Esther 8

8 ¹That day King Xerxes gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. Mordecai came before the king, since Esther had told what he was to her. ²The king took off his signet ring, which he had taken back from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. Esther put Mordecai over Haman's estate.

³Esther spoke to the king again, fell at his feet, wept, and begged him to stop Haman the Agagite's evil and his scheme against the Jews. ⁴The king held out the golden scepter to Esther, and she rose and stood before him. ⁵She said, "If it pleases the king, if I have his favor, if this seems right to him, and I please him, let letters be written reversing what Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite planned and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king's provinces. ⁶How can I bear to see disaster strike my people? How can I bear to watch my family destroyed?"

⁷King Xerxes told Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, "I gave Esther Haman's house, and they hanged him on the gallows because he plotted against the Jews. ⁸Write about the Jews as you see fit, in the king's name, and seal it with his signet ring—no writing in the king's name, sealed with his ring, can be reversed."

⁹The king's scribes were called on the third month's twenty-third day—Sivan—and wrote all Mordecai commanded to the Jews and to the satraps, governors, and officials of the 127 provinces from India to Cush: each province in its script, each people in its language, and the Jews in their script and language. ¹⁰Mordecai wrote in King Xerxes' name, sealed it with the king's signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on fast horses bred for royal service. ¹¹The king's decree granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and defend their lives: to destroy, kill, and wipe out any armed force of any people or province attacking them—children and women included—and to plunder their enemies' goods. ¹²This was to take place on one day in all provinces of King Xerxes—the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, Adar. ¹³A copy of the decree was to be issued as law in every province and made known to all peoples, so the Jews would be ready that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. ¹⁴Couriers on royal horses rushed out, hurried and pressed by the king's command; the decree was given in Susa's fortress.

¹⁵Mordecai left the king's presence in royal blue and white, a great gold crown, and a fine linen and purple robe. Susa shouted and rejoiced. ¹⁶The Jews had light, joy, gladness, and honor. ¹⁷The king's command and edict reached every province and city; the Jews had joy and delight, feasting, a holiday. Many peoples of the land became Jews, for fear of the Jews gripped them.