Esther 8:9–17

^9aSo the king’s scribes were called at that time in the third month (that is, the month Sivan), on the twenty-third ¹day; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, the satraps, the governors and the princes of the provinces which extended ^bfrom India to ²Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to ^cevery province according to its script, and to every people according to their language as well as to the Jews according to their script and their language.

¹⁰He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king’s signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on ^ahorses, riding on steeds sired by the royal stud.

¹¹¹In them the king granted the Jews who were in each and every city the right ^ato assemble and to defend their lives, ^bto destroy, to kill and to annihilate the entire army of any people or province which might attack them, including children and women, and ^cto plunder their spoil,

¹²on ^aone day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (that is, the month Adar).

^13aA copy of the edict to be ¹issued as law in each and every province was published to all the peoples, so that the Jews would be ready for this day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

¹⁴The couriers, hastened and impelled by the king’s command, went out, riding on the royal steeds; and the decree was given out at the citadel in Susa.

¹⁵Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king ^ain royal robes of ¹blue and white, with a large crown of gold and ^ba garment of fine linen and purple; and ^cthe city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.

¹⁶For the Jews there was ^alight and gladness and joy and honor.

¹⁷In each and every province and in each and every city, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree arrived, there was gladness and joy for the Jews, a feast and a ^1aholiday. And ^bmany among the peoples of the land became Jews, for the dread of the Jews had fallen on them.