Esther

5Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;

A Jewish man lived in the palace city of Shushan. His name was Mordecai. He was the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish. His family came from the tribe of Benjamin.

6Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.

Long before, Mordecai had been taken away from Jerusalem. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took many people away as prisoners. Jeconiah, the king of Judah, was taken away too.

7And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.

Mordecai raised his cousin Hadassah, who was also called Esther. Her father and mother had died, so she had no parents. She was lovely to look at. Mordecai took her in and raised her as his own daughter.

8So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.

The king's order was announced everywhere. Many young women were brought to the palace in Shushan for Hegai to care for. Esther was taken to the king's house too. She was put in Hegai's care, since he watched over the women.

9And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king’s house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.

Hegai liked Esther and was kind to her. He quickly gave her beauty treatments and special food. He chose seven servant girls from the king's house to help her. He moved her and her helpers to the best rooms in the women's house.

10Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.

Esther did not tell anyone about her family or her people. Mordecai had told her to keep it a secret.

11And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.

Every day Mordecai walked back and forth outside the women's house. He wanted to know if Esther was well and what was happening to her.

12Now when every maid’s turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)

Each young woman waited twelve months before her turn to see the king. That was the rule for beauty treatments. For six months she used oil of myrrh. For six more months she used sweet perfumes and other things.

13Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king’s house.

Then each young woman went to the king. She could take with her anything she asked for from the women's house.

14In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.

She went in the evening. In the morning she went to a second house for the king's women. Shaashgaz, the king's helper, took care of them there. She did not go back to the king unless he was pleased with her. He had to ask for her by name.

15Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.

Then it was Esther's turn to go to the king. She was the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai, who had raised her as his own. She asked for nothing except what Hegai told her to take. Everyone who saw Esther liked her.

16So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

Esther was brought to King Ahasuerus in his royal house. It was the tenth month, called Tebeth. The king had been ruling for seven years.

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

The king loved Esther more than all the other women. He liked her more than any of the others. So he put the royal crown on her head. He made her queen instead of Vashti.

18Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther’s feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.

Then the king held a big feast for all his leaders and servants. He called it Esther's feast. He also let the provinces pay less tax. And he gave out gifts, as a rich king would.

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

Later, young women were gathered a second time. At that time Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate.

20Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.

Esther still had not told anyone about her family or her people. Mordecai had told her not to. She obeyed him, just as she did when he was raising her.

21In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.

In those days Mordecai sat at the king's gate. Two of the king's helpers, Bigthan and Teresh, guarded the door. They became angry and made a plan to kill King Ahasuerus.

22And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai’s name.

Mordecai found out about the plan. He told Queen Esther. Esther told the king, and she said the news came from Mordecai.

23And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.

People looked into the matter and found it was true. So both men were hanged. The whole story was written in the king's record book.

1When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;

Mordecai found out everything that had happened. He tore his clothes in sorrow. He put on rough sackcloth and ashes. Then he walked into the middle of the city, crying out loudly and bitterly.

2And came even before the king’s gate: for none might enter into the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.

He came as far as the king's gate. He could go no farther. No one wearing sackcloth was allowed to go in through that gate.

3And in every province, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

The king's order went out to every province, or region. Everywhere it came, the Jews were very sad. They fasted, which means they went without food. They cried and wailed. Many of them lay down in sackcloth and ashes.

4So Esther’s maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not.

Esther's maids and palace servants came and told her about Mordecai. The queen was filled with sorrow. She sent clothes for Mordecai to wear instead of the sackcloth. But he would not take them.

5Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.

Then Esther called for Hatach. He was one of the palace servants the king had picked to help her. She told him to go to Mordecai. He was to ask what was wrong and why.

6So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king’s gate.

So Hatach went out to Mordecai. He found him in the open square of the city, right in front of the king's gate.

7And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.

Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him. He even told the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the king's treasury to have the Jews destroyed.

8Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.

Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written order made in Shushan to destroy the Jews. Hatach was to show it to Esther and explain it. He was to urge her to go to the king. She should beg him and plead for her people.

9And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.

Hatach went back to Esther. He told her everything Mordecai had said.

10Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;

Then Esther spoke to Hatach again. She gave him a message to carry back to Mordecai.

11All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.

She said, "All the king's servants and all the people in his lands know one rule. Any man or woman who goes into the king's inner court without being called must be put to death. The only way to live is if the king holds out his gold staff to that person. And the king has not called for me for thirty days now."

12And they told to Mordecai Esther’s words.

So they told Mordecai what Esther had said.

13Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.

Mordecai sent this answer back to Esther: "Do not think you will be safe just because you live in the king's palace. You will not escape when the other Jews do not.

14For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

If you stay quiet at a time like this, help and rescue for the Jews will come from somewhere else. But you and your family will die. And who knows? Maybe you became queen for a moment just like this one."

15Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,

Then Esther sent this answer back to Mordecai:

16Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

"Go and gather all the Jews who are here in Shushan. Fast for me. Do not eat or drink anything for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast the same way. Then I will go to the king, even though it breaks the law. If I die, then I die."

17So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

So Mordecai went and did everything Esther had told him to do.

1Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.

On the third day, Esther put on her royal clothes. She went and stood in the inner yard of the palace. It was right across from the king's own rooms. The king was sitting on his royal throne, facing the doorway.

2And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.

When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the yard, he was pleased with her. He held out the golden scepter in his hand toward her. Esther came close and touched the tip of it.

3Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.

The king said to her, "What is it, Queen Esther? What do you want to ask me for? I would give you even half of my kingdom."

4And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.

Esther answered, "If it pleases the king, please come today to a special meal I have made for you. And please bring Haman with you."

5Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

The king said, "Bring Haman quickly, so we can do what Esther asked." So the king and Haman went to the meal Esther had made.

6And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.

While they were drinking their wine, the king asked Esther, "What do you want? I will give it to you. What are you asking for? I would give you even half of my kingdom."

7Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is;

Esther answered, "Here is what I want to ask for.

8If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant 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 to morrow as the king hath said.

"If the king is pleased with me, and wants to give me what I ask, then please come again tomorrow. Come with Haman to another meal I will make for you. Then I will tell the king what I want."

9Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.

That day Haman went out feeling happy and glad. But at the king's gate he saw Mordecai. Mordecai did not stand up or act afraid of him at all. So Haman was filled with anger at Mordecai.

10Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.

Even so, Haman held his anger in. He went home and sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh.

11And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.

Haman told them how rich he was and how many sons he had. He told them all the ways the king had honored him. The king had made him more important than all the other leaders and servants.

12Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king.

Haman also said, "And that is not all. Queen Esther invited no one but me to eat with the king. Tomorrow she has invited me to come again with the king.

13Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.

"But none of this makes me happy. Not while I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate."

14Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, "Have a tall wooden pole built for hanging a man. Make it fifty cubits high. In the morning, ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go to the meal with the king and enjoy yourself." Haman liked this idea, so he had the pole built.

1So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.

So the king and Haman came to eat the meal Esther had made.

2And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.

While they drank their wine on this second day, the king asked again. "Queen Esther, what do you want? I will give it to you. What are you asking for? I will do it, even if you ask for half my kingdom."

3Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:

Queen Esther answered him. "King, if you are pleased with me, and if it seems good to you, then this is what I ask. Please let me live. And please let my people live too.

4For 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.

Someone has sold me and my people to be killed. Every one of us is meant to die. If we had only been sold to be servants, I would have stayed quiet. That trouble would not have been worth bothering you about."

5Then 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?

Then King Ahasuerus asked Queen Esther a question. "Who is this man? Where is he? Who would dare to plan such a thing?"

6And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.

Esther said, "The one against us is this wicked man, Haman!" Then Haman was terrified in front of the king and queen.

7And 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.

The king was very angry. He got up from his wine and went out to the palace garden. Haman stayed behind and begged Queen Esther to spare his life. He could see the king had already decided something terrible for him.

8Then 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.

The king came back in from the garden to the room where they had been eating. Haman had thrown himself down on the couch where Esther was resting. The king said, "Will he even attack the queen while I am here in the house?" As soon as the king said this, servants covered Haman's face.

9And 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.

Harbonah was one of the king's servants who worked close to him. He said, "There is also a tall wooden pole standing at Haman's house. It is fifty cubits high. Haman built it to hang Mordecai on. And Mordecai is the one who warned the king and saved him." The king said, "Hang Haman on it!"

10So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.

So they hanged Haman on the pole he had built for Mordecai. Then the king was not angry anymore.

1On 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.

That 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.

The 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.

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.

Esther 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,

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

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:

She 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?

How 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.

Then 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.

Now 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."