2 * After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was adecreed against her. 2 Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king: 3 And 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 * Hege the king’s chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their bthings for purification be given them: 4 And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.

5 Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was cMordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, da Benjamite; 6 Who ehad been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with * Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. 7 And he * brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, fhis uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was * fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter. 8 So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens gwere gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. 9 And the maiden pleased him, and she hobtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her ithings for purification, with * such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king’s house: and * he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women. 10 kEsther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it. 11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, * to know how Esther did, and what should become of her. 12 * Now when every maid’s turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;) 13 Then thus came every 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. 14 In 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, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name. 15 Now when the turn of Esther, lthe 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 favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her. 16 * So 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. 17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and * favour * 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. 18 * Then the king mmade a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther’s feast; and he made a * release to the provinces, and ngave gifts, oaccording to the state of the king.

19 And when the virgins were gathered together pthe second time, then Mordecai sat qin the king’s gate. 20 rEsther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was sbrought up with him.

21 In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, * Bigthan and tTeresh, of those which kept * the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. 22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, uwho told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai’s name. 23 And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in xthe book of the chronicles before the king.

3 After these things did king Ahasuerus apromote Haman the son of Hammedatha the bAgagite, and aadvanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him. 2 And all the king’s servants, that were cin the king’s gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence. 3 Then the king’s servants, which were cin the king’s gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the dking’s commandment? 4 Now 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. 5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai ebowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman ffull of wrath. 6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed 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.

7 * In the first month, that is, the month gNisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast hPur, that is, ithe lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month kAdar. 8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and ltheir laws are mdiverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not * for the king’s profit to suffer them. 9 If it please the king, let it be written * that they may be destroyed: and I will * pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries. 10 And the king ntook his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the bAgagite, the Jews’ * enemy. 11 And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee. 12 oThen were the king’s * scribes called on the thirteenth day of the pfirst month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king’s qlieutenants, and to the rgovernors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of severy province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; tin the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king’s ring. 13 And the letters were sent uby posts into all the king’s provinces, vto destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, win one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month kAdar, and xto take the spoil of them for a prey. 14 yThe copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day. 15 uThe posts went out, being hastened by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but zthe city Shushan was perplexed.

4 * When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai arent his clothes, and put on bsackcloth with cashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; 2 And came even before the king’s gate: for none might enter into the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth. 3 And in every province, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and dfasting, and weeping, and wailing; and * many lay in bsackcloth and cashes. 4 So Esther’s maids and her * chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not. 5 Then called Esther for eHatach, one of the king’s chamberlains, * whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was. 6 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king’s gate. 7 And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of fthe sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. 8 Also he gave him gthe copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people. 9 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai. 10 Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai; 11 All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into hthe inner court, who is not called, ithere is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom kthe king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days. 12 And they told to Mordecai Esther’s words. 13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. 14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there * enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? 15 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, 16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are * present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink lthree days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and mif I perish, I perish. 17 So Mordecai * went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.