It fortuned in the days of Ahasuerus - which reigned from India unto Ethiopia, over a hundred and seven and twenty lands -

even in those days when the king Ahasuerus sat on his seat royal which was in Susa, the chief city,

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 when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were in the castle of Susa, both unto great and small, seven days long in the court of the garden by the king's palace:

where there hanged white, red and yellow cloths, fastened with cords of linen and scarlet in silver rings, upon pillars of Marble stone. The benches were of gold and silver made upon a pavement of green, white, yellow and black Marble.

And the drink was carried in vessels of gold, and there was ever change of vessel. And the king's wine was much according to the power of the king.

And the queen Vashti made a feast also for the women in the palace of Ahasuerus.

And on the seventh day, when the king was merry of the wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas - the seven chamberlains that did service in the presence of king Ahasuerus -

But the queen Vashti would not come at the king's word by his chamberlains. Then was the king very wroth, and his indignation kindled in 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,

and the next unto him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of the Persians and Medes, which saw the king's face, and sat above in the kingdom.

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:

And so shall the princesses in Persia and Media say likewise unto all the king's princes, when they hear of this deed of the queen, thus shall there arise dispitefulness and wrath enough.

And when this commandment of the king, which shall be made, is published throughout all his empire - which is great - all women shall hold their husbands in honor; both among great and small."

Then were there letters sent forth into all the king's lands, into every land according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should be lord in his own house. And this caused he to be spoken after the language of his people.

After these acts when the displeasure of king Ahasuerus was allayed, he thought upon Vashti: what she had done, and what was concluded concerning her.

and let the king appoint overseers in all the lands of his empire, that they may bring together all fair young virgins unto Susa the head city, to the women's building, under the hand of Hegei the king's chamberlain that keepeth the women; and let him give them their apparel.

And look which damsel pleaseth the king, let her be queen in Vashti's stead." This pleased the king, and he did so.

In the castle of Susa there was a Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, the son of Benjamin,

which was carried away from Jerusalem, when Jechoniah the king of Judah was led away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon carried away;

and he nourished Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and she was a fair and beautiful damsel. And when her father and mother died, Mordecai received her as his own daughter.

Now when the king's commandment and commission was published, and many damsels were brought together unto the castle of Susa under the hand of Hegei, Esther was taken also unto the king's house under the hand of Hegei the keeper of the women.

And the damsel pleased him, and she found grace in his sight. And he caused her ointment to be given her, and her gifts, and gave her seven comely damsels out of the king's house, and favored both her and her gentle women singularly in the house of the women.

And when the appointed time of every damsel came that she should come to the king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months in the decking of the women - for their decking must have so much time, namely six months with Balm and Myrrh, and six months with good spices; so were the women beautified -

then went there one damsel unto the king, and whatsoever she required, that must be given her to go with her out of the women's building unto the king's palace.

And when one came in the evening, the same went from him on the morrow into the second house of women, under the hand of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain which kept the concubines. And she must come in unto the king no more, except it pleased the king, and that he caused her to be called by name.

Now when the time came of Esther the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai, which had received her as his own daughter, that she should come to the king, she desired nothing but what Hegei the king's chamberlain the keeper of the women, said. And Esther found favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.

And Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus in to the house royal, in the tenth month, which is called Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

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 the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants - which feast was because of Esther - and let the lands be in quietness, and gave royal gifts.

And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai sat in the king's gate.

And as yet had not Esther showed her kindred and her people, according as Mordecai had bidden her: for Esther did after the word of Mordecai, like as when he was her tutor.

At the same time, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay their hands on the king Ahasuerus:

whereof Mordecai gat knowledge, and told it unto queen Esther, and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name.

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.

And all the king's servants that were in the gate, bowed their knees, and did reverenced unto Haman: for the king had so commanded. But Mordecai bowed not the knee, and worshiped him not.

Then the king's servants which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, "Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?"

And when they spake this daily unto him and he followed them not, they told Haman, that they might see whether Mordecai's matters would endure: for he had told them that he was a Jew.

And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not the knee unto him, nor worshipped him, he was full of indignation

and thought it too little to lay hands only on Mordecai: for they had showed him the nation of Mordecai. Wherefore, he sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole empire of Ahasuerus and were of the nation of Mordecai.

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 Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, "There is a people scattered abroad and dispersed among all people in all the lands of thine empire, and their law is contrary unto all people, and they do not after the king's laws, neither is it the king's profit to suffer them after this manner.

Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written, according as Haman commanded, unto the king's princes, and to the captains everywhere in the lands, and to the rulers of every people in the countries on every side, according to the writing of every nation, and after their language in the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed with the king's ring.

And the writings were sent by posts into all the king's lands, to root out, to kill, and to destroy all Jews, both young and old, children and women in one day, - namely upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar - and to spoil their goods.

This was the sum of the writing, that there should be a commandment given in all lands, to be published unto all people, that they should be ready against the same day.

And the posts went in all the haste according to the king's commandment. And in the castle of Susa was the commandment devised. And the king and Haman sat and drank. But the city Susa was disquieted.

When Mordecai perceived all that was done, he rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried loud and lamentably,

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

And in all lands and places, as far as the king's word and commandment extended, there was great lamentation among the Jews and many fasted, wept, mourned and lay in sackcloth and in ashes.

So Esther's damsels and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly astonished. And she sent raiment, that Mordecai should put them on and lay the sackcloth from him. But Mordecai would not take them.

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.

And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of silver that Haman had promised to weigh down in the king's chamber because of the Jews, for to destroy them.

And when Hathach came in, and told Esther the words of Mordecai,

"All the king's servants, and the people in the lands of the king know that whosoever cometh within the court unto the king, whether it be man or woman, which is not called, the commandment is that the same shall die immediately, except the king hold out the golden scepter unto him, that he may live. As for me, I have not been called to come in to the king now this thirty days."

And when Mordecai was certified of Esther's words,

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

'Go thou thy way then, and gather together all the Jews that are found at Susa, and fast ye for me, that ye eat not and drink not in three days, neither day nor night. I and my damsels will fast likewise, and so will I go in to the king contrary to the commandment: if I perish, I perish.'"

And on the third day put Esther on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's palace within, over against the king's house. And the king sat upon his royal seat in the king's palace over against the gate of the house.

And when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she found grace in his sight. And the king held out the golden scepter in his hand toward Esther. So Esther stepped forth, and touched the top of the scepter.

The king said, "Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said." Now when the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared,

the king said unto Esther, when he had drunken wine, "Esther what is thy petition? And it shall be given thee. And what requirest thou? Even the half of the empire, it shall be done."

if I have found grace in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to give me my petition, and to fulfill my request, then let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and so will I do tomorrow as the king hath said."

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.

Nevertheless he refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife,

But in all this am I not satisfied as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate."

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,

they happened on the place where it was written how Mordecai had told, that the king's two chamberlains which kept the thresholds sought to lay hands on king Ahasuerus.

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 the king's servants said unto him, "Behold, Haman standeth in the court." The king said, "Let him come in."

And when Haman came in, the king said unto him, "What shall be done unto the man, whom the king would fain bring unto worship?" But Haman thought in his heart, "Whom desireth the king to bring unto worship, more than me?"

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.'"

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 Mordecai came again to the king's gate, but Haman gat him home in all the haste, mourning bare-headed,

And when the king and Haman came to banquet that queen Esther had prepared,

the king said unto Esther on the second day, when he had drunken wine, "What is thy petition queen Esther, that it may be given thee? And what requirest thou? Yea, ask even half of the empire, and it shall be done."

Esther the queen answered and said: If I have found grace in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, then grant me my life at my desire and my people for my petition's sake:

The king Ahasuerus spake and said unto queen Esther, "Who is he? And where is he that dare presume in his mind to do such a thing after that manner?"

And the king arose from the banquet and from the wine in his displeasure and went in to the palace garden. And Haman stood up, and besought queen Esther for his life: for he saw that there was a mischeif prepared for him of the king already.

And when the king came again out of the palace garden into the parlor where they had eaten, Haman had laid him upon the bed that Esther sat upon. Then said the king, "Will he force the queen also? Beside me, in the house?" As soon as that word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.

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."

So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had made for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.

and said, "If it please the king, and if I have found grace in his sight, and if it be convenient for the king, and if it be accepted in his sight, then let it be written, that the letters of the device of Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, may be called again: which letters he wrote, to destroy the Jews in all the king's lands.

Write ye now therefore for the Jews, as it liketh you in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring." For the writings that were written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, durst no man disannul.

Then were the king's scribes called at the same time in the third month, that is the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day. And it was written, as Mordecai commanded, unto the Jews and to the princes, to the deputies and captains in the lands from India until Ethiopia, namely a hundred and seven and twenty lands, unto every one according to the writing thereof, unto every people after their speech, and to the Jews according to their writing and language.

And it was written in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed with the king's ring. And by posts that rode upon swift young Mules, sent he the writings,

wherein the king granted the Jews - in what cities soever they were - to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, and for to root out, to slay and to destroy all the power of the people and land that would trouble them, with children and women, and to spoil their goods

upon one day in all the lands of king Ahasuerus, namely upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.

The sum of the writing was, how there was a commandment given in all lands to be published unto all the people, that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

And the posts that rode upon the Mules made haste with all speed, according to the king's word: and the commandment was devised in the castle of Susa.

As for Mordecai, he went out from the king in royal apparel of yellow and white, and with a great crown of gold, being arrayed with a garment of linen and purple, and the city of Susa rejoiced and was glad:

And in all lands and cities, into what places soever the king's word and commandment reached, there was joy and mirth, prosperity and good days among the Jews: insomuch that many of the people in the land became of the Jews' belief: for the fear of the Jews came upon them.

In the twelfth month, that is the month Adar, upon the thirteenth day, which the king's word and commandment had appointed, that it should be done, even upon the same day that the enemies should have destroyed the Jews to have oppressed them, it turned contrary wise, even that the Jews should subdue their enemies.

Then gathered the Jews together in their cities within all the lands of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as would do them evil, and no man could withstand them: for the fear of them was come over all people.

And all the rulers in the lands, and princes and deputies, and officers of the king promoted the Jews: for the fear of Mordecai came upon them.

For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and the report of him was noised in all lands, how he increased and grew.

the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha the enemy of the Jews: but on his goods they laid no hands.

And the king said unto queen Esther, "The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men at the castle of Susa, and the ten sons of Haman: What shall they do in the other lands of the king? What is thy petition, that it may be given thee? And what requirest thou more to be done?"

And the Jews gathered themselves together at Susa, upon the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Susa, but on their goods they laid no hands.

As for the other Jews in the king's lands, they came together, and stood for their lives, and gat rest from their enemies: and slew of their enemies five and seventy thousand: howbeit, they laid no hands on their goods.

This was done on the thirteenth day of the month Adar, and on the fourteenth day of the same month rested they, which day they ordained to be a day of feasting and gladness.