king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:
[4] For we are sold, I and my
people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen,
I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.
[5] Then the king
Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume
in his heart to do so?
[6] And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman
was afraid before the king and the queen.
[7] And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath
went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he
saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.
[8] Then the king returned out of the palace
garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was.
Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the
king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.
[9] And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the
king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken
good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.
[10] So they
hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.
Esth.8
[1] On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen.
And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.
[2] And the king took off
his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the
house of Haman.
[3] And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought
him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against
the Jews.
[4] Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before
the king,
[5] And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem
right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman
the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces:
[6]
For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the
destruction of my kindred?
[7] Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the
Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows,
because he laid his hand upon the Jews.
[8] Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's
name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with
the king's ring, may no man reverse.
[9] Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month,
that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that
Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces
which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according
to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their
writing, and according to their language.
[10] And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it
with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young
dromedaries:
[11] Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together,
and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and
province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,
[12]
Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month,
which is the month Adar.
[13] The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province
was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves
on their enemies.
[14] So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and
pressed on by the king's commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.
[15] And
Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great
crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was
glad.
[16] The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.
[17] And in every province, and in every
city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a
feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell
upon them.