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CHAP. III.

by the king. 10. Esther had not showed her peopiejkindred nor her people, as Mordecai nor her kindred: for Mordecai had had charged her: for Esther did the charged her that she should not show commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.

it. 11 And Mordecai walked every day 21 T In those days, (while Mordeca before the court of the women's house, sat in the king's gate,) two of the king's to know how Esther did, and what chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of should becoine of her. those which kept the door, were 12 ¶Now when every maid's turn was wroth, and sought to lay hand on the come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after king Anasuerus. that she had been twelve monthis, ac- 22 And the thing was known to Morcording to the manner of the women, decai, who told it uuto Esther the (for so were the days of their purifica-queen; and Esther certified the king tions accomplished, to wit, six months thereof in Mordecai's name. with oil of myrrh, and six months 23 And when inquisition was made of with sweet odours, and with other the matter, it was found out; therefore things for the purifying of the women,) they were both banged on a tree and 13 Then thus came every maiden un-fit was written in the book of the to the king; whatsoever she desired Chronicles before the king. was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's Aurus promoteHaman the son of FTER these things did king Aha

house.

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CHAP. III.

14 In the evening she went, and on Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanthe morrow she returned into the sec-ced him, and set his seat above all the ond house of the women, to the custo- princes that were with him. dy of Shaashgaz the king's chamber-2 And all the king's servants, that lain, which kept the concubines: she were in the king's gate, bowed, and came in unto the king no more, except reverenced Haman; for the king had the king delighted in her, and that she so commanded concerning hin: out was called by name. Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.

15 ¶ Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of 3 Then the king's servants, which Mordecai, (who had taken her for his were in the king's gate, said unto Mor daughter,)was come to go in unto the decai, Why transgressest thou the king, she required nothing but what king's commandment?

Hegai the king's chamberlain, the 4 Now it came to pass, when they keeper of the women, appointed: and spake daily unto him, and he hearken Esther obtained favour in the sight of ad 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.

ed not unto them, that they told Ha inan, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand; for he had told them that be icus a Jew.

5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. 17 And the king loved Esther above 6 And he thought scorn to lay hands all the women, and she obtained grace on Mordecai alone; for they had show and favour in his sight more than all ed him the people of Mordecai ; wherethe virgins; so that he set the royal fore Haman sought to destoy all the crown upon her head, and made ber Jews that were throughout the whole queen instead of Vasliti. kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the peo

18 Then the king made a great feast|ple of Mordecai. unto all his princes and his servants, 7 In the first month, that is, the month even Esther's feast; and he made a re- Nisan, in the twelfth year of king lease 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 king's gate.

Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, thë lot, before Haman, from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the monta Adar.

20 Esther had not yet showed her 8 T And Haman said unto king Alt

Alusuerus' decrce

ESTHER. against the Jews. suerus, There is a certain people scat-j 2 And came even before the king's tered abroad, and dispersed among the gate: for none might enter into the people in all the provinces in thy king- king's gate clothed with sackcloth. dom; and their laws are divers from all people; neither keep they the king's laws; therefore it is not for the Aing's profit to sufler them.

3 Aud in every province, whitherso ever the king's commanduient and hist decree came, there was great mourn ing among the Jews, and fasting, and 9 If it please the king, let it be writ-weeping, and wailing; and many lay ten that they may be destroyed; and I iu sackcloth and ashes.

will pay ten thousand talents of silver 4 1 So Esther's maids and her chamto the hands of those that have the|berlains came and told it her: Then charge of the business, to bring it into was the queen exceeamng.y grieved; the king's treasuries. and she sent raiment to ciothe Morde. cai, and to take away his sackclotu from him: but he received it not. 5 Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Morde cai, to know what it was, and why it

10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the sou of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.

And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it scemeth good to thee.

was.

12 Then were the king's scribes call- 6 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai ed on the thirteenth day of the first unto the street of the city, which was month, and there was written accord-before the king's gate.

ing to all that Haman had commanded 7 And Mordecai told him of all that unto the king's lieutenants, and to the had happened unto him, and of the governors that were over every prov-[suin of the money that Haman had ince, and to the rulers of every people promised to pay to the king's treasuries of every province, according to the for the Jews, to destroy them. writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.

8 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to show il 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, aud to make request before

13 And the letters were sent by posts to all the king's provinces, to destroy,to kill, and to cause to perish,all Jews, ooth young and old, little chil-him for her people. dren and women, in one day, even up- 9 And Hatachi came and told Esther on the thirtecuth day of the twelfth the words of Mordecai.

month, which is the month Adar, and 10 T Again Esther spake unto Ha to take the spoil of them for a prey. tach, and gave him commandinent 14 The copy of the writing for a com-unto Mordecai ;

mandment to be given in every prov 11 All the king's servants, and the ince was published unto all people, people of the king's provinces, do That they should be ready against that know, that whosoever, whether inan day. or woman, shall come unto the king 15 The posts went out,being hastened into the inner court, who is not called, by the king's commandment, and the there is one law of his to put him to decree was given in Shushan the pal-death, except such to whom the king ace. And the king and Hamau sat shall hold out the golden sceptre, that down to drink; but the city Shushan he may live: but I have not been callwas perplexed. ed to come in unto the king these thirty days.

WHE

CHAP. IV. HEN 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;

12 Aud they told to MordecaiEsther's words.

13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyseli that thou shalt escape in the king's Thouse, more than all the Jews.

Esther obtinneth

CHAP V, VI.

the gang's farmý. 14 For if thou altogether holdest thy[grant my petition and to perform my peace at this time, then shall there en request, let the king and Haman come largement and deliverance arise to the to the banquet that I shall prepare for Jews from another place; but thou them, and I will do to-niorrow as the nd thy father's house shall be destroy-king hath said.

rà; and who knoweth whether thou│| 9 ¶ Then went Haman forth that day art come to the kingdom for such a joyful and with a glad heart: but when time as this? Haman saw Mordecai in the king's 15 Then Esther bade them return gate, that he stood not up, por moved Mordecaithis answer ; for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.

16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast 0 Nevertheless Haman refrained ye for me, and neither eat nor drink himself: and when he came home, he three days, night or day: 1 also and sent and called for his friends, and my maidens will fast likewise; and so Zeresh his wife. will 1 go in unto the king,which is not according to the law and if I perish, 1 perish.

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

NOW

CHAP. V.

OW it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house and the king eat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.

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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.

5Theu 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

tood 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 nad 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 alf of the kingdom it shall be per formed.

7 Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is;

81 I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to

11 And Hamau told them of the glo ry of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things where in the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.

12 Haman said moreover, Yea, Es ther 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 sit ting at the king's 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 untu The banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

CHAP. VI.

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 king's chamberlains, 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 king' servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.

4 T And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Morde

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cai on the gallows that he had prepar-| ed for him.

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

6 So Hamau 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 ais 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 delight eth to honour,

8 Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the Lorse that the king rideth upon, and the crown-royal which is set upon his head:

Human is hengea.

CHAP VII.

10 the king and Hainan came te 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, queev Esther ? and it shall be granted thee. and what is thy request? and it shali be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.

3 Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in the 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 bond-women, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.

9 And let this apparel and horse be 5 Then the king Ahasuerus andelivered to the hand of one of theļswered and said unto Esther the queen, king's most noble princes, that they Who is he, and where is he, that durst may array the man withal whom the presume in his heart to do so? king delighteth to houour, and bring 6 And Esther said, The adversary him on horseback through the street and enemy is this wicked Hamau. of the city, and proclaimi before him, Then Hainan was afraid before the Thus shall it be done to the man king and the queen. whom the king delighteth to honour. 7 ¶ And the king arising from the 10 Then the king said to Haman, banquet of wine in his wrath, went Make haste, and take the apparel into the palace-garden: and Haman and the horse, as thou hast said, and stood up to make request for his life do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that to Esther the queen; for he saw that sitteth at the king's gate:let nothing there was evil determined against him fail of all that thou hast spoken. by the king.

11 Then took Haman the apparel and 8Then the king returned out of the the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and palace-garden into the place of the brought him on horseback through the banquet of wine; and Haman was street of the city, and prolaimed be-fallen upon the bed whereon Esther fore him, Thus shall it be done unto was. Then said the king, Will he the man whom the king delighteth to force the queen also before me in the honour.

12 ¶ And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.

bouse? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.

9 And Harbonab, one of the chamberlaine, said before the king, Behold 13 And Haman told Zeresh his wife also, the gallows fifty cubits high. and all his friends every thing that had which Haman had made for Morde befallen him. Then said his wise men cai, who had spoken good for the king and Zeresh his wife unto hum, Il' Mor|standeth in the house of Haman. decaibe of the seed of the Jews,before Then the king said,Hang him thereon whom thou hast begun to fall, thou 10 So they hanged Haman on the gal shalt not prevail against him,but shalt lows that he had prepared for MordeBurely fall before him. cai. Then was the king's wrath pac

14 And while they were yet talking|ified. with him, came the king's chamber

CHAP. VIII.

kins, and lasted to bring Haman unto ON N that day did the king Ahasuerus

the banquet that Esther had prepared.] give the house of Haman the

Mordecai advanced.
CHAP. IX. Hamond's letter reversed.
Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. [ring,and sent letters by posts on horse-
And Mordecai came before the king; back, and riders on mules, camels,
for Esther had told what he was unto and young dromedaries:

der.

man.

11 Wherein the king granted the Jews

2 And the king took off his ring, which were in every city to gather which he had taken from Hamau, and themselves together, and to stand for gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther their life, to destroy, to slay, and tó set Mordecai over the house of Ha- cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would as 3 And Esther spake yet again besault them, both little ones and wofore the king,and fell down at his feet, men, and to take the spoil of them for and besought him with tears to put a prey, away the mischief of Haman the Ag-12 Upon one day, in all the provinces agite, and his device that he had de- of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the vised against the Jews, thirteenth day of the twelfth month,

Then the king held out the golden which is the month Adar. sceptre toward Esther, So Esther] arose, and stood before the king,

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.

5 And said, If it please the king, and if I have found 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) 14 So the posts that rode upon mules by Haman the son of Hammedatua) and camels went out, being bastened the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy and pressed on bythe king's commandthe Jews which are in all the king's ment. And the decree was given at provinces: Shushan the palace.

6 For how can I endure to see the 15 T And Mordecai went out from evil that shall come unto my people? the presence of the king in royal apor how can I endure to see the destruc-|parel of blue and white, and with a tion of my kindred ? great crown of gold, and with a gar 7 Then the king Ahasuerus saidment of fine linen and purple; and unto Esther the queen, and to Morde-the city of Shushan rejoiced and was cai the Jew, Behold, I have given Es-glad.

ther the house of Haman,and him they 16 The Jews had light, and gladness, have hanged upon the gallows,because and joy, and honour. he laid his hand upon the Jews.

8 Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.

17 And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's 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. CHAP. IX.

OW

9 Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Suvall, or the three and Now in the twelfth month, that is twentieth day thereof; and it was the month Adar,on thirteenth written according to all that Modecai day of the same, when the king's comcommanded unto the Jews, and to the|mandment and his decree drew near lieutenants, and the deputiesand rulers to be put in execution, in the day that of the provinces which are from India the enemies of the Jews hoped to lave unto Ethiopia, a hundred twenty and power over them, (though it was turnseven provinces, unto every province ed to the contrary, that the Jews had according to the writing thereof, and rule over them that hated them,) unto every people after their language, 2 The Jews gathered themselves to and to the Jews according to their wri-gether in their cities, throughout all ting, and according to their language. the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, 10 And he wrote in the king Ahasue- to lay hand on such as sought their rus' name,and sealed it with the king's[hurt; and no man could withstand

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