¹² Then on the thirteenth day of the first month the royal secretaries were summoned. They wrote out in the script of each province and in the language^(A) of each people all Haman’s orders to the king’s satraps, the governors of the various provinces and the nobles of the various peoples. These were written in the name of King Xerxes himself and sealed^(B) with his own ring. ¹³ Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews^(C)—young and old, women and children—on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar,^(D) and to plunder^(E) their goods. ¹⁴ A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so they would be ready for that day.^(F)

¹⁵ The couriers went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa.^(G) The king and Haman sat down to drink,^(H) but the city of Susa was bewildered.^(I)

Mordecai Persuades Esther to Help

4 When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes,^(J) put on sackcloth and ashes,^(K) and went out into the city, wailing^(L) loudly and bitterly. ² But he went only as far as the king’s gate,^(M) because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. ³ In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

⁸ Now write another decree^(A) in the king’s name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal^(B) it with the king’s signet ring^(C)—for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.”^(D)

⁹ At once the royal secretaries were summoned—on the twenty-third day of the third month, the month of Sivan. They wrote out all Mordecai’s orders to the Jews, and to the satraps, governors and nobles of the 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush.^[a](E) These orders were written in the script of each province and the language of each people and also to the Jews in their own script and language.^{(F) 10} Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes, sealed the dispatches with the king’s signet ring, and sent them by mounted couriers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king.

¹¹ The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill and annihilate the armed men of any nationality or province who might attack them and their women and children,^[b] and to plunder^(G) the property of their enemies. ¹² The day appointed for the Jews to do this in all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar.^{(H) 13} A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so that the Jews would be ready on that day^(I) to avenge themselves on their enemies.

¹⁴ The couriers, riding the royal horses, went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa.^(J)

The Triumph of the Jews

¹⁵ When Mordecai^(K) left the king’s presence, he was wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold^(L) and a purple robe of fine linen.^(M) And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration.^{(N) 16} For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy,^(O) gladness and honor.^{(P) 17} In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, there was joy^(Q) and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear^(R) of the Jews had seized them.^(S)