4,553 verses contain “Eve” (in the KJV: 3,396, in the BSB: 2,072) — showing 1,501–1,600
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This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him,
even unto
Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time.
(This is the text of the letter they sent to him.) To King
Artaxerxes, From your servants, the men west of the Euphrates:
Then the prophets,
Haggai the prophet, and
Zechariah the son of
Iddo,
prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel,
even unto them.
Later, the prophets
Haggai and
Zechariah son of
Iddo prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them.
Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished.
So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of the house of God in Jerusalem, and from that time until now it has been under construction, but it has not yet been completed.”
And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which
Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem,
every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.
Furthermore, the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which
Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and carried to Babylon, must also be returned to the temple in Jerusalem and deposited in the house of God.
Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods,
even of the tribute beyond the river,
forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.
I
hereby decree what you must do for these elders of the Jews who are rebuilding this house of God: The cost is to be paid in full to these men from the royal treasury out of the taxes of the provinces west of the Euphrates, so that the work will not be hindered.
Now this is the copy of the letter that the king
Artaxerxes gave unto
Ezra the priest, the
scribe,
even a
scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.
This is the text of the letter King
Artaxerxes had given to
Ezra the priest and
scribe, an
expert in the commandments and statutes of the LORD to Israel:
And I,
even I
Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that
whatsoever Ezra the priest, the
scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,
I, King
Artaxerxes, decree to all the treasurers west of the Euphrates: Whatever
Ezra the priest, the
scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may require of you, it must be provided
promptly,
And
weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels,
even the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered:
and I
weighed out to them the contribution of silver and gold and the articles that the king, his counselors, his leaders, and all the Israelites there had offered for the house of our God.
I
even weighed unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels an hundred talents, and of gold an hundred talents;
I
weighed out into their hands 650 talents of silver, articles of silver weighing 100 talents, 100 talents of gold,
By number and by weight of every one: and all the weight was written at that time.
Everything was
verified by number and weight, and the total weight was recorded at that time.
Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations,
even of the
Canaanites, the
Hittites, the
Perizzites, the Jebusites, the
Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the
Amorites.
After these things had been accomplished, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the surrounding peoples whose abominations are like those of the
Canaanites,
Hittites,
Perizzites, Jebusites,
Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and
Amorites.
Then were assembled unto me
every one that
trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the
transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat
astonied until the
evening sacrifice.
Then
everyone who
trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles, while I sat there in
horror until the
evening offering.
And at the
evening sacrifice I arose up from my
heaviness; and having rent my garment and my
mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God.
At the
evening offering, I got up from my
humiliation with my
tunic and
cloak torn, and I fell on my knees, spread out my hands to the LORD my God,
And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a
remnant to escape, and to give us a
nail in his holy place, that our God may
lighten our eyes, and give us a little
reviving in our
bondage.
But now, for a brief moment, grace has come from the LORD our God to preserve for us a
remnant and to give us a
stake in His holy place.
Even in our
bondage, our God has given us new life and light to our eyes.
Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.
Now, therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Never seek their peace or prosperity, so that you may be strong and may eat the good things of the land, leaving it as an inheritance to your sons
forever.’
Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us.
Let our leaders represent the whole assembly. Then let
everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman come at an appointed time, together with the elders and judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God in this matter is turned away from us.”
But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the
uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.
but if you return to Me and keep and practice My commandments, then
even if your exiles have been banished to the
farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for My Name.’
And said unto the king, Let the king live for
ever: why should not my countenance be
sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’
sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?
and replied to the king, “May the king live
forever! Why should I not be
sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”
And I went out by night by the gate of the valley,
even before the
dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.
So I went out at night through the Valley Gate toward the Well of the Serpent and the Dung Gate, and I
inspected the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and the gates that had been destroyed by fire.
Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they
sanctified it, and set up the doors of it;
even unto the tower of Meah they
sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.
At the Sheep Gate, Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests began rebuilding. They dedicated it and
installed its doors. After building as far as the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel, they dedicated the wall.
And next unto them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, even over against his house. And next unto him repaired Hattush the son of Hashabniah.
next to him, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs across from his house; and next to him, Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs.
After him repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of Koz another piece, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.
Next to him, Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired another section, from the
doorway of the house of Eliashib to the end of the house.
After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad another piece, from the house of
Azariah unto the turning of the wall,
even unto the corner.
After him, Binnui son of Henadad repaired another section, from the house of
Azariah to the angle and the corner,
After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over against the great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of Ophel.
And next to them, the Tekoites repaired another section, from a point opposite the great tower that juts out to the wall of Ophel.
From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.
Above the Horse Gate, each of the priests made repairs in front of his own house.
Now
Tobiah the
Ammonite was by him, and he said,
Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall
even break down their stone wall.
Then
Tobiah the
Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “If
even a fox were to
climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!”
Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
So I stationed men behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the
vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows.
And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to
nought, that we returned all of us to the wall,
every one unto his work.
When our enemies heard that we were aware of their scheme and that God had
frustrated it, each of us returned to his own work on the wall.
They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that
laded,
every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.
who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other.
For the builders,
every one had his sword
girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the
trumpet was by me.
And each of the builders worked with his sword
strapped at his side. But the
trumpeter stayed beside me.
Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let
every one with his servant
lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labour on the day.
At that time I also said to the people, “Let
every man and his servant
spend the night inside Jerusalem, so that they can stand guard by night and work by day.”
So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing.
So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the guards with me changed out of our clothes; each carried his weapon, even to go for water.
Then I consulted with myself, and I
rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact
usury,
every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.
and after serious thought I
rebuked the nobles and officials, saying, “You are exacting
usury from your own brothers!” So I called a large assembly against them
And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer.
and said, “We have done our best to
buy back our Jewish brothers who were sold to foreigners, but now you are selling your own brothers, that they may be sold back to us!” But they remained silent, for they could find nothing to say.
Restore, I pray you, to them,
even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the
hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.
Please restore to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses, along with the percentage of the money, grain, new wine, and oil that you have been
assessing them.”
Also I
shook my
lap, and said, So God
shake out
every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise,
even thus be he
shaken out, and
emptied. And all the congregation said,
Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.
I also
shook out the folds of my
robe and said, “May God likewise
shake out of His house and possession
every man who does not keep this promise. May such a man be
shaken out and have nothing!” The whole assembly said, “
Amen,” and they praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.
Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the
twentieth year
even unto the two and
thirtieth year of
Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.
Furthermore, from the day King
Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah, from his
twentieth year until his thirty-second year (twelve years total), neither I nor my brothers
ate the food
allotted to the governor.
But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver;
yea,
even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.
The governors before me had
heavily burdened the people, taking from them bread and wine
plus forty shekels of silver. Their servants also
oppressed the people, but I did not do this because of my fear of God.
Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the
bondage was heavy upon this people.
Each day one ox, six choice sheep, and some fowl were prepared for me, and once
every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine was provided. But I did not demand the food
allotted to the governor, because the burden on the people was so heavy.
And thou hast also appointed prophets to
preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.
and you have
even appointed prophets in Jerusalem to
proclaim on your behalf: ‘There is a king in Judah.’ Soon these rumors will reach the ears of the king. So come, let us
confer together.”
And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and
appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem,
every one in his watch, and
every one to be over against his house.
And I told them, “Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot. While the guards are on duty, keep the doors shut and securely fastened. And
appoint the residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some at their own homes.”
These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom
Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah,
every one unto his city;
These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles carried away to Babylon by
Nebuchadnezzar its king. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town,
And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto
Ezra the
scribe,
even to understand the words of the law.
On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and Levites, gathered around
Ezra the
scribe to study the words of the Law.
So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim.
And the people went out, brought back branches, and made booths on their own rooftops, in their courtyards, in the court of the house of God, and in the squares by the Water Gate and by the Gate of Ephraim.
Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and
bless the LORD your God for
ever and
ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is
exalted above all blessing and praise.
Then the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—said, “Stand up and
bless the LORD your God from
everlasting to
everlasting: Blessed be Your glorious name, and may it be
exalted above all blessing and praise.
Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.
You alone are the LORD. You created the heavens, the highest heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all things, and the host of heaven worships You.
Yea, when they had made them a
molten calf, and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations;
Even when they cast for themselves an image of a
calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and when they committed terrible blasphemies,
Moreover thou gavest them kingdoms and nations, and
didst divide them into corners: so they possessed the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of
Heshbon, and the land of
Og king of
Bashan.
You gave them kingdoms and peoples and
allotted to them
every corner of the land. So they took the land of Sihon king of
Heshbon and of
Og king of
Bashan.
For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.
For
even while they were in their kingdom, with the abundant goodness that You had given them, and in the
spacious and fertile land that You had set before them, they would not serve You or turn from their wicked ways.
And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the
porters, the singers, the
Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters,
every one having knowledge, and having understanding;
“The rest of the people—the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants, and all who had separated themselves from the people of the land to obey the Law of God—along with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand,
And if the people of the land bring ware or any
victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not
buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the
exaction of
every debt.
When the people of the land bring
merchandise or any kind of grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we will not
buy from them on a Sabbath or holy day.
Every seventh year we will let the fields lie
fallow, and will
cancel every debt.
And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD:
We will also bring the firstfruits of our land and of every fruit tree to the house of the LORD year by year.
Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelt
every one in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the
Nethinims, and the children of Solomon’s servants.
These are the heads of the provinces who settled in Jerusalem. (In the villages of Judah, however, each lived on his own property in their towns—the Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon’s servants—
And the residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance.
The rest of the Israelites, with the priests and Levites, were in all the villages of Judah, each on his own inheritance.
For it was the king’s commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day.
For there was a command from the king concerning the singers, an
ordinance regulating their daily
activities.
And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king’s hand in all matters concerning the people.
Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, a
descendant of Zerah son of Judah, was the king’s agent in
every matter concerning the people.
The sons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib.
As for the descendants of Levi, the family heads up to the days of Johanan son of Eliashib were recorded in the Book of the Chronicles.
And at the fountain gate, which was over against them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, above the house of David, even unto the water gate eastward.
At the Fountain Gate they
climbed the steps of the City of David on the
ascent to the wall and passed above the house of David to the Water Gate on the east.
And the other company of them that gave
thanks went over against them, and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces
even unto the broad wall;
The second
thanksgiving choir proceeded to the left, and I followed it with half the people along the top of the wall, past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall,
And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above the fish gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even unto the sheep gate: and they stood still in the prison gate.
over the Gate of Ephraim, the Jeshanah Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate. And they stopped at the Gate of the Guard.
Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and
rejoiced: for God had made them
rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children
rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard
even afar off.
On that day they offered great sacrifices,
rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also
rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from
afar.
And all Israel in the days of
Zerubbabel, and in the days of
Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the
porters,
every day his portion: and they
sanctified holy things unto the Levites; and the Levites
sanctified them unto the children of Aaron.
So in the days of
Zerubbabel and
Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the singers and gatekeepers. They also set aside daily portions for the Levites, and the Levites set aside daily portions for the descendants of Aaron.
On that day they read in the book of Moses in the
audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the
Ammonite and the
Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for
ever;
At that time the Book of Moses was read
aloud in the hearing of the people, and in it they found the passage stating that no
Ammonite or
Moabite should
ever enter the assembly of God,
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
When the young woman would go to the king, she was given whatever she requested to take with her from the
harem to the king’s palace.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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!”
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 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 the king said to
Haman, Make
haste, and take the
apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do
even so to
Mordecai the
Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.
“
Hurry,” said the king to
Haman, “and do just as you proposed. Take the
robe and the horse to
Mordecai the
Jew, who is sitting at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything that you have suggested.”
And
Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends
every thing that had
befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If
Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.
Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends
everything that had happened. His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since
Mordecai, before whom your
downfall has begun, is Jewish, you will not prevail against him—for surely you will fall before him.”
And the king said again unto
Esther on the second day at the
banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen
Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed,
even to the half of the kingdom.
and as they
drank their wine on that second day, the king asked once more, “Queen
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 were the king’s
scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month
Sivan, on the three and
twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that
Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the
deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto
Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto
every province according to the writing thereof, and unto
every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.
At once the royal
scribes were summoned, and on the twenty-third day of the third month (the month of
Sivan), they recorded all of
Mordecai’s orders to the Jews and to the satraps, governors, and princes of the 127 provinces from India to
Cush—writing to each province in its own
script, to
every people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own
script and language.
Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in
every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to
slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would
assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the
spoil of them for a prey,
By these letters the king permitted the Jews in each and
every city the right to
assemble and defend themselves, to destroy, kill, and
annihilate all the forces of any people or province hostile to them, including women and children, and to
plunder their possessions.
The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in
every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to
avenge themselves on their enemies.
A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued in
every province and published to all the people, so that the Jews would be ready on that day to
avenge themselves on their enemies.
And in
every province, and in
every city,
whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and
gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.
In
every province and
every city, wherever the king’s edict and decree reached, there was joy and
gladness among the Jews, with feasting and
celebrating. And many of the people of the land themselves became Jews, because the fear of the Jews had fallen upon them.
And
Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king
Ahasuerus, both
nigh and far,
Mordecai recorded these
events and sent letters to all the Jews in all the provinces of King
Xerxes, both near and far,
The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year;
the Jews bound themselves to establish the custom that they and their descendants and all who join them should not fail to
celebrate these two days at the appointed time each and
every year, according to their regulation.
And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout
every generation,
every family,
every province, and
every city; and that these days of
Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the
memorial of them perish from their seed.
These days should be remembered and celebrated by
every generation, family, province, and city, so that these days of
Purim should not fail to be observed among the Jews, nor should the memory of them
fade from their descendants.