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And all the kings servants who were at the kings gate bowed down and did obeisance to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would not bow nor pay him reverence.

Now it came to pass when they spoke daily to him and he would not listen to them, they told Haman, to know whether Mordecais words were the truth; for he had told them that he was a Jew.

And he thought it nothing to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had revealed to him the people of Mordecai; wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Akhshirash, even the people of Mordecai.

And the letters were sent by couriers to all the kings provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take their wealth for a prey. In the same day on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar they were written.

The copy of the writing was given in every province, commanding all the people to be ready for that day.

And came even as far as the kings gate; for it was unlawful for any man to enter into the kings gate clothed with sackcloth.

Then Esther called for Hathan, one of the kings eunuchs, who had been appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to know what this was and why it was,

And Mordecai told him of all that had happened to him and of the sum of money that Haman had promised to pay to the kings treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.

He also gave him a copy of the writing of the decree that was is sued in Shushan the palace, to show it to Esther, and to charge her to go in to the king to make supplication to him and to make request be fore him for her people.

All the kings servants know that whosoever, whether man or woman, comes to the king into the inner court who is not called, for him there is but one law to put him to death, except the one to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live; but I have not been called to come in to the king these three days.

For if you altogether remain silent this time, then relief and salvation shall arise to the Jews from an other place; but you and your fathers house shall be destroyed; and who knows whether you have been called to come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Shushan the pal ace, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day; I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and then I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.

And Esther answered, If it please the king, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I have pre pared for him.

If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king to grant my petition and to per form my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them tomorrow, as the king has said.

Then Haman went out that day joyful and glad in his heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai sitting in the kings gate, that he neither stood up nor moved for him, Haman was full of indignation against Mordecai.

Yet all this does not suffice me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the kings gate; for he does not move from before me.

And the king said, What honor and dignity have been conferred upon Mordecai for this? Then the kings servants and his ministers said to him, There is nothing done for him.

And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outer court of the kings house to speak to the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.

And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delights to honor,

For we are sold, I and my people, to be slain, to be put to the sword, and to perish. But if we had been sold merely as bondmen and bondwomen, I would have held my tongue, but the enemy would not hesitate to cause damage to the king.