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Esther 3
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1 After these events, King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and setting his position above all the officials who were with him.

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.

2 All the king's servants who were at the king's gate would bow down and pay homage to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would not bow or pay homage.

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.

3 Then the king's servants who were at the gate asked Mordecai, "Why do you transgress the king's command?"

Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?

4 Day after day they spoke to him, but he refused to listen to them. So they reported the matter to Haman to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would stand, since he had told them that he was a Jew.

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.

5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or pay homage to him, he was filled with rage.

And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.

6 But he considered it beneath him to attack Mordecai alone, for they had told him about Mordecai’s people. So Haman sought to destroy all the Jews throughout the kingdom of Ahasuerus, the people of Mordecai.

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.

7 In the first month, the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, the lot) before Haman for each day and each month, until the twelfth month, the month of Adar.

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.

8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered and separated among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws differ from those of every other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws. Therefore, it is not beneficial for the king to tolerate them.

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.

9 If it pleases the king, let a decree be written to destroy them, and I will weigh out ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who carry out the work, to be deposited in the king’s treasuries."

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.

10 So the king removed his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.

And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.

11 The king said to Haman, "The silver is given to you, as well as the people, to do with them as it seems good to you."

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.

12 On the thirteenth day of the first month, the king’s scribes were summoned and an edict was written according to all that Haman commanded. It was addressed to the satraps of the king, to the governors of each province, and to the officials of every people, to each province in its script and to each people in its language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet ring.

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.

13 Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces, ordering the destruction, killing, and annihilation of all the Jews—young and old, children and women—in a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their possessions.

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.

14 A copy of the edict was to be issued as a law in every province and made known to all the peoples, so that they would be ready for that day.

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.

15 The couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in the citadel of Susa. And while the king and Haman sat down to drink, the city of Susa was in confusion.

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.

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Esther 3
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