Esther Appeals for the Jews

1  בַּיּ֣וֹם (On the day) הַה֗וּא (that) נָתַ֞ן (gave) הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ (King) אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ֙ (Ahasuerus) לְאֶסְתֵּ֣ר (to Esther) הַמַּלְכָּ֔ה (the queen) אֶת־ (-) בֵּ֥ית (the house) הָמָ֖ן (of Haman) צֹרֵ֣ר (the enemy) הַיְּהוּדִיִּים (of the Jews), וּמָרְדֳּכַ֗י (and Mordecai) בָּ֚א (came) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the King), כִּֽי־ (for) הִגִּ֥ידָה (had presented to the king) אֶסְתֵּ֖ר (Esther) מַ֥ה (what) הוּא־ (he was) לָֽהּ׃ (to her). 2  וַיָּ֨סַר (And removed) הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (the king) אֶת־ (-) טַבַּעְתּ֗וֹ (his signet ring) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (which) הֶֽעֱבִיר֙ (he had caused to pass) מֵֽהָמָ֔ן (from Haman), וַֽיִּתְּנָ֖הּ (and he gave it) לְמָרְדֳּכָ֑י (to Mordecai), וַתָּ֧שֶׂם (and appointed) אֶסְתֵּ֛ר (Esther) אֶֽת־ (-) מָרְדֳּכַ֖י (Mordecai) עַל־ (over) בֵּ֥ית (the house) הָמָֽן׃פ (of Haman).

3  וַתּ֣וֹסֶף (And added) אֶסְתֵּ֗ר (Esther) וַתְּדַבֵּר֙ (and she spoke) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (of the king), וַתִּפֹּ֖ל (and she fell down) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face) רַגְלָ֑יו (of his feet) וַתֵּ֣בְךְּ (and she wept) וַתִּתְחַנֶּן־ (and she sought favor) ל֗וֹ (from him) לְהַֽעֲבִיר֙ (to make pass away) אֶת־ (-) רָעַת֙ (the evil) הָמָ֣ן (of Haman) הָֽאֲגָגִ֔י (the Agagite) וְאֵת֙ (and) מַֽחֲשַׁבְתּ֔וֹ (his plotting) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (which) חָשַׁ֖ב (he had plotted) עַל־ (against) הַיְּהוּדִֽים׃ (the Jews).

4  וַיּ֤וֹשֶׁט (And extended) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king) לְאֶסְתֵּ֔ר (to Esther) אֵ֖ת (-) שַׁרְבִ֣ט (the scepter) הַזָּהָ֑ב (of gold), וַתָּ֣קָם (and rose) אֶסְתֵּ֔ר (Esther) וַֽתַּעֲמֹ֖ד (and she stood) לִפְנֵ֥י (before the face of) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (the king), 5  וַ֠תֹּאמֶר (and she said), אִם־ (If) עַל־ (upon) הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ (the king) ט֜וֹב (it is good), וְאִם־ (and if) מָצָ֧אתִי (I have found) חֵ֣ן (favor) לְפָנָ֗יו (before his face), וְכָשֵׁ֤ר (and if is proper) הַדָּבָר֙ (the thing) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (of the king) וְטוֹבָ֥ה (and good) אֲנִ֖י (am I) בְּעֵינָ֑יו (in his eyes), יִכָּתֵ֞ב (let it be written) לְהָשִׁ֣יב (to revoke) אֶת־ (-) הַסְּפָרִ֗ים (the letters)— מַחֲשֶׁ֜בֶת (the plot) הָמָ֤ן (of Haman) בֶּֽן־ (son) הַמְּדָ֙תָא֙ (of Hammedatha) הָאֲגָגִ֔י (the Agagite), אֲשֶׁ֣ר (which) כָּתַ֗ב (he wrote) לְאַבֵּד֙ (to destroy) אֶת־ (-) הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים (the Jews) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (who) בְּכָל־ (are in all) מְדִינ֥וֹת (the provinces) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (of the king). 6  כִּ֠י (For) אֵיכָכָ֤ה (how) אוּכַל֙ (could I bear) וְֽרָאִ֔יתִי (when I have looked) בָּרָעָ֖ה (on the evil) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) יִמְצָ֣א (would find) אֶת־ (-) עַמִּ֑י (my people)? וְאֵֽיכָכָ֤ה (And how) אוּכַל֙ (could I bear) וְֽרָאִ֔יתִי (when I have looked) בְּאָבְדַ֖ן (on the destruction) מוֹלַדְתִּֽי׃ס (of my kindred)?

The Decree of Xerxes

7  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ (King) אֲחַשְׁוֵרֹשׁ֙ (Ahasuerus) לְאֶסְתֵּ֣ר (to Esther) הַמַּלְכָּ֔ה (the queen) וּֽלְמָרְדֳּכַ֖י (and to Mordecai) הַיְּהוּדִ֑י (the Jew), הִנֵּ֨ה (Behold), בֵית־ (the house) הָמָ֜ן (of Haman) נָתַ֣תִּי (I have given) לְאֶסְתֵּ֗ר (to Esther) וְאֹתוֹ֙ (and him) תָּל֣וּ (they have hanged) עַל־ (upon) הָעֵ֔ץ (the tree), עַ֛ל (on account) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) שָׁלַ֥ח (he stretched out) יָד֖וֹ (his hand) בַּיְּהוּדִיִּים׃ (against the Jews). 8  וְ֠אַתֶּם (And you⁺) כִּתְב֨וּ (may write) עַל־ (concerning) הַיְּהוּדִ֜ים (the Jews) כַּטּ֤וֹב (as is good) בְּעֵֽינֵיכֶם֙ (in your⁺ eyes) בְּשֵׁ֣ם (in the name) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (of the king), וְחִתְמ֖וּ (and seal it) בְּטַבַּ֣עַת (with the signet ring) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (of the king). כִּֽי־ (For) כְתָ֞ב (a writing) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) נִכְתָּ֣ב (is written) בְּשֵׁם־ (in the name) הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ (of the king) וְנַחְתּ֛וֹם (and is sealed) בְּטַבַּ֥עַת (with the signet ring) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (of the king), אֵ֥ין (there is no) לְהָשִֽׁיב׃ (revoking).

9  וַיִּקָּרְא֣וּ (And were called) סֹפְרֵֽי־ (the scribes) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (of the king) בָּֽעֵת־ (at the time) הַ֠הִיא (that) בַּחֹ֨דֶשׁ (in the month) הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֜י (the third) הוּא־ (it is) חֹ֣דֶשׁ (the month) סִיוָ֗ן (of Sivan) בִּשְׁלוֹשָׁ֣ה (on the three) וְעֶשְׂרִים֮ (and twentieth day) בּוֹ֒ (in it), וַיִּכָּתֵ֣ב (and it was written) כְּֽכָל־ (according to all) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) צִוָּ֣ה (commanded) מָרְדֳּכַ֣י (Mordecai) אֶל־ (to) הַיְּהוּדִ֡ים (the Jews), וְאֶ֣ל (and to) הָאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנִֽים־ (the satraps) וְהַפַּחוֹת֩ (and the governors) וְשָׂרֵ֨י (and the officials) הַמְּדִינ֜וֹת (of the provinces), אֲשֶׁ֣ר׀ (that are) מֵהֹ֣דּוּ (from India) וְעַד־ (even as far as) כּ֗וּשׁ (Cush), שֶׁ֣בַע (seven) וְעֶשְׂרִ֤ים (and twenty) וּמֵאָה֙ (and a hundred) מְדִינָ֔ה (provinces), מְדִינָ֤ה (province) וּמְדִינָה֙ (by province) כִּכְתָבָ֔הּ (according to its writing), וְעַ֥ם (and people) וָעָ֖ם (by people) כִּלְשֹׁנ֑וֹ (according to its tongue), וְאֶ֨ל־ (and to) הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים (the Jews) כִּכְתָבָ֖ם (according to their writing) וְכִלְשׁוֹנָֽם׃ (and according to their tongue).

10  וַיִּכְתֹּ֗ב (And he wrote) בְּשֵׁם֙ (in the name) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (of King) אֲחַשְׁוֵרֹ֔שׁ (Ahasuerus) וַיַּחְתֹּ֖ם (and he sealed it) בְּטַבַּ֣עַת (with the signet ring) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (of the king), וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח (and he sent) סְפָרִ֡ים (letters) בְּיַד֩ (by the hand) הָרָצִ֨ים (of the runners) בַּסּוּסִ֜ים (on the horses) רֹכְבֵ֤י (riders) הָרֶ֙כֶשׁ֙ (of the steeds) הָֽאֲחַשְׁתְּרָנִ֔ים (royal), בְּנֵ֖י (sons) הָֽרַמָּכִֽים׃ (of the mares).

11  אֲשֶׁר֩ (Which) נָתַ֨ן (gave) הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (the king) לַיְּהוּדִ֣ים׀ (to the Jews) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who) בְּכָל־ (were in every) עִיר־ (city) וָעִ֗יר (and city) לְהִקָּהֵל֮ (to gather together) וְלַעֲמֹ֣ד (and to stand) עַל־ (for) נַפְשָׁם֒ (their soul), לְהַשְׁמִיד֩ (to destroy), וְלַהֲרֹ֨ג (and to kill), וּלְאַבֵּ֜ד (and to exterminate) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) חֵ֨יל (of the strength) עַ֧ם (of the people) וּמְדִינָ֛ה (and province) הַצָּרִ֥ים (that would assault) אֹתָ֖ם (them)— טַ֣ף (little children) וְנָשִׁ֑ים (and women), וּשְׁלָלָ֖ם (and their spoil) לָבֽוֹז׃ (to plunder), 12  בְּי֣וֹם (on a day) אֶחָ֔ד (single) בְּכָל־ (in all) מְדִינ֖וֹת (the provinces) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (of King) אֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ (Ahasuerus), בִּשְׁלוֹשָׁ֥ה (on the three) עָשָׂ֛ר (and tenth) לְחֹ֥דֶשׁ (of month) שְׁנֵים־ (two) עָשָׂ֖ר (and tenth), הוּא־ (it is) חֹ֥דֶשׁ (the month) אֲדָֽר׃ (of Adar).

13  פַּתְשֶׁ֣גֶן (A copy) הַכְּתָ֗ב (of the writing) לְהִנָּ֤תֵֽן (to be given) דָּת֙ (as law) בְּכָל־ (in every) מְדִינָ֣ה (province) וּמְדִינָ֔ה (and province), גָּל֖וּי (was revealed) לְכָל־ (to all) הָעַמִּ֑ים (the peoples), וְלִהְי֨וֹת (and to be) הַיְּהוּדִיִּים (the Jews) עֲתוּדִים (ready) לַיּ֣וֹם (for the day) הַזֶּ֔ה (this) לְהִנָּקֵ֖ם (to avenge themselves) מֵאֹיְבֵיהֶֽם׃ (from their enemies). 14  הָרָצִ֞ים (The runners) רֹכְבֵ֤י (riding) הָרֶ֙כֶשׁ֙ (the steeds) הָֽאֲחַשְׁתְּרָנִ֔ים (royal) יָֽצְא֛וּ (went forth), מְבֹהָלִ֥ים (being hurried) וּדְחוּפִ֖ים (and driven) בִּדְבַ֣ר (by the word) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (of the king), וְהַדָּ֥ת (and the law) נִתְּנָ֖ה (was given) בְּשׁוּשַׁ֥ן (in Susa) הַבִּירָֽה׃פ (the citadel).

15  וּמָרְדֳּכַ֞י (And Mordecai) יָצָ֣א׀ (went forth) מִלִּפְנֵ֣י (from before the face) הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ (of the king) בִּלְב֤וּשׁ (in a garment) מַלְכוּת֙ (of royalty) תְּכֵ֣לֶת (blue) וָח֔וּר (and white), וַעֲטֶ֤רֶת (and a crown) זָהָב֙ (of gold) גְּדוֹלָ֔ה (great), וְתַכְרִ֥יךְ (and a robe) בּ֖וּץ (of fine linen) וְאַרְגָּמָ֑ן (and purple). וְהָעִ֣יר (And the city) שׁוּשָׁ֔ן (of Susa) צָהֲלָ֖ה (shouted) וְשָׂמֵֽחָה׃ (and rejoiced).

16  לַיְּהוּדִ֕ים (For the Jews) הָֽיְתָ֥ה (there was) אוֹרָ֖ה (light) וְשִׂמְחָ֑ה (and joy) וְשָׂשֹׂ֖ן (and gladness) וִיקָֽר׃ (and honor). 17  וּבְכָל־ (And in every) מְדִינָ֨ה (province) וּמְדִינָ֜ה (and by province), וּבְכָל־ (and in every) עִ֣יר (city) וָעִ֗יר (and by city), מְקוֹם֙ (the place) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (to which) דְּבַר־ (the word) הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ (of the king), וְדָתוֹ֙ (and his law), מַגִּ֔יעַ (reached) שִׂמְחָ֤ה (there was joy) וְשָׂשׂוֹן֙ (and gladness) לַיְּהוּדִ֔ים (for the Jews), מִשְׁתֶּ֖ה (a feast) וְי֣וֹם (and a day) ט֑וֹב (good), וְרַבִּ֞ים (and many) מֵֽעַמֵּ֤י (from the people) הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ (of the land) מִֽתְיַהֲדִ֔ים (were making themselves Jews), כִּֽי־ (for) נָפַ֥ל (had fallen) פַּֽחַד־ (the fear) הַיְּהוּדִ֖ים (of the Jews) עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ (upon them).