776" gladness|strong="H8057" among|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" Jews|strong="H3064". They|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" having|strong="H3588" parties and|strong="H0776" celebrating. Many|strong="H7227" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" common|strong="H0776" people|strong="H5971" from|strong="H5921" other|strong="H3605" groups became|strong="H1697" Jews|strong="H3064". They|strong="H0834" did|strong="H0834" this|strong="H3588" because|strong="H3588" they|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" very|strong="H7227" afraid|strong="H6343" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" Jews|strong="H3064".