29,314 verses contain “And” (in the KJV: 28,365, in the BSB: 19,838) — showing 11,401–11,500
King James Bible KJV Bible
Berean Standard Bible BSB Bible
But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two
and thirtieth year of
Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king,
and after certain days obtained I leave of the king:
While all this was happening, I was not in Jerusalem, because I had returned to
Artaxerxes king of Babylon in the thirty-second year of his reign. Some time later I obtained leave from the king
And I came to Jerusalem,
and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for
Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.
to return to Jerusalem. Then I discovered the evil that Eliashib had done on behalf of
Tobiah by providing him a room in the courts of the house of God.
And it
grieved me
sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of
Tobiah out of the chamber.
And I was greatly displeased
and threw all of
Tobiah’s household goods out of the room.
Then I commanded,
and they
cleansed the chambers:
and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering
and the
frankincense.
Then I ordered that the rooms be
purified,
and I had the articles of the house of God restored to them, along with the grain offerings
and frankincense.
And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.
I also learned that because the portions for the Levites had not been given to them, all the Levites and singers responsible for performing the service had gone back to their own fields.
Then
contended I with the rulers,
and said, Why is the house of God
forsaken?
And I gathered them together,
and set them in their place.
So I
rebuked the officials
and asked, “Why has the house of God been neglected?” Then I gathered the Levites
and singers together
and stationed them at their posts,
Then brought all Judah the
tithe of the corn
and the new wine
and the oil unto the
treasuries.
and all Judah brought a tenth of the grain, new wine, and oil into the storerooms.
And I made treasurers over the
treasuries, Shelemiah the priest,
and Zadok the
scribe,
and of the Levites, Pedaiah:
and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful,
and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.
I appointed as treasurers over the storerooms Shelemiah the priest,
Zadok the
scribe,
and Pedaiah of the Levites, with Hanan son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, to assist them, because they were considered
trustworthy. They were responsible for distributing the supplies to their fellow Levites.
Remember me, O my God, concerning this,
and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God,
and for the offices thereof.
Remember me for this, O my God,
and do not
blot out my deeds of loving devotion for the house of my God
and for its services.
In those days saw I in Judah some
treading winepresses on the sabbath,
and bringing in
sheaves,
and lading asses; as also wine, grapes,
and figs,
and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day:
and I
testified against them in the day wherein they sold
victuals.
In those days I saw people in Judah
treading winepresses on the Sabbath
and bringing in grain
and loading it on
donkeys, along with wine, grapes,
and figs. All kinds of goods were being brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I
warned them against selling food on that day.
There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
Additionally, men of Tyre who lived there were importing fish
and all kinds of
merchandise and selling them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah in Jerusalem.
Then I
contended with the nobles of Judah,
and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do,
and profane the sabbath day?
Then I
rebuked the nobles of Judah
and asked, “What is this evil you are doing—
profaning the Sabbath day?
Did not your fathers thus,
and did not our God bring all this evil upon us,
and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by
profaning the sabbath.
Did not your forefathers do the same things, so that our God brought all this
disaster on us
and on this city?
And now you are
rekindling His wrath against Israel by
profaning the Sabbath!”
And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.
When the evening shadows began to fall on the gates of Jerusalem, just before the Sabbath, I ordered that the gates be shut and not opened until after the Sabbath. I posted some of my servants at the gates so that no load could enter on the Sabbath day.
So the merchants
and sellers of all kind of ware
lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.
Once or twice, the merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem,
Then I
testified against them,
and said unto them, Why
lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath.
but I
warned them, “Why are you camping in front of the wall? If you do it again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on, they did not return on the Sabbath.
And I commanded the Levites that they should
cleanse themselves,
and that they should come
and keep the gates, to
sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also,
and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.
Then I
instructed the Levites to
purify themselves
and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this as well, O my God,
and show me mercy according to Your abundant loving devotion.
In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of
Ashdod, of
Ammon,
and of Moab:
In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from
Ashdod,
Ammon,
and Moab.
And their children spake half in the speech of
Ashdod,
and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people.
Half of their children spoke the language of
Ashdod or of the other peoples, but could not speak the language of Judah.
And I
contended with them,
and cursed them,
and smote certain of them,
and plucked off their hair,
and made them
swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for
yourselves.
I
rebuked them
and called down curses on them. I beat some of these men
and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath before God
and said, “You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or for
yourselves!
Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God,
and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did
outlandish women cause to sin.
Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel—yet foreign women drew him into sin.
Shall we then
hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to
transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?
Must we now hear that you too are doing all this terrible evil and acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?”
And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to
Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I
chased him from me.
Even one of the sons of Jehoiada son of Eliashib the high priest had become a son-in-law to
Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I drove him away from me.
Remember them, O my God, because they have
defiled the priesthood,
and the covenant of the priesthood,
and of the Levites.
Remember them, O my God, because they have
defiled the priesthood
and the covenant of the priesthood
and of the Levites.
Thus
cleansed I them from all strangers,
and appointed the wards of the priests
and the Levites, every one in his business;
Thus I
purified the priests
and Levites from everything foreign,
and I assigned specific duties to each of the priests
and Levites.
And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.
I also arranged for contributions of wood at the appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, with favor.
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:)
This is what happened in the days of
Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces from India to
Cush.
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:
In the third year of his reign,
Xerxes held a feast for all his officials
and servants. The military leaders of Persia
and Media were there, along with the nobles
and princes of the provinces.
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 for a full 180 days he displayed the glorious riches of his kingdom
and the magnificent
splendor of his greatness.
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;
At the end of this time, in the garden court of the royal palace, the king held a seven-day feast for all the people in the citadel of
Susa, from the least to the greatest.
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.
Hangings of white
and blue linen were fastened with cords of fine white
and purple material to silver rings on the marble pillars. Gold
and silver couches were arranged on a mosaic
pavement of
porphyry, marble, mother-of-
pearl,
and other costly stones.
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.
Beverages were served in an
array of goblets of gold, each with a different design,
and the royal wine flowed freely, according to the king’s
bounty.
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.
By order of the king, no limit was placed on the drinking, and every official of his household was to serve each man whatever he desired.
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,
On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was
merry with wine, he ordered the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar,
and Carkas—
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.
to bring Queen Vashti before him, wearing her royal crown, to display her beauty to the people and officials. For she was beautiful to behold.
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.
Queen Vashti, however, refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs.
And the king became
furious,
and his anger burned within 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:
Then the king consulted the wise men who knew the times, for it was customary for him to
confer with the experts in law
and justice.
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;)
His closest advisors were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha,
Tarshish, Meres, Marsena,
and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia
and Media who had personal access to the king
and ranked highest in the kingdom.
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.
And in the presence of the king
and his princes, Memucan replied, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king, but all the princes
and the peoples in all the provinces of King
Xerxes.
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.
For the conduct of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to
despise their husbands
and say, ‘King
Xerxes ordered Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she did not come.’
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.
This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard about the queen’s conduct will say the same thing to all the king’s officials, resulting in 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.
So if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree,
and let it be recorded in the laws of Persia
and Media so that it cannot be
repealed, that Vashti shall never again enter the presence of King
Xerxes,
and that her royal position shall be given to a woman 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.
The edict the king issues will be heard throughout his vast kingdom—and so all women, from the least to the greatest, will honor their husbands.”
And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:
The king
and his princes were pleased with this counsel; so the king did as Memucan had
advised.
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.
He sent letters to all the provinces of the kingdom, to each province in its own
script and to each people in their own language,
proclaiming that every man should be master of his own household.
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.
Some time later, when the anger of King
Xerxes had
subsided, he remembered Vashti
and what she had done,
and what had been decreed against her.
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 king
appoint commissioners in each province of his kingdom to
assemble all the beautiful young women into the
harem at the citadel of
Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s
eunuch in charge of the women,
and let them be given beauty treatments.
And let the
maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti.
And the thing pleased the king;
and he did so.
Then let the young woman who pleases the king become queen in place of Vashti.” This suggestion pleased the king, and he acted accordingly.
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.
And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah (that is,
Esther), the daughter of his uncle, because she did not have a father or mother. The young woman was lovely in form
and appearance,
and when her father
and mother had died,
Mordecai had taken her in as 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.
When the king’s command
and edict had been proclaimed, many young women gathered at the citadel of
Susa under the care of Hegai.
Esther was also taken to the palace
and placed under the care of Hegai, the
custodian 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.
And the young woman pleased him
and obtained his favor, so he quickly provided her with beauty treatments
and the special diet. He assigned to her seven select maidservants from the palace
and transferred her with them to the best place in the
harem.
And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how
Esther did,
and what should become of her.
And every day
Mordecai would walk back
and forth in front of the court of the
harem to learn about
Esther’s
welfare and what was happening to 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;)
In the twelve months before her turn to go to King
Xerxes, the
harem regulation required each young woman to receive beauty treatments with oil of
myrrh for six months,
and then with perfumes
and cosmetics for another six months.
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.
She would go there in the evening,
and in the morning she would return to a second
harem under the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s
eunuch in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he delighted in her
and summoned her 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.
Now
Esther was the daughter of Abihail, the uncle from whom
Mordecai had adopted her as his own daughter.
And when it was her turn to go to the king, she did not ask for anything except what Hegai, the king’s trusted official in charge of the
harem, had
advised.
And Esther found favor in the eyes of
everyone who saw her.
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.
And the king loved
Esther more than all the other women,
and she found grace
and favor in his sight more than all of the other virgins. So he placed the royal crown upon her head
and made her queen in place 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.
Then the king held a great
banquet,
Esther’s
banquet, for all his officials
and servants. He proclaimed a tax
holiday in the provinces
and gave gifts worthy of the king’s
bounty.
And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then
Mordecai sat in the king’s gate.
When the virgins were assembled a second time,
Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate.
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.
When
Mordecai learned of the plot, he reported it to Queen
Esther,
and she informed the king on
Mordecai’s behalf.
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 the report had been investigated
and verified, both officials were
hanged on the
gallows.
And all this was recorded in the Book of the Chronicles in the presence of 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.
After these events, King
Xerxes honored
Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite,
elevating him to a position above all the princes who 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.
All the royal servants at the king’s gate bowed down
and paid
homage to
Haman, because the king had commanded that this be done for him. But
Mordecai would not bow down or pay
homage.
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.
And when he learned the identity of
Mordecai’s people, he
scorned the notion of laying hands on
Mordecai alone. Instead, he sought to destroy all of
Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the kingdom of
Xerxes.
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.
In the
twelfth year of King
Xerxes, in the first month, the month of
Nisan, the
Pur (that is, the lot) was cast before
Haman to determine a day
and month.
And the lot fell on the
twelfth month, the month of
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.
Then
Haman informed King
Xerxes, “There is a certain people scattered
and dispersed among the peoples of every province of your kingdom. Their laws are different from
everyone else’s,
and they do not obey the king’s laws. So it is not in the king’s best interest to
tolerate 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.
If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will deposit ten thousand talents of silver into the royal treasury to pay those who carry it out.”
And the king took his ring from his hand,
and gave it unto
Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy.
So the king removed the
signet ring from his finger
and gave it to
Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.
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.
“Keep your money,” said the king to
Haman. “These people are given to you to do with them as you please.”
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.
On the
thirteenth day of the first month, the royal
scribes were summoned
and the order was written exactly as
Haman commanded the royal satraps, the governors of each province,
and the officials of each people, in the
script of each province
and the language of every people. It was written in the name of King
Xerxes and sealed with the royal
signet 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.
And the letters were sent by couriers to each of the royal provinces with the order to destroy, kill,
and annihilate all the Jews—young
and old, women
and children—
and to
plunder their possessions on a single day, the
thirteenth day of
Adar, the
twelfth month.
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.
A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued in every province and published to all the people, so that they would be ready on 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.
The couriers left,
spurred on by the king’s command,
and the edict was issued in the citadel of
Susa. Then the king
and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of
Susa was in confusion.
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;
When
Mordecai learned of all that had happened, he
tore his clothes, put on
sackcloth and ashes,
and went out into the middle of the city,
wailing loudly
and bitterly.
And came even before the king’s gate: for none might enter into the king’s gate clothed with
sackcloth.
But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because the law prohibited
anyone wearing
sackcloth from entering that gate.
In every province to which the king’s command
and edict came, there was great
mourning among the Jews. They fasted,
wept,
and lamented,
and many lay in
sackcloth and ashes.
When
Esther’s maidens
and eunuchs came
and told her about
Mordecai, the queen was overcome with distress. She sent clothes for
Mordecai to wear instead of his
sackcloth, but he would not accept them.
Then called
Esther for Hatach, one of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her,
and gave him a commandment to
Mordecai, to know what it was,
and why it was.
Then
Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs appointed to her,
and she
dispatched him to
Mordecai to learn what was troubling him
and why.
And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him,
and of the sum of the money that
Haman had promised to pay to the king’s
treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.
and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money that
Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury in order to destroy the Jews.
Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at
Shushan to destroy them, to
shew it unto
Esther,
and to declare it unto her,
and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make
supplication unto him,
and to make request before him for her people.
Mordecai also gave Hathach a copy of the written decree issued in
Susa for the destruction of the Jews, to show
and explain to
Esther,
urging her to approach the king,
implore his favor,
and plead before him for her people.
Again
Esther spake unto Hatach,
and gave him commandment unto
Mordecai;
All the king’s servants,
and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that
whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden
sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.
“All the royal officials
and the people of the king’s provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned—that he be put to death. Only if the king extends the gold
scepter may that person live. But I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the past thirty days.”
For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there
enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou
and thy father’s house shall be destroyed:
and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
For if you remain silent at this time, relief
and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you
and your father’s house will perish.
And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in
Shushan,
and fast ye for me,
and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also
and my maidens will fast likewise;
and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law:
and if I perish, I perish.
“Go
and assemble all the Jews who can be found in
Susa,
and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day,
and I
and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law.
And if I perish, I perish!”
So
Mordecai went his way,
and did according to all that
Esther had commanded him.
Now it came to pass on the third day, that
Esther put on her royal
apparel,
and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s house:
and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.
On the third day,
Esther put on her royal
attire and stood in the inner court of the palace across from the king’s quarters. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal courtroom, facing the entrance.
And it was so, when the king saw
Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight:
and the king held out to
Esther the golden
sceptre that was in his hand. So
Esther drew near,
and touched the top of the
sceptre.
As soon as the king saw Queen
Esther standing in the court, she found favor in his sight. The king extended the gold
scepter in his hand toward
Esther,
and she approached
and touched the
tip of the
scepter.
Then said the king unto her, What
wilt thou, queen
Esther?
and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.
“What is it, Queen
Esther?” the king inquired. “What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given to you.”
And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king
and Haman come this day unto the
banquet that I have prepared for him.
“If it pleases the king,”
Esther replied, “may the king
and Haman come
today to the
banquet I have prepared for the king.”
And the king said unto
Esther at the
banquet of wine, What is thy petition?
and it shall be granted thee:
and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.
And as they
drank their wine, the king said to
Esther, “What is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.”
Then answered
Esther,
and said, My petition
and my request is;
Esther replied, “This is my petition
and my request:
If I have found favour in the sight of the king,
and if it please the king to grant my petition,
and to perform my request, let the king
and Haman come to the
banquet that I shall prepare for them,
and I will do to
morrow as the king hath said.
If I have found favor in the sight of the king,
and if it pleases the king to grant my petition
and fulfill my request, may the king
and Haman come
tomorrow to the
banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”
Nevertheless
Haman refrained himself:
and when he came home, he sent
and called for his friends,
and Zeresh his wife.
Nevertheless,
Haman restrained himself
and went home.
And calling for his friends
and his wife Zeresh,
And Haman told them of the glory of his riches,
and the multitude of his children,
and all the things wherein the king had promoted him,
and how he had advanced him above the princes
and servants of the king.
Haman recounted to them his glorious wealth, his many sons,
and all the ways the king had honored
and promoted him over the other officials
and servants.