Esther 8:9–17

^9zThe king’s scribes were summoned at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day. And an edict was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews, to ^athe satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces ^bfrom India to Ethiopia, ^b127 provinces, ^cto each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language. ^10dAnd he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus ^eand sealed it with the king’s signet ring. Then he sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on ^fswift horses that were used in the king’s service, bred from the royal stud, ¹¹saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city ^gto gather and defend their lives, ^hto destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included, ⁱand to plunder their goods, ^12jon one day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. ^13kA copy of what was written was to be issued as a decree in every province, being publicly displayed to all peoples, and the Jews were to be ready on that day to take vengeance on their enemies. ¹⁴So the couriers, mounted on their ^fswift horses that were used in the king’s service, rode out hurriedly, urged by the king’s command. And the decree was issued in Susa the citadel.

¹⁵Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king ^lin royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown² and ^ma robe of fine linen and purple, ⁿand the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. ¹⁶The Jews had ^olight and gladness and joy and honor. ¹⁷And in every province and in every city, wherever the king’s command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and ^pa holiday. ^qAnd many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, ^rfor fear of the Jews had fallen on them.