1 That same day King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. Mordecai came into the king's presence, because Esther had revealed how he was related to her.
2 The king took off his signet ring, which he had recovered from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther put Mordecai in charge of Haman's estate.
3 Esther once again pleaded with the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil scheme of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews.
4 The king extended the gold scepter to Esther, and she got up and stood before the king.
5 "If it pleases the king," she said, "and if I have found favor with him, if he thinks it the right thing to do and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written to revoke the letters Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king's provinces.
6 For how can I bear to see the disaster that will fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?"
7 King Ahasuerus told Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, "I have given Haman's estate to Esther, and they have hanged him on the gallows because he tried to attack the Jews.
8 Now write another decree in the king's name on behalf of the Jews, as you see fit, and seal it with the king's signet ring, for no document written in the king's name and sealed with his signet ring can be revoked."
9 At once the royal scribes were summoned, on the twenty-third day of the third month, the month of Sivan. They wrote down everything Mordecai ordered, to the Jews and to the satraps, governors, and officials of the hundred and twenty-seven provinces from India to Cush, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their own script and language.
10 Mordecai wrote in King Ahasuerus's name, sealed the letters with the king's signet ring, and sent them by mounted couriers riding swift royal steeds bred from the stud.
11 In these letters the king permitted the Jews in every city to assemble and defend their lives, to destroy, kill, and annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, along with their children and women, and to seize their goods as plunder,
12 on a single day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar.
13 A copy of the text was to be issued as law in every province and made known to all the peoples, so that the Jews would be ready on that day to take revenge on their enemies.
14 The couriers, riding the swift royal steeds, raced out, spurred on by the king's command. And the decree was also issued in Susa the citadel.
15 Mordecai left the king's presence wearing royal garments of violet and white, a large gold crown, and a robe of fine linen and purple. And the city of Susa celebrated with shouts of joy.
16 For the Jews it was a time of light and happiness, joy and honor.
17 In every province and every city where the king's command and decree arrived, the Jews had joy and gladness, with feasting and a holiday. And many of the peoples of the land became Jews, because fear of the Jews had seized them.