Esther 8

And on that same day King Artaxerxes made a gift to Esther of all that had belonged to Haman the slanderer; and Mordecai was summoned by the king, for Esther had disclosed that he was related to her.

And the king took the ring which he had taken away from Haman and gave it to Mordecai; and Esther set Mordecai over everything that had been Haman's.

And she spoke yet again to the king, and fell at his feet, and begged him to take away Haman's malice and all that he had done to the Jews.

And the king extended the golden rod to Esther, and Esther was raised up to stand before the king.

And Esther said: If it seems good to you, and if I have found favour, let an order be sent to revoke the letters sent by Haman, those written to destroy the Jews who are in your kingdom.

For how shall I be able to look upon the ill-treatment of my people? And how shall I be able to be saved in the destruction of my homeland?

And the king said to Esther: If I have given and granted to you all the possessions of Haman, and have hanged him upon a piece of wood because he laid hands on the Jews, what more do you seek?

Write, you also, in my name as seems good to you, and seal it with my ring; for whatever is written at the king's command and sealed with my ring, there is no contradicting it.

So the scribes were summoned in the first month, which is Nisa, on the twenty-third day of that same year; and it was written to the Jews all that he commanded to the stewards and to the rulers of the satraps from India to Ethiopia, one hundred and twenty-seven satrapies, province by province, according to their own speech.

And it was written through the king and sealed with his ring, and they sent out the letters by couriers.

in that he ordered them to follow their own laws in every city, both to help one another and to deal with their adversaries and their opponents as they pleased,

on one day in all the kingdom of Artaxerxes, on the thirteenth of the twelfth month, which is Adar. Of these things the copy of the letter is what is written below: The great king Artaxerxes, to the rulers of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, one hundred and twenty-seven satrapies, and to those who are loyal to our interests: greetings. Many, being honoured ever more often by the exceeding generosity of their benefactors, have thought too highly of themselves, and not only do they seek to do harm to those subject to us, but, being unable to bear their own surfeit, they even undertake to plot against their own benefactors. And they not only abolish gratitude from among men, but also, puffed up by the boastings of those who know nothing of goodness, they suppose that they will escape the evil-hating justice of God, who always watches over all things. And often, too, the persuasion of friends entrusted with the management of affairs has made many of those set in positions of authority accomplices in the shedding of innocent blood, and has wrapped them in irreparable calamities, when men have deceived by the lying sophistry of malice the unmixed good faith of those who hold power. And this may be observed, not so much from the older histories which we have handed down, as from the things that lie at your feet, if you search them out—the unholy deeds accomplished by the pestilence of those who wield power unworthily. And we must take heed for the time to come, that we may render the kingdom undisturbed for all people, with peace, dealing with the changes of circumstance and always deciding the matters that come before our eyes with a more equitable response. For Haman son of Hamadathos, a Macedonian, in truth a stranger to the blood of the Persians and far removed from our kindness, was received by us as a guest and obtained that benevolence which we hold toward every nation, to such a degree that he was proclaimed our father and continued to be the person second to the royal throne, bowed down to by all. But he could not carry his arrogance, and he set himself to deprive us of our rule and of our very breath, seeking by intricate deceits of stratagems the destruction of Mordecai, our saviour and perpetual benefactor, and of Esther, the blameless partner of our kingdom, together with their whole nation. For by these methods he thought that, catching us defenceless, he might transfer the dominion of the Persians to the Macedonians. But we find that the Jews, delivered up to annihilation by this thrice-accursed man, are not evildoers, but order their lives by the most righteous laws, and are sons of the Most High, greatest, living God, who has directed the kingdom for us and for our forefathers in the finest order. You will therefore do well not to act upon the letters sent by Haman son of Hamadathos, because the very man who carried these things out has been impaled at the gates of Susa together with his whole household, God who rules over all things having swiftly rendered to him the judgment he deserved. And posting the copy of this letter in every place, allow the Jews openly to follow their own customs, and give them your support, so that on the thirteenth of the twelfth month Adar, on that very day, they may defend themselves against those who attack them in the time of affliction. For this day God, who has dominion over all things, has made for them a gladness instead of the destruction of the chosen race. You also, therefore, among the feasts you observe by name, keep this as a notable day with all festivity, so that both now and afterward it may be salvation for us and for the Persians who are well-disposed toward us, but for those who plot against us a memorial of destruction. And every city or region whatsoever that does not act according to these things shall be consumed with spear and fire in wrath; not only shall it be untrodden by men, but it shall also be set up as most hateful to beasts and birds for all time.

And let the copies be posted openly in all the kingdom, and let all the Jews be ready for that day, to fight against their adversaries.

So then the horsemen went out, hastening to accomplish what the king had said; and the decree was also posted in Susa.

And Mordecai went out robed in the royal robe, wearing a golden crown and a diadem of purple fine linen; and when those in Susa saw it, they rejoiced.

And for the Jews there was light and gladness.

In every city and province where the decree was posted, where the ordinance was posted, there was joy and gladness for the Jews, carousing and gladness; and many of the nations were circumcised and became Jews, because of the fear of the Jews.