25
In his crafty and deceitful way, he asked that Mordecai be put to death - Mordecai, who once saved my life and who has always supported me. He even asked for the death of Esther, our blameless queen, and in fact, the death of all the Jewish people.
26
His purpose was to leave us helpless and to allow the Macedonians to take over the Persian Empire.
27
Even though this wicked criminal plotted to wipe out the Jews, I find that they are not traitors at all but are governed by very just laws.
28
They worship the living God, the highest and greatest God, who has kept our empire in its excellent condition from the time of our ancestors until our own day. %0
29
"Therefore I advise you not to carry out the instructions issued in the letters sent out by Haman.
30
He is the person responsible for all of this, and he has been hanged, along with his entire family, at the gates of Susa. God, who governs all things, has given him the speedy punishment that he deserved. %0
31
"I order you to post copies of this decree in every public place. Permit the Jews to live by their own customs,
32
and give them support when they defend themselves against those who attack them on the day set for their destruction, the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month.
33
God, who governs all things, has turned that day of destruction into a day of celebration for his chosen people. %0
34
"Include this day among your national holidays and celebrate it as a festival.
35
Now and in the future it will remind us and all our allies of the way God watches over our nation, and those who plot against us will be reminded of God's threat of destruction. %0