esther <EST2 -7> And he brought up Hadassah, that [is], {Esther},

 his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother,

and the maid [was] fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her

father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.

esther <EST2 -8> So it came to pass, when the king's commandment

and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered

together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that

{Esther} was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody

of Hegai, keeper of the women.

esther <EST2 -10> {Esther} had not showed her people nor her

kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not show

[it].

esther <EST2 -11> And Mordecai walked every day before the court

of the women's house, to know how {Esther} did, and what should

become of her.

esther <EST2 -15> Now when the turn of {Esther}, the daughter of

Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his

daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing

but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women,

appoi

nted. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that

looked upon her.

esther <EST2 -15> Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of

Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his

daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing

but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women,

appoint

ed. And {Esther} obtained favour in the sight of all them that

looked upon her.

esther <EST2 -16> So {Esther} was taken unto king Ahasuerus into

his house royal in the tenth month, which [is] the month Tebeth,

in the seventh year of his reign.

esther <EST2 -17> And the king loved {Esther} above all the

women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than

all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head,

and made her queen instead of Vashti.

esther <EST2 -20> {Esther} had not [yet] showed her kindred nor

her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the

commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with

him.

esther <EST2 -20> Esther had not [yet] showed her kindred nor

her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for {Esther} did the

commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with

him.

esther <EST2 -22> And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told

[it] unto Esther the queen; and {Esther} certified the king

[thereof] in Mordecai's name.

esther <EST2 -22> And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told

[it] unto {Esther} the queen; and Esther certified the king

[thereof] in Mordecai's name.

esther <EST4 -5> Then called {Esther} for Hatach, [one] of the

king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her,

and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it [was],

and why it [was].

esther <EST4 -8> Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the

decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to show [it]

unto {Esther}, and to declare [it] unto her, and to charge her

that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto h

im, and to make request before him for her people.

esther <EST4 -9> And Hatach came and told {Esther} the words of

Mordecai.

esther <EST4 -10> Again {Esther} spake unto Hatach, and gave him

commandment unto Mordecai;

esther <EST4 -13> Then Mordecai commanded to answer {Esther},

Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's

house, more than all the Jews.

esther <EST4 -15> Then {Esther} bade [them] return Mordecai

[this answer],

esther <EST4 -17> So Mordecai went his way, and did according to

all that {Esther} had commanded him.

esther <EST5 -1> Now it came to pass on the third day, that

{Esther} put on [her] royal [apparel], and stood in the inner

court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and

the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over

against the

 gate of the house.

esther <EST5 -2> And it was so, when the king saw Esther the

queen standing in the court, [that] she obtained favour in his

sight: and the king held out to {Esther} the golden sceptre that

[was] in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of

the

 sceptre.

esther <EST5 -2> And it was so, when the king saw {Esther} the

queen standing in the court, [that] she obtained favour in his

sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that

[was] in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of

the

 sceptre.

esther <EST5 -2> And it was so, when the king saw Esther the

queen standing in the court, [that] she obtained favour in his

sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that

[was] in his hand. So {Esther} drew near, and touched the top of

the

 sceptre.

esther <EST5 -3> Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou,

queen {Esther}? and what [is] thy request? it shall be even

given thee to the half of the kingdom.

esther <EST5 -4> And {Esther} answered, If [it seem] good unto

the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet

that I have prepared for him.

esther <EST5 -5> Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste,

that he may do as {Esther} hath said. So the king and Haman came

to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

esther <EST5 -5> Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste,

that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came

to the banquet that {Esther} had prepared.

esther <EST5 -6> And the king said unto {Esther} at the banquet

of wine, What [is] thy petition? and it shall be granted thee:

and what [is] thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it

shall be performed.

esther <EST5 -7> Then answered {Esther}, and said, My petition

and my request [is];

esther <EST5 -12> Haman said moreover, Yea, {Esther} the queen

did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she

had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her

also with the king.

esther <EST6 -14> And while they [were] yet talking with him,

came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the

banquet that {Esther} had prepared.

esther <EST7 -1> So the king and Haman came to banquet with

{Esther} the queen.

esther <EST7 -2> And the king said again unto {Esther} on the

second day at the banquet of wine, What [is] thy petition, queen

Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what [is] thy request?

and it shall be performed, [even] to the half of the kingdom.

esther <EST7 -2> And the king said again unto Esther on the

second day at the banquet of wine, What [is] thy petition, queen

{Esther}? and it shall be granted thee: and what [is] thy

request? and it shall be performed, [even] to the half of the

kingdom.

esther <EST7 -3> Then {Esther} the queen answered and said, If I

have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the

king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at

my request:

esther <EST7 -5> Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto

{Esther} the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst

presume in his heart to do so?

esther <EST7 -6> And {Esther} said, The adversary and enemy [is]

this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the

queen.

esther <EST7 -7> And the king arising from the banquet of wine

in his wrath [went] into the palace garden: and Haman stood up

to make request for his life to {Esther} the queen; for he saw

that there was evil determined against him by the king.

esther <EST7 -8> Then the king returned out of the palace garden

into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon

the bed whereon {Esther} [was]. Then said the king, Will he

force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out

 of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.

esther <EST8 -1> On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the

house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto {Esther} the queen. And

Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he [was]

unto her.

esther <EST8 -1> On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the

house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And

Mordecai came before the king; for {Esther} had told what he

[was] unto her.

esther <EST8 -2> And the king took off his ring, which he had

taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And {Esther} set

Mordecai over the house of Haman.

esther <EST8 -3> And {Esther} spake yet again before the king,

and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put

away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he

had devised against the Jews.

esther <EST8 -4> Then the king held out the golden sceptre

toward Esther. So {Esther} arose, and stood before the king,

esther <EST8 -4> Then the king held out the golden sceptre

toward {Esther}. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,

esther <EST8 -7> Then the king Ahasuerus said unto {Esther} the

queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the

house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows,

because he laid his hand upon the Jews.

esther <EST8 -7> Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the

queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given {Esther} the

house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows,

because he laid his hand upon the Jews.

esther <EST9 -12> And the king said unto {Esther} the queen, The

Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the

palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the

rest of the king's provinces? now what [is] thy petition? and it

s

hall be granted thee: or what [is] thy request further? and it

shall be done.

esther <EST9 -13> Then said {Esther}, If it please the king, let

it be granted to the Jews which [are] in Shushan to do to morrow

also according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons

be hanged upon the gallows.

esther <EST9 -25> But when [{Esther}] came before the king, he

commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised

against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he

and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

esther <EST9 -29> Then {Esther} the queen, the daughter of

Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to

confirm this second letter of Purim.

esther <EST9 -31> To confirm these days of Purim in their times

[appointed], according as Mordecai the Jew and {Esther} the

queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves

and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.

esther <EST9 -32> And the decree of {Esther} confirmed these

matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.

~~~~~~