Esther 3:5-15

5When Haman saw that 1Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage to him, Haman was filled with rage. 6But he 2disdained to 3lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him who the people of Mordecai were; therefore Haman 4sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.

7In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, 5Pur, that is the lot, was 6cast before Haman from day to day and from month to month, 7until the twelfth month, that is 8the month Adar. 8Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; 9their laws are different from those of all other people and they do not observe the king’s laws, so it is not in the king’s interest to let them remain. 9If it is pleasing to the king, let it be 10decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who carry on the king’s business, to put into the king’s treasuries.” 10Then 11the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha 12the Agagite, 13the enemy of the Jews. 11The king said to Haman, “The silver is 14yours, and the people also, to do with them as you please.”

1215Then the king’s scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and it was written just as Haman commanded to 16the king’s satraps, to the governors who were over each province and to the princes of each people, each province according to its script, each people according to its language, being written 17in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet ring. 13Letters were sent by 18couriers to all the king’s provinces 19to destroy, to kill and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women and children, 20in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to 21seize their possessions as plunder. 1422A copy of the edict to be 23issued as law in every province was published to all the peoples so that they should be ready for this day. 15The couriers went out impelled by the king’s command while the decree was 24issued at the citadel in Susa; and while the king and Haman sat down to drink, 25the city of Susa was in confusion.