* BOOK17 ESTHER
= CHAPTER 1 
# 1 NOW IT CAME TO PASS IN THE DAYS OF AHASUERUS, (THIS IS AHASUERUS WHICH
 REIGNED, FROM INDIA EVEN UNTO ETHIOPIA, OVER AN HUNDRED AND SEVEN AND TWENTY
 PROVINCES:)
# 2 THAT IN THOSE DAYS, WHEN THE KING AHASUERUS SAT ON THE THRONE OF HIS
 KINGDOM, WHICH WAS IN SHUSHAN THE PALACE,
# 3 IN THE THIRD YEAR OF HIS REIGN, HE MADE A FEAST UNTO ALL HIS PRINCES AND
 HIS SERVANTS; THE POWER OF PERSIA AND MEDIA, THE NOBLES AND PRINCES OF THE
 PROVINCES, BEING BEFORE HIM:
# 4 WHEN HE SHEWED THE RICHES OF HIS GLORIOUS KINGDOM AND THE HONOUR OF HIS
 EXCELLENT MAJESTY MANY DAYS, EVEN AN HUNDRED AND FOURSCORE DAYS.
# 5 AND WHEN THESE DAYS WERE EXPIRED, THE KING MADE A FEAST UNTO ALL THE
 PEOPLE THAT WERE PRESENT IN SHUSHAN THE PALACE, BOTH UNTO GREAT AND SMALL,
 SEVEN DAYS, IN THE COURT OF THE GARDEN OF THE KINGS PALACE;
# 6 WHERE WERE WHITE, GREEN, AND BLUE, HANGINGS, FASTENED WITH CORDS OF FINE
 LINEN AND PURPLE TO SILVER RINGS AND PILLARS OF MARBLE: THE BEDS WERE OF GOLD
 AND SILVER, UPON A PAVEMENT OF RED, AND BLUE, AND WHITE, AND BLACK, MARBLE.
# 7 AND THEY GAVE THEM DRINK IN VESSELS OF GOLD, (THE VESSELS BEING DIVERSE
 ONE FROM ANOTHER,) AND ROYAL WINE IN ABUNDANCE, ACCORDING TO THE STATE OF THE
 KING.
# 8 AND THE DRINKING WAS ACCORDING TO THE LAW; NONE DID COMPEL: FOR SO THE
 KING HAD APPOINTED TO ALL THE OFFICERS OF HIS HOUSE, THAT THEY SHOULD DO
 ACCORDING TO EVERY MANS PLEASURE.
# 9 ALSO VASHTI THE QUEEN MADE A FEAST FOR THE WOMEN IN THE ROYAL HOUSE WHICH
 BELONGED TO KING AHASUERUS.
# 10 ON THE SEVENTH DAY, WHEN THE HEART OF THE KING WAS MERRY WITH WINE, HE
 COMMANDED MEHUMAN, BIZTHA, HARBONA, BIGTHA, AND ABAGTHA, ZETHAR, AND CARCAS,
 THE SEVEN CHAMBERLAINS THAT SERVED IN THE PRESENCE OF AHASUERUS THE KING,
# 11 TO BRING VASHTI THE QUEEN BEFORE THE KING WITH THE CROWN ROYAL, TO SHEW
 THE PEOPLE AND THE PRINCES HER BEAUTY: FOR SHE WAS FAIR TO LOOK ON.
# 12 BUT THE QUEEN VASHTI REFUSED TO COME AT THE KINGS COMMANDMENT BY HIS
 CHAMBERLAINS: THEREFORE WAS THE KING VERY WROTH, AND HIS ANGER BURNED IN HIM.
# 13 THEN THE KING SAID TO THE WISE MEN, WHICH KNEW THE TIMES, (FOR SO WAS
 THE KINGS MANNER TOWARD ALL THAT KNEW LAW AND JUDGMENT:
# 14 AND THE NEXT UNTO HIM WAS CARSHENA, SHETHAR, ADMATHA, TARSHISH, MERES,
 MARSENA, AND MEMUCAN, THE SEVEN PRINCES OF PERSIA AND MEDIA, WHICH SAW THE
 KINGS FACE, AND WHICH SAT THE FIRST IN THE KINGDOM;)
# 15 WHAT SHALL WE DO UNTO THE QUEEN VASHTI ACCORDING TO LAW, BECAUSE SHE
 HATH NOT PERFORMED THE COMMANDMENT OF THE KING AHASUERUS BY THE CHAMBERLAINS?
# 16 AND MEMUCAN ANSWERED BEFORE THE KING AND THE PRINCES, VASHTI THE QUEEN
 HATH NOT DONE WRONG TO THE KING ONLY, BUT ALSO TO ALL THE PRINCES, AND TO ALL
 THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN ALL THE PROVINCES OF THE KING AHASUERUS.
# 17 FOR THIS DEED OF THE QUEEN SHALL COME ABROAD UNTO ALL WOMEN, SO THAT
 THEY SHALL DESPISE THEIR HUSBANDS IN THEIR EYES, WHEN IT SHALL BE REPORTED,
 THE KING AHASUERUS COMMANDED VASHTI THE QUEEN TO BE BROUGHT IN BEFORE HIM,
 BUT SHE CAME NOT.
# 18 LIKEWISE SHALL THE LADIES OF PERSIA AND MEDIA SAY THIS DAY UNTO ALL THE
 KINGS PRINCES, WHICH HAVE HEARD OF THE DEED OF THE QUEEN. THUS SHALL THERE
 ARISE TOO MUCH CONTEMPT AND WRATH.
# 19 IF IT PLEASE THE KING, LET THERE GO A ROYAL COMMANDMENT FROM HIM, AND
 LET IT BE WRITTEN AMONG THE LAWS OF THE PERSIANS AND THE MEDES, THAT IT BE
 NOT ALTERED, THAT VASHTI COME NO MORE BEFORE KING AHASUERUS; AND LET THE KING
 GIVE HER ROYAL ESTATE UNTO ANOTHER THAT IS BETTER THAN SHE.
# 20 AND WHEN THE KINGS DECREE WHICH HE SHALL MAKE SHALL BE PUBLISHED
 THROUGHOUT ALL HIS EMPIRE, (FOR IT IS GREAT,) ALL THE WIVES SHALL GIVE TO
 THEIR HUSBANDS HONOUR, BOTH TO GREAT AND SMALL.
# 21 AND THE SAYING PLEASED THE KING AND THE PRINCES; AND THE KING DID
 ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF MEMUCAN:
# 22 FOR HE SENT LETTERS INTO ALL THE KINGS PROVINCES, INTO EVERY PROVINCE
 ACCORDING TO THE WRITING THEREOF, AND TO EVERY PEOPLE AFTER THEIR LANGUAGE,
 THAT EVERY MAN SHOULD BEAR RULE IN HIS OWN HOUSE, AND THAT IT SHOULD BE
 PUBLISHED ACCORDING TO THE LANGUAGE OF EVERY PEOPLE.
= CHAPTER 2 
# 1 AFTER THESE THINGS, WHEN THE WRATH OF KING AHASUERUS WAS APPEASED, HE
 REMEMBERED VASHTI, AND WHAT SHE HAD DONE, AND WHAT WAS DECREED AGAINST HER.
# 2 THEN SAID THE KINGS 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 KINGS
 CHAMBERLAIN, KEEPER OF THE WOMEN; AND LET THEIR THINGS 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
 MORDECAI, THE SON OF JAIR, THE SON OF SHIMEI, THE SON OF KISH, A BENJAMITE;
# 6 WHO HAD 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, HIS UNCLES 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 KINGS COMMANDMENT AND HIS DECREE WAS HEARD,
 AND WHEN MANY MAIDENS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER UNTO SHUSHAN THE PALACE, TO THE
 CUSTODY OF HEGAI, THAT ESTHER WAS BROUGHT ALSO UNTO THE KINGS HOUSE, TO THE
 CUSTODY OF HEGAI, KEEPER OF THE WOMEN.
# 9 AND THE MAIDEN PLEASED HIM, AND SHE OBTAINED KINDNESS OF HIM; AND HE
 SPEEDILY GAVE HER HER THINGS FOR PURIFICATION, WITH SUCH THINGS AS BELONGED
 TO HER, AND SEVEN MAIDENS, WHICH WERE MEET TO BE GIVEN HER, OUT OF THE KINGS
 HOUSE: AND HE PREFERRED HER AND HER MAIDS UNTO THE BEST PLACE OF THE HOUSE OF
 THE WOMEN.
# 10 ESTHER 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 WOMENS HOUSE, TO
 KNOW HOW ESTHER DID, AND WHAT SHOULD BECOME OF HER.
# 12 NOW WHEN EVERY MAIDS 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 KINGS 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 KINGS 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, THE 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 KINGS 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 MADE A GREAT FEAST UNTO ALL HIS PRINCES AND HIS SERVANTS,
 EVEN ESTHERS FEAST; AND HE MADE A RELEASE TO THE PROVINCES, AND GAVE GIFTS,
 ACCORDING TO THE STATE OF THE KING.
# 19 AND WHEN THE VIRGINS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER THE SECOND TIME, THEN
 MORDECAI SAT IN THE KINGS GATE.
# 20 ESTHER 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
 BROUGHT UP WITH HIM.
# 21 IN THOSE DAYS, WHILE MORDECAI SAT IN THE KINGS GATE, TWO OF THE KINGS
 CHAMBERLAINS, BIGTHAN AND TERESH, OF THOSE WHICH KEPT THE DOOR, WERE WROTH,
 AND SOUGHT TO LAY HANDS ON THE KING AHASUERUS.
# 22 AND THE THING WAS KNOWN TO MORDECAI, WHO TOLD IT UNTO ESTHER THE QUEEN;
 AND ESTHER CERTIFIED THE KING THEREOF IN MORDECAIS 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 THE BOOK OF THE
 CHRONICLES BEFORE THE KING.
= CHAPTER 3 
# 1 AFTER THESE THINGS DID KING AHASUERUS PROMOTE HAMAN THE SON OF HAMMEDATHA
 THE AGAGITE, AND ADVANCED HIM, AND SET HIS SEAT ABOVE ALL THE PRINCES THAT
 WERE WITH HIM.
# 2 AND ALL THE KINGS SERVANTS, THAT WERE IN THE KINGS GATE, BOWED, AND
 REVERENCED HAMAN: FOR THE KING HAD SO COMMANDED CONCERNING HIM. BUT MORDECAI
 BOWED NOT, NOR DID HIM REVERENCE.
# 3 THEN THE KINGS SERVANTS, WHICH WERE IN THE KINGS GATE, SAID UNTO
 MORDECAI, WHY TRANSGRESSEST THOU THE KINGS 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 MORDECAIS MATTERS WOULD
 STAND: FOR HE HAD TOLD THEM THAT HE WAS A JEW.
# 5 AND WHEN HAMAN SAW THAT MORDECAI BOWED NOT, NOR DID HIM REVERENCE, THEN
 WAS HAMAN FULL 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 NISAN, IN THE TWELFTH YEAR OF KING
 AHASUERUS, THEY CAST PUR, THAT IS, THE LOT, BEFORE HAMAN FROM DAY TO DAY, AND
 FROM MONTH TO MONTH, TO THE TWELFTH MONTH, THAT IS, THE MONTH ADAR.
# 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 THEIR LAWS ARE DIVERSE FROM ALL PEOPLE; NEITHER KEEP THEY THE KINGS LAWS:
 THEREFORE IT IS NOT FOR THE KINGS 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 KINGS TREASURIES.
# 10 AND THE KING TOOK HIS RING FROM HIS HAND, AND GAVE IT UNTO HAMAN THE SON
 OF HAMMEDATHA THE AGAGITE, 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 THEN WERE THE KINGS SCRIBES CALLED ON THE THIRTEENTH DAY OF THE FIRST
 MONTH, AND THERE WAS WRITTEN ACCORDING TO ALL THAT HAMAN HAD COMMANDED UNTO
 THE KINGS LIEUTENANTS, AND TO THE GOVERNORS THAT WERE OVER EVERY PROVINCE,
 AND TO THE RULERS OF EVERY PEOPLE OF EVERY PROVINCE ACCORDING TO THE WRITING
 THEREOF, AND TO EVERY PEOPLE AFTER THEIR LANGUAGE; IN THE NAME OF KI
 AHASUERUS WAS IT WRITTEN, AND SEALED WITH THE KINGS RING.
# 13 AND THE LETTERS WERE SENT BY POSTS INTO ALL THE KINGS PROVINCES, TO
 DESTROY, TO KILL, AND TO CAUSE TO PERISH, ALL JEWS, BOTH YOUNG AND OLD,
 LITTLE CHILDREN AND WOMEN, IN ONE DAY, EVEN UPON THE THIRTEENTH DAY OF THE
 TWELFTH MONTH, WHICH IS THE MONTH ADAR, AND TO TAKE THE SPOIL OF THEM FOR A
 PREY.
# 14 THE 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 THE POSTS WENT OUT, BEING HASTENED BY THE KINGS COMMANDMENT, AND THE
 DECREE WAS GIVEN IN SHUSHAN THE PALACE. AND THE KING AND HAMAN SAT DOWN TO
 DRINK; BUT THE CITY SHUSHAN WAS PERPLEXED.
= CHAPTER 4 
# 1 WHEN MORDECAI PERCEIVED ALL THAT WAS DONE, MORDECAI RENT HIS CLOTHES, AND
 PUT ON SACKCLOTH WITH ASHES, AND WENT OUT INTO THE MIDST OF THE CITY, AND
 CRIED WITH A LOUD AND A BITTER CRY;
# 2 AND CAME EVEN BEFORE THE KINGS GATE: FOR NONE MIGHT ENTER INTO THE KINGS
 GATE CLOTHED WITH SACKCLOTH.
# 3 AND IN EVERY PROVINCE, WHITHERSOEVER THE KINGS COMMANDMENT AND HIS DECREE
 CAME, THERE WAS GREAT MOURNING AMONG THE JEWS, AND FASTING, AND WEEPING, AND
 WAILING; AND MANY LAY IN SACKCLOTH AND ASHES.
# 4 SO ESTHERS 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 HATACH, ONE OF THE KINGS 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 KINGS GATE.
# 7 AND MORDECAI TOLD HIM OF ALL THAT HAD HAPPENED UNTO HIM, AND OF THE SUM
 OF THE MONEY THAT HAMAN HAD PROMISED TO PAY TO THE KINGS TREASURIES FOR THE
 JEWS, TO DESTROY THEM.
# 8 ALSO HE GAVE HIM THE 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 KINGS SERVANTS, AND THE PEOPLE OF THE KINGS PROVINCES, DO KNOW,
 THAT WHOSOEVER, WHETHER MAN OR WOMEN, SHALL COME UNTO THE KING INTO THE INNER
 COURT, WHO IS NOT CALLED, THERE IS ONE LAW OF HIS TO PUT HIM TO DEATH, EXCEPT
 SUCH TO WHOM THE 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 ESTHERS WORDS.
# 13 THEN MORDECAI COMMANDED TO ANSWER ESTHER, THINK NOT WITH THYSELF THAT
 THOU SHALT ESCAPE IN THE KINGS 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 FATHERS 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 THREE 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 IF I PERISH, I PERISH.
# 17 SO MORDECAI WENT HIS WAY, AND DID ACCORDING TO ALL THAT ESTHER HAD
 COMMANDED HIM.
= CHAPTER 5 
# 1 NOW IT CAME TO PASS ON THE THIRD DAY, THAT ESTHER PUT ON HER ROYAL
 APPAREL, AND STOOD IN THE INNER COURT OF THE KINGS HOUSE, OVER AGAINST THE
 KINGS 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 SHE OBTAINED FAVOUR IN HIS SIGHT: AND THE 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 TO 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 AND THE KING SAID UNTO ESTHER AT THE BANQUET OF WINE, WHAT IS THY
 PETITION? AND IT SHALL BE GRANTED THEE: AND WHAT IS THY REQUEST? EVEN TO THE
 HALF OF THE KINGDOM IT SHALL BE PERFORMED.
# 7 THEN ANSWERED ESTHER, AND SAID, MY PETITION AND MY REQUEST IS;
# 8 IF 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 GLAD HEART: BUT WHEN
 HAMAN SAW MORDECAI IN THE KINGS GATE, THAT HE STOOD NOT UP, NOR MOVED FOR
 HIM, HE WAS FULL OF INDIGNATION AGAINST MORDECAI.
# 10 NEVERTHELESS HAMAN REFRAINED HIMSELF: AND WHEN HE CAME HOME, HE SENT AND
 CALLED FOR HIS FRIENDS, AND ZERESH HIS WIFE.
# 11 AND HAMAN TOLD THEM OF THE GLORY OF HIS RICHES, AND THE MULTITUDE OF HIS
 CHILDREN, AND ALL THE THINGS WHEREIN THE KING HAD PROMOTED HIM, AND HOW HE
 HAD ADVANCED 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 INVITED UNTO HER ALSO WITH THE KING.
# 13 YET ALL THIS AVAILETH ME NOTHING, SO LONG AS I SEE MORDECAI THE JEW
 SITTING AT THE KINGS GATE.
# 14 THEN SAID ZERESH 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.
= CHAPTER 6 
# 1 ON THAT NIGHT COULD NOT THE KING SLEEP, AND HE COMMANDED TO BRING THE 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 TERESH,
 TWO OF THE KINGS CHAMBERLAINS, THE KEEPERS OF THE DOOR, WHO SOUGHT TO LAY
 HAND ON THE KING AHASUERUS.
# 3 AND THE KING SAID, WHAT HONOUR AND DIGNITY HATH BEEN DONE TO MORDECAI FOR
 THIS? THEN SAID THE KINGS 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 THE
 OUTWARD COURT OF THE KINGS HOUSE, TO SPEAK UNTO THE KING TO HANG MORDECAI ON
 THE GALLOWS THAT HE HAD PREPARED FOR HIM.
# 5 AND THE KINGS 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 THE
 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
 KINGS MOST NOBLE 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 KINGS 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 KINGS GATE. BUT HAMAN HASTED TO HIS HOUSE
 MOURNING, AND HAVING HIS HEAD COVERED.
# 13 AND HAMAN TOLD ZERESH HIS WIFE AND ALL HIS FRIENDS EVERY 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 KINGS CHAMBERLAINS,
 AND HASTED TO BRING HAMAN UNTO THE BANQUET THAT ESTHER HAD PREPARED.
= CHAPTER 7 
# 1 SO THE KING AND HAMAN CAME TO BANQUET WITH ESTHER THE QUEEN.
# 2 AND THE KING SAID AGAIN UNTO ESTHER ON THE SECOND DAY AT THE BANQUET OF
 WINE, WHAT IS THY PETITION, QUEEN ESTHER? AND IT SHALL BE GRANTED THEE: AND
 WHAT IS THY REQUEST? AND IT SHALL BE PERFORMED, EVEN TO THE HALF OF THE
 KINGDOM.
# 3 THEN ESTHER THE QUEEN ANSWERED AND SAID, IF I HAVE FOUND FAVOUR IN THY
 SIGHT, O KING, AND IF IT PLEASE THE KING, LET MY LIFE BE GIVEN ME AT MY
 PETITION, AND MY PEOPLE AT MY REQUEST:
# 4 FOR WE ARE SOLD, I AND MY PEOPLE, TO BE DESTROYED, TO BE SLAIN, AND TO
 PERISH. BUT IF WE HAD BEEN SOLD FOR BONDMEN AND BONDWOMEN, I HAD HELD MY
 TONGUE, ALTHOUGH THE ENEMY COULD NOT COUNTERVAIL THE KINGS DAMAGE.
# 5 THEN THE KING AHASUERUS ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO ESTHER THE QUEEN, WHO IS
 HE, AND WHERE IS HE, THAT DURST PRESUME IN HIS HEART TO DO SO?
# 6 AND ESTHER SAID, THE ADVERSARY AND ENEMY IS THIS WICKED HAMAN. THEN HAMAN
 WAS AFRAID BEFORE THE KING AND THE QUEEN.
# 7 AND THE KING ARISING FROM THE BANQUET OF WINE IN HIS WRATH WENT INTO THE
 PALACE GARDEN: AND HAMAN STOOD UP TO MAKE REQUEST FOR HIS LIFE TO ESTHER THE
 QUEEN; FOR HE SAW THAT THERE WAS EVIL DETERMINED AGAINST HIM BY THE KING.
# 8 THEN THE KING RETURNED OUT OF THE PALACE GARDEN INTO THE PLACE OF THE
 BANQUET OF WINE; AND HAMAN WAS FALLEN UPON THE BED WHEREON ESTHER WAS. THEN
 SAID THE KING, WILL HE FORCE THE QUEEN ALSO BEFORE ME IN THE HOUSE? AS THE
 WORD WENT OUT OF KINGS MOUTH, THEY COVERED HAMANS FACE.
# 9 AND HARBONAH, ONE OF THE CHAMBERLAINS, SAID BEFORE THE KING, BEHOLD ALSO,
 THE GALLOWS FIFTY CUBITS HIGH, WHICH HAMAN HAD MADE FOR MORDECAI, WHO SPOKEN
 GOOD FOR THE KING, STANDETH IN THE HOUSE OF HAMAN. THEN THE KING SAID, HANG
 HIM THEREON.
# 10 SO THEY HANGED HAMAN ON THE GALLOWS THAT HE HAD PREPARED FOR MORDECAI.
 THEN WAS THE KINGS WRATH PACIFIED.
= CHAPTER 8 
# 1 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.
# 2 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.
# 3 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.
# 4 THEN THE KING HELD OUT THE GOLDEN SCEPTRE TOWARD ESTHER. SO ESTHER AROSE,
 AND STOOD BEFORE THE KING,
# 5 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 KINGS
 PROVINCES:
# 6 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?
# 7 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.
# 8 WRITE YE ALSO FOR THE JEWS, AS IT LIKETH YOU, IN THE KINGS NAME, AND SEAL
 IT WITH THE KINGS RING: FOR THE WRITING WHICH IS WRITTEN IN THE KINGS NAME,
 AND SEALED WITH THE KINGS RING, MAY NO MAN REVERSE.
# 9 THEN WERE THE KINGS 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 EVE
 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.
# 10 AND HE WROTE IN THE KING AHASUERUS NAME, AND SEALED IT WITH THE KINGS
 RING, AND SENT LETTERS BY POSTS ON HORSEBACK, AND RIDERS ON MULES, CAMELS,
 AND YOUNG DROMEDARIES:
# 11 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,
# 12 UPON ONE DAY IN ALL THE PROVINCES OF KING AHASUERUS, NAMELY, UPON THE
 THIRTEENTH DAY OF THE TWELFTH MONTH, WHICH IS THE MONTH ADAR.
# 13 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.
# 14 SO THE POSTS THAT RODE UPON MULES AND CAMELS WENT OUT, BEING HASTENED
 AND PRESSED ON BY THE KINGS COMMANDMENT. AND THE DECREE WAS GIVEN AT SHUSHAN
 THE PALACE.
# 15 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.
# 16 THE JEWS HAD LIGHT, AND GLADNESS, AND JOY, AND HONOUR.
# 17 AND IN EVERY PROVINCE, AND IN EVERY CITY, WHITHERSOEVER THE KINGS
 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.
= CHAPTER 9 
# 1 NOW IN THE TWELFTH MONTH, THAT IS, THE MONTH ADAR, ON THE THIRTEENTH DAY
 OF THE SAME, WHEN THE KINGS COMMANDMENT AND HIS DECREE DREW NEAR TO BE PUT IN
 EXECUTION, IN THE DAY THAT THE ENEMIES OF THE JEWS HOPED TO HAVE POWER OVER
 THEM, (THOUGH IT WAS TURNED TO THE CONTRARY, THAT THE JEWS HAD RULE OVER THEM
 THAT HATED THEM;)
# 2 THE JEWS GATHERED THEMSELVES TOGETHER IN THEIR CITIES THROUGHOUT ALL THE
 PROVINCES OF THE KING AHASUERUS, TO LAY HAND ON SUCH AS SOUGHT THEIR HURT:
 AND NO MAN COULD WITHSTAND THEM; FOR THE FEAR OF THEM FELL UPON ALL PEOPLE.
# 3 AND ALL THE RULERS OF THE PROVINCES, AND THE LIEUTENANTS, AND THE
 DEPUTIES, AND OFFICERS OF THE KING, HELPED THE JEWS; BECAUSE THE FEAR OF
 MORDECAI FELL UPON THEM.
# 4 FOR MORDECAI WAS GREAT IN THE KINGS HOUSE, AND HIS FAME WENT OUT
 THROUGHOUT ALL THE PROVINCES: FOR THIS MAN MORDECAI WAXED GREATER AND
 GREATER.
# 5 THUS THE JEWS SMOTE ALL THEIR ENEMIES WITH THE STROKE OF THE SWORD, AND
 SLAUGHTER, AND DESTRUCTION, AND DID WHAT THEY WOULD UNTO THOSE THAT HATED
 THEM.
# 6 AND IN SHUSHAN THE PALACE THE JEWS SLEW AND DESTROYED FIVE HUNDRED MEN.
# 7 AND PARSHANDATHA, AND DALPHON, AND ASPATHA,
# 8 AND PORATHA, AND ADALIA, AND ARIDATHA, IT
# 9 AND PARMASHTA, AND ARISAI, AND ARIDAI, AND VAJEZATHA,
# 10 THE TEN SONS OF HAMAN THE SON OF HAMMEDATHA, THE ENEMY OF THE JEWS, SLEW
 THEY; BUT ON THE SPOIL LAID THEY NOT THEIR HAND.
# 11 ON THAT DAY THE NUMBER OF THOSE THAT WERE SLAIN IN SHUSHAN THE PALACE
 WAS BROUGHT BEFORE THE KING.
# 12 AND THE KING SAID UNTO ESTHER THE QUEEN, THE JEWS HAVE SLAIN AND
 DESTROYED FIVE HUNDRED MEN IN SHUSHAN THE PALACE, AND THE TEN SONS OF HAMAN;
 WHAT HAVE THEY DONE IN THE REST OF THE KINGS PROVINCES? NOW WHAT IS THY
 PETITION? AND IT SHALL BE GRANTED THEE: OR WHAT IS THY REQUEST FURTHER? AND
 IT SHALL BE DONE.
# 13 THEN SAID ESTHER, IF IT PLEASE THE KING, LET IT BE GRANTED TO THE JEWS
 WHICH ARE IN SHUSHAN TO DO TO MORROW ALSO ACCORDING UNTO THIS DAYS DECREE,
 AND LET HAMANS TEN SONS BE HANGED UPON THE GALLOWS.
# 14 AND THE KING COMMANDED IT SO TO BE DONE: AND THE DECREE WAS GIVEN AT
 SHUSHAN; AND THEY HANGED HAMANS TEN SONS.
# 15 FOR THE JEWS THAT WERE IN SHUSHAN GATHERED THEMSELVES TOGETHER ON THE
 FOURTEENTH DAY ALSO OF THE MONTH ADAR, AND SLEW THREE HUNDRED MEN AT SHUSHAN;
 BUT ON THE PREY THEY LAID NOT THEIR HAND.
# 16 BUT THE OTHER JEWS THAT WERE IN THE KINGS PROVINCES GATHERED THEMSELVES
 TOGETHER, AND STOOD FOR THEIR LIVES, AND HAD REST FROM THEIR ENEMIES, AND
 SLEW OF THEIR FOES SEVENTY AND FIVE THOUSAND, BUT THEY LAID NOT THEIR HANDS
 ON THE PREY,
# 17 ON THE THIRTEENTH DAY OF THE MONTH ADAR; AND ON THE FOURTEENTH DAY OF
 THE SAME RESTED THEY, AND MADE IT A DAY OF FEASTING AND GLADNESS.
# 18 BUT THE JEWS THAT WERE AT SHUSHAN ASSEMBLED TOGETHER ON THE THIRTEENTH
 DAY THEREOF, AND ON THE FOURTEENTH THEREOF; AND ON THE FIFTEENTH DAY OF THE
 SAME THEY RESTED, AND MADE IT A DAY OF FEASTING AND GLADNESS.
# 19 THEREFORE THE JEWS OF THE VILLAGES, THAT DWELT IN THE UNWALLED TOWNS,
 MADE THE FOURTEENTH DAY OF THE MONTH ADAR A DAY OF GLADNESS AND FEASTING, AND
 A GOOD DAY, AND OF SENDING PORTIONS ONE TO ANOTHER.
# 20 AND MORDECAI WROTE THESE THINGS, AND SENT LETTERS UNTO ALL THE JEWS THAT
 WERE IN ALL THE PROVINCES OF THE KING AHASUERUS, BOTH NIGH AND FAR,
# 21 TO STABLISH THIS AMONG THEM, THAT THEY SHOULD KEEP THE FOURTEENTH DAY OF
 THE MONTH ADAR, AND THE FIFTEENTH DAY OF THE SAME, YEARLY,
# 22 AS THE DAYS WHEREIN THE JEWS RESTED FROM THEIR ENEMIES, AND THE MONTH
 WHICH WAS TURNED UNTO THEM FROM SORROW TO JOY, AND FROM MOURNING INTO A GOOD
 DAY: THAT THEY SHOULD MAKE THEM DAYS OF FEASTING AND JOY, AND OF SENDING
 PORTIONS ONE TO ANOTHER, AND GIFTS TO THE POOR.
# 23 AND THE JEWS UNDERTOOK TO DO AS THEY HAD BEGUN, AND AS MORDECAI HAD
 WRITTEN UNTO THEM;
# 24 BECAUSE HAMAN THE SON OF HAMMEDATHA, THE AGAGITE, THE ENEMY OF ALL THE
 JEWS, HAD DEVISED AGAINST THE JEWS TO DESTROY THEM, AND HAD CAST PUR, THAT
 IS, THE LOT, TO CONSUME THEM, AND TO DESTROY THEM;
# 25 BUT WHEN ESTHER CAME BEFORE THE KING, HE COMMANDED BY LETTERS THAT HIS
 WICKED DEVICE, WHICH HE DEVISED AGAINST THE JEWS, SHOULD RETURN UPON HIS OWN
 HEAD, AND THAT HE AND HIS SONS SHOULD BE HANGED ON THE GALLOWS.
# 26 WHEREFORE THEY CALLED THESE DAYS PURIM AFTER THE NAME OF PUR. THEREFORE
 FOR ALL THE WORDS OF THIS LETTER, AND OF THAT WHICH THEY HAD SEEN CONCERNING
 THIS MATTER, AND WHICH HAD COME UNTO THEM,
# 27 THE JEWS ORDAINED, AND TOOK UPON THEM, AND UPON THEIR SEED, AND UPON ALL
 SUCH AS JOINED THEMSELVES UNTO THEM, SO AS IT SHOULD NOT FAIL, THAT THEY
 WOULD KEEP THESE TWO DAYS ACCORDING TO THEIR WRITING, AND ACCORDING TO THEIR
 APPOINTED TIME EVERY YEAR;
# 28 AND THAT THESE DAYS SHOULD BE REMEMBERED AND KEPT THROUGHOUT EVERY
 GENERATION, EVERY FAMILY, EVERY PROVINCE, AND EVERY CITY; AND THAT THESE DAYS
 OF PURIM SHOULD NOT FAIL FROM AMONG THE JEWS, NOR THE MEMORIAL OF THEM PERISH
 FROM THEIR SEED.
# 29 THEN ESTHER THE QUEEN, THE DAUGHTER OF ABIHAIL, AND MORDECAI THE JEW,
 WROTE WITH ALL AUTHORITY, TO CONFIRM THIS SECOND LETTER OF PURIM.
# 30 AND HE SENT THE LETTERS UNTO ALL THE JEWS, TO THE HUNDRED TWENTY AND
 SEVEN PROVINCES OF THE KINGDOM OF AHASUERUS, WITH WORDS OF PEACE AND TRUTH,
# 31 TO CONFIRM THESE DAYS OF PURIM IN THEIR TIMES APPOINTED, ACCORDING AS
 MORDECAI THE JEW AND ESTHER THE QUEEN HAD ENJOINED THEM, AND AS THEY HAD
 DECREED FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR THEIR SEED, THE MATTERS OF THE FASTINGS AND
 THEIR CRY.
# 32 AND THE DECREE OF ESTHER CONFIRMED THESE MATTERS OF PURIM; AND IT WAS
 WRITTEN IN THE BOOK.
= CHAPTER 10 
# 1 AND THE KING AHASUERUS LAID A TRIBUTE UPON THE LAND, AND UPON THE ISLES OF
 THE SEA.
# 2 AND ALL THE ACTS OF HIS POWER AND OF HIS MIGHT, AND THE DECLARATION OF
 THE GREATNESS OF MORDECAI, WHEREUNTO THE KING ADVANCED HIM, ARE THEY NOT
 WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES OF THE KINGS OF MEDIA AND PERSIA?
# 3 FOR MORDECAI THE JEW WAS NEXT UNTO KING AHASUERUS, AND GREAT AMONG THE
 JEWS, AND ACCEPTED OF THE MULTITUDE OF HIS BRETHREN, SEEKING THE WEALTH OF
 HIS PEOPLE, AND SPEAKING PEACE TO ALL HIS SEED.
