Esther 8

1 On the day that he gave the king Ahasuerus to Esther the queen [the] house of Haman [the] opposer (of the Jews *Q(k)*) and Mordecai he came before the king for she had told Esther what? [was] he to her.

At that time King Ahasuerus gave the property of Haman the Jews’ enemy to Queen Esther. Mordecai was made one of the king’s personal advisers, for Esther had disclosed his relationship to her.

2 And he removed the king signet-ring his which he had taken away from Haman and he gave it to Mordecai and she appointed Esther Mordecai over [the] house of Haman.

The king also drew off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman. He gave it to Mordecai, and Esther placed Mordecai in charge of Haman’s property.

3 And she repeated Esther and she spoke before the king and she fell before feet his and she wept and she sought favor to him to take away [the] evil of Haman the Agagite and plan his which he had planned on the Jews.

Then Esther sought another audience with the king and fell at his feet and with tears begged him to avert the evil planned by Haman the Agagite and to frustrate his designs against the Jews.

4 And he extended the king to Esther [the] scepter of gold and she arose Esther and she stood before the king.

The king held out to her the golden sceptre, and she arose and stood before him.

5 And she said if [is] on the king good and if I have found favor before him and it is proper the matter before the king and [am] good I in view his let it be written to revoke the letters [the] plan of Haman [the] son of Hammedatha the Agagite which he wrote to destroy the Jews who [are] in all [the] provinces of the king.

‘If it seems best to the king,’ she said, ‘and if I have won his favour and he thinks it right, and if I please him, let written orders be given to revoke the dispatches devised by Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote ordering the destruction of the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces.

6 For how? will I be able and I will look on the evil which it will find people my and how? will I be able and I will look on [the] destruction of kindred my.

For how can I bear to look upon the evil that will come to my people? How can I bear to see their destruction?’

7 And he said the king Ahasuerus to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew here! [the] house of Haman I have given to Esther and him they have hanged on the gallows on that he stretched out hand his (on the Jews. *Q(k)*)

Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, ‘See, I have given Esther the property of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows, because he laid hands upon the Jews.

8 And you write on the Jews according to the good in view your in [the] name of the king and seal [it] with [the] signet-ring of the king for a writing which [is] written in [the] name of the king and it is sealed with [the] signet-ring of the king not to revoke.

Now you write on behalf of the Jews, as seems best to you, in the king’s name and seal it with the king’s signet ring. For a document that is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring cannot be revoked.’

9 And they were summoned [the] scribes of the king at the time that in the month third that [is] [the] month of Sivan on [day] three and twenty in it and it was written according to all that he commanded Mordecai to the Jews and to the satraps and the governors and [the] officials of the provinces which - [were] from India and to Cush seven and twenty and a hundred province[s] province and province according to writing its and people and people according to language its and to the Jews according to writing their and according to language their.

On the twenty-third day of the third month (that is the month of Sivan), the king’s secretaries were summoned and as Mordecai instructed an edict was issued to the Jews, to the satraps and provincial governors and the rulers of each of the one hundred twenty-seven provinces from India to Ethiopia in their own script and their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language.

10 And he wrote in [the] name of the king Ahasuerus and he sealed [it] with [the] signet-ring of the king and he sent letters by [the] hand of couriers on horses [the] riders of the steed[s] royal [the] sons of the mares.

Mordecai wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus. He sealed it with the king’s signet ring. Dispatches were sent by mounted couriers who rode the swift, noble steeds, bred of the royal studs.

11 That he had permitted the king to the Jews - who [were] in every city and city to assemble and to make a stand on life their to annihilate and to kill and to destroy every army of people and province which attacks them little one[s] and women and spoil their to take as plunder.

In this way the king permitted the Jews who were in every city to gather together and make a stand for their life, to destroy, to kill, and annihilate all the armed forces of any people or province that might be hostile to them, including their children and women, and to take their goods as plunder

12 On a day one in all [the] provinces of the king Ahasuerus on [day] thir-teen of month two [plus] ten that [is] [the] month of Adar.

throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus on that thirteenth day of the twelfth month (which is called Adar).

13 copy of The writing [was] to be given law in every province and province being disclosed to all the peoples and to be (the Jews *Q(k)*) (ready *Q(K)*) for the day this to avenge themselves from enemies their.

A copy of the edict was to be published as a decree in every province – publicly displayed so that the Jews might be ready for that day and avenge themselves.

14 The couriers [the] riders of the steed[s] royal they went out hastened and hurried at [the] word of the king and the law it was given in Susa the citadel.

So the couriers who rode the swift, noble steeds went out, hastened and impelled by the king’s commands! Meantime the decree had been given out in the royal palace at Susa;

15 And Mordecai he went out - from to before the king in clothing of royalty of violet and white cloth and a crown of gold great and a robe of fine linen and purple and the city of Susa it shouted for joy and it rejoiced.

and Mordecai had gone out from the presence of the king in royal garments of violet and white and with a great crown of gold and with a robe of fine linen and purple. The people of Susa shouted and were glad.

16 To the Jews it belonged light and gladness and joy and honor.

To the Jews there came light and gladness and joy and honour.

17 And in every province and province and in every city and city [the] place where [the] word of the king and law his [was] reaching gladness and joy [belonged] to the Jews a feast and a day good and many of [the] peoples of the land [were] becoming Jews for it had fallen dread of the Jews on them.

And in every province and city, wherever the king’s command and decree came, there was gladness and joy among the Jews and a holiday. Many of the peoples of the earth professed to be Jews, for fear of the Jews took possession of them.