Haman Plots Against the Jews
1
After these things King Ahasuerus 1promoted Haman 2the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, 3and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him.
2
And all the king's servants who were at the king's gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. 4But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage.
3
Then the king's servants who were 5at the king's gate said to Mordecai, "Why do you transgress 6the king's command?"
4
And when they spoke to him day after day and he would not listen to them, they told Haman, in order to see whether Mordecai's words would stand, for he had told them that he was a Jew.
5
And when Haman saw that 7Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman was 8filled with fury.
6
But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.
7
In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, 9they cast Pur (that is, they cast lots) before Haman day after day; and they cast it month after month till the twelfth month, which is 10the month of Adar.
8
Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. 11Their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king's laws, so that it is not to the king's profit to tolerate them.
9
If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talentsa of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king's business, that they may put it into the king's treasuries."
10
12So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman 13the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, 14the enemy of the Jews.
11
And the king said to Haman, "The money is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you."
12
15Then the king's scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and an edict, according to all that Haman commanded, was written to the king's 16satraps and to the governors over all the provinces and to the officials of all the peoples, 17to every province in its own script and every people in its own language. It was written 18in the name of King Ahasuerus 19and sealed with the king's signet ring.
13
Letters were sent 20by couriers to all the king's provinces with instruction 21to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, 22in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, 23and to plunder their goods.
14
24A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province by proclamation to all the peoples to be ready for that day.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)