Esther 8:9–17

⁹On the twenty-third day of the third month^d—that is, the month Sivan—the royal scribes were summoned. Everything was written exactly as Mordecai^e commanded for the Jews, to the satraps,^f the governors, and the officials of the 127 provinces from India to Cush.^g The edict was written for each province in its own script, for each ethnic group in its own language,^h and to the Jews in their own script and language.

¹⁰Mordecai wrote in King Ahasuerus’s name and sealed the edicts with the royal signet ring. He sent the documents by mounted couriers,ⁱ who rode fast horses^j bred in the royal stables.

¹¹The king’s edict gave the Jews in each and every city the right to assemble and defend themselves, to destroy, kill, and annihilate every ethnic and provincial army hostile to them, including women and children, and to take their possessions as spoils of war.^{k 12}This would take place on a single day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month Adar.^l

¹³A copy of the text, issued as law throughout every province, was distributed to all the peoples^m so the Jews could be ready to avenge themselves against their enemies on that day. ¹⁴The couriers rode out in haste on their royal horses at the king’s urgent command. The law was also issued in the fortress of Susa.ⁿ

¹⁵Mordecai went from the king’s presence clothed in royal blue and white, with a great gold crown and a purple robe of fine linen.^o The city of Susa shouted and rejoiced,^{p 16}and the Jews celebrated^B with gladness, joy, and honor.^{q 17}In every province and every city where the king’s command and edict reached, gladness and joy took place among the Jews. There was a celebration and a holiday.^Ar And many of the ethnic groups of the land professed themselves to be Jews because fear of the Jews^s had overcome them.