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.

5 Now it came to pass aon the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in bthe inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. 2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that cshe obtained favour in his sight: and dthe king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. 3 Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee eto the half of the kingdom. 4 And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him. 5 Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared. 6 fAnd the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, gWhat is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even eto the half of the kingdom it shall be performed. 7 Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is; 8 hIf I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and * to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said.

9 Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a iglad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, kthat he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless Haman lrefrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and * called for his friends, and mZeresh his wife. 11 And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and nthe multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had opromoted him, and how he had oadvanced him above the princes and servants of the king. 12 Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I pinvited unto her also with the king. 13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate. 14 Then said mZeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a * gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

6 On that night * could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring athe book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of * Bigthana and bTeresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the * door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. 3 And the king said, What chonour and cdignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him. 4 And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into dthe outward court of the king’s house, eto speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. 5 And the king’s servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in. 6 So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man * whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself? 7 And Haman answered the king, For the man * whom the king delighteth to honour, 8 * Let the royal apparel be brought * which the king useth to wear, and fthe horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: 9 And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most gnoble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and * bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour. 10 Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: * let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. 11 Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour. 12 And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hhasted to his house mourning, and ihaving his head covered. 13 And Haman told kZeresh his wife and all his friends levery thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him. 14 And while they were yet talking with him, came the king’s chamberlains, and mhasted to bring Haman unto nthe banquet that Esther had prepared.