6
For how can I bear
1to see the calamity that is coming to my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?"
7
Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, "Behold,
2I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows, because he intended to lay hands on the Jews.
8
But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king,
3and seal it with the king's ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's ring
4cannot be revoked."
9
5The king's scribes were summoned at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day. And an edict was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews, to
6the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces
7from India to Ethiopia, provinces,
8to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language.
10
9And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus
10and sealed it with the king's signet ring. Then he sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on
11swift horses that were used in the king's service, bred from the royal stud,
11
saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city
12to gather and defend their lives,
13to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included,
14and to plunder their goods,
12
15on one day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.
13
16A copy of what was written was to be issued as a decree in every province, being publicly displayed to all peoples, and the Jews were to be ready on that day to take vengeance on their enemies.
14
So the couriers, mounted on their
17swift horses that were used in the king's service, rode out hurriedly, urged by the king's command. And the decree was issued in Susa the citadel.
15
Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king
18in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown and
19a robe of fine linen and purple,
20and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.
16
The Jews had
21light and gladness and joy and honor.