Beginning

1 In the days of Ahasuerus (This is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over 127 provinces,

² in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his throne, which was in the palace of Shushan),

³ in the third year of his reign, he made a feast for all his princes and his servants—even the power of Persia and Media—and to the captains and governors of the provinces which were before him.

⁴ So that he might show the riches and glory of his kingdom, and the honor of his great majesty for many days, even 180 days.

⁵ And when these days had expired, the king made a feast to all the people who were found in the palace of Shushan (both great and small) for seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace,

⁶ under a hanging of white, green, and blue cloths, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple, in silver rings, and pillars of marble. The beds were of gold and of silver, upon a pavement of porphyry and marble and alabaster and blue color.

⁷ And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, and changed vessel after vessel, and royal wine in abundance, according to the power of the king.

⁸ And the drinking was voluntary. For so the king had ordered all the officers of his house: that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.

⁹ The Queen Vashti also made a feast for the women in the royal house of King Ahasuerus.

¹⁰ On the seventh day, when the King was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas (the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of king Ahasuerus)

¹¹ to bring Queen Vashti before the king with the crown royal, so that he might show the people and the princes her beauty; for she was fair to look upon.

¹² But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s word which he had given in charge to the eunuchs. Therefore, the king was very angry, and his wrath kindled in him.

¹³ Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for so was the King’s manner towards all who knew the law and the judgment—

¹⁴ and closest to him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia, and Media—who saw the king’s face and sat the first in the kingdom),

¹⁵ “What shall we do to Queen Vashti according to the law, because she did not do according to the word of King Ahasuerus, by the commission of the eunuchs?”

¹⁶ Then Memucan answered before the king and the princes, “The Queen Vashti has not only done evil against the king, but against all the princes, and against all the people who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.

¹⁷ For the act of the queen shall become known to all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their own eyes, and shall say, ‘The King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the Queen to be brought in before him, but she did not come.’

¹⁸ “So shall the princesses of Persia and Media say this day to all the king’s princes when they hear of the act of the queen. Thus shall there be much spitefulness and wrath.

¹⁹ “If it please the king, let a royal decree proceed from him; and let it be written among the statutes of Persia and Media. And let it not be transgressed that Vashti come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate to someone who is better than she.

²⁰ “And when the decree of the king, which shall be made, shall be published throughout all his kingdom (though it be great), all the women shall give their husbands honor, both great and small.”

²¹ And this saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan.

²² For he sent letters into all the provinces of the king, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people in their own language, so that every man should rule his own house; and so that he would publish it in the language of that same people.

2 After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what was decreed against her.

² And the king’s servants who ministered to him, said, “Let them seek beautiful young virgins for the king.

³ “And let the king appoint officers through all the provinces of his kingdom. And let them gather all the beautiful young virgins to the palace of Shushan, into the house of the women, under the hand of Hegai (the king’s eunuch, keeper of the women), to give them their things for purification.

⁴ “And the maid who shall please the king, let her reign in the place of Vashti.” And this pleased the king; and he did so.

⁵ In the city of Shushan, there was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai (the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a man of Benjamin),

⁶ who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity that was carried away with Jeconiah, King of Judah (whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel had carried away).

⁷ And he nourished Hadassah (that is, Esther), his uncle’s daughter; for she had neither father nor mother. And the maid was fair and beautiful to look on. And after the death of her father and her mother, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.

⁸ And when the king’s commandment and his decree were published, and many maids were brought together to the palace of Shushan under the hand of Hegai, Esther was also brought to the king’s house under the hand of Hegai, the keeper of the women.

⁹ And the maid pleased him; and she found favor in his sight. Therefore, he caused her things for purification to be given to her speedily, as well as her things and seven comely maids to be given to her out of the king’s house. And he gave her and her maids charge of the best in the house of the women.

¹⁰ But Esther did not reveal her people and her kindred. For Mordecai had told her that she should not tell it.

¹¹ And Mordecai walked before the court of the women’s house every day, to find out if Esther did well, and what would become of her.

¹² And after she had completed twelve months of the purification process (including six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors), every maid came, in turn, to go in to King Ahasuerus.

¹³ And thus went the maids to the king. Whatever she required was given to her (when she would go from the women’s house to the king’s house).

¹⁴ In the evening, she went. And the next day, she returned to the second house of the women, under the hand of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch, who kept the concubines. If she did not please the king, was no longer called by name nor came in to the king.

¹⁵ Now, when the turn of Esther (the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter) came to go in to the king, she desired nothing but what Hegai, the king’s eunuch, the keeper of the women said. And Esther found favor in the sight of all those who looked on her.

¹⁶ So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his house royal, in the tenth month (which is the month Tebeth), in the seventh year of his reign.

¹⁷ And the king loved Esther above all the women; and she found grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the crown of the kingdom upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

¹⁸ Then the king made a great feast for all his princes and his servants (which was the “Feast of Esther”) and gave rest to the provinces, and gifts, according to the power of a king.

¹⁹ And when the virgins were gathered a second time, then Mordecai sat in the king’s gate.

²⁰ Esther had not yet revealed her kindred nor her people, as Mordecai had charged her; for Esther obeyed Mordecai, as when she was brought up by him.

²¹ In those days when Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh (who kept the door) were angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.

²² And the thing was known to Mordecai; and he told it to Queen Esther. And Esther told the king thereof in Mordecai’s name. And when inquisition was made, it was found to be so. Therefore, they were both hanged on a tree. And it was written in the Book of the Chronicles, before the king.

3 After these things, King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and exalted him, and set his seat above all the princes who were with him.

² And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed their knees and paid homage to Haman (for the king had so commanded concerning him). But Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage.

³ Then, the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you transgress the king’s commandment?”

⁴ And even though they spoke daily to him, he would not listen. Therefore, they told Haman, to see how Mordecai’s words would stand (for he had told them that he was a Jew).

⁵ And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow to him, nor did he pay homage to him, then Haman was full of anger.

⁶ Now, he thought it wasn’t enough just to lay hands on Mordecai. And because they had told him Mordecai was a Jew, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even all the people of Mordecai.

⁷ In the first month (that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus), they cast Pur (that is, a lot) before Haman—every day of every month—until the twelfth month (that is the month Adar).

⁸ Then, Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a people, scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom. And their laws are different from all other people; and they do not observe the king’s laws. Therefore, it is not to the king’s profit to put up with them.

⁹ “If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed; and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those who are in charge of this business, to bring it into the king’s treasury.”

¹⁰ Then the king took his ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ adversary.

¹¹ And the king said to Haman, “Let the silver and the people be yours to do with as it pleases you.”

¹² Then, on the thirteenth day of the first month, the king’s scribes were called. And all that Haman commanded was written to the king’s officers and to the captains who were over every province and to the rulers of every people, and to every province according to its writing and to every people according to their language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s ring.

¹³ And the letters were sent by couriers into all the king’s provinces: to root out, to kill and to destroy all the Jews— both young and old, children and women—on one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (which is the month Adar) and to take the plunder as a possession.

¹⁴ The contents of the writing was that there should be given a commandment in all provinces, and published to all people, that they should be ready for that day.

¹⁵ And the couriers, compelled by the king’s commandment, went forth. And the commandment was given in the palace at Shushan. And the king and Haman sat, drinking. But the city of Shushan was in confusion.

4 Now when Mordecai perceived all that was done, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the middle of the city and cried with a great and bitter cry.

² And he came as far as the king’s gate; but he could not enter, being clothed with sackcloth.

³ And in every province and place where the king’s charge and his commission came, there was great sorrow among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and mourning. And many lay in sackcloth and in ashes.

⁴ Then, Esther’s maids and her eunuchs came and told it to her. Therefore, the queen was very troubled; and she sent garments to clothe Mordecai, so he could remove his sackcloth. But he refused it.

⁵ Then Esther called Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs whom he had appointed to serve her and gave him a commandment to go and ask Mordecai what this was and why it was.

⁶ So, Hathach went out to Mordecai, into the street which was before the king’s gate.

⁷ And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and of the sum of the silver that Haman had promised to pay into the King’s treasuries, to destroy the Jews.

⁸ Also, he gave him the copy of the edict that was given at Shushan (to destroy them), so that he might show it to Esther and inform her, and to charge her that she should go and petition the king and make supplication for her people before him.

⁹ So, when Hathach came, he told Esther the words of Mordecai.

¹⁰ Then, Esther said to Hathach, and commanded him to say to Mordecai,

¹¹ “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know of the king’s law stating that whoever, man or woman, comes to the king (into the inner court) who has not been called there, shall die. The only exception is him to whom the king holds out the golden rod. He may live. Now I have not been called to come to the king in the last thirty days.”

¹² And they told Mordecai of Esther’s words.

¹³ And Mordecai sent word to Esther, saying, “Don’t think you shall escape any more than the rest of the Jews just because you live in the king’s house.

¹⁴ For if you remain silent at this time, comfort and deliverance shall appear to the Jews out of another place. And you and your father’s house shall perish. And who knows whether you have come to power for such a time as this?”

¹⁵ Then, Esther commanded an answer to Mordecai,

¹⁶ “Go and assemble all the Jews who are found in Shushan, and fast for me. And do not eat or drink for three days and nights. I and my maids will also fast. Then I will go in to the King, which is not according to the law. And if I die, I die.”

¹⁷ So, Mordecai went his way and did everything that Esther had commanded him.

5 And on the third day, Esther put on her royal apparel and stood in the court of the king’s palace within, in front of the king’s rooms. And the king sat upon his royal throne, in the king’s palace, opposite the gate of the house.

² And when the king saw Esther the Queen standing in the court, she found favor in his sight. And the king held out the golden scepter that was in his hand. So, Esther drew near and touched the top of the scepter.

³ Then the king said to her, “What’s wrong, Queen Esther? And what is your request? It shall be given to you, even up to half of the kingdom.”

⁴ Then Esther said, “If it please the king, let the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”

⁵ And the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, so that he may do as Esther has said.” So, the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

⁶ And the king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, “What is your petition, so that it may be given to you? And what is your request? It shall be performed even up to half of the kingdom.”

⁷ Then Esther answered, “My petition, and my request is:

⁸ If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to give me my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them; and I will do as the king says tomorrow.”

⁹ Then, that same day, Haman went out joyful and with a glad heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, and that he did not stand or move for him, then Haman was full of indignation at Mordecai.

¹⁰ Nevertheless, Haman controlled himself. And when he came home, he sent for his friends and Zeresh, his wife.

¹¹ And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the promotions the king had given him, and how that he had set him above the princes and servants of the king.

¹² Haman also said, “Even Esther the Queen let no man except me come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared. And tomorrow she has called us to her again.

¹³ But all this is unsatisfying as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”

¹⁴ Then Zeresh, his wife, and all his friends said to him, “Let them make a hanging tree 75 feet high, and tomorrow ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then you shall go joyfully with the king to the banquet.” And that pleased Haman. So, he had the hanging tree made.