Esther 8
1AND on that same day the king made a present to Esther of all that belonged to Haman the accuser. And the king sent for Mordecai; (for Esther told him that he was her kinsman;)
2and the king took the ring which he had taken back from Haman and gave it to Mordecai, and Esther set him over all that belonged to Haman.
3Then she spoke to the king again and fell at his feet and besought him to avert the mischief of Haman, and what he had devised against the Jews.
4And when the king stretched forth the golden sceptre to Esther, she arose and stood near the king
5and said, If it seemeth good to thee, and I have found favour, let despatches be sent to reverse the letters sent by Haman, which were written to destroy the Jews who are in thy kingdom.
6For how can I see the calamity of my people? or how can I survive the destruction of my kindred?
7Thereupon the king said to Esther, If I have given thee all the substance of Haman; and to gratify thee have caused him to be hanged on a gallows, because he laid his hands on the Jews, what more dost thou desire?
8Write ye yourselves what you please in my name, and seal it with my ring. For what is written by the king’s order, and sealed with my ring cannot be reversed.
9So the secretaries were convened in the first month which is Nisan, on the three and twentieth day thereof in the same year. And a letter was written to the Jews reciting all that had been given in charge to the lieutenants and to the chief governors of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, a hundred and twenty-seven provinces, to every province as they could read it,
10then it was written by the king’s command and sealed with his ring, (and these letters were sent by posts).
11He ordered them to use their own laws in every city, and to assist each other, and to deal with their adversaries and them who assaulted them, as they pleased,
12on a certain day, the thirteenth of the twelfth month Adar,
13throughout the whole kingdom of Artaxerxes—that these present writings were to counterbalance the former letter; and that these counterbalancing writings should be exposed to public view throughout the whole kingdom, that the Jews might be ready against that day to combat their adversaries. And the copy of the letter of the orders follows: The great king Artaxerxes unto the governors of a hundred and twenty-seven satrapies from India unto Ethiopia, even unto those faithful to us, greeting. Many, the more they are honoured with the most generous benefactions of their princes, the more have they devised proud schemes, and endeavor to harm not only our subjects,— but, not being able to withstand success, they seek also to conspire against their benefactors. And they not only would nullify the grace of gratitude from among men, but also--puffed up by the vaunting of worthless men—they assume [they will] escape the judgment of the all-seeing God, Who hateth all evil. Oftentimes, too, the exhorting of those trusted to manage their friends’ affairs hath caused many in positions of authority to be accomplices to the shedding of guiltless blood, and hath embroiled them in irrepressible calamities, while deceiving the unsuspecting generosity of princes.
13aNow this is possible to see, not so much from more ancient histories as by what is more immediately in your scope: by reviewing what hath lately been perpetrated by the unholy wickedness of those unworthily possessing power. And it is meet that we take care for time to come that the kingdom be maintained in unmolested peace for all men, discerning fairly things coming to our notice, and changing our mind as befits them.
13bFor Haman, a Macedonian, the son of Adamathes, actually alien to the Persian blood and far removed from our practice of beneficence, hospitably received of us, had obtained so large a share of the generous favour we extend toward all peoples as to be called our father, and received continual reverence from all as the person next to the royal throne. [But he,] not having borne [properly] the dignity of his great station, tried to deprive us of our kingdom and our life; having by varied and guileful devices sought the destruction, both of Mordecai, our rescuer and benefactor throughout, and of blameless Esther, sharer of our kingdom, together with all their nation. For by these tactics he planned, having us in a helpless state, to transfer the dominion of Persia to the Macedonians.
13cWejind, however, that the Jews, condemned to annihilation by this most guilty man, are no malefactors, but live according to most just laws and are sons of the greatest and most high Living God, who has maintained the kingdom in most excellent order, both unto us and our ancestors. Ye shall therefore do well not to execute the letters sent out by Haman fhe son of Adamathes; for he that has done these deeds has been hanged at the gates of Susa together with all his family,—Almighty God having swiftly disposed his just penalty.
13dTherefore, ye shall conspicuously post a copy of this letter in all places, granting to the Jews the practice of their own customs; and to assist them, on that same day, even the thirteenth of the twelfth month Adar, they may avenge themselves upon those who attacked them in a time of oppression. For thus has Almighty God, instead of the destruction of the chosen race, granted them this happiness:
13eHence also, among your feasts ye shall celebrate it as a high day with all festivity, that both now and henceforth it may be a day of deliverance to us and to those well inclined toward the Persians; but to those who scheme against us, a memorial of destruction.
13fEvery city and district whatsoever, that shall not act accordingly, shall be consumed in vehemence by spear and fire, and shall be rendered not only impassible to men, but also most hateful [even] to birds and wild beasts, for ever.
14So the horsemen set out in all haste to execute the king’s orders. And when the decree was published at Susa,
15Mordecai went forth, arrayed in a royal robe, wearing a crown of gold and a turban of purple cotton. And upon seeing him the inhabitants of Susa rejoiced.
16And among the Jews, there was light and joy in every city and province where the decree was published.
17Wherever proclamation was made, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, feasting and mirth; so that many of the nations were circumcised and became Jews, for fear of the Jews.