¹³ Letters were sent ^(A)by couriers to all the king's provinces with instruction ^(B)to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, ^(C)in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, ^(D)and to plunder their goods.

^10 (A)the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, ^(B)the enemy of the Jews, ^(C)but they laid no hand on the plunder.

^6 (A)So couriers went throughout all Israel and Judah with letters from the king and his princes, as the king had commanded, saying, “O people of Israel, ^(B)return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that he may turn again to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of ^(C)the kings of Assyria.

^10 (A)And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus ^(B)and sealed it with the king's signet ring. Then he sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on ^(C)swift horses that were used in the king's service, bred from the royal stud, ¹¹ saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city ^(D)to gather and defend their lives, ^(E)to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included, ^(F)and to plunder their goods, ^12 (G)on one day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. ^13 (H)A copy of what was written was to be issued as a decree in every province, being publicly displayed to all peoples, and the Jews were to be ready on that day to take vengeance on their enemies. ¹⁴ So the couriers, mounted on their ^(I)swift horses that were used in the king's service, rode out hurriedly, urged by the king's command. And the decree was issued in Susa the citadel.

³ Now go and strike Amalek and ^(A)devote to destruction^[a] all that they have. Do not spare them, ^(B)but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”

¹³ For ^(A)judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.