For this deed of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to show contempt for their husbands, when it is reported, 'King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she didn't come.'

Today, the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen's deed will tell all the king's princes. This will cause much contempt and wrath.

This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan:

and let the maiden who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti." The thing pleased the king, and he did so.

He brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter; for she had neither father nor mother. The maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.

Mordecai walked every day in front of the court of the women's house, to find out how Esther did, and what would become of her.

Esther had not yet made known her relatives nor her people, as Mordecai had commanded her; for Esther obeyed Mordecai, like she did when she was brought up by him.

So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

Esther said, "If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him."

All the princes of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and those who did the king's business helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai had fallen on them.

The Jews struck all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and with slaughter and destruction, and did what they wanted to those who hated them.