Esther 8

On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews’ enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.

On that day, King Ahasuerus, with a heart full of generosity, gifted Esther, his queen, the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. Mordecai, revealed by Esther as her kin, was then brought before the king.

And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

The king, with a sense of justice, removed his ring that he had previously taken from Haman. He handed it to Mordecai, a gesture of trust and honor. Esther, filled with relief and gratitude, appointed Mordecai as the head of Haman's household.

And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.

Esther, with tears streaming down her face, pleaded once more to the king. Falling to his feet, she begged him to stop Haman's evil plot against her people, the Jews.

Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,

With a gentle gesture, the king extended his golden sceptre towards Esther. Feeling a surge of courage, she rose and bravely faced the king.

And said, If it please the king, and if I have favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king’s provinces:

The speaker pleaded, "If I have found favor in the king's eyes and if he deems it right, may he overturn the cruel orders of Haman, son of Hammedatha the Agagite, meant to annihilate the Jews in all his territories."

For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?

How can I bear to witness the suffering of my people? How can I stand to see my loved ones destroyed?

Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.

King Ahasuerus turned to Queen Esther and Mordecai, saying with a sense of justice, "Look, I've given Esther Haman's house, and Haman himself has been hanged, as he dared to harm the Jews."

Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring: for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may no man reverse.

Feel free to write for the Jews in a way that resonates with you. Do it under the king's authority and seal it with his ring. Because once a document is signed and sealed by the king, no one can undo it.

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.

During the third month, Sivan, on its 23rd day, the king's writers were summoned. They recorded everything Mordecai instructed for the Jews, and for all officials across the 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia. Each province received the message in their own script and language, as did the Jews.

And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus’ name, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:

He penned it in King Ahasuerus' name, sealed it with the royal ring, and dispatched letters via horseback riders and mule, camel, and young dromedary couriers.

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,

The king gave permission to the Jews in every city to gather together and defend their lives. He allowed them to destroy, kill, and wipe out any armed force of any people or province that attacked them, women and children included, and to take their enemies' goods as plunder.

Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.

On a single day across all of King Ahasuerus' territories, specifically on the thirteenth day of the final month, Adar.

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.

The decree was shared across all regions, reaching every person. It urged the Jews to be ready on the appointed day to avenge themselves on their foes.

So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king’s commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.

The king's urgent orders sent messengers riding swiftly on mules and camels. The decree was issued from the palace of Shushan, stirring a wave of anticipation.

And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.

Mordecai left the king's side, adorned in royal blue and white attire, his head crowned with gleaming gold, and draped in fine linen and purple. The city of Shushan erupted in joy and happiness.

The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.

The Jews were bathed in light, brimming with happiness, overflowing with joy, and cloaked in honor.

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.

Everywhere the king's orders reached, the Jews celebrated with happiness and feasts, a day of joy. Many locals became Jews, because fear of the Jews had fallen upon them.