Esther 3:12–15

¹²ⁿThen the king’s scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and a decree was written according to all that Haman commanded—to the king’s satraps, to the governors who were over each province, to the officials of all people, to every province ^oaccording to its script, and to every people in their language. ^pIn the name of King Ahasuerus it was written, and sealed with the king’s signet ring. ¹³And the letters were ^qsent by couriers into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, ^rin one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and ^sto plunder their ⁴possessions. ^14tA copy of the document was to be issued as law in every province, being published for all people, that they should be ready for that day. ¹⁵The couriers went out, hastened by the king’s command; and the decree was proclaimed in ⁵Shushan the ⁶citadel. So the king and Haman sat down to drink, but ^uthe city of Shushan was ⁷perplexed.