Esther 8:9-16

English Standard Version

^9 (A)The king's scribes were summoned at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day. And an edict was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews, to ^(B)the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces ^(C)from India to Ethiopia, ^(D)127 provinces, ^(E)to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language. ^10 (F)And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus ^(G)and sealed it with the king's signet ring. Then he sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on ^(H)swift horses that were used in the king's service, bred from the royal stud, ¹¹ saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city ^(I)to gather and defend their lives, ^(J)to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included, ^(K)and to plunder their goods, ^12 (L)on one day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. ^13 (M)A copy of what was written was to be issued as a decree in every province, being publicly displayed to all peoples, and the Jews were to be ready on that day to take vengeance on their enemies. ¹⁴ So the couriers, mounted on their ^(N)swift horses that were used in the king's service, rode out hurriedly, urged by the king's command. And the decree was issued in Susa the citadel.

¹⁵ Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king ^(O)in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown^[a] and ^(P)a robe of fine linen and purple, ^(Q)and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. ¹⁶ The Jews had ^(R)light and gladness and joy and honor.