in the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and servants. And the mighty men of Persia and Media, the captains also, and rulers of his countries, were before him;

And the king spake to the wise men that had understanding in the ordinances of the land - for the king's matters must be handled before all such as have knowledge of the law and judgment,

Then said Memucan before the king and the princes, "The queen Vashti hath not only done evil against the king but also against all the princes and all the people in all the lands of king Ahasuerus:

for this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands before their eyes, and shall say, 'The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to come before him, but she would not.'

If it please the king, let there go a commandment from him, and let it be written according to the law of the Persians and Medians - and not to be transgressed - that Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus, and let the king give the kingdom unto another that is better than she.

And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's building, that he might know how Esther did, and what should become of her.

And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she found grace and mercy in his sight before all the virgins: and he set the queens crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

And when inquisition was made, it was found so. And they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the Chronicles before the king.

In the first month, that is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus they cast Pur - that is, a lot - before Haman, on what day and what month this should be done: and it went out the twelfth month, that is the month Adar.

and came before the king's gate: for there might no man enter within the king's gate, that had a sackcloth on.

Then Esther called Hathach, one of the king's chamberlains which stood before her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, that he might know what it were, and wherefore he did so.

So Hathach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate.

Mordecai bade say again unto Esther, "Think not to save thine own life, while thou art in the king's house before all Jews:

Then went Haman forth the same day joyful and merry in his mind. And when he saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up and kneeled before him, he was full of indignation at Mordecai.

The same night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the Chronicles and the stories: which when they were read before the king,

And the king said, "Who is in the court?" For Haman was gone into the court without before the king's house, that he might speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the tree, that he had prepared for him.

And let this raiment and horse be delivered under the hand of one of the king's princes, that he may array the man withal, whom the king would fain honour: and carry him upon the horse through the streets of the city, and cause it to be proclaimed before him, 'Thus shall it be done to every man, whom the king would fain honour.'"

The king said, "Make haste, and take, as thou hath said, the raiment and the horse: and do even so with Mordecai the Jew that sitteth before the king's gate; and let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken."

Then took Haman the raiment and the horse, and arrayed him, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, "Even thus shall it be done unto every man whom the king is disposed to honour!"

and told Zeresh his wife and all his friends, everything that had happened him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, "If it be Mordecai of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou canst do nothing unto him, but shalt fall before him."

Esther said, "The enemy and adversary is this wicked Haman." As for Haman, he was exceedingly afraid before the king and the queen.

And Harbona, one of the chamberlains that stood before the king, said, "Behold, there standeth a gallows in Haman's house fifty cubits high, which he had made for Mordecai, that spake good for the king." The king said, "Hang him thereon."

The same day did king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman, the Jews' enemy, unto queen Esther. And Mordecai came before the king: for Esther told how that he belonged unto her.

And Esther spake yet more before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him, that he would put away the wickedness of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had imagined against the Jews.

And the king held out the golden scepter unto Esther. Then rose Esther, and stood before the king,