17:008:001 On 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.
17:008:002 And 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.
17:008:003 And 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.
17:008:004 Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So
Esther arose, and stood before the king,
17:008:005 And said, If it please the king, and if I have favour 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 which are in all the king's
provinces:
17:008:006 For 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?
17:008:007 Then 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.
17:008:008 Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh 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.
17:008:009 Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third
month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth
day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai
commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the
deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto
Ethiopia, an 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.
17:008:010 And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with
the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and
riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:
17:008:011 Wherein the king granted the Jews which 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, both little ones
and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,
17:008:012 Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely,
upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the
month Adar.
17:008:013 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every
province was published unto all people, and that the Jews
should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their
enemies.
17:008:014 So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being
hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the
decree was given at Shushan the palace.
17:008:015 And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal
apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and
with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of
Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
17:008:016 The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.
17:008:017 And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the
king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and
gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of
the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.