Esther 3:8-15

8Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; 1their laws are different from those of all other people and they do not 2comply with 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 3decreed that they be eliminated, and I will pay 4ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who carry out the king’s business, to put into the king’s treasuries.” 10Then 5the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha 6the Agagite, 7the enemy of the Jews. 11And the king said to Haman, “The silver is 8yours, and the people also, to do with them as you please.”

129Then the king’s scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and it was written just as Haman commanded to 10the king’s satraps, to the governors who were over each province and to the officials of each people, each province according to its script, each people according to its language, being written 11in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet ring. 13Letters were sent by 12couriers to all the king’s provinces 13to annihilate, kill, and destroy all the Jews, both young and old, women and children, 14in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to 15seize their possessions as plunder. 1416A copy of the edict to be 17issued as law in every province was published to all the peoples so that they would be ready for this day. 15The couriers went out, speeded by the king’s 18order while the decree was 19issued at the citadel in Susa; and while the king and Haman sat down to drink, 20the city of Susa was agitated.