Ester 9

20 Mordecai recorded these events and sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces ruled by King Xerxes, near and far, 21 requiring them to celebrate every year the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar 22 as the time when the Jews rested from their victory over their enemies, and as the month when their sadness was turned into joy and their mourning into a time of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving gifts of food to one another and presents to the poor.

23 The Jews agreed to continue what they had already started doing, following what Mordecai had written to them. 24 For Haman, son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted to destroy the Jews, and had cast "pur" (meaning a "lot") to crush and destroy them. 25 But when it came to the king’s attention, he sent out letters ordering that the evil scheme which Haman had planned against the Jews should rebound on him, and that he and his sons should be impaled on poles. 26 (That’s why these days are called Purim, from the word Pur.*9:26. "Purim" is the plural of "pur.")

As a result of all the instructions in Mordecai’s letter, and what they’d seen, and what had happened to them, 27 the Jews committed themselves to adopt the practice that they and their descendants and all who join them should not forget to celebrate these two days as set down, and at the right time every year. 28 These days were to be remembered and celebrated by every generation, family, province, and city, so that these days of Purim would always be observed among the Jews, and they would not be forgotten by their descendants.

29 Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, wrote a letter, along with Mordecai the Jew, giving in her letter full authority to Mordecai’s letter about Purim. 30 Letters expressing peace and reassurance were also sent to all the Jews in the 127 provinces of the empire of King Xerxes. 31 They established these days of Purim at their given time as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had ordered, committing themselves and their descendants to the times of fasting and mourning. 32 In this way Esther’s decree confirmed these practices regarding Purim, which were entered in the official record.