¹⁰ Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, ^(A)and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

¹¹ So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.” ¹² And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to ^(B)send portions and rejoice greatly, because they ^(C)understood the words that were declared to them.

¹⁷ And in every province and city, wherever the king’s command and decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast ^(A)and a holiday. Then many of the people of the land ^(B)became Jews, because ^(C)fear of the Jews fell upon them.

¹⁹ Therefore the Jews of the villages who dwelt in the unwalled towns celebrated the fourteenth day of the month of Adar ^(A)with gladness and feasting, ^(B)as a holiday, and for ^(C)sending presents to one another.

²² as the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of ^(A)sending presents to one another and gifts to the ^(B)poor.