Esther:1-3

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* Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus , (this is Ahasuerus which reigned , from India even unto Ethiopia , over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces :) * That in those days , when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom , which was in Shushan the palace , * In the third year of his reign , he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants ; the power of Persia and Media , the nobles and princes of the provinces , being before him : * When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days , even an hundred and fourscore days . * And when these days were expired , the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace , both unto great and small , seven days , in the court of the garden of the king 's palace ; * Where were white , green , and blue , hangings , fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble : the beds were of gold and silver , upon a pavement of red , and blue , and white , and black , marble . * And they gave them drink in vessels of gold , (the vessels being diverse one from another ,) and royal wine in abundance , according to the state of the king . * And the drinking was according to the law ; none did compel : for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house , that they should do according to every man 's pleasure . * Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus . * On the seventh day , when the heart of the king was merry with wine , he commanded Mehuman , Biztha , Harbona , Bigtha , and Abagtha , Zethar , and Carcas , the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king , * To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal , to shew the people and the princes her beauty : for she was fair to look on . * But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king 's commandment by his chamberlains : therefore was the king very wroth , and his anger burned in him . * Then the king said to the wise men , which knew the times , (for so was the king 's manner toward all that knew law and judgment : * And the next unto him was Carshena , Shethar , Admatha , Tarshish , Meres , Marsena , and Memucan , the seven princes of Persia and Media , which saw the king 's face , and which sat the first in the kingdom ;) * What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law , because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains ? * And Memucan answered before the king and the princes , Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only , but also to all the princes , and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus . * For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women , so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes , when it shall be reported , The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him , but she came not . * Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king 's princes , which have heard of the deed of the queen . Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath . * If it please the king , let there go a royal commandment from him , and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes , that it be not altered , That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus ; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she . * And when the king 's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire , (for it is great ,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour , both to great and small . * And the saying pleased the king and the princes ; and the king did according to the word of Memucan : * For he sent letters into all the king 's provinces , into every province according to the writing thereof , and to every people after their language , that every man should bear rule in his own house , and that it should be published according to the language of every people . * After these things , when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased , he remembered Vashti , and what she had done , and what was decreed against her . * Then said the king 's servants that ministered unto him , Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king : * And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom , that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace , to the house of the women , unto the custody of Hege the king 's chamberlain , keeper of the women ; and let their things for purification be given them : * And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti . And the thing pleased the king ; and he did so . * Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew , whose name was Mordecai , the son of Jair , the son of Shimei , the son of Kish , a Benjamite ; * Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah , whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away . * And he brought up Hadassah , that is , Esther , his uncle 's daughter : for she had neither father nor mother , and the maid was fair and beautiful ; whom Mordecai , when her father and mother were dead , took for his own daughter . * So it came to pass , when the king 's commandment and his decree was heard , and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace , to the custody of Hegai , that Esther was brought also unto the king 's house , to the custody of Hegai , keeper of the women . * And the maiden pleased him , and she obtained kindness of him ; and he speedily gave her her things for purification , with such things as belonged to her , and seven maidens , which were meet to be given her , out of the king 's house : and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women . * Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred : for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it . * And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women 's house , to know how Esther did , and what should become of her . * Now when every maid 's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus , after that she had been twelve months , according to the manner of the women , (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished , to wit , six months with oil of myrrh , and six months with sweet odours , and with other things for the purifying of the women ;) * Then thus came every maiden unto the king ; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king 's house . * In the evening she went , and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women , to the custody of Shaashgaz , the king 's chamberlain , which kept the concubines : she came in unto the king no more , except the king delighted in her , and that she were called by name . * Now when the turn of Esther , the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai , who had taken her for his daughter , was come to go in unto the king , she required nothing but what Hegai the king 's chamberlain , the keeper of the women , appointed . And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her . * So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month , which is the month Tebeth , in the seventh year of his reign . * And the king loved Esther above all the women , and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins ; so that he set the royal crown upon her head , and made her queen instead of Vashti . * Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants , even Esther 's feast ; and he made a release to the provinces , and gave gifts , according to the state of the king . * And when the virgins were gathered together the second time , then Mordecai sat in the king 's gate . * Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people ; as Mordecai had charged her : for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai , like as when she was brought up with him . * In those days , while Mordecai sat in the king 's gate , two of the king 's chamberlains , Bigthan and Teresh , of those which kept the door , were wroth , and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus . * And the thing was known to Mordecai , who told it unto Esther the queen ; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai 's name . * And when inquisition was made of the matter , it was found out ; therefore they were both hanged on a tree : and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king . * After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite , and advanced him , and set his seat above all the princes that were with him . * And all the king 's servants , that were in the king 's gate , bowed , and reverenced Haman : for the king had so commanded concerning him . But Mordecai bowed not , nor did him reverence . * Then the king 's servants , which were in the king 's gate , said unto Mordecai , Why transgressest thou the king 's commandment ? * Now it came to pass , when they spake daily unto him , and he hearkened not unto them , that they told Haman , to see whether Mordecai 's matters would stand : for he had told them that he was a Jew . * And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not , nor did him reverence , then was Haman full of wrath . * And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone ; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai : wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus , even the people of Mordecai . * In the first month , that is , the month Nisan , in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus , they cast Pur , that is , the lot , before Haman from day to day , and from month to month , to the twelfth month , that is , the month Adar . * And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus , There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom ; and their laws are diverse from all people ; neither keep they the king 's laws : therefore it is not for the king 's profit to suffer them . * If it please the king , let it be written that they may be destroyed : and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business , to bring it into the king 's treasuries . * And the king took his ring from his hand , and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite , the Jews ' enemy . * And the king said unto Haman , The silver is given to thee , the people also , to do with them as it seemeth good to thee . * Then were the king 's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month , and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king 's lieutenants , and to the governors that were over every province , and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof , and to every people after their language ; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written , and sealed with the king 's ring . * And the letters were sent by posts into all the king 's provinces , to destroy , to kill , and to cause to perish , all Jews , both young and old , little children and women , in one day , even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month , which is the month Adar , and to take the spoil of them for a prey . * The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people , that they should be ready against that day . * The posts went out , being hastened by the king 's commandment , and the decree was given in Shushan the palace . And the king and Haman sat down to drink ; but the city Shushan was perplexed . * When Mordecai perceived all that was done , Mordecai rent his clothes , and put on sackcloth with ashes , and went out into the midst of the city , and cried with a loud and a bitter cry ;

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