After{H310} these things{H1697} did king{H4428} Ahasuerus{H325} promote{H1431} Haman{H2001} the son{H1121} of Hammedatha{H4099} the Agagite,{H91} and advanced{H5375} him, and set{H7760} his seat{H3678} above all the princes{H8269} that were with him.

And all the king's{H4428} servants,{H5650} that were in the king's{H4428} gate,{H8179} bowed{H3766} down, and did reverence{H7812} to Haman;{H2001} for the king{H4428} had so commanded{H6680} concerning him. But Mordecai{H4782} bowed{H3766} not down, nor did him reverence.{H7812}

Then the king's{H4428} servants,{H5650} that were in the king's{H4428} gate,{H8179} said{H559} unto Mordecai,{H4782} Why transgressest{H5674} thou the king's{H4428} commandment?{H4687}

Now it came to pass, when they spake{H559} daily{H3117} unto him, and he hearkened{H8085} not unto them, that they told{H5046} Haman,{H2001} to see{H7200} whether Mordecai's{H4782} matters{H1697} would stand:{H5975} for he had told{H5046} them that he was a Jew.{H3064}

And when Haman{H2001} saw{H7200} that Mordecai{H4782} bowed{H3766} not down, nor did him reverence,{H7812} then was Haman{H2001} full{H4390} of wrath.{H2534}

But he thought{H5869} scorn{H959} to lay{H7971} hands{H3027} on Mordecai{H4782} alone; for they had made known{H5046} to him the people{H5971} of Mordecai:{H4782} wherefore Haman{H2001} sought{H1245} to destroy{H8045} all the Jews{H3064} that were throughout the whole kingdom{H4438} of Ahasuerus,{H325} even the people{H5971} of Mordecai.{H4782}

In the first{H7223} month,{H2320} which is the month{H2320} Nisan,{H5212} in the twelfth{H8147} year{H8141} of king{H4428} Ahasuerus,{H325} they cast{H5307} Pur,{H6332} that is, the lot,{H1486} before{H6440} Haman{H2001} from day{H3117} to day,{H3117} and from month{H2320} to month,{H2320} to the twelfth{H8147} month, which is the month{H2320} Adar.{H143}

And Haman{H2001} said{H559} unto king{H4428} Ahasuerus,{H325} There is{H3426} a certain{H259} people{H5971} scattered abroad{H6340} and dispersed{H6504} among the peoples{H5971} in all the provinces{H4082} of thy kingdom;{H4438} and their laws{H1881} are diverse{H8138} from [those of] every people;{H5971} neither keep{H6213} they the king's{H4428} laws:{H1881} therefore it is not for the king's{H4428} profit{H7737} to suffer{H3240} them.

If it please{H2895} the king,{H4428} let it be written{H3789} that they be destroyed:{H6} and I will pay{H8254} ten{H6235} thousand{H505} talents{H3603} of silver{H3701} into the hands{H3027} of those that have the charge{H6213} of the [king's] business,{H4399} to bring{H935} it into the king's{H4428} treasuries.{H1595}

And the king{H4428} took{H5493} his ring{H2885} from his hand,{H3027} and gave{H5414} it unto Haman{H2001} the son{H1121} of Hammedatha{H4099} the Agagite,{H91} the Jews'{H3064} enemy.{H6887}

And the king{H4428} said{H559} unto Haman,{H2001} The silver{H3701} is given{H5414} to thee, the people{H5971} also, to do{H6213} with them as it seemeth{H5869} good{H2896} to thee.

Then were the king's{H4428} scribes{H5608} called{H7121} in the first{H7223} month,{H2320} on the thirteenth{H7969} day{H3117} thereof; and there was written{H3789} according to all that Haman{H2001} commanded{H6680} unto the king's{H4428} satraps,{H323} and to the governors{H6346} that were over every province,{H4082} and to the princes{H8269} of every people,{H5971} to every province{H4082} according to the writing{H3791} thereof, and to every people{H5971} after their language;{H3956} in the name{H8034} of king{H4428} Ahasuerus{H325} was it written,{H3789} and it was sealed{H2856} with the king's{H4428} ring.{H2885}

And letters{H5612} were sent{H7971} by{H3027} posts{H7323} into all the king's{H4428} provinces,{H4082} to destroy,{H8045} to slay, and to cause to perish,{H8045} all Jews,{H3064} both young{H5288} and old,{H2205} little children{H2945} and women,{H802} in one{H259} day,{H3117} even upon the thirteenth{H7969} day{H3117} of the twelfth{H8147} month,{H2320} which is the month{H2320} Adar,{H143} and to take the spoil{H7998} of them for a prey.{H962}

A copy{H6572} of the writing,{H3791} that the decree{H1881} should be given{H5414} out in every province,{H4082} was published{H1540} unto all the peoples,{H5971} that they should be ready{H6264} against that day.{H3117}

The posts{H7323} went forth{H3318} in haste{H1765} by the king's{H4428} commandment,{H1697} and the decree{H1881} was given{H5414} out in Shushan{H7800} the palace.{H1002} And the king{H4428} and Haman{H2001} sat down{H3427} to drink;{H8354} but the city{H5892} of Shushan{H7800} was perplexed.{H943}