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.

⁸ So she wrote letters^(A) in Ahab’s name, placed his seal^(B) on them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city with him.

²² He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language,^(A) proclaiming that every man should be ruler over his own household, using his native tongue.

¹⁵ Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”^(A)

¹² So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”

The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”^(A)

⁸ Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”^(A)

²⁷ the Jews took it on themselves to establish the custom that they and their descendants and all who join them should without fail observe these two days every year, in the way prescribed and at the time appointed.

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)

² The king took off his signet ring,^(A) which he had reclaimed from Haman, and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed him over Haman’s estate.^(B)