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Esther 9
New King James Version
Esther 9
New King James Version
The Jews Destroy Their Tormentors
9 Now (A)in the twelfth month, that is, the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day, (B)the time came for the king’s command and his decree to be executed. On the day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, the opposite occurred, in that the Jews themselves (C)overpowered those who hated them. 2 The Jews (D)gathered together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who (E)sought their harm. And no one could withstand them, (F)because fear of them fell upon all people. 3 And all the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and all those doing the king’s work, helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. 4 For Mordecai was great in the king’s palace, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces; for this man Mordecai (G)became increasingly prominent. 5 Thus the Jews defeated all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, with slaughter and destruction, and did what they pleased with those who hated them.
6 And in (H)Shushan[a] the [b]citadel the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men. 7 Also Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, 8 Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, 9 Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vajezatha— 10 (I)the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews—they killed; (J)but they did not lay a hand on the [c]plunder.
11 On that day the number of those who were killed in [d]Shushan the [e]citadel [f]was brought to the king. 12 And the king said to Queen Esther, “The Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the citadel, and the ten sons of Haman. What have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? Now (K)what is your petition? It shall be granted to you. Or what is your further request? It shall be done.”
13 Then Esther said, “If it pleases the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Shushan to do again tomorrow (L)according to today’s decree, and let Haman’s ten sons (M)be hanged on the gallows.”
14 So the king commanded this to be done; the decree was issued in Shushan, and they hanged Haman’s ten sons.
15 And the Jews who were in [g]Shushan (N)gathered together again on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and killed three hundred men at Shushan; (O)but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.
16 The remainder of the Jews in the king’s provinces (P)gathered together and protected their lives, had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy-five thousand of their enemies; (Q)but they did not lay a hand on the plunder. 17 This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. And on the fourteenth of [h]the month they rested and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
The Feast of Purim
18 But the Jews who were at [i]Shushan assembled together (R)on the thirteenth day, as well as on the fourteenth; and on the fifteenth of [j]the month they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. 19 Therefore the Jews of the villages who dwelt in the unwalled towns celebrated the fourteenth day of the month of Adar (S)with gladness and feasting, (T)as a holiday, and for (U)sending presents to one another.
20 And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews, near and far, who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, 21 to establish among them that they should celebrate yearly the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar, 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 (V)sending presents to one another and gifts to the (W)poor. 23 So the Jews accepted the custom which they had begun, as Mordecai had written to them, 24 because Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, (X)had plotted against the Jews to annihilate them, and had cast Pur (that is, the lot), to consume them and destroy them; 25 but (Y)when [k]Esther came before the king, he commanded by letter that [l]this wicked plot which Haman had devised against the Jews should (Z)return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.
26 So they called these days Purim, after the name [m]Pur. Therefore, because of all the words of (AA)this letter, what they had seen concerning this matter, and what had happened to them, 27 the Jews established and imposed it upon themselves and their descendants and all who would (AB)join them, that without fail they should celebrate these two days every year, according to the written instructions and according to the prescribed time, 28 that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city, that these days of Purim should not fail to be observed among the Jews, and that the memory of them should not perish among their descendants.
29 Then Queen Esther, (AC)the daughter of Abihail, with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this (AD)second letter about Purim. 30 And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews, to (AE)the one hundred and twenty-seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth, 31 to confirm these days of Purim at their appointed time, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had prescribed for them, and as they had decreed for themselves and their descendants concerning matters of their (AF)fasting and lamenting. 32 So the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim, and it was written in the book.
Footnotes
- Esther 9:6 Or Susa
- Esther 9:6 palace
- Esther 9:10 spoil
- Esther 9:11 Or Susa
- Esther 9:11 palace
- Esther 9:11 Lit. came
- Esther 9:15 Or Susa
- Esther 9:17 Lit. it
- Esther 9:18 Or Susa
- Esther 9:18 Lit. it
- Esther 9:25 Lit. she or it
- Esther 9:25 Lit. his
- Esther 9:26 Lit. Lot
Ester 9
Nuova Riveduta 2006
Ester 9
Nuova Riveduta 2006
Vendetta dei Giudei
9 (A)Il dodicesimo mese, cioè il mese di Adar, il tredicesimo giorno del mese, quando l’ordine del re e il suo decreto dovevano essere applicati, il giorno che i nemici dei Giudei speravano di averli in loro potere, avvenne invece tutto il contrario; poiché furono i Giudei ad avere in loro potere i loro nemici. 2 I Giudei si radunarono nelle loro città, in tutte le province del re Assuero, per mettere la mano su quelli che cercavano di fare loro del male; nessuno poté resistere loro, perché erano stati presi dal timore dei Giudei. 3 Tutti i capi delle province, i satrapi, i governatori e quelli che svolgevano gli affari del re diedero manforte ai Giudei, perché avevano paura di Mardocheo. 4 Mardocheo infatti era potente nel palazzo del re, e la sua fama raggiungeva tutte le province, perché quest’uomo, Mardocheo, diventava sempre più potente.
5 I Giudei dunque colpirono tutti i loro nemici, passandoli a fil di spada, uccidendoli e sterminandoli; fecero dei loro nemici quello che vollero. 6 Nella residenza reale di Susa i Giudei uccisero e sterminarono cinquecento uomini, 7 misero a morte Parsandata, Dalfon, Aspata, 8 Porata, Adalia, Aridata, 9 Parmasta, Arisai, Aridai e Vaizata, 10 i dieci figli di Aman, figlio di Ammedata, il nemico dei Giudei, ma non si diedero al saccheggio.
11 Quel giorno stesso il numero di quelli che erano stati uccisi nella residenza reale di Susa fu portato a conoscenza del re. 12 Il re disse alla regina Ester: «Nella residenza reale di Susa i Giudei hanno ucciso, hanno sterminato cinquecento uomini e i dieci figli di Aman; che avranno mai fatto nelle altre province del re? Che cosa chiedi ancora? Ti sarà dato. Che altro desideri? L’avrai». 13 Allora Ester disse: «Se così piace al re, sia permesso ai Giudei che sono a Susa di fare anche domani quello che era stato decretato per oggi; e siano appesi alla forca i dieci figli di Aman». 14 E il re ordinò che così fosse fatto. Il decreto fu promulgato a Susa, e i dieci figli di Aman furono impiccati. 15 I Giudei che erano a Susa si radunarono ancora il quattordicesimo giorno del mese di Adar e uccisero a Susa trecento uomini; ma non si diedero al saccheggio.
16 Gli altri Giudei che erano nelle province del re si radunarono anch’essi, difesero la loro vita, ed ebbero riposo dagli attacchi dei loro nemici; uccisero settantacinquemila di quelli che li odiavano, ma non si diedero al saccheggio.
La festa dei Purim
17 (B)Questo avvenne il tredicesimo giorno del mese di Adar; il quattordicesimo giorno si riposarono, e ne fecero un giorno di banchetti e di gioia. 18 Ma i Giudei che erano a Susa si radunarono il tredicesimo e il quattordicesimo giorno di quel mese; il quindicesimo giorno si riposarono, e ne fecero un giorno di banchetti e di gioia. 19 Perciò i Giudei della campagna che abitano in città non murate fanno del quattordicesimo giorno del mese di Adar un giorno di gioia, di banchetti e di festa, nel quale gli uni mandano dei regali agli altri.
20 Mardocheo scrisse queste cose e mandò delle lettere a tutti i Giudei che erano in tutte le province del re Assuero, vicini e lontani, 21 ordinando loro di celebrare ogni anno i giorni quattordici e quindici del mese di Adar 22 come i giorni nei quali i Giudei ebbero riposo dagli attacchi dei loro nemici e il mese in cui il loro dolore venne mutato in gioia, il loro lutto in festa, e di fare di questi giorni, giorni di banchetti e di gioia, nei quali gli uni mandassero regali agli altri e si facessero doni ai bisognosi. 23 I Giudei si impegnarono a continuare quello che avevano già cominciato a fare, e che Mardocheo aveva loro scritto; 24 poiché Aman, figlio di Ammedata, l’Agaghita, il nemico di tutti i Giudei, aveva tramato contro i Giudei per distruggerli e aveva gettato il Pur, vale a dire la sorte, per sgominarli e farli perire; 25 ma quando Ester si fu presentata davanti al re, questi ordinò per iscritto che la scellerata macchinazione che Aman aveva ordita contro i Giudei fosse fatta ricadere sul capo di lui, e che egli e i suoi figli fossero appesi alla forca. 26 Perciò quei giorni furono detti Purim, dal termine Pur. Secondo tutto il contenuto di quella lettera, in seguito a tutto quello che avevano visto a questo proposito e che era loro accaduto, 27 i Giudei stabilirono e presero per sé, per la loro discendenza e per tutti quelli che si sarebbero aggiunti a loro, l’impegno inviolabile di celebrare ogni anno quei due giorni nel modo prescritto e al tempo fissato. 28 Quei giorni dovevano essere commemorati e celebrati di generazione in generazione, in ogni famiglia, in ogni provincia, in ogni città; e quei giorni di Purim non dovevano cessar mai di essere celebrati fra i Giudei, e il loro ricordo non doveva mai cancellarsi fra i loro discendenti.
29 La regina Ester, figlia di Abiail, e il Giudeo Mardocheo riscrissero con ogni autorità, per dar peso a questa loro seconda lettera relativa ai Purim. 30 A tutti i Giudei, nelle centoventisette province del regno di Assuero, si mandarono lettere contenenti parole di pace e di fedeltà, 31 per fissar bene quei giorni di Purim nelle loro date precise, come li avevano ordinati il Giudeo Mardocheo e la regina Ester, e come essi stessi li avevano stabiliti per sé e per i loro discendenti in occasione del loro digiuno e dei loro lamenti. 32 Così l’ordine di Ester confermò l’istituzione dei Purim, e ciò fu scritto in un libro.
Esther 9
New International Version
Esther 9
New International Version
9 On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar,(A) the edict commanded by the king was to be carried out. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but now the tables were turned and the Jews got the upper hand(B) over those who hated them.(C) 2 The Jews assembled in their cities(D) in all the provinces of King Xerxes to attack those determined to destroy them. No one could stand against them,(E) because the people of all the other nationalities were afraid of them. 3 And all the nobles of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and the king’s administrators helped the Jews,(F) because fear of Mordecai had seized them.(G) 4 Mordecai(H) was prominent(I) in the palace; his reputation spread throughout the provinces, and he became more and more powerful.(J)
5 The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them,(K) and they did what they pleased to those who hated them. 6 In the citadel of Susa, the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men. 7 They also killed Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, 8 Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, 9 Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai and Vaizatha, 10 the ten sons(L) of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews.(M) But they did not lay their hands on the plunder.(N)
11 The number of those killed in the citadel of Susa was reported to the king that same day. 12 The king said to Queen Esther, “The Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men and the ten sons of Haman in the citadel of Susa. What have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? Now what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? It will also be granted.”(O)
13 “If it pleases the king,” Esther answered, “give the Jews in Susa permission to carry out this day’s edict tomorrow also, and let Haman’s ten sons(P) be impaled(Q) on poles.”
14 So the king commanded that this be done. An edict was issued in Susa, and they impaled(R) the ten sons of Haman. 15 The Jews in Susa came together on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, and they put to death in Susa three hundred men, but they did not lay their hands on the plunder.(S)
16 Meanwhile, the remainder of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces also assembled to protect themselves and get relief(T) from their enemies.(U) They killed seventy-five thousand of them(V) but did not lay their hands on the plunder.(W) 17 This happened on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting(X) and joy.
18 The Jews in Susa, however, had assembled on the thirteenth and fourteenth, and then on the fifteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy.
19 That is why rural Jews—those living in villages—observe the fourteenth of the month of Adar(Y) as a day of joy and feasting, a day for giving presents to each other.(Z)
Purim Established
20 Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, 21 to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar 22 as the time when the Jews got relief(AA) from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration.(AB) He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food(AC) to one another and gifts to the poor.(AD)
23 So the Jews agreed to continue the celebration they had begun, doing what Mordecai had written to them. 24 For Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite,(AE) the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them and had cast the pur(AF) (that is, the lot(AG)) for their ruin and destruction.(AH) 25 But when the plot came to the king’s attention,[a] he issued written orders that the evil scheme Haman had devised against the Jews should come back onto his own head,(AI) and that he and his sons should be impaled(AJ) on poles.(AK) 26 (Therefore these days were called Purim, from the word pur.(AL)) Because of everything written in this letter and because of what they had seen and what had happened to them, 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. 28 These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city. And these days of Purim should never fail to be celebrated by the Jews—nor should the memory of these days die out among their descendants.
29 So Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail,(AM) along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter concerning Purim. 30 And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews in the 127 provinces(AN) of Xerxes’ kingdom—words of goodwill and assurance— 31 to establish these days of Purim at their designated times, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had decreed for them, and as they had established for themselves and their descendants in regard to their times of fasting(AO) and lamentation.(AP) 32 Esther’s decree confirmed these regulations about Purim, and it was written down in the records.
Footnotes
- Esther 9:25 Or when Esther came before the king
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Nuova Riveduta 2006 (NR2006)
Copyright © 2006 Società Biblica di Ginevra
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.