Esther, 8

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.

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.

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.

4. The king held out the golden scepter to her, and she rose and stood before him, saying,

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.

6. For how can I bear to see the destruction of my people, the extermination of my race?"

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

12. This edict took effect throughout the provinces of King Ahasuerus on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, Adar.

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.

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.

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.

16. For the Jews it was a time of splendor and merriment, honor and triumph.

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.