
{1}1{/}

Ver [Es_11,1-11] y 
[Es_12,1-6]{/}

{I}1_{/}In the days of 
Ahasuerus - the Aha- -
suerus whose empire 
stretched from India to 
Ethiopia and comprised 
one hundred twenty-seven 
provinces - {I}2_{/}when 
he occupied the royal 
throne in the citadel of 
Susa, {I}3_{/}in the 
third year of his reign, 
he gave a banquet for all 
his officers and 
ministers, the Persian 
and Median aristocracy, 
chiefs of the army, the 
nobles and the governors 
of the provinces. 
{I}4_{/}For a hundred and 
eighty days, he displayed 
the riches and splendor 
of his empire and the 
wealth and pomp of his 
royal estate.
{I}5_{/}At the close of 
this period, the king 
gave a banquet lasting 
seven days at the palace 
garden for all the 
people, great and lowly, 
living in Susa. 
{I}6_{/}There were white 
cotton curtains and blue 
hangings fastened with 
cords of fine linen and 
purple to silver rings on 
marble pillars. On a 
mosaic pavement of 
porphyry, marble, mother-
of-pearl and colored 
stones were gold and 
silver couches. 
{I}7_{/}Drinks were 
served in a variety of 
golden goblets, and the 
royal wine flowed freely, 
in keeping with the 
king's generosity. 
{I}8_{/}By the king's 
order, each guest was 
allowed to drink as he 
pleased; all the stewards 
had been instructed to 
serve each guest 
according to his own 
wishes.
{I}9_{/}Queen Vashti also 
gave a banquet for the 
women in the royal palace 
of King Ahasuerus.
{I}10_{/}Merry with wine 
on the seventh day, the 
king ordered the seven 
eunuchs who served him as 
chamberlains - Mahuman, 
Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, 
Abagtha, Zethar, and 
Carkas - {I}11_{/}to 
bring into his presence 
Queen Vashti with her 
royal crown, for she was 
very lovely and he wished 
to display her beauty to 
the people and nobles. 
{I}12_{/}Queen Vashti, 
however, refused to come 
at the order of the king 
transmitted by the 
eunuchs; the king was 
very displeased and 
burned with rage.
{I}13_{/}As was his 
procedure, the king 
consulted experts in law 
and justice. {I}14_{/}He 
summoned the seven nobles 
of Persia and Media who 
were in his personal 
service and held first 
rank in the kingdom - 
Carshena, Shethar, 
Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, 
Marsena and Memucan. 
{I}15_{/}He asked them, 
"According to law, what 
is to be done with Queen 
Vashti for disobeying the 
king's order issued 
through the eunuchs?"
{I}16_{/}In the presence 
of the king and nobles, 
Memucan replied, "It is 
not the king alone that 
Queen Vashti has wronged 
but all the nobles and 
the whole populace in the 
provinces of King 
Ahasuerus. {I}17_{/}All 
the women will soon know 
what she did, and so they 
will despise their 
husbands and say: 'King 
Ahasuerus ordered his 
wife to be brought before 
him but she refused.' 
{I}18_{/}When the Persian 
and Median ladies hear of 
that, they will treat the 
royal officials in the 
same manner. So there 
will be no end to this 
kind of disrespect. 
{I}19_{/}If it pleases 
the king, therefore, let 
an irrevocable royal 
decree be issued and 
included among the laws 
of Persia and Media, that 
Vashti is never again to 
come into the presence of 
King Ahasuerus, and that 
the king is authorized to 
give her royal position 
to someone else more 
worthy than she. 
{I}20_{/}When this decree 
of the king is proclaimed 
throughout his vast 
kingdom, all wives will 
honor their husbands, 
from the least to the 
greatest."
{I}21_{/}This proposal 
pleased the king and his 
officials; so the king 
acted on Memucan's 
advice. {I}22_{/}He sent 
letters to all parts of 
the kingdom, to each 
province in its own 
script and to each people 
in their own language, 
declaring that every 
husband should be master 
in his own household.
{1}2{/}

{I}1_{/}Later when his 
anger had cooled, King 
Ahasuerus remembered 
Vashti's disobedience and 
his decree against her. 
{I}2_{/}The king's 
courtiers proposed, "Let 
beautiful young girls be 
chosen for the king. 
{I}3_{/}Let him appoint 
commissioners throughout 
the provinces of his 
realm to bring all the 
beautiful young virgins 
to the harem in Susa. Let 
them be put under the 
care of the royal eunuch 
Hegai, custodian of 
women, and let them be 
given ointments for 
beauty treatment. 
{I}4_{/}Then let the girl 
who pleases the king take 
Vashti's place." The king 
was pleased with the 
suggestion and he acted 
on it.
{I}5_{/}Now there lived 
in Susa a Jew named 
Mordecai, son of Jair, 
son of Shimei, son of 
Kish, a Benjaminite 
{I}6_{/}who had been 
exiled from Jerusalem 
among the captives taken 
away with King Jeconiah 
of Judah by the 
Babylonian King 
Nebuchadnezzar. 
{I}7_{/}Mordecai was 
foster father to his 
cousin Hadassah, that is 
Esther, who had lost both 
father and mother. The 
girl had a lovely face 
and figure. On the death 
of her parents, Mordecai 
had adopted her as his 
daughter.
{I}8_{/}In compliance 
with the king's edict, a 
great number of young 
girls were brought to 
Susa and entrusted to 
Hegai. Esther was among 
them. {I}9_{/}Esther 
pleased the custodian of 
women and won his favor. 
He not only promptly 
provided her with 
cosmetics and good food 
but assigned to her seven 
special maids from the 
king's household and 
transferred her and her 
maids into the best place 
in the harem.
{I}10_{/}Esther did not 
reveal her nationality or 
family, for Mordecai had 
forbidden her to do so. 
{I}11_{/}Each day 
Mordecai would walk up 
and down the courtyard of 
the harem to find out how 
Esther was faring.
{I}12_{/}After a 
preparation of twelve 
months decreed for the 
women, each of them had 
to appear in turn before 
King Ahasuerus. This 
preparatory period was 
for beautifying 
treatment: six months 
with oil of myrrh and six 
months with perfumes and 
cosmetics. {I}13_{/}Then 
when the girl was to 
present herself to the 
king, she was allowed to 
take with her from the 
harem to the king's 
palace anything she 
wanted. {I}14_{/}She 
would go there in the 
evening and return the 
following morning to 
another harem under the 
care of the royal eunuch 
Shaashgaz, custodian of 
the concubines. She would 
not go back to the king 
unless he was pleased 
with her and summoned her 
by name.
{I}15_{/}When the turn 
came for Esther - the 
daughter of Abihail whom 
Mordecai had adopted from 
his uncle - to go to the 
king, she asked for 
nothing beyond what the 
eunuch Hegai had given 
her; and yet she won the 
admiration of all who saw 
her. {I}16_{/}Esther was 
brought to King Ahasuerus 
in his palace in the 
tenth month called 
Tebeth, in the seventh 
year of his reign. 
{I}17_{/}The king liked 
Esther more than any of 
the other women. Having 
won his favor and 
approval more than any of 
the other virgins, she 
received the royal crown 
and was made queen in 
place of Vashti. 
{I}18_{/}The king then 
gave a great banquet in 
honor of Esther for all 
his officials and 
ministers; he proclaimed 
a holiday for all the 
provinces and distributed 
gifts with royal 
liberality.
{I}19_{/}When the virgins 
were assembled a second 
time, Mordecai was 
sitting at the king's 
gate. {I}20_{/}Up to this 
time Esther had not 
revealed her family 
background or 
nationality, in 
compliance with 
Mordecai's instructions. 
She followed his advice 
just as she had when she 
was being brought up by 
him. {I}21_{/}It was 
during the time that 
Mordecai spent at the 
king's gate, that 
Bagathan and Thares, two 
of the royal eunuchs who 
guarded the entrance, 
conspired to assassinate 
King Ahasuerus. 
{I}22_{/}Mordecai learned 
of the plot and informed 
Queen Esther, who in turn 
reported it to the king, 
giving credit to Mor-
decai. {I}23_{/}The 
matter was investigated, 
found to be true, and the 
two conspirators were 
hanged on the gallows. 
The incident was recorded 
in the Book of Chronicles 
in the presence of the 
king.
{1}3{/}

{I}1_{/}After these 
events, King Ahasuerus 
promoted Haman, son of 
Hammedatha the Agagite, 
to a rank higher than 
that of all the other 
officials. {I}2_{/}On 
orders of the king, all 
the royal officials at 
the king's gate would 
kneel and bow down to 
Haman. This Mordecai 
refused to do.
{I}3_{/}The royal 
officials at the king's 
gate asked Mordecai, "Why 
do you disobey the king's 
order?" {I}4_{/}They 
spoke to him day after 
day, but he refused to 
comply, explaining that 
he was a Jew. To find out 
if this explanation was 
acceptable, they reported 
the matter to Haman.
{I}5_{/}Haman was enraged 
when he saw that Mordecai 
would not kneel down or 
pay him honor. 
{I}6_{/}Having learned 
who Mordecai's people 
were, he thought it would 
not be enough to lay 
hands on him alone, but 
sought to destroy all the 
Jews throughout the 
kingdom of Ahasuerus.
{I}7_{/}In the first 
month, the month of 
Nisan, in the twelfth 
year of King Ahasuerus, 
the pur or lot was cast 
in Haman's presence to 
determine the day and the 
month for the destruction 
of Mordecai's people. The 
lot fell on the 
thirteenth day of the 
twelfth month, Adar.
{I}8_{/}Haman talked to 
King Ahasuerus, 
"Scattered throughout the 
provinces of your kingdom 
is a certain people, 
whose customs differ from 
those of other people. 
Since they do not obey 
our laws, it is not in 
the king's best interests 
to tolerate them. 
{I}9_{/}If it please the 
king, let a decree be 
issued to destroy them. I 
will deposit in the royal 
treasury ten thousand 
silver talents for the 
men who carry out the 
king's business."
{I}10{/}The king took the 
signet ring off his 
finger, handed it to 
Haman, son of Hammedatha 
the Agagite, enemy of the 
Jews, and said, 
{I}11_{/}"Keep the money, 
and do with these people 
as you please."
{I}12_{/}On the 
thirteenth day of the 
first month, the royal 
scribes were summoned. As 
Haman dictated, they 
wrote orders in the 
script of each province 
and in the language of 
each people to the king's 
satraps, the governors of 
every province, and the 
officials of every 
people. Written in the 
name of King Ahasuerus 
himself and sealed with 
his own ring, 
{I}13_{/}these dispatches 
were sent by couriers to 
all the royal provinces 
with the order to kill, 
destroy and wipe out all 
the Jews - young and old, 
women and children - on a 
single day, the 
thirteenth day of the 
twelfth month of Adar, 
and to plunder their 
goods.
{I}14_{/}A copy of the 
edict to be promulgated 
as law in every province 
was published for all the 
people to know so that 
they would be ready for 
that day. {I}15_{/}The 
couriers, spurred on by 
the king's command, set 
out in haste, and the 
edict was first 
promulgated in Susa. As 
the king and Haman sat 
down to drink, the city 
of Susa was in 
bewilderment.
Ver [Es_13,1-7]{/}

{1}4{/}

{I}1_{/}When Mordecai 
learned what  had 
happened, he tore his 
clothes, put on sackcloth 
and ashes, and walked 
through the city crying 
bitterly and loudly. 
{I}2_{/}But he came only 
as far as the king's 
gate, for no one in 
sackcloth was allowed to 
enter. {I}3_{/}In every 
province where the king's 
edict was read, there was 
great mourning among the 
Jews; fasting and weeping 
with lamentation, and 
many of them slept on 
sackcloth and ashes.
{I}4_{/}Queen Esther's 
maids and eunuchs 
informed her about 
Mordecai. Overcome with 
grief, she sent clothes 
for Mordecai to put on 
instead of his sackcloth, 
but he refused. 
{I}5_{/}Esther summoned 
Hathach, one of the 
king's eunuchs assigned 
to attend to her, and 
ordered him to find out 
the reason for Mordecai's 
action.
{I}6_{/}So Hathach went 
out to Mordecai in the 
public square in front of 
the king's gate. 
{I}7_{/}Mordecai told him 
all that had happened, as 
well as the exact amount 
of money Haman had 
promised to contribute to 
the royal treasury. 
{I}8_{/}He also gave 
Hathach a copy of the 
written decree for their 
destruction, to show and 
explain to Esther. He 
further told him to urge 
her to go to the king to 
beg for mercy and 
intercede for her people: 
"Remember the days of 
your lowly estate when 
you were brought up in my 
charge. Haman, who is 
next to the king, has 
asked for our death. Pray 
to the Lord and speak to 
the king for us. Save us 
from death."
{I}9_{/}Hathach returned 
to Esther and told her 
what Mordecai had said. 
{I}10_{/}In reply, Esther 
gave Hathach this message 
for Mordecai, 
{I}11_{/}"All the king's 
servants and the people 
of his provinces know 
that any man or woman who 
goes to the king in the 
inner court without being 
summoned suffers the 
death penalty, unless the 
king grants them their 
life by holding out to 
them his golden scepter. 
But I have not been 
called to go to the king 
for thirty days now."
{I}12_{/}When Mordecai 
received Esther's words, 
{I}13_{/}he sent back 
this answer, "Do not 
suppose that because you 
are in the king's palace, 
you alone of all the Jews 
will escape. {I}14_{/}If 
you remain silent now, 
relief and deliverance 
will come to the Jews 
from another source, but 
you and your father's 
family will perish. And 
who knows - perhaps you 
have come to the throne 
for just such a time as 
this."
{I}15_{/}Esther sent back 
her reply to Mordecai, 
{I}16_{/}"Go, gather all 
the Jews who are in Susa. 
Fast for me - all of you; 
do not eat or drink for 
three days, night or day. 
My maids and I will also 
fast. Then I will go to 
the king, even if it is 
against the law. If I die 
for this, let it be."
{I}17_{/}Mordecai went 
away and carried out 
Esther's instructions.
Ver [Es_13,8-18] y 
[Es_15,1-13]{/}

{1}5{/}

{I}3_{/}The king asked, 
"What is it,  Queen 
Esther? Tell me what you 
wish. Even if it is half 
of my kingdom, I will 
give it to you." 
{I}4_{/}Esther replied, 
"If it please your 
majesty, come with Haman 
to a banquet I have 
prepared today." 
{I}5_{/}The king gave the 
order: "Call Haman at 
once so that Esther may 
have her wish."
So the king and Haman 
went to the banquet 
prepared by Esther. 
{I}6_{/}During the 
drinking of wine, the 
king again said to 
Esther, "What is your 
petition? Speak up and it 
will be given. What is 
your request? Even half 
of my kingdom is yours 
for the asking."
{I}7_{/}Esther replied, 
"My petition and request 
is this: {I}8_{/}if I 
have found favor with 
your majesty, if it 
pleases you to grant my 
petition and request, 
come with Haman tomorrow 
to another banquet I will 
prepare. Then I will 
answer your question."
{I}9_{/}Haman left that 
day happy and in good 
spirits, but when he saw 
Mordecai at the royal 
gate neither rising nor 
showing signs of fear of 
him, he was filled with 
rage towards the man. 
{I}10_{/}He did not show 
it, however, but went 
home and summoned his 
friends and his wife 
Zeresh.
{I}11_{/}After boasting 
about his vast wealth, 
his many sons, and the 
promotion he received 
from the king placing him 
above the officials and 
royal servants, 
{I}12_{/}Haman added, 
"Besides, Queen Esther 
invited me alone to go 
with the king to the 
banquet she gave. And she 
has invited me again 
tomorrow together with 
the king. {I}13_{/}Yet 
none of this satisfies 
me, as long as I see the 
Jew Mordecai sitting at 
the king's gate."
{I}14_{/}His wife Zeresh 
and all his friends said, 
"Have a fifty-cubit 
gallows built. In the 
morning ask the king to 
have Mordecai hanged on 
it. Then go to the 
banquet merrily together 
with the king." Satisfied 
with the suggestion, 
Haman had the gallows 
erected.
HAMAN IS HUMILIATED 
BEFORE MORDECAI{/}

{1}6{/}

{I}1_{/}As he was 
sleepless that  night, 
the king asked for the 
Book of Chronicles and 
ordered that the record 
of his reign be read to 
him. {I}2_{/}He came 
across the passage 
wherein Mordecai exposed 
a plot to assassinate 
King Ahasuerus, the plot 
of two royal eunuchs 
guarding the gate, 
Bagathan and Teresh. 
{I}3_{/}The king asked, 
"What reward and honor 
did Mordecai receive for 
this?" The king's 
attendants answered, 
"None, your majesty."
{I}4_{/}Haman had entered 
the outer court, wanting 
to speak to the king 
about hanging Mordecai on 
the gallows he had 
erected. "Who is there in 
the court?" the king 
asked. {I}5_{/}So the 
king's attendants 
answered, "Haman is 
there, standing in the 
court." The king ordered, 
"Let him come in."
{I}6_{/}When Haman 
entered, the king asked 
him, "What should be done 
to the man the king 
wishes to honor?"
Haman thought to himself: 
whom would the king wish 
to honor but me? 
{I}7_{/}So he replied, 
"For the man the king 
wishes to honor, 
{I}8_{/}let royal robes 
be brought which the king 
has worn, and a horse, 
which the king has 
ridden, with a royal 
diadem on its head. 
{I}9_{/}The robes and the 
horse should be handed to 
one of the king's noblest 
officers who should array 
the man the king wishes 
to honor and lead him on 
horseback through the 
city street, proclaiming 
before him: 'This is what 
is done for the man the 
king is pleased to 
honor!'"
{I}10_{/}The king ordered 
Haman, "Hurry! Take the 
robes and the horse and 
do as you have said for 
the Jew Mordecai sitting 
at the royal gate. Do not 
leave out anything you 
have recommended."
{I}11_{/}So Haman took 
the robes and the horse, 
arrayed Mordecai and led 
him on horseback through 
the streets, proclaiming, 
"This is what is done for 
the man the king is 
pleased to honor!"
{I}12_{/}After this 
Mordecai returned to the 
king's gate, while Haman 
hurried home greatly 
dejected and with his 
head veiled. {I}13_{/}He 
told his wife and all his 
friends everything that 
had happened, and they 
said to him, "If 
Mordecai, who started 
your downfall, is of 
Jewish origin, you will 
not win against him. You 
will surely be ruined." 
{I}14_{/}While they were 
still talking, the king's 
eunuchs arrived and 
escorted Haman to the 
banquet Esther had 
prepared.
THE BANQUET{/}

{1}7{/}

{I}1_{/}So the king and 
Haman went to the banquet 
that Esther had prepared. 
{I}2_{/}And again, on 
that second day, while 
they were drinking wine, 
the king said to Esther 
"Whatever your petition 
is, Queen Esther, it 
shall be granted. 
Whatever request you make 
shall be fulfilled, even 
if it were half of my 
kingdom."
{I}3_{/}Queen Esther 
replied, "If I have found 
favor with you, O king, 
and if it pleases your 
majesty, grant me my 
life; and spare also the 
lives of my people. This 
is my petition and 
request for myself and 
for my people. 
{I}4_{/}For my people and 
I have been delivered to 
destruction, slaughter 
and extinction. Had we 
been sold merely as male 
and female slaves, I 
would have said nothing, 
for our calamity would 
not be as great a loss to 
the king."
{I}5_{/}King Ahasuerus 
asked Queen Esther, "Who 
and where is the man who 
dared do such a thing?" 
{I}6_{/}Esther answered, 
"He is no other than this 
wicked Haman - an enemy 
and a foe!"
At this, Haman was seized 
with terror. {I}7_{/}The 
king left the banquet in 
anger and went to the 
garden. Haman stayed to 
beg Queen Esther for his 
life, realizing that the 
king had decided on his 
doom.
{I}8_{/}When the king 
returned from the garden 
to the banquet hall, 
Haman had thrown himself 
on the bed where Esther 
was reclining. The king 
exclaimed, "Is he going 
to molest the queen even 
before my eyes in my own 
house?" No sooner had the 
king spoken than his 
assistants covered 
Haman's face. 
{I}9_{/}Harbona, one of 
the king's eunuchs, said, 
"This man built a fifty-
cubit gallows for 
Mordecai who gave the 
report that saved the 
king. It is standing 
there at his house."
The king said, "Very 
well, hang him on it." 
{I}10_{/}So Haman was 
hanged on the gallows he 
had prepared for 
Mordecai, and the king's 
anger subsided.
{1}8{/}


{I}1_{/}That same day 
King Ahasuerus gave Queen 
Esther the house of 
Haman, enemy of the Jews. 
Mordecai was admitted 
into the king's presence, 
for Esther had revealed 
how he was related to 
her. {I}2_{/}The king 
took off his signet ring, 
which he had recovered 
from Haman, and gave it 
to Mordecai, whom Esther 
appointed in charge of 
Haman's house.
{I}3_{/}Once more Esther 
had an opportunity of 
being heard by the king. 
Weeping and falling 
before him, she begged 
him to frustrate the evil 
plot of Haman the Agagite 
against the Jews. 
{I}4_{/}The king held out 
the golden scepter to 
her, and she rose and 
stood before him, saying,
{I}5_{/}"If it please 
your majesty, if I am 
pleasing to your eyes and 
have found favor with 
you, and if you think it 
proper to do so, let an 
order be issued revoking 
the letters which Haman, 
son of Hammedatha the 
Agagite, wrote to destroy 
the Jews in all the royal 
provinces. {I}6_{/}For 
how can I bear to see the 
destruction of my people, 
the extermination of my 
race?"
{I}7_{/}King Ahasuerus 
said to Queen Esther and 
to Mordecai the Jew, "I 
have given Haman's house 
to Esther and had Haman 
hanged on the gallows for 
plotting to destroy the 
Jews. {I}8_{/}Now you can 
write a decree as you 
please concerning the 
Jews, in the name of the 
king, and seal it with 
the royal signet ring; 
for any document written 
in the king's name and 
sealed with his ring 
cannot be revoked."
{I}9_{/}The royal scribes 
were summoned that very 
day, the twenty-third of 
the third month of Sivan, 
and as Mordecai dictated 
they wrote an order to 
the Jews, to the satraps, 
governors and officials 
of the one hundred 
twenty-seven provinces 
from India to Ethiopia, 
to each province in its 
own script, to each 
people in its own 
language, and to the Jews 
in their own script and 
language. {I}10_{/}These 
letters written in the 
name of King Ahasuerus 
and sealed with the royal 
signet ring were carried 
by couriers mounted on 
the king's thoroughbred 
steeds.
{I}11_{/}The king's edict 
granted the Jews in each 
city the right to 
assemble and defend 
themselves, to kill, 
destroy and wipe out any 
armed group of any nation 
or province that might 
attack them and their 
women and children, and 
to seize their goods as 
spoil. {I}12_{/}This 
edict took effect 
throughout the provinces 
of King Ahasuerus on the 
thirteenth day of the 
twelfth month, Adar. 
{I}13_{/}A copy of the 
text of the edict to be 
promulgated as law in 
every province was 
published among all the 
peoples so that the Jews 
might be prepared on the 
day stated to avenge 
themselves on their 
enemies.
{I}14_{/}Spurred on by 
the king's command, the 
couriers, mounted on the 
king's steeds, rode out 
in haste, and the edict 
was promulgated in the 
citadel of Susa.
{I}15_{/}In royal 
garments of blue and 
white, with a large 
golden crown and a cloak 
of purple and fine linen, 
Mordecai left the king's 
presence. There was a 
joyful celebration in the 
city of Susa. 
{I}16_{/}For the Jews it 
was a time of splendor 
and merriment, honor and 
triumph. 
{I}17_{/}Wherever the 
king's edict was read in 
every province and in 
each city, there was 
rejoicing and feasting 
among the Jews. Many 
people of other 
nationalities were seized 
with fear of the Jews, 
and they embraced 
Judaism.
Ver [Es_16,1-24]{/}

{1}9{/}

{I}1_{/}When the day came 
for the order of the king 
to be carried out - the 
thirteenth day of the 
twelfth month, Adar, on 
which the enemies of the 
Jews had expected to 
crush them - the reverse 
happened, for it was the 
Jews who got the upper 
hand over those who 
sought their harm. 
{I}2_{/}In their towns 
throughout the provinces 
of King Ahasuerus, the 
Jews gathered to strike 
at those who planned 
their destruction. But no 
one dared resist them, 
for they were feared by 
all the other nations. 
{I}3_{/}In fact, all the 
officials of the 
provinces, the satraps, 
governors and the king's 
administrators supported 
the Jews out of fear of 
Mordecai, {I}4_{/}who had 
become more and more 
powerful and prominent 
not only in the palace 
but throughout the 
provinces.
{I}5_{/}The Jews struck 
down their enemies, 
killing them by the 
sword, doing as they 
pleased to those who 
hated them. {I}6_{/}In 
Susa alone, they killed 
five hundred men. 
{I}7_{/}They also killed 
Parshandatha, Dalphon, 
Aspatha {I}8_{/}Porathai, 
Adalia, Aridatha, 
{I}9_{/}Parmashta, 
Arisai, Aridai, and 
Vaizatha, {I}10_{/}the 
ten sons of Haman, who 
was Hammedatha's son and 
enemy of the Jews. But 
they laid no hand on the 
spoils.
{I}11_{/}That same day 
the number of the slain 
in Susa was reported to 
the king, {I}12_{/}who in 
turn told Esther: "The 
Jews have killed five 
hundred men and the ten 
sons of Haman in Susa 
alone. Imagine what more 
they have done in the 
rest of my provinces! But 
you shall again be 
granted whatever you ask; 
whatever you request 
shall be fulfilled."
{I}13_{/}Esther replied, 
"If it pleases the king, 
let the Jews in Susa be 
permitted again tomorrow 
to carry out today's 
edict, and let Haman's 
ten sons be hanged on the 
gallows."
{I}14_{/}The king then 
ordered that this be 
done. The edict was 
issued in Susa, and the 
ten sons of Haman were 
hanged. {I}15_{/}On the 
fourteenth day of the 
month of Adar, the Jews 
in Susa gathered again 
and put to death three 
hundred men. But again 
they laid no hand on the 
spoils.
{I}16_{/}The other Jews 
in the king's provinces 
also assembled to protect 
themselves and rid 
themselves of their 
enemies. They killed 
seventy-five thousand of 
their foes, but did not 
lay hands on the spoils. 
{I}17_{/}This was on the 
thirteenth day of the 
month of Adar, and the 
Jews rested on the 
fourteenth, making it a 
day of feasting and 
rejoicing.
{I}18_{/}The Jews in 
Susa, however, assembled 
on the thirteenth and 
fourteenth and rested on 
the fifteenth, making 
this a day of feasting 
and rejoicing. 
{I}19_{/}That is why the 
rural Jews have a 
different day of rest and 
celebration: the 
fourteenth of the month 
of Adar on which they 
send presents to each 
other.
{I}20_{/}Mordecai 
recorded these events and 
sent letters to all the 
Jews throughout the 
provinces of King 
Ahasuerus, both near and 
far, {I}21_{/}directing 
them to celebrate 
annually the fourteenth 
and fifteenth of the 
month of Adar {I}22_{/}as 
the days when the Jews 
rid themselves of their 
enemies, and as the month 
when their sorrow was 
turned into joy and their 
mourning into feasting. 
They were to observe 
these as days of 
festivity and rejoicing, 
days for giving food 
presents to one another 
and gifts to the poor.
{I}23_{/}The Jews agreed 
to observe annually this 
celebration instituted on 
Mordecai's written order. 
{I}24_{/}For Haman, son 
of Hammedatha the 
Agagite, enemy of the 
Jews, had plotted to 
destroy them and had cast 
the pur or lot for their 
ruin. {I}25_{/}Yet 
through Esther's 
intervention, the king 
ordered in writing that 
the wicked plan against 
the Jews should instead 
be turned against Haman, 
whom he ordered to be 
hanged as well as his 
sons. {I}26_{/}These 
days, therefore, have 
been called Purim after 
the word pur. Because of 
this written order and of 
what they had seen and 
experienced, {I}27_{/}the 
Jews took upon 
themselves, their 
descendants and all who 
would join them, to 
celebrate these two days 
every year without fail, 
in the manner prescribed 
and at the time 
appointed. 
{I}28_{/}Commemorated and 
celebrated thus, in every 
family, province and 
city, through all 
generations, these days 
of Purim were never to 
fall into disuse among 
the Jews nor into 
oblivion among their 
descendants.
{I}29_{/}Queen Esther, 
daughter of Abihail, 
along with the Jew 
Mordecai, wrote with full 
authority to confirm this 
second letter concerning 
Purim. {I}30_{/}Letters 
were sent to all the Jews 
in the one hundred 
twenty-seven provinces of 
Ahasuerus' kingdom, in 
words conveying goodwill 
and assurance, 
{I}31_{/}enjoining them 
to observe these days of 
Purim at the designated 
time, as Mordecai the Jew 
and Queen Esther had 
decreed and just as the 
Jews had prescribed for 
themselves and their 
descendants, with respect 
to their duty of fasting 
and lamentation. 
{I}32_{/}Esther's decree 
fixed these practices of 
Purim, and it was 
recorded in the book.
{1}10{/}

{I}1_{/}King Ahasuerus 
levied tribute throughout 
the empire including the 
distant islands. 
{I}2_{/}All his acts of 
power and valor, together 
with a full account of 
the greatness of Mordecai 
who was raised by the 
king to high honor, are 
recorded in the 
chronicles of the kings 
of Media and Persia. 
{I}3_{/}The Jew Mordecai 
was second in rank to 
King Ahasuerus; he was 
great among the Jews and 
esteemed by many of his 
brothers as the harbinger 
of peace and welfare for 
all his people.
{1}11{/}

{I}1_{/}And Mordecai 
said, "This is God's 
work. {I}2_{/}I remember 
the dream I had about 
this, nothing of which 
has failed to be 
fulfilled - {I}3_{/}the 
little spring that became 
a river, the light, the 
sun and the flood of 
water. Esther is the 
river, whom the king 
married and made queen. 
{I}4_{/}Haman and I are 
the two dragons. 
{I}5_{/}Those who 
assembled to destroy the 
Jews are the nations. 
{I}6_{/}And my nation is 
Israel, my people, who 
cried to God and were 
saved. Yes, the Lord has 
saved his people and 
delivered us from all 
these evils. God has 
worked such signs and 
great wonders as have 
never occurred among the 
nations.
{I}7_{/}For this purpose, 
God prepared two 
destinies - one for his 
people and the other for 
all the nations. 
{I}8_{/}These two 
destinies were fulfilled 
at the moment, the hour 
and the day laid down by 
God among the nations. 
{I}9_{/}He remembered his 
people and rendered 
justice to his 
inheritance. 
{I}10_{/}Thus, gathering 
together with joy before 
God on the fourteenth and 
fifteenth of the month of 
Adar, Israel will 
celebrate these days from 
generation to generation.
{I}11_{/}In the fourth 
year of the reign of 
Ptolemy and Cleopatra, 
Dositheus, who affirmed 
he was a priest and a 
Levite, and his son 
Ptolemy brought to Egypt 
the foregoing letter 
concerning the Purim, 
maintaining that it was 
genuine and had been 
translated by Lysimachus, 
Ptolemy's son and a 
resident of Jerusalem.
MORDECAI'S DREAM{/}

{1}11{/}

{I}1_{/}On the first day 
of Nissan, in the second 
year of the reign of 
Ahasuerus the Great, a 
dream came to Mordecai, 
son of Jair, son of 
Shimei, son of Kish, of 
the tribe of Benjamin. 
{I}2_{/}Mordecai was a 
Jew residing at Susa who 
held a prominent position 
at the king's court. 
{I}3_{/}He was one of the 
captives whom 
Nebuchadnezzar, king of 
Babylon, had deported 
from Jerusalem with 
Jeconiah, king of Judah.
{I}4_{/}According to his 
dream, there were cries 
and tumult, thunder and 
earthquake and confusion 
upon the earth, 
{I}5_{/}as two great 
dragons came, both ready 
for combat. {I}6_{/}At 
the sound of their 
terrible roar every 
nation prepared to fight 
against the holy nation. 
{I}7_{/}On earth it was a 
day of darkness and 
gloom, tribulation and 
distress, affliction and 
great disturbance. 
{I}8_{/}The whole nation 
of the just was troubled 
because of the fear of 
evils awaiting them, and 
were ready to perish. 
{I}9_{/}But they cried 
out to God, and a little 
spring appeared, from 
which grew a great river 
with a flood of water. 
{I}10_{/}Light came as 
the sun rose, and the 
humble were raised up and 
they devoured the mighty.
{I}11_{/}In this dream 
Mordecai saw what God 
intended to do. On 
awakening he thought 
deeply about the matter 
and tried all day to 
understand its meaning.
{1}12{/}

{I}1_{/}In those days 
while Mordecai was 
resting at the king's 
gate together with 
Bigthan and Teresh, two 
of the king's eunuchs and 
palace guards, {I}2_{/}he 
was aware that they had 
become irritated and were 
plotting to kill King 
Ahasuerus. 
{I}3_{/}Mordecai 
investigated the matter, 
informed the king who had 
the two eunuchs 
questioned. They 
confessed and were put to 
death.
{I}4_{/}By order of the 
king, these events were 
recorded by Mordecai 
{I}5_{/}who was rewarded 
and appointed to an 
office in the court.
{I}6_{/}In revenge for 
the king's two eunuchs, 
Haman son of Hammedatha, 
the Agagite who enjoyed 
the king's favor, sought 
to harm Mordecai and his 
people.
{1}13{/}

{I}1_{/}The text of the 
letter was  as follows:
The Great King Ahasuerus 
to the rulers of the 
hundred and twenty-seven 
provinces from India to 
Ethiopia and to the 
governors under them:
{I}2_{/}As ruler of many 
nations and master of the 
whole world, I have 
resolved never to be 
carried away by the 
arrogance of power but 
always to rule with 
fairness and clemency, to 
provide for my subjects a 
life free of distress, 
and to restore the peace 
that all men desire by 
making my government 
humane and truly 
civilized as far as the 
borders of my kingdom.
{I}3_{/}When I consulted 
my advisers on how this 
might be accomplished, 
Haman, who excels among 
us in wisdom, who has 
earned distinction for 
trustworthiness and 
loyalty, and who has 
attained the second rank 
in the kingdom, 
{I}4_{/}brought to our 
attention the existence 
throughout my realm of a 
people of ill will, whose 
laws are opposed to those 
of every nation. Their 
continuous disregard of 
the decrees of kings 
hinders the establishment 
of unity in the empire.
{I}5_{/}Considering, 
therefore, the continuous 
opposition of this people 
to all humankind, its 
outlandish system of laws 
and strange manner of 
life, its hostility to 
our interests and the 
harm it does to the 
stability of our kingdom, 
{I}6_{/}we hereby decree 
that all the people 
indicated in the letters 
of Haman, who is in 
charge of affairs and a 
second father to us, be 
utterly destroyed with 
women and children, by 
the sword, without mercy 
or consideration, on the 
fourteenth day of the 
twelfth month, Adar, of 
the present year, 
{I}7_{/}so that when 
these people, with their 
past and present ill 
will, have gone down into 
the world of the dead on 
a single day, they may at 
last leave our government 
in complete stability and 
peace.
MORDECAI'S PRAYER{/}

{I}8_{/}Recalling all 
that the Lord  had done, 
he prayed to him and 
said:
{I}9_{/}Lord, King and 
Master of all, everything 
is under your power; no 
one can withstand you in 
your will to save Israel.
{I}10_{/}You made heaven 
and earth and all the 
marvels under heaven. 
{I}11_{/}You are the Lord 
of all, no one can resist 
you, Lord.
{I}12_{/}You know all 
things, O Lord; you know 
that no insolence, no 
vainglory or arrogance 
prompted me to act thus, 
to refuse to bow down 
before the proud Haman. 
{I}13_{/}Readily would I 
have kissed his feet for 
Israel's safety.
{I}14_{/}But what I did, 
I did so as not to place 
human glory above the 
glory of God. I will not 
bow down to anyone except 
to you, O Lord. My 
refusal has not been out 
of pride.
{I}15_{/}And now, Lord 
God, King, God of 
Abraham, deliver your 
people! Our enemies plot 
our ruin; they are bent 
upon destroying the 
inheritance that was 
yours from the beginning.
{I}16_{/}Do not forsake 
your own inheritance 
which you redeemed out of 
Egypt for yourself.
{I}17_{/}Hear my 
supplication, have mercy 
on your inheritance. Turn 
our mourning into 
rejoicing, that we may 
live to sing praise to 
your name, O Lord. Do not 
silence the mouths of 
those who give you 
praise.
{I}18_{/}And Israel cried 
out with all their might, 
for they were faced with 
death.
THE PRAYER OF ESTHER{/}

{1}14{/}

{I}1_{/}Seized with 
anguish in her  fear of 
death, Queen Esther 
likewise had recourse to 
the Lord. {I}2_{/}Taking 
off her splendid robes, 
she put on garments of 
distress and mourning. In 
place of expensive 
perfumes, she covered her 
head with dirt and ashes. 
Humbling her body 
severely, she put aside 
all her festive 
adornments and left her 
hair disheveled. 
{I}3_{/}Then she prayed 
to the Lord God of 
Israel:
{I}4_{/}My Lord, you who 
stand alone, come to my 
help; I am alone and have 
no help but you. Through 
my own choice I am 
endangering my life.
{I}5_{/}As a child I was 
wont to hear from the 
people of the land of my 
forebears that you, O 
Lord, chose Israel from 
among all peoples, and 
our fathers from among 
their ancestors to be 
your lasting heritage; 
that you did for them, 
all that you have 
promised.
{I}6_{/}But we have 
sinned, and for this you 
have handed us over to 
our enemies; {I}7_{/}we 
have worshiped their 
gods, but you, O Lord, 
are just.
{I}8_{/}Dissatisfied with 
our bitter servitude, 
they made a pact with 
their idols {I}9_{/}to 
abolish what you have 
decreed, to blot out your 
heritage, {I}10_{/}to 
shut the mouths that give 
you praise, to quench the 
glory of your Temple and 
your altar and instead to 
let the pagans sing the 
praise of worthless 
idols, and idolize 
forever a king of flesh.
{I}11_{/}Do not give up 
your scepter, O Lord, to 
non-existent beings. 
Never let them gloat over 
our ruin, but turn their 
designs against 
themselves and make an 
example of our chief 
enemy.
{I}12_{/}Remember us, 
Lord; reveal yourself in 
the time of our calamity. 
Give me courage, King of 
gods and master of all 
power. {I}13_{/}Make my 
words persuasive when I 
face the lion; turn his 
heart against our enemy, 
that the latter and his 
like may be brought to 
their end.
{I}14_{/}Save us by your 
hand; help me who am 
alone and have none but 
you, O Lord.
{I}15_{/}You know 
everything; you know how 
I hate honor if from the 
impious, how I loathe the 
bed of the uncircumcised 
and of any foreigner.
{I}16_{/}You know I am 
here under constraint, 
that I loathe the diadem 
about my brow when I 
appear in public; as a 
filthy rag I loathe it 
and do not wear it in 
private.
{I}17_{/}Your handmaid 
has never eaten at 
Haman's table, nor has 
taken pleasure in royal 
banquets, nor drunk the 
wine offered to their 
gods.
{I}18_{/}Neither has your 
handmaid found pleasure 
from the day of her 
promotion till now except 
in you, Lord God of 
Abraham.
{I}19_{/}O God, more 
powerful than all, hear 
the voice of those in 
despair; save us from the 
evil man's power, and 
deliver me from my fear.
ESTHER APPEARS BEFORE THE 
KING{/}

{1}15{/}

{I}1_{/}Ending her prayer 
on  the third day, Esther 
took off her penitential 
garments and put on her 
royal attire. 
{I}2_{/}Radiant in 
appearance after invoking 
the all-seeing God and 
Savior, she took her two 
maids with her, 
{I}3_{/}and leaned gently 
on one of them for 
support, {I}4_{/}while 
the other followed 
carrying her train. 
{I}5_{/}Although her 
heart was frozen with 
fear, she looked radiant 
in her perfect beauty, 
her face depicting love 
and joy.
{I}6_{/}After passing 
through all the doors, 
she found herself face to 
face with the king seated 
on his throne, awe-
inspiring in the full 
array of his majesty, his 
robes all covered with 
gold and precious stones. 
{I}7_{/}As he looked up, 
his face flushed with 
majestic anger, the queen 
faltered, turned pale and 
leaned weakly upon the 
shoulder of the maid in 
front of her.
{I}8_{/}Then God changed 
the king's anger to 
gentleness. Alarmed, he 
sprang from his throne, 
took Esther in his arms 
until she had recovered 
and comforted her with 
soothing words. 
{I}9_{/}"What is it, 
Esther?" he said. "I am 
your brother. Take heart. 
{I}10_{/}You will not 
die, because our decree 
applies only to ordinary 
people. {I}11_{/}Come, 
speak to me." {I}12_{/}He 
raised the golden 
scepter, touched her neck 
with it, then embraced 
her saying, "Speak to 
me."
{I}13_{/}Esther spoke: 
"My lord, I saw you like 
an angel of God, and I 
trembled with fear before 
your majesty. 
{I}14_{/}For you are 
admirable, my Lord, and 
your appearance is 
awesome although you are 
full of kindness." 
{I}15_{/}But she fell 
fainting as she spoke. 
{I}16_{/}The king was 
deeply distressed, and 
his attendants tried to 
revive her.
{1}16{/}

{I}1_{/}The text of the 
letter read as follows: 
"The great King Ahasuerus 
to the satraps, governors 
and all our loyal 
subjects in the one 
hundred twenty-seven 
provinces stretching from 
India to Ethiopia: 
Greetings!
{I}2_{/}The more some men 
are honored through the 
generosity of their 
patrons, the prouder they 
become. {I}3_{/}Gloating 
in their power and 
incapable of 
responsibility, they seek 
to injure our subjects 
and even plot against 
their own benefactors. 
{I}4_{/}They drive out 
gratitude from the human 
heart. Carried away by 
the arrogant boasts of 
men who know nothing of 
goodness, they think they 
will escape the justice 
of the all-seeing God.
{I}5_{/}It often happens 
also that those in 
authority, through the 
influence of friends 
entrusted with the 
administration of public 
affairs, become partly 
responsible for the 
shedding of innocent 
blood and are involved in 
causing irremediable 
misfortune. {I}6_{/}Even 
well-intentioned rulers 
are led astray by the 
trickery of the corrupt.
{I}7_{/}These evil 
practices of past times, 
as attested by the 
records, have been 
carried over to the 
present in the crimes 
perpetrated by unworthy 
officials. {I}8_{/}For 
the future, however, we 
will strive to make our 
kingdom a realm of peace 
for all {I}9_{/}by 
starting now to adopt new 
policies and by treating 
with the utmost justice 
all matters that come to 
our attention.
{I}10_{/}To give an 
example, Haman, son of 
Hammedatha, a Macedonian 
who is alien to Persian 
blood and devoid of our 
kindness, was treated 
hospitably by us. 
{I}11_{/}Enjoying the 
goodwill that we have 
towards every nation, he 
was even proclaimed our 
"father," before whom, as 
second in rank to the 
king, everyone bowed 
down. {I}12_{/}But his 
arrogance turned his 
head, and he schemed to 
deprive us of our kingdom 
and our life. {I}13_{/}He 
plotted for the 
destruction of Mordecai, 
our savior and constant 
benefactor, of Esther, 
our blameless royal 
partner, and of their 
entire race. {I}14_{/}In 
that way he hoped to make 
us defenseless and 
facilitate the transfer 
of rule by the Persians 
to the Macedonians.
{I}15_{/}'We find, 
however, that the Jews 
consigned to extinction 
by this accursed man are 
not evildoers but are 
governed by the most just 
of laws. {I}16_{/}They 
are, in fact, children of 
the Most High, the great 
living God, who has made 
our kingdom prosperous 
for us and for our 
ancestors.
{I}17_{/}You will, 
therefore, do well to 
ignore the letter sent by 
Haman, son of Hammedatha, 
{I}18_{/}for the man 
himself, together with 
his entire family, has 
been hanged at the gate 
of Susa. Thus speedily 
has God, who rules over 
all, given him the 
punishment he deserved.
{I}19_{/}Post a copy of 
this letter in every 
public place, give the 
Jews freedom to live by 
their own laws, 
{I}20_{/}and come to 
their aid in time of 
trial against those who 
plan to attack them on 
the thirteenth day of the 
twelfth month, Adar. 
{I}21_{/}For God, who 
rules over all, has 
turned this day from one 
of destruction into one 
of joy for his chosen 
people.
{I}22_{/}You should, 
therefore, celebrate this 
memorable day among your 
designated feasts with 
all rejoicing, 
{I}23_{/}so that both now 
and hereafter it may be 
for us and the loyal 
Persians a celebration of 
salvation, and for those 
who plot against us a 
reminder of destruction.
{I}24_{/}Every city and 
country, without 
exception, that fails to 
observe this decree shall 
be ruthlessly destroyed 
with sword and fire. It 
will then be ever left 
untrodden not only by men 
but by the beasts and 
birds as well.

