Esther 8

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.

1That same day, King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther everything Haman owned. Haman had been the enemy of the Jews. Then Mordecai came in to see the king. Esther had told the king that Mordecai was her cousin.

2And 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.

2The king took off his special ring. He had taken that ring back from Haman. He gave it to Mordecai. Esther put Mordecai in charge of all Haman's things.

NoteThe king's ring had his mark on it. Pressing it into soft wax on a letter showed the letter really came from the king.

3And 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.

3Esther spoke to the king again. She fell down at his feet and cried. She begged him to stop the cruel plan of Haman the Agagite. Haman had made that plan to hurt the Jews.

4Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,

4The king held out his gold staff toward Esther. So Esther got up and stood in front of the king.

NoteHolding out the gold staff was the king's way of saying "you may speak." Coming to the king without being called could get a person killed.

5And 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:

5She said, "If it makes the king happy, and if he likes me, and if this seems right to him, please write a new order. Cancel the letters that Haman wrote. Haman was the son of Hammedatha the Agagite. His letters said to kill the Jews in every part of your kingdom.

6For 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?

6How could I stand to watch this trouble come to my people? How could I stand to watch my own family be killed?"

7Then 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.

7Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, "Look, I gave Haman's things to Esther. And Haman was hanged, because he tried to hurt the Jews.

8Write 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.

8Now you may write whatever you want about the Jews. Write it in my name. Seal it with my ring. No one can cancel an order written in the king's name and sealed with his ring."

NoteIn this kingdom, an order sealed with the king's ring could never be taken back. That is why a second letter had to be written instead.

9Then 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.

9So the king's writers were called right away. It was the twenty-third day of the third month, called Sivan. They wrote down everything Mordecai told them. The letters went to the Jews and to all the leaders and rulers of the provinces. There were 127 provinces, from India all the way to Ethiopia. Each province got a letter in its own writing. Each group of people got one in their own language. The Jews got one in their writing and their language too.

10And 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:

10Mordecai wrote in King Ahasuerus's name and sealed it with the king's ring. He sent the letters out with riders on fast horses from the king's own stables.

11Wherein 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,

11The letters said the Jews in every city could gather together and protect themselves. They could destroy any army from any people or province that came to attack them. This included their women and children. They could also take their enemies' things.

12Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.

12This was to happen on one single day everywhere in the king's kingdom. That day was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, called Adar.

13The 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.

13A copy of the order was to be sent to every province. It was read out loud to everyone. That way the Jews would be ready on that day to fight back against their enemies.

14So 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.

14The riders hurried out on the king's fast horses. The king told them to go quickly. The order was also read out in the palace at Shushan.

15And 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.

15Mordecai left the king wearing royal clothes of blue and white. He wore a big gold crown and a purple robe of fine cloth. The whole city of Shushan cheered and was happy.

16The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.

16For the Jews it was a bright and happy time. They were full of joy, and people honored them.

17And 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.

17The king's order reached every province and every city. Everywhere it came, the Jews were happy and glad. They had big meals and a day of celebrating. Many other people in the land joined the Jews, because they were now afraid of them.