The great king Artexerxes to the princes and governors of a hundred and seven and twenty provinces from India to Ethiopia, and to all our faithful subjects, greeting.
Many, the more often they are honored with the great bounty of their gracious princes, the more proud they are grown,
And endeavor to hurt not our subjects only, but not being able to bear abundance, do take in hand to practise also against those that do them good:
And take not only thankfulness away from among men, but also lifted up with the glorious words of lewd persons, that were never good, they think to escape the justice of God, that sees all things and hates evil.
Oftentimes also fair speech of those, that are put in trust to manage their friends’ affairs, has caused many that are in authority to be partakers of innocent blood, and has enwrapped them in remediless calamities:
Beguiling with the falsehood and deceit of their lewd disposition the innocency and goodness of princes.
Now you may see this, as we have declared, not so much by ancient histories, as you may, if you search what has been wickedly done of late through the pestilent behavior of them that are unworthily placed in authority.
And we must take care for the time to come, that our kingdom may be quiet and peaceable for all men,
Both by changing our purposes, and always judging things that are evident with more equal proceeding.
For Aman, a Macedonian, the son of Amadatha, being indeed a stranger from the Persian blood, and far distant from our goodness, and as a stranger received of us,
Had so far forth obtained the favor that we show toward every nation, as that he was called our father, and was continually honored of all the next person to the king.
But he, not bearing his great dignity, went about to deprive us of our kingdom and life:
Having by manifold and cunning deceits sought of us the destruction, as well of Mardocheus, who saved our life, and continually procured our good, as also of blameless Esther, partaker of our kingdom, with their whole nation.
For by these means he thought, finding us destitute of friends to have transferred the kingdom of the Persians to the Macedonians.
But we find that the Jews, whom this wicked wretch has delivered to utter destruction, are no evildoers, but live by most just laws:
And that they be children of the most high and most mighty, living God, who has ordered the kingdom both to us and to our progenitors in the most excellent manner.
Therefore you shall do well not to put in execution the letters sent to you by Aman the son of Amadatha.
For he that was the worker of these things, is hanged at the gates of Susa with all his family: God, who rules all things, speedily rendering vengeance to him according to his deserts.
Therefore you shall publish the copy of this letter in all places, that the Jews may freely live after their own laws.
And you shall aid them, that even the same day, being the thirteenth day of the twelfth month Adar, they may be avenged on them, who in the time of their affliction shall set upon them.
For Almighty God has turned to joy to them the day, in which the chosen people should have perished.
You shall therefore among your solemn feasts keep it a high day with all feasting:
That both now and hereafter there may be safety to us and the well affected Persians; but to those which do conspire against us a memorial of destruction.
Therefore every city and country whatever, which shall not do according to these things, shall be destroyed without mercy with fire and sword, and shall be made not only unpassable for men, but also most hateful to wild beasts and birds for ever.