^12 (A)Then the king’s scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and it was written just as Haman commanded to ^(B)the king’s satraps, to the governors who were over each province, and to the princes of each people, each province according to its script, each people according to its tongue, being written ^(C)in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet ring. ¹³ And letters were sent by the hand of ^(D)couriers to all the king’s provinces ^(E)to destroy, to kill, and to cause all the Jews to perish, both young and old, little ones and women, ^(F)in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to ^(G)plunder their spoil. ^14 (H)A copy of that which was written down to be given as law in every province was revealed to all the peoples so that they should be ready for this day.

⁴ Then the herald loudly called out: “To you it is said, ^(A)O peoples, nations, and men of every tongue, ⁵ that at the time you ^(B)hear the sound of the horn, flute, ^[a]lyre, ^[b]trigon, ^[c]psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. ⁶ But whoever does not fall down and worship shall ^[d]immediately be ^(C)cast into the midst of a ^(D)furnace of blazing fire.”

¹² Then they came near and ^(A)said before the king concerning the king’s injunction, “Did you not sign an injunction that any man who seeks to make a petition ^[a]to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be cast into the lions’ den?” The king answered and said, “The word is certain, according to the ^(B)law of the Medes and Persians, which ^[b]may not be revoked.”