¶ After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman¹ the son of Hammedatha the Agagite², and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes³ that were with him.

And all the king's servants⁴, that were in the king's gate, bowed⁵, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not,⁶ nor did him reverence.

Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why⁷ transgressest thou the king's commandment?

Now it came to pass, when they spake⁸ daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told⁹ Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told¹⁰ them that he was a Jew.

And when Haman saw that Mordecai¹¹ bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath¹².

And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought¹³ to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.

¶ In the first month¹⁴, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth¹⁵ year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur¹⁶, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar¹⁷.

And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad¹⁸ and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws¹⁹ are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to²⁰ suffer them.

If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed²¹: and I will pay ten thousand²² talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.

¶ And the king took²³ his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy²⁴.

And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do²⁵ with them as it seemeth good to thee.

Then were²⁶ the king's scribes²⁷ called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name²⁸ of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed²⁹ with the king's ring.

And the letters were sent by posts³⁰ into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young³¹ and old, little children and women, in one day³², even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil³³ of them for a prey.

The copy³⁴ of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.

The posts went out, being hastened³⁵ by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down³⁶ to drink; but the city³⁷ Shushan was perplexed.