¹⁷ And in every province and city, wherever the king’s command and decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast ^(A)and a holiday. Then many of the people of the land ^(B)became Jews, because ^(C)fear of the Jews fell upon them.

¹⁹ Therefore the Jews of the villages who dwelt in the unwalled towns celebrated the fourteenth day of the month of Adar ^(A)with gladness and feasting, ^(B)as a holiday, and for ^(C)sending presents to one another.

⁸ Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore ^[a]let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on ^(A)a feast day. Please give whatever comes to your hand to your servants and to your son David.’ ”

²⁵ No man shall be able to ^(A)stand ^[a]against you; the Lord your God will put the ^(B)dread of you and the fear of you upon all the land where you tread, just as He has said to you.

²⁰ “Thus says the Lord of hosts:

²³ “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘In those days ten men ^(C)from every language of the nations shall ^(D)grasp the ^[a]sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard ^(E)that God is with you.” ’ ”

²⁷ the Jews established and imposed it upon themselves and their descendants and all who would ^(A)join them, that without fail they should celebrate these two days every year, according to the written instructions and according to the prescribed time,

²² as the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of ^(A)sending presents to one another and gifts to the ^(B)poor.

² The Jews ^(A)gathered together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who ^(B)sought their harm. And no one could withstand them, ^(C)because fear of them fell upon all people.