Esther 9

Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;)

In the final month, on the thirteenth day, a royal decree was about to be enforced. This was the day when those against the Jews hoped to dominate them. But, in a twist of fate, the Jews gained control over their adversaries.

The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.

The Jewish community united across all regions of King Ahasuerus' reign, ready to defend against those who wished them harm. No one could oppose them, as their presence instilled a deep fear in everyone.

And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.

Every leader, deputy, and officer under the king aided the Jews, moved by a profound respect and fear for Mordecai.

For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.

Mordecai's influence grew immensely within the king's palace, his reputation spreading far and wide across all regions. His greatness only continued to flourish.

Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them.

The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and they did whatever they wanted to those who hated them.

And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men.

In the palace city of Shushan, the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men.

And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha,

Among the dead were Parshandatha, Dalphon, and Aspatha,

And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,

Poratha, Adalia, and Aridatha,

And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha,

Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vajezatha.

The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand.

They ended the lives of Haman's ten sons, Hammedatha's descendants and adversaries of the Jews, yet they did not touch the spoils.

On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king.

That day, the number of those killed in the palace city of Shushan was reported to the king.

And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? now what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done.

The king turned to Queen Esther, his voice heavy with concern. "In Shushan palace alone, the Jews have taken the lives of five hundred men, including Haman's ten sons. What's happening in the rest of my kingdom? Esther, what do you wish for? Speak your heart's desire, and it shall be fulfilled. Do you have any other requests? They will be granted."

Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do to morrow also according unto this day’s decree, and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.

Esther pleaded, "Dear King, if you agree, allow the Jews in Shushan to follow today's decree tomorrow as well. And, let Haman's ten sons face the gallows' justice."

And the king commanded it so to be done: and the decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman’s ten sons.

The king ordered this to be done, and a decree was issued in Shushan. The bodies of Haman's ten sons were hung up on the gallows.

For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand.

On the fourteenth day of Adar, the Jews in Shushan gathered together again and killed three hundred men there. Yet they did not touch any of the plunder.

But the other Jews that were in the king’s provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,

In the king's lands, the other Jews also gathered together and defended their lives, and they found peace from their enemies. They killed 75,000 of their foes, yet they did not touch the plunder.

On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

This was on the thirteenth day of Adar. On the fourteenth day they rested and made it a day of joyful feasting, their hearts filled with happiness.

But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

The Jews in Shushan gathered on the 13th and 14th days, and by the 15th, they rested, transforming it into a joyous day of celebration and happiness.

Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.

So, the Jews living in rural areas marked the fourteenth day of Adar as a joyful day of celebration, feasting, and sharing gifts with each other.

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 penned down these matters, dispatching letters to all Jews across King Ahasuerus's territories, near and distant, with a sense of urgency and hope.

To stablish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,

Ensure that they remember, every year, to honor both the 14th and 15th days of the month Adar.

As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.

In the days when the Jews found peace from their foes, a time that transformed their grief into happiness and their mourning into celebration, they were encouraged to spend these days in joyous feasting, sharing with each other, and giving gifts to the less fortunate.

And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;

The Jews committed to continue what they had started, following the instructions Mordecai had given them.

Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;

Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite and enemy of all Jews, plotted their destruction. He cast Pur, that is, the lot, intending to crush them and wipe them out completely.

But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

When Esther bravely faced the king, he ordered in writing that the evil plot against the Jews should backfire on the schemer himself. He decreed that the villain and his sons should meet their end on the gallows.

Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them,

Hence, these days were named Purim, inspired by 'Pur'. All the details of this letter, their experiences, and the news they received, led to this.

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 Jewish community committed wholeheartedly, promising for themselves and their descendants, and for all who allied with them, to faithfully observe these two days each year, as written and scheduled, without fail.

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 special days of Purim should always be cherished and celebrated by every generation, every family, everywhere. The memory of these days should never fade from the Jewish community, nor should their descendants ever forget them.

Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim.

Queen Esther, Abihail's daughter, and Mordecai the Jew wrote with full authority, confirming this second Purim letter.

And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,

He delivered messages of peace and truth to all Jews across the 127 provinces of King Ahasuerus' realm.

To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.

To honor the days of Purim at the set times, just as Mordecai and Queen Esther had instructed, they committed themselves and their descendants to remember the times of fasting and prayer.

And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.

Esther's ruling solidified the traditions of Purim, forever inscribed in the sacred book.