131 The great king Artaxerxes unto the princes and governors of an hundred and seven and twenty provinces from India unto Ethiopia, and unto all our faithful subjects, greeting.

142 Many, the more often they are honoured with the great bounty of their gracious princes, the more proud they are waxen,

153 and endeavour to hurt not our subjects only, but not being able to bear abundance, do take in hand to practise also against those that do them good:

164 and take not only thankfulness away from among men, but also lifted up with the glorious words of lewd persons, that were never good, they think to escape the justice of God, that seeth all things, and hateth evil.

175 Oftentimes also fair speech of those, that are put in trust to manage their friends’ affairs, hath caused many that are in authority to be partakers of innocent blood, and hath enwrapped them in remediless calamities:

186 beguiling with the falsehood and deceit of their lewd disposition the innocency and goodness of princes.

197 Now ye may see this, as we have declared, not so much by ancient histories, as ye may, if ye search what hath been wickedly done of late through the pestilent behaviour of them that are unworthily placed in authority.

208 And we must take care for the time to come, that our kingdom may be quiet and peaceable for all men,

219 both by changing our purposes, and always judging things that are evident with more equal proceeding.

2210 For Aman, a Macedonian, the son of Amadatha, being indeed a stranger from the Persian blood, and far distant from our goodness, and as a stranger received of us,

2311 had so far forth obtained the favour that we shew toward every nation, as that he was called our father, and was continually honoured of all men, as the next person unto the king.

2412 But he, not bearing his great dignity, went about to deprive us of our kingdom and life:

2513 having by manifold and cunning deceits sought of us the destruction, as well of Mardocheus, who saved our life, and continually procured our good, as also of blameless Esther, partaker of our kingdom, with their whole nation.

2614 For by these means he thought, finding us destitute of friends, to have translated the kingdom of the Persians to the Macedonians.

2715 But we find that the Jews, whom this wicked wretch hath delivered to utter destruction, are no evildoers, but live by most just laws:

2816 and that they be children of the most high and most mighty living God, who hath ordered the kingdom both unto us and to our progenitors in the most excellent manner.

2917 Wherefore ye shall do well not to put in execution the letters sent unto you by Aman the son of Amadatha.

3018 For he, that was the worker of these things, is hanged at the gates of Susa with all his family: God, who ruleth all things, speedily rendering vengeance to him according to his deserts.

3119 Therefore ye shall publish the copy of this letter in all places, that the Jews may freely live after their own laws.

3220 And ye shall aid them, that even the same day, being the thirteenth day of the twelfth month Adar, they may be avenged on them, who in the time of their affliction shall set upon them.

3321 For Almighty God hath turned to joy unto them the day, wherein the chosen people should have perished.

3422 You shall therefore among your solemn feasts keep it a high day with all feasting:

3523 that both now and hereafter there may be safety to us, and the well affected Persians; but to those which do conspire against us a memorial of destruction.

3624 Therefore every city and country whatsoever, which shall not do according to these things, shall be destroyed without mercy with fire and sword, and shall be made not only unpassable for men, but also most hateful to wild beasts and fowls for ever.