Chapter 8 On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman,
the Jew's enemy, unto Esther the queen.
And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told what he was unto her.
And 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.
And 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.
Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther.
So Esther arose, and stood before the king, and 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 Hamadatha, the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the
Jews which are in all the king's provinces.
For how can I endure to see the evil which shall come unto my people?
For how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?
Then 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.
Write 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.
Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is the
month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof.
And it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews,
and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces, which are
from India unto Ethiopia, and hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every
province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their
language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their
language.
And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus's name, and sealed it with the king's ring,
and sent letters by posts, on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young
dromedaries.
Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city, to gather themselves
together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to
perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them,
both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey, upon one day
in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the
twelfth month, which is the month Adar.
The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was
published unto all people.
And that the Jews should be ready against that day, to avenge themselves on their
enemies.
So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and
pressed on by the king's commandment.
And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.
And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and
white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and
purple.
And the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor.
And in every province and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and
his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day.
And many of the people of the land became Jews, for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.