1. After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that {cf15I were} with him.
2. And all the king's servants, that {cf15I were} in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did {cf15I him} reverence.
3. Then the king's servants, which {cf15I were} in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?
4. Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he {cf15I was} a Jew.
5. And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
6. And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that {cf15I were} throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, {cf15I even} the people of Mordecai.
7. In the first month, that {cf15I is}, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that {cf15I is}, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, {cf15I to} the twelfth {cf15I month}, that {cf15I is}, the month Adar.
8. And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws {cf15I are} diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it {cf15I is} not for the king's profit to suffer them.
9. If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring {cf15I it} into the king's treasuries.
10. And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
11. And the king said unto Haman, The silver {cf15I is} given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
12. Then were the king's scribes 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 {cf15I were} over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and {cf15I to} every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.
13. And the letters were sent by posts 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, {cf15I even} upon the thirteenth {cf15I day} of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and {cf15I to take} the spoil of them for a prey.
14. The copy 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.
15. The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.