Old/New Testament
Haman Seeks to Destroy the Jews
3 After these things, King Ahasuerus (A)magnified Haman, the son of Hammedatha (B)the Agagite, and (C)advanced 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 were bowing down and prostrating themselves before Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But (D)Mordecai would not bow down or prostrate himself. 3 So the king’s servants who were at (E)the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “(F)Why do you trespass against the king’s command?” 4 Now it happened when they had spoken daily to him and he would not listen to them, that they told Haman to see whether Mordecai’s words would stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew. 5 Then Haman saw that (G)Mordecai was not bowing down or prostrating himself before him. So Haman was filled with wrath. 6 But he despised in his eyes to send forth his hand against Mordecai alone, for they had told him who the people of Mordecai were; therefore Haman (H)sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.
7 In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, [a]Pur, that is the lot, was (I)cast before Haman from day to day and from month to month, [b]until the twelfth month, that is (J)the month Adar. 8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and separated among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; (K)their laws are different from those of all other people, and they do not do the king’s laws, so it is not worth it for the king to let them remain. 9 If it seems good to the king, let it be written down that they should perish, and I will pay [c]10,000 talents of silver into the hands of those who do this work, to bring into the king’s treasuries.” 10 Then (L)the king removed his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha (M)the Agagite, (N)the adversary of the Jews. 11 And the king said to Haman, “The silver is [d]yours, and the people also, to do with them according to what is good in your eyes.”
12 (O)Then the king’s scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and it was written just as Haman commanded to (P)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 (Q)in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet ring. 13 And letters were sent by the hand of (R)couriers to all the king’s provinces (S)to destroy, to kill, and to cause all the Jews to perish, both young and old, little ones and women, (T)in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to (U)plunder their spoil. 14 (V)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. 15 The couriers went out, hastened by the word of the king. And the law was given at the citadel in Susa. Now the king and Haman sat down to drink, but (W)the city of Susa was in confusion.
Esther Writhes in Anguish
4 Now Mordecai came to know of (X)all that had been done. And [e]he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city and cried out loudly and bitterly. 2 And he went as far as the king’s gate, for no one was to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth. 3 Now in each and every province where the word and law of the king reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with (Y)fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many made their bed in sackcloth and ashes.
4 Then Esther’s young women and her eunuchs came and told her, and the queen writhed in great anguish. And she sent garments to clothe Mordecai and to remove his sackcloth from upon him, but he did not accept them. 5 Then Esther summoned Hathach from the king’s eunuchs, whom [f]the king had appointed to attend her, and commanded him to go to Mordecai to know what this was and why it was. 6 So Hathach went out to Mordecai to the city square in front of the king’s gate. 7 And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and (Z)the exact amount of silver that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries to cause the Jews to perish. 8 He also gave him (AA)a copy of the written law which had been given in Susa for their destruction, in order to show Esther and to tell her and to command her to go in to the king to implore his favor and to seek him out for her people.
9 Then Hathach came back and told Mordecai’s words to Esther. 10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to reply to Mordecai: 11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that for any man or woman who (AB)comes to the king to the inner court who is not summoned, (AC)he has but one law, that he be put to death, unless the king holds out (AD)to him the golden scepter so that he may live. And I have not been summoned to come to the king for these thirty days.” 12 So they told Esther’s words to Mordecai.
13 Then Mordecai said for them to respond to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s [g]house can escape any more than all the Jews. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and (AE)deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not reached royalty for such a time as this?”
Esther and the Jews Fast
15 Then Esther said for them to respond to Mordecai, 16 “Go, gather all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; (AF)do not eat or drink for (AG)three days, night or day. I and my young women also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.” 17 So Mordecai went away and did just as Esther had commanded him.
Esther Prepares a Feast
5 Now it happened (AH)on the third day, that Esther put on her royal robes and stood (AI)in the inner court of the king’s house in front of the king’s [h]rooms, and the king was sitting on his royal throne in the [i]throne room, opposite the entrance to his house. 2 Now it happened that when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, (AJ)she advanced in favor in his eyes; and (AK)the king extended to Esther the golden scepter which was in his hand. So Esther came near and [j]reached out and touched the top of the scepter. 3 Then the king said to her, “What is troubling you, Queen Esther? And what is [k]your request? (AL)Even to half of the kingdom it shall be given to you.” 4 And Esther said, “If it seems good to the king, may the king and Haman come this day to the feast that I have prepared for him.”
5 Then the king said, “(AM)Bring Haman quickly that we may do the word of Esther.” So the king and Haman came to the feast which Esther had prepared. 6 Then, [l]as they drank their wine at the feast, (AN)the king said to Esther, “(AO)What is [m]your petition? For it shall be given to you. And what is [n]your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be done.” 7 So Esther answered and said, “[o]My petition and [p]my request is: 8 (AP)if I have found favor in the eyes of the king, and if it seems good to the king to give heed to [q]my petition and to do [r]my request, may the king and Haman come to (AQ)the feast which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do according to the word of the king.”
Haman Recounts His Glory
9 Then Haman went out that day glad and merry of heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai (AR)in the king’s gate and (AS)that he did not stand up or [s]tremble before him, Haman was filled with wrath against Mordecai. 10 But Haman controlled himself, went to his house, and sent for and brought his friends and his wife (AT)Zeresh. 11 Then Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches and the [t](AU)number of his sons and every instance where the king had magnified him and how he had [u](AV)advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. 12 Haman also said, “Even Esther the queen let no one but me come with the king to the feast which she had prepared; and (AW)tomorrow also I am called to come to her with the king. 13 Yet all of this is worth nothing to me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at (AX)the king’s gate.” 14 Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “(AY)Have a [v]gallows [w]fifty cubits high made and in the morning say to the king that Mordecai should be hanged on it; then go gladly with the king to the feast.” And the word was good to Haman, so he had the gallows made.
22 But (A)the officers who came did not find them in the prison, and they returned and reported back, 23 saying, “We found the jailhouse locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors, but we opened it and found no one inside.” 24 Now when (B)the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what [a]would come of this. 25 But someone came and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!” 26 Then (C)the captain went along with (D)the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for (E)they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).
27 And when they had brought them, they stood them [b]before (F)the Sanhedrin. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We (G)strictly commanded you not to continue teaching in this name, and [c]yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and (H)intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered and said, “(I)We must obey God rather than men. 30 (J)The God of our fathers (K)raised up Jesus, [d]whom you (L)put to death by hanging Him on a tree. 31 (M)This One God exalted [e]to His right hand as [f]a (N)Leader and a (O)Savior, to grant (P)repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are (Q)witnesses [g]of these things, and (R)so is the Holy Spirit, whom God gave to those who obey Him.”
Gamaliel’s Counsel
33 But when they heard this, they became (S)furious and intended to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee named (T)Gamaliel, a (U)teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in (V)the Sanhedrin and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, (W)claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. [h]But he was killed, and all who [i]were following him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of (X)the census and drew away people after him. He too perished, and all those who [j]were following him were scattered. 38 So in the present case, I also say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or [k]action (Y)is of men, it will be overthrown; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or you may even be found (Z)fighting against God.”
40 So they [l]followed his advice. And after calling the apostles in and (AA)beating them, they commanded them not to [m]speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. 41 So they went on their way from the presence of the (AB)Sanhedrin, (AC)rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame (AD)for the Name. 42 (AE)And every day, in the temple and [n]from house to house, they did not cease teaching and (AF)proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the [o]Christ.
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