1 After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes who were with him. 2 All the king’s servants who were in the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai didn’t bow down or pay him homage. 3 Then the king’s servants who were in the king’s gate said to Mordecai, "Why do you disobey the king’s commandment?" 4 Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily to him, and he didn’t listen to them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s reason would stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew. 5 When Haman saw that Mordecai didn’t bow down nor pay him homage, Haman was full of wrath. 6 But he scorned the thought of laying hands on Mordecai alone, for they had made known to him Mordecai’s people. Therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even Mordecai’s people.

7 In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, and chose the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. 8 Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom, and their laws are different from other people’s. They don’t keep the king’s laws. Therefore it is not for the king’s profit to allow them to remain. 9 If it pleases the king, let it be written that they be destroyed; and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who are in charge of the king’s business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries."

10 The king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy. 11 The king said to Haman, "The silver is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you."

12 Then the king’s scribes were called in on the first month, on the thirteenth day of the month; and all that Haman commanded was written to the king’s local governors, and to the governors who were over every province, and to the princes of every people, to every province according to its writing, and to every people in their language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus, and it was sealed with the king’s ring. 13 Letters were sent by couriers into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to plunder their possessions. 14 A copy of the letter, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, that they should be ready against that day. 15 The couriers went out in haste by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given out in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Susa was perplexed.

1 这事以后， 亚哈随鲁王使亚甲族哈米大他的儿子晋升； 王提拔他， 使他的地位高过所有与他在一起的大臣。

2 在朝门那里， 王的所有臣仆， 都向哈曼屈身下拜， 因为王曾经这样吩咐； 只有末底改不跪， 也不拜。

3 于是在朝门的臣仆问末底改： "你为什么违背王的命令呢？"

4 他们天天劝他， 他还是不听， 他们就告诉哈曼， 要看看末底改的话是不是坚持到底， 因为他已经告诉他们， 他自己是犹大人。

5 哈曼见末底改不向他屈身下拜， 就非常忿怒。

6 他以为只下手对付末底改一人还是小事， 因为有人把末底改的本族告诉了哈曼； 所以哈曼设法要把亚哈随鲁王全国所有的犹大人， 与末底改一起消灭。

7 亚哈随鲁王十二年正月， 就是尼散月， 有人在哈曼面前弄卜"普珥"， 就是抽签， 逐日逐月地抽， 结果抽出了十二月， 就是亚达月。

8 哈曼对亚哈随鲁王说： "有一个种族， 散居在王国各省各民族之中； 他们的法例与各族的法例不同， 他们也不遵守王的法规； 所以留下他们， 对王实在无益。

9 王若是赞成， 请王降旨消灭他们； 我愿捐出三万四千公斤银子， 交在管理国务的人手中， 纳入王库。"

10 于是王从自己的手中取下戒指， 交给犹大人的敌人， 亚甲族哈米大他的儿子哈曼。

11 王对哈曼说： "这银子仍赐给你， 这民也交给你， 你看怎样好， 就怎样待他们吧。"

12 正月十三日， 王的书记都召了来， 照着哈曼的一切吩咐， 用各省的文字， 各族的方言， 奉亚哈随鲁王的名下旨， 又用王的戒指盖上印， 颁给总督、各省的省长和各族的领袖。

13 王旨交给众驿使传到王的各省， 吩咐要在一日之内， 在十二月， 就是亚达月十三日， 把所有的犹大人， 无论老少妇孺， 都全部毁灭、杀绝、除尽， 并且抢夺他们的财产。

14 谕文抄本颁行各省， 通告各族， 使他们准备好这一天。

15 驿使奉王命急忙出发， 御旨从书珊城颁布出去。那时王与哈曼又同坐共饮， 书珊城的居民却非常慌乱。