1 A fter these things, when King Ahasuerus was no longer angry, he remembered Vashti and what she had done, and what had been decided against her.

After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus was pacified, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what was decreed against her.

2 T hen the king’s servants who served him said, “Let beautiful young women be found for the king.

Then the king’s servants who ministered to him said, Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king.

3 L et the king choose men to watch over all the parts of his nation, that they may gather every beautiful young woman who has never had a man to the city of Susa. Have them brought to the house for the king’s wives, under the care of Hegai, the king’s servant, who takes care of the women. And let their things for making them beautiful be given to them.

And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom to gather all the beautiful young virgins to the capital in Shushan, to the harem under the custody of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let their things for purification be given them.

4 T hen let the young lady who pleases the king be queen in place of Vashti.” This pleased the king, and he did so.

And let the maiden who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti. This pleased the king, and he did so.

5 N ow in the city of Susa where the king lived there was a Jew whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite.

There was a certain Jew in the capital in Shushan whose name was Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite,

6 H e had been taken from Jerusalem with the people who had been taken away with King Jeconiah of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon.

Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives taken away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried into exile.

7 H e had brought up Hadassah, that is Esther, the daughter of his father’s brother. For she did not have a father or mother. The young lady was beautiful in body and face. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.

He had brought up Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The maiden was beautiful and lovely, and when her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.

8 T he words of the king were made known, and many young ladies were gathered to the city of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. So Esther was taken to the king’s house into the care of Hegai, who cared for the women.

So when the king’s command and his decree were proclaimed and when many maidens were gathered in Shushan the capital under the custody of Hegai, Esther also was taken to the king’s house into the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.

9 N ow the young lady pleased Hegai and she found favor with him. He was quick to give her oils and special food, and gave her seven of the best women servants from the king’s special house. He moved her and her women servants to the best place in the house for the king’s wives.

And the maiden pleased and obtained his favor. And he speedily gave her the things for her purification and her portion of food and the seven chosen maids to be given her from the king’s palace; and he removed her and her maids to the best in the harem.

10 E sther had not told who her people or her family were because Mordecai had told her to say nothing.

Esther had not made known her nationality or her kindred, for Mordecai had charged her not to do so.

11 A nd every day Mordecai walked in front of the open space of the house of the king’s women to learn how Esther was and how she was getting along.

And Mordecai '> attendant in the king’s court] walked every day before the court of the harem to learn how Esther was and what would become of her.

12 T he time for each young lady came to go in to King Ahasuerus after the end of her twelve months of being under the rules for the women. The days of making themselves beautiful were finished after using oil from spices for six months, and perfumes and oils for making themselves beautiful for another six months.

Now when the turn of each maiden came to go in to King Ahasuerus, after the regulations for the women had been carried out for twelve months—since this was the regular period for their beauty treatments, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with sweet spices and perfumes and the things for the purifying of the women—

13 W hen the young woman went in to the king, whatever she wanted was given to her to take from the house of the king’s women to the king’s special house.

Then in this way the maiden came to the king: whatever she desired was given her to take with her from the harem into the king’s palace.

14 I n the evening she would go in and in the morning she would return to the second house for the king’s women, into the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s servant who took care of his women who acted as wives. She would not go in to the king again unless the king was pleased with her and she was called by name.

In the evening she went and next day she returned into the second harem in the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She came to the king no more unless the king delighted in her and she was called for by name.

15 N ow the turn came for Esther, the daughter of Abihail, the brother of the father of Mordecai who had taken her as his daughter, to go in to the king. She did not ask for anything except what Hegai, the king’s servant who took care of the women, said she should take. And Esther found favor in the eyes of all who saw her.

Now when the turn for Esther the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai who had taken her as his own daughter, had come to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s attendant, the keeper of the women, suggested. And Esther won favor in the sight of all who saw her.

16 S o Esther was taken to the beautiful house of King Ahasuerus in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his rule.

So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus into his royal palace in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

17 A nd the king loved Esther more than all the women. She found favor and kindness with him more than all the young women, so that he set the queen’s crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

And the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the maidens, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

18 T hen the king gave a great supper for all his princes and leaders. It was a special supper for Esther. He also made a special day for the nation, and gave many gifts. Mordecai Saves the King’s Life

Then the king gave a great feast for all his princes and his servants, Esther’s feast; and he gave a holiday to the provinces and gave gifts in keeping with the generosity of the king.

19 W hen the young women were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate.

And when the maidens were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate.

20 E sther had not yet told who her family or her people were, as Mordecai had said. For she did what Mordecai told her just as she had done when she was under his care.

Now Esther had not yet revealed her nationality or her people, for she obeyed Mordecai’s command to her '> to fear God and execute His commands] just as when she was being brought up by him.

21 I n those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s servants from those who watched over the door, became angry. And they planned to kill King Ahasuerus.

In those days, while Mordecai sat at the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, of those who guarded the door, were angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.

22 B ut their plan became known to Mordecai and he told Queen Esther. And Esther told the king what Mordecai had heard.

And this was known to Mordecai, who told it to Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in Mordecai’s name.

23 W hen the plan was learned and found to be true, both men were hanged on a tree. It was written down in the Book of the Chronicles in front of the king.

When it was investigated and found to be true, both men were hanged on the gallows. And it was recorded in the Book of the Chronicles in the king’s presence.