Esther 9

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW JERUSALEM
1 The king's command and decree came into force on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, Adar, andthe day on which the enemies of the Jews had hoped to crush them produced the very opposite effect: the Jewsit was who crushed their enemies.	1 The king's command and decree came into force on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, Adar, andthe day on which the enemies of the Jews had hoped to crush them produced the very opposite effect: the Jewsit was who crushed their enemies.
2 In their towns throughout the provinces of King Ahasuerus, the Jews assembled to strike at those whohad planned to injure them. No one resisted them, since the various peoples were now al afraid of them.	2 In their towns throughout the provinces of King Ahasuerus, the Jews assembled to strike at those whohad planned to injure them. No one resisted them, since the various peoples were now al afraid of them.
3 Provincial officers-of-state, satraps, governors and royal officials, al supported the Jews for fear ofMordecai.	3 Provincial officers-of-state, satraps, governors and royal officials, al supported the Jews for fear ofMordecai.
4 And indeed Mordecai was a power in the palace and his fame was spreading through al the provinces;Mordecai was steadily growing more powerful.	4 And indeed Mordecai was a power in the palace and his fame was spreading through al the provinces;Mordecai was steadily growing more powerful.
5 So the Jews struck down al their enemies with the sword, with resulting slaughter and destruction, andworked their wil on their opponents.	5 So the Jews struck down al their enemies with the sword, with resulting slaughter and destruction, andworked their wil on their opponents.
6 In the citadel of Susa alone, the Jews put to death and slaughtered five hundred men,	6 In the citadel of Susa alone, the Jews put to death and slaughtered five hundred men,
7 notably Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha,	7 notably Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha,
8 Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha,	8 Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha,
9 Parmashtha, Arisai, Aridai and Jezatha,	9 Parmashtha, Arisai, Aridai and Jezatha,
10 the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the persecutor of the Jews. But they took no plunder.	10 the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the persecutor of the Jews. But they took no plunder.
11 The number of those kil ed in the citadel of Susa was reported to the king that same day.	11 The number of those kil ed in the citadel of Susa was reported to the king that same day.
12 The king said to Queen Esther, 'In the citadel of Susa the Jews have killed five hundred men and alsothe ten sons of Haman. What must they have done in the other provinces of the realm? Tel me your request; Igrant it to you. Tel me what else you would like; it is yours for the asking.'	12 The king said to Queen Esther, 'In the citadel of Susa the Jews have killed five hundred men and alsothe ten sons of Haman. What must they have done in the other provinces of the realm? Tel me your request; Igrant it to you. Tel me what else you would like; it is yours for the asking.'
13 'If such is the king's pleasure,' Esther replied, 'let the Jews of Susa be al owed to enforce today'sdecree tomorrow as well. And as for the ten sons of Haman, let their bodies be hanged on the gal ows.'	13 'If such is the king's pleasure,' Esther replied, 'let the Jews of Susa be al owed to enforce today'sdecree tomorrow as well. And as for the ten sons of Haman, let their bodies be hanged on the gal ows.'
14 Whereupon, the king having given the order, the edict was promulgated in Susa and the ten sons ofHaman were hanged.	14 Whereupon, the king having given the order, the edict was promulgated in Susa and the ten sons ofHaman were hanged.
15 Thus the Jews of Susa reassembled on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and kil ed threehundred men in the city. But they took no plunder.	15 Thus the Jews of Susa reassembled on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and kil ed threehundred men in the city. But they took no plunder.
16 The other Jews who lived in the king's provinces also assembled to defend their lives and ridthemselves of their enemies. They slaughtered seventy-five thousand of their opponents. But they took noplunder.	16 The other Jews who lived in the king's provinces also assembled to defend their lives and ridthemselves of their enemies. They slaughtered seventy-five thousand of their opponents. But they took noplunder.
17 This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. On the fourteenth day they rested and made it aday of feasting and gladness.	17 This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. On the fourteenth day they rested and made it aday of feasting and gladness.
18 But for the Jews of Susa, who had assembled on the thirteenth and fourteenth days, the fifteenth wasthe day they rested, making that a day of feasting and gladness.	18 But for the Jews of Susa, who had assembled on the thirteenth and fourteenth days, the fifteenth wasthe day they rested, making that a day of feasting and gladness.
19 This is why Jewish country people, those who live in undefended vil ages, keep the fourteenth day ofthe month of Adar as a day of gladness, feasting and holiday-making, and the exchanging of presents with oneanother, (a) whereas for those who live in cities the day of rejoicing and exchanging presents with theirneighbours is the fifteenth day of Adar.	19 This is why Jewish country people, those who live in undefended vil ages, keep the fourteenth day ofthe month of Adar as a day of gladness, feasting and holiday-making, and the exchanging of presents with oneanother, (a) whereas for those who live in cities the day of rejoicing and exchanging presents with theirneighbours is the fifteenth day of Adar.
20 Mordecai committed these events to writing. Then he sent letters to all the Jews living in the provincesof King Ahasuerus, both near and far,	20 Mordecai committed these events to writing. Then he sent letters to all the Jews living in the provincesof King Ahasuerus, both near and far,
21 enjoining them to celebrate the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar every year,	21 enjoining them to celebrate the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar every year,
22 as the days on which the Jews had rid themselves of their enemies, and the month in which theirsorrow had been turned into gladness, and mourning into a holiday. He therefore told them to keep these asdays of festivity and gladness when they were to exchange presents and make gifts to the poor.	22 as the days on which the Jews had rid themselves of their enemies, and the month in which theirsorrow had been turned into gladness, and mourning into a holiday. He therefore told them to keep these asdays of festivity and gladness when they were to exchange presents and make gifts to the poor.
23 Once having begun, the Jews continued observing these practices, Mordecai having written them anaccount	23 Once having begun, the Jews continued observing these practices, Mordecai having written them anaccount
24 of how Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the persecutor of al the Jews, had plotted theirdestruction and had cast the pur, that is, the lot, for their overthrow and ruin;	24 of how Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the persecutor of al the Jews, had plotted theirdestruction and had cast the pur, that is, the lot, for their overthrow and ruin;
25 but how, when he went back to the king to ask him to order the hanging of Mordecai, the wickedscheme which he had devised against the Jews recoiled on his own head, and both he and his sons werehanged on the gallows;	25 but how, when he went back to the king to ask him to order the hanging of Mordecai, the wickedscheme which he had devised against the Jews recoiled on his own head, and both he and his sons werehanged on the gallows;
26 and that, hence, these days were cal ed Purim, from the word pur. And so, because of what waswritten in this letter, and because of what they had seen for themselves and of what had happened to them,	26 and that, hence, these days were cal ed Purim, from the word pur. And so, because of what waswritten in this letter, and because of what they had seen for themselves and of what had happened to them,
27 the Jews wil ingly bound themselves, their descendants and al who should join them, to celebratethese two days without fail, in the manner prescribed and at the time appointed, year after year.	27 the Jews wil ingly bound themselves, their descendants and al who should join them, to celebratethese two days without fail, in the manner prescribed and at the time appointed, year after year.
28 Thus commemorated and celebrated from generation to generation, in every family, in every province,in every city, these days of Purim will never be abrogated among the Jews, nor will their memory perish fromtheir race.	28 Thus commemorated and celebrated from generation to generation, in every family, in every province,in every city, these days of Purim will never be abrogated among the Jews, nor will their memory perish fromtheir race.
29 Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, wrote with ful authority to ratify this second letter,	29 Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, wrote with ful authority to ratify this second letter,
30 and sent letters to all the Jews of the hundred and twenty-seven provinces of the realm of Ahasuerus,in terms of peace and loyalty	30 and sent letters to all the Jews of the hundred and twenty-seven provinces of the realm of Ahasuerus,in terms of peace and loyalty
31 enjoining them to observe these days of Purim at the appointed time, as Mordecai the Jew hadrecommended, and in the manner prescribed for themselves and their descendants, with additional ordinancesfor fasts and lamentations.	31 enjoining them to observe these days of Purim at the appointed time, as Mordecai the Jew hadrecommended, and in the manner prescribed for themselves and their descendants, with additional ordinancesfor fasts and lamentations.
32 The ordinance of Esther fixed the law of Purim, which was then recorded in a book.	32 The ordinance of Esther fixed the law of Purim, which was then recorded in a book.