in those days, - when King Ahasuerus was sitting on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shusan the palace;

And, the drinking, was according to the law, no one compelling, - for, so, had the king appointed unto every chief of his household, that every man, should do according to his pleasure.

On the seventh day, when merry was the heart of the king with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar and Carcas, the seven eunuchs who were waiting before King Ahasuerus, -

to bring in Vashti the queen, with the royal crown, - to show the peoples and the rulers her beauty, for, of pleasing appearance, was she.

But Queen Vashti refused to come in at the command of the king, which was given through the eunuchs, - and the king was exceeding wroth, and, his anger, burned within him.

Then said the king unto the wise men having knowledge of the times, - for, so, was the manner of the king before all having knowledge of law and judgment;

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.

A certain Jew, there was, in Shusan the palace, - whose, name, was Mordecai, son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a man of Benjamin;

And it came to pass, that he was bringing up Hadassah, the same, was Esther, his uncle's daughter, for she had neither father nor mother, - and, the maiden, was of beautiful form and pleasing appearance, and when her father and mother died, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.

So it came to pass, when the king's command and decree was heard, and there had been gathered together many maidens unto Shusan the palace, unto the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken into the house of the king, unto the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women;

and the maiden was pleasing in his eyes, and she received lovingkindness before him, and he hastened to give her, the things needed for her purification, and things apportioned her, and to give her, seven select maidens, out of the house of the king, - and he removed her and her maidens to the best place in the house of the women.

then, indeed, the maiden came in unto the king, - whatsoever she might mention, was given her, to go with her, out of the house of the women up to the house of the king:

But, when the turn came for Esther daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai - who had taken her as his own daughter - to go in unto the king, she requested nothing, save what Hegai the king's eunuch who kept the women might direct, - but so it was, that Esther obtained favour in the eyes of all who beheld her.

So then Esther was taken unto King Ahasuerus, into his royal house, in the tenth month, the same, was the month Tebeth, - in the seventh year of his reign.

Now, when virgins were gathered together second time, then, Mordecai, was sitting in the gate of the king.

Esther had not told of her kindred, nor her people, as, Mordecai, had laid charge upon her, - and, the command of Mordecai, Esther performed, like as when she was being brought up with him.

In those days, when, Mordecai, was sitting in the gate of the king, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the eunuchs of the king who guarded the threshold, were wroth, and sought to thrust a hand upon King Ahasuerus;

And, when the thing was searched into and found true , then were they two hanged upon the gallows, and it was written, in the book of the chronicles, before the king.

Wherefore art, thou, transgressing the command of the king? And it came to pass, when they had spoken unto him day by day, and he had not hearkened unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether the account of Mordecai would stand, for he had told them, that, he, was a Jew.

And, when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bend nor bow down unto him, then was Haman filled with wrath;

but, it was contemptible in his eyes, to thrust forth a hand on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai, - and Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout all the kingdom of Ahasuerus, the people of Mordecai.

In the first month - the same, was the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, was Pur cast - the same, is the Lot, before Haman, from day to day, and from month to month, - and the lot fell on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the same, is the month Adar.

Then were called the scribes of the king, in the first month, on the thirteenth day therein, and it was written according to all that Haman commanded unto the satraps of the king, and unto the pashas, who were over every province, and unto the rulers of every people, every province according to the writing thereof, and every people according to the tongue thereof, - in the name of King Ahasuerus, was it written, and sealed with the signet- ring of the king.

A copy of the writing, to be delivered as an edict throughout every province, was published to all the peoples, - that they should be ready against this day.

The runners, went forth, urged on by the word of the king, and, the edict, was given in Shusan the palace, - and, the king and Haman, sat down to drink, but, the city of Shusan, was perplexed.

And, throughout every province, whithersoever the word of the king and his edict came, was great mourning to the Jews, and fasting and weeping, and lamentation, - sackcloth and ashes, were spread out for many.

Then called Esther for Hathach, one of the eunuchs of the king whom he had stationed before her, and charged him, concerning Mordecai, - to get to know what this was, and why this was.

So Hathach went forth unto Mordecai, - in the broadway of the city, which was before the gate of the king.

And it came to pass, on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the house of the king, over against the house of the king, - and, the king, was sitting upon his royal seat, in the royal house, over against the opening of the house.

And it came to pass, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his eyes, - and the king held out to Esther, the golden sceptre which was in his hand, so Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.

Then went Haman forth on that day, joyful and of a merry heart, - but, when Haman saw Mordecai in the gate of the king, that he rose not up nor moved because of him, then was Haman filled with wrath against Mordecai.

And it was found written, how that Mordecai had told concerning Bigthana and Teresh, the two eunuchs of the king guarding the threshold, - who had sought to thrust forth a hand upon King Ahasuerus.

And Esther said, A man who is an adversary and enemy, this wicked Haman. And, Haman, was terrified, before the king and the queen.

Now, the king, arising in his wrath from the banquet of wine, and going into the palace garden, Haman, stood to make request for his life from Esther the queen, for he saw that ruin, was determined against him, by the king.

When, the king, returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine, Haman, was lying prostrate upon the couch whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he, even dare to force the queen, while I am in the house? No sooner had the word gone forth out of the mouth of the king, than, the face of Haman, they had covered.

So they hanged Haman on the gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai, - and, the wrath of the king, was appeased.

On that day, did King Ahasuerus give unto Esther the queen, the house of Haman, the adversary of the Jews, - and, Mordecai, came in before the king, for Esther had told, what he was to her.

Then were called the kings scribes at that time - in the third month, the same, is the month Siwan, on the twenty-third thereof, and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and unto the satraps and pashas and rulers of the provinces, which are from India even unto Ethiopia, a hundred and twenty-seven provinces, every province according to the writing thereof, and every people according to their tongue, - and unto the Jews, according to their writing, and according to their tongue;

A copy of the writing to be given, as an edict, throughout every province, was published to all the peoples, - and that the Jews be ready against that day, to avenge themselves on their enemies.

The runners that rode on the swift steeds used in the king's service, went forth, being urged forward and pressed on, by the word of the king, - and, the edict, was given in Shusan the palace.

And, Mordecai, went forth from the presence of the king, in royal apparel, of blue and white, with a large diadem of gold, and a mantle of fine linen and purple, - and, the city Shusan, was bright and joyful.

And, in the twelfth month, the same, is the month Adar, on the thirteenth day thereof, when the word of the king and his edict arrived to be put in execution, - on the day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, though it, was changed, so that the Jews themselves should have power over them who hated them,

since great was Mordecai, in the house of the king, and, his fame, was going forth throughout all the provinces, - for, the man Mordecai, went on waxing great.

And the king commanded it to be done so, and there was given an edict, in Shusan, - and, the ten sons of Haman, they hanged.

according to the days wherein the Jews found rest from their enemies, and the month which was turned for them, from sorrow to joy, and from mourning to a happy day, - that they should make them days of banqueting and rejoicing, and of sending portions, every one to his neighbour, and gifts, unto the needy.

And, the command of Esther, confirmed the story of these Purim, - and it was written in a book.

For, Mordecai the Jew, was next unto King Ahasuerus, and became great among the Jews, and accepted by the multitude of his brethren, - seeking happiness for his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.