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For he sent letters into all the kings prouinces, into euery prouince, according to the writing thereof, and to euery people after their language, that euery man should beare rule in his owne house, and that it should be published according to the language of euerie people.

Then saide the kings seruants, that ministred vnto him, Let there bee faire yong virgins sought for the king:

And let the king appoint officers in all the prouinces of his kingdome, that they may gather together all the faire yong virgins vnto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women vnto the custodie of Hege the kings chamberlaine, keeper of the women, and let their things for purification bee giuen them:

And hee brought vp Hadassah (that is Esther) his vncles daughter, for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was faire and beautiful, whom Mordecai (when her father and mother were dead) tooke for his owne daughter.

And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindnesse of him, and hee speedily gaue her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seuen maidens, which were meet to be giuen her, out of the Kings house, and hee preferred her and her maids, vnto the best place of the house of the women.

Esther had not shewed her people, nor her kinred: for Mordecai had charged her, that she should not shew it.

Now when euery maids turne was come, to goe in to King Ahasnerus, after that shee had bene twelue moneths, according to the maner of the women (for so were the dayes of their purifications accomplished, to wit, sixe moneths with oile of myrrhe, and sixe moneths with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women.)

Now when the turne of Esther, the daughter of Abihail, the vncle of Mordecai (who had taken her for his daughter) was come, to goe in vnto the king: she required nothing, but what Hegai the kings chamberlen the keeper of the women, appointed: And Esther obtained fauour in the sight of all them that looked vpon her.

Esther had not yet shewed her kindred, nor her people, as Mordecai had charged her: For Esther did the commandement of Mordecai, like as when she was brought vp with him.

And all the kings seruants, that were in the kings gate, bowed, and reuerenced Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him: but Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reuerence.

Now it came to passe, when they spake daily vnto him, and he hearkened not vnto them; that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai his matters would stand, for he had told them that he was a Iewe.

And hee thought scorne to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Iewes, that were throughout the whole kingdome of Ahasuerus, euen the people of Mordecai.

And Haman saide vnto king Ahasuerus: There is a certaine people scattered abroad, and dispersed among the people, in all the prouinces of thy kingdome, and their lawes are diuerse from all people, neither keepe they the kings lawes; therefore it is not for the kings profit to suffer them.

And the letters were sent by posts into all the kings prouinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish all Iewes, both yong and olde, litle children and women, in one day, euen vpon the thirteenth day of the twelfth moneth (which is the moneth Adar) and to take the spoile of them for a pray.

The copie of the writing for a commandement to bee giuen in euery prouince, was published vnto all people, that they should bee ready against that day.

And came euen before the kings gate: for none might enter into the kings gate clothed with sackcloth.

Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the kings chamberlaines, whom he had appointed to attend vpon her, and gaue him a commaundement to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.

And Mordecai tolde him of all that had happened vnto him, and of the summe of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the Kings treasuries for the Iewes, to destroy them.

Also he gaue him the copie of the writing of the decree, that was giuen at Shushan to destroy them, to shewe it vnto Esther, and to declare it vnto her, and to charge her that she should goe in vnto the king, to make supplication vnto him, and to make request before him, for her people.

For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliuerance arise to the Iewes from another place, but thou and thy fathers house shall be destroyed: And who knoweth, whether thou art come to the kingdome for such a time as this?