Esther

13 Adar, that is - in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. The text of that decree was to lay down law in every single province, displayed for every people to see, that the Jews should make themselves ready for that day, to 14 wreak vengeance on their enemies. The runners, riding the swift horses of the royal service, bolted out at great speed, spurred on at the king’s word, and the law was laid down in the imperial city, Shushan. 15 * So Mordekhai left the king’s presence in royal clothes of sky-blue wool and fine white fabric, wearing a great coronet of gold, and a mantle of finest linen and scarlet; and the town of Shushan was filled with jubilation and 16 happiness. * * And the Jews basked in light and happiness, joy and great 17 honor. « And in each and every province, in each and every town, as far as the king’s word and law reached, happiness and joy touched the Jews, feasting, a holiday; and many of the local people joined with the Jews, for a terror of the Jews had fallen upon them. 91 And on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, when the king’s word and his law were to come into effect: on the day when the Jews’ enemies had hoped to overcome them - it was all turned over, for 2 the Jews themselves overcame those who hated them. For the Jews came together in their cities, throughout the provinces of King Ahasuerus, to lay hands upon those who sought their harm; and no man could stand before 3 them, for their terror had fallen upon all the nations. And the ministers of the provinces, the viceroys and the administrators, and the bureaucrats of the king’s court, all supported the Jews, for a fear of Mordekhai had fallen 4 on them. For Mordekhai was great now, in the king’s palace, and word of him was spreading to all the provinces: the man, this Mordekhai, was becoming ever greater. s The Jews dealt all their enemies a terrible blow, of sword and of slaughter and 6 destruction; they did whatever they pleased to those who hated them. And in the imperial city of Shushan the Jews killed and destroyed * five hundred men; 7 and they killed Parshandata and Dalfon, and 8 Aspata, and Porata, and Adaliya and