wcc-scripture 0.1.0

data/data/esv/Esther.xml

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+<?xml version="1.0" standalone="no"?>
+<!DOCTYPE crossway-bible SYSTEM "schema/crossway.bibles.dtd">
+<crossway-bible translation="English Standard Version" revision="2006-10-26" xmlns="http://www.crosswaybibles.org" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="schema/crossway.bibles.xsd"> 
+<book title="Esther" num="17">
+  <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17001001"/>
+  <chapter num="1">
+    <heading>The King&apos;s Banquets</heading>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="1">Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned <crossref let="a" cid="c17001001.1"/>from India to Ethiopia over <crossref let="b" cid="c17001001.2"/>127 provinces,</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17001002"/>
+    <verse num="2">in those days when King Ahasuerus <crossref let="c" cid="c17001002.1"/>sat on his royal throne in <crossref let="d" cid="c17001002.2"/>Susa, the citadel,</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17001003"/>
+    <verse num="3">in the third year of his reign <crossref let="e" cid="c17001003.1"/>he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him,</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17001004"/>
+    <verse num="4">while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17001005"/>
+    <verse num="5">And when these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in Susa the citadel, both great and small, a feast lasting for seven days in the court of <crossref let="f" cid="c17001005.1"/>the garden of the king&apos;s palace.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17001006"/>
+    <verse num="6">There were white cotton curtains and violet hangings fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rods<note nid="n17001006.1"/> and marble pillars, and also <crossref let="g" cid="c17001006.1"/>couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17001007"/>
+    <verse num="7">Drinks were served in golden vessels, vessels of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17001008"/>
+    <verse num="8">And drinking was according to this edict: <q class="begin-double" qid="17001008.1" from="17001008.1" to="17001008.2"/>There is no compulsion.<q class="end-double" qid="17001008.2" from="17001008.1" to="17001008.2"/> For the king had given orders to all the staff of his palace to do as each man desired.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17001009"/>
+    <verse num="9">Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women in the palace that belonged to King Ahasuerus.</verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17001010"/>
+    <heading>Queen Vashti&apos;s Refusal</heading>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="10">On the seventh day, <crossref let="h" cid="c17001010.1"/>when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, <crossref let="i" cid="c17001010.2"/>Harbona, <crossref let="j" cid="c17001010.3"/>Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus,</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17001011"/>
+    <verse num="11">to bring Queen Vashti before the king with <crossref let="k" cid="c17001011.1"/>her royal crown,<note nid="n17001011.1"/> in order to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, for she was lovely to look at.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17001012"/>
+    <verse num="12">But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king&apos;s command delivered by the eunuchs. At this the king became enraged, and his anger burned within him.</verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17001013"/>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="13">Then the king said to <crossref let="l" cid="c17001013.1"/>the wise men <crossref let="m" cid="c17001013.2"/>who knew the times (for this was the king&apos;s procedure toward all who were versed in law and judgment,</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17001014"/>
+    <verse num="14">the men next to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and <crossref let="n" cid="c17001014.1"/>Memucan, <crossref let="o" cid="c17001014.2"/>the seven princes of Persia and Media, <crossref let="p" cid="c17001014.3"/>who saw the king&apos;s face, and sat first in the kingdom):</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17001015"/>
+    <verse num="15"><q class="begin-double" qid="17001015.1" from="17001015.1" to="17001015.2"/>According to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti, because she has not performed the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?<q class="end-double" qid="17001015.2" from="17001015.1" to="17001015.2"/></verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17001016"/>
+    <verse num="16">Then Memucan said in the presence of the king and the officials, <q class="begin-double" qid="17001016.1" from="17001016.1" to="17001020.1"/>Not only against the king has Queen Vashti done wrong, but also against all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17001017"/>
+    <verse num="17">For the queen&apos;s behavior will be made known to all women, causing them to look at their husbands with contempt,<note nid="n17001017.1"/> since they will say, <q class="begin-single" qid="17001017.1" from="17001017.1" to="17001017.2"/>King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and she did not come.<q class="end-single" qid="17001017.2" from="17001017.1" to="17001017.2"/></verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17001018"/>
+    <verse num="18">This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen&apos;s behavior will say the same to all the king&apos;s officials, and there will be contempt and wrath in plenty.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17001019"/>
+    <verse num="19">If it please the king, let a royal order go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so <crossref let="q" cid="c17001019.1"/>that it may not be repealed, that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus. And let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17001020"/>
+    <verse num="20">So when the decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, for it is vast, <crossref let="r" cid="c17001020.1"/>all women will give honor to their husbands, high and low alike.<q class="end-double" qid="17001020.1" from="17001016.1" to="17001020.1"/></verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17001021"/>
+    <verse num="21">This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan proposed.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17001022"/>
+    <verse num="22">He sent letters to all the royal provinces, <crossref let="s" cid="c17001022.1"/>to every province in its own script and to every people in its own language, that every man be master in his own household and speak according to the language of his people.</verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+  </chapter>
+  <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17002001"/>
+  <chapter num="2">
+    <heading>Esther Chosen Queen</heading>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="1">After these things, <crossref let="t" cid="c17002001.1"/>when the anger of King Ahasuerus had abated, he remembered Vashti <crossref let="u" cid="c17002001.2"/>and what she had done and what had been decreed against her.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17002002"/>
+    <verse num="2">Then the king&apos;s young men who attended him said, <q class="begin-double" qid="17002002.1" from="17002002.1" to="17002004.1"/>Let beautiful young virgins be sought out for the king.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17002003"/>
+    <verse num="3">And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom to gather all the beautiful young virgins to the harem in Susa the citadel, under custody of <crossref let="v" cid="c17002003.1"/>Hegai, the king&apos;s eunuch, who is in charge of the women. <crossref let="w" cid="c17002003.2"/>Let their cosmetics be given them.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17002004"/>
+    <verse num="4">And let the young woman who pleases the king<note nid="n17002004.1"/> be queen instead of Vashti.<q class="end-double" qid="17002004.1" from="17002002.1" to="17002004.1"/> This pleased the king, and he did so.</verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17002005"/>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="5">Now there was a Jew in Susa the citadel whose name was <crossref let="x" cid="c17002005.1"/>Mordecai, the son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite,</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17002006"/>
+    <verse num="6"><crossref let="y" cid="c17002006.1"/>who had been carried away from Jerusalem among the captives carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17002007"/>
+    <verse num="7">He was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, <crossref let="z" cid="c17002007.1"/>the daughter of his uncle, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17002008"/>
+    <verse num="8">So when the king&apos;s order and his edict were proclaimed, and <crossref let="a" cid="c17002008.1"/>when many young women were gathered in Susa the citadel in custody of <crossref let="b" cid="c17002008.2"/>Hegai, Esther also was taken into the king&apos;s palace and put in custody of Hegai, who had charge of the women.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17002009"/>
+    <verse num="9">And the young woman pleased him and won his favor. And he quickly provided her <crossref let="c" cid="c17002009.1"/>with her cosmetics and her portion of food, and with seven chosen young women from the king&apos;s palace, and advanced her and her young women to the best place in the harem.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17002010"/>
+    <verse num="10"><crossref let="d" cid="c17002010.1"/>Esther had not made known her people or kindred, for Mordecai had commanded her not to make it known.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17002011"/>
+    <verse num="11">And every day Mordecai walked in front of the court of the harem to learn how Esther was and what was happening to her.</verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17002012"/>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="12">Now when the turn came for each young woman to go in to King Ahasuerus, after being twelve months under the regulations for the women, since this was the regular period of their beautifying, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and ointments for women&emdash;</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17002013"/>
+    <verse num="13">when the young woman went in to the king in this way, she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the harem to the king&apos;s palace.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17002014"/>
+    <verse num="14">In the evening she would go in, and in the morning she would return to the second harem in custody of Shaashgaz, the king&apos;s eunuch, who was in charge of the concubines. She would not go in to the king again, unless the king delighted in her and she was summoned by name.</verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17002015"/>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="15">When the turn came for Esther <crossref let="e" cid="c17002015.1"/>the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what <crossref let="f" cid="c17002015.2"/>Hegai the king&apos;s eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17002016"/>
+    <verse num="16">And when Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign,</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17002017"/>
+    <verse num="17">the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set <crossref let="g" cid="c17002017.1"/>the royal crown<note nid="n17002017.1"/> on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17002018"/>
+    <verse num="18">Then the king <crossref let="h" cid="c17002018.1"/>gave a great feast for all his officials and servants; it was Esther&apos;s feast. He also granted a remission of taxes to the provinces and gave gifts with royal generosity.</verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17002019"/>
+    <heading>Mordecai Discovers a Plot</heading>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="19">Now when the virgins were gathered together <crossref let="i" cid="c17002019.1"/>the second time, Mordecai was sitting <crossref let="j" cid="c17002019.2"/>at the king&apos;s gate.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17002020"/>
+    <verse num="20"><crossref let="k" cid="c17002020.1"/>Esther had not made known her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had commanded her, for Esther obeyed Mordecai just <crossref let="l" cid="c17002020.2"/>as when she was brought up by him.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17002021"/>
+    <verse num="21">In those days, as Mordecai was sitting at the king&apos;s gate, <crossref let="m" cid="c17002021.1"/>Bigthan and <crossref let="n" cid="c17002021.2"/>Teresh, two of the king&apos;s eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, became angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17002022"/>
+    <verse num="22">And this came to the knowledge of Mordecai, <crossref let="o" cid="c17002022.1"/>and he told it to Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in the name of Mordecai.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17002023"/>
+    <verse num="23">When the affair was investigated and found to be so, the men were both hanged on the gallows.<note nid="n17002023.1"/> And it was recorded in <crossref let="p" cid="c17002023.1"/>the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king.</verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+  </chapter>
+  <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17003001"/>
+  <chapter num="3">
+    <heading>Haman Plots Against the Jews</heading>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="1">After these things King Ahasuerus <crossref let="q" cid="c17003001.1"/>promoted Haman <crossref let="r" cid="c17003001.2"/>the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, <crossref let="s" cid="c17003001.3"/>and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17003002"/>
+    <verse num="2">And all the king&apos;s servants who were at the king&apos;s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. <crossref let="t" cid="c17003002.1"/>But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17003003"/>
+    <verse num="3">Then the king&apos;s servants who were <crossref let="u" cid="c17003003.1"/>at the king&apos;s gate said to Mordecai, <q class="begin-double" qid="17003003.1" from="17003003.1" to="17003003.2"/>Why do you transgress <crossref let="v" cid="c17003003.2"/>the king&apos;s command?<q class="end-double" qid="17003003.2" from="17003003.1" to="17003003.2"/></verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17003004"/>
+    <verse num="4">And when they spoke to him day after day and he would not listen to them, they told Haman, in order to see whether Mordecai&apos;s words would stand, for he had told them that he was a Jew.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17003005"/>
+    <verse num="5">And when Haman saw that <crossref let="t" cid="c17003005.1"/>Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman was <crossref let="w" cid="c17003005.2"/>filled with fury.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17003006"/>
+    <verse num="6">But he disdained<note nid="n17003006.1"/> to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy<note nid="n17003006.2"/> all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.</verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17003007"/>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="7">In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, <crossref let="x" cid="c17003007.1"/>they cast Pur (that is, they cast lots) before Haman day after day; and they cast it month after month till the twelfth month, which is <crossref let="y" cid="c17003007.2"/>the month of Adar.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17003008"/>
+    <verse num="8">Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, <q class="begin-double" qid="17003008.1" from="17003008.1" to="17003009.1"/>There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. <crossref let="z" cid="c17003008.1"/>Their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king&apos;s laws, so that it is not to the king&apos;s profit to tolerate them.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17003009"/>
+    <verse num="9">If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents<note nid="n17003009.1"/> of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king&apos;s business, that they may put it into the king&apos;s treasuries.<q class="end-double" qid="17003009.1" from="17003008.1" to="17003009.1"/></verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17003010"/>
+    <verse num="10"><crossref let="a" cid="c17003010.1"/>So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman <crossref let="b" cid="c17003010.2"/>the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, <crossref let="c" cid="c17003010.3"/>the enemy of the Jews.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17003011"/>
+    <verse num="11">And the king said to Haman, <q class="begin-double" qid="17003011.1" from="17003011.1" to="17003011.2"/>The money is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you.<q class="end-double" qid="17003011.2" from="17003011.1" to="17003011.2"/></verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17003012"/>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="12"><crossref let="d" cid="c17003012.1"/>Then the king&apos;s scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and an edict, according to all that Haman commanded, was written to the king&apos;s <crossref let="e" cid="c17003012.2"/>satraps and to the governors over all the provinces and to the officials of all the peoples, <crossref let="f" cid="c17003012.3"/>to every province in its own script and every people in its own language. It was written <crossref let="g" cid="c17003012.4"/>in the name of King Ahasuerus <crossref let="h" cid="c17003012.5"/>and sealed with the king&apos;s signet ring.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17003013"/>
+    <verse num="13">Letters were sent <crossref let="i" cid="c17003013.1"/>by couriers to all the king&apos;s provinces with instruction <crossref let="j" cid="c17003013.2"/>to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, <crossref let="k" cid="c17003013.3"/>in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, <crossref let="l" cid="c17003013.4"/>and to plunder their goods.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17003014"/>
+    <verse num="14"><crossref let="m" cid="c17003014.1"/>A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province by proclamation to all the peoples to be ready for that day.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17003015"/>
+    <verse num="15"><crossref let="i" cid="c17003015.1"/>The couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in Susa the citadel. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, <crossref let="n" cid="c17003015.2"/>but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.</verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+  </chapter>
+  <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17004001"/>
+  <chapter num="4">
+    <heading>Esther Agrees to Help the Jews</heading>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="1">When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes <crossref let="o" cid="c17004001.1"/>and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17004002"/>
+    <verse num="2">He went up to the entrance of the king&apos;s gate, for no one was allowed to enter the king&apos;s gate clothed in sackcloth.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17004003"/>
+    <verse num="3">And in every province, wherever the king&apos;s command and his decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, <crossref let="p" cid="c17004003.1"/>with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and many of them <crossref let="q" cid="c17004003.2"/>lay in sackcloth and ashes.</verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17004004"/>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="4">When Esther&apos;s young women and her eunuchs came and told her, the queen was deeply distressed. She sent garments to clothe Mordecai, so that he might take off his sackcloth, but he would not accept them.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17004005"/>
+    <verse num="5">Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king&apos;s eunuchs, who had been appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what this was and why it was.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17004006"/>
+    <verse num="6">Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king&apos;s gate,</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17004007"/>
+    <verse num="7">and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, <crossref let="r" cid="c17004007.1"/>and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king&apos;s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17004008"/>
+    <verse num="8">Mordecai also gave him <crossref let="s" cid="c17004008.1"/>a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction,<note nid="n17004008.1"/> that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her and command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him<note nid="n17004008.2"/> on behalf of her people.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17004009"/>
+    <verse num="9">And Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17004010"/>
+    <verse num="10">Then Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to go to Mordecai and say,</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17004011"/>
+    <verse num="11"><q class="begin-double" qid="17004011.1" from="17004011.1" to="17004011.2"/>All the king&apos;s servants and the people of the king&apos;s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside <crossref let="t" cid="c17004011.1"/>the inner court without being called, <crossref let="u" cid="c17004011.2"/>there is but one law&emdash;to be put to death, except the one <crossref let="v" cid="c17004011.3"/>to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.<q class="end-double" qid="17004011.2" from="17004011.1" to="17004011.2"/></verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17004012"/>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="12">And they told Mordecai what Esther had said.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17004013"/>
+    <verse num="13">Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, <q class="begin-double" qid="17004013.1" from="17004013.1" to="17004014.1"/>Do not think to yourself that in the king&apos;s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17004014"/>
+    <verse num="14">For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father&apos;s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?<q class="end-double" qid="17004014.1" from="17004013.1" to="17004014.1"/></verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17004015"/>
+    <verse num="15">Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai,</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17004016"/>
+    <verse num="16"><q class="begin-double" qid="17004016.1" from="17004016.1" to="17004016.2"/>Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for <crossref let="w" cid="c17004016.1"/>three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, <crossref let="x" cid="c17004016.2"/>and if I perish, I perish.<q class="end-double" qid="17004016.2" from="17004016.1" to="17004016.2"/><note nid="n17004016.1"/></verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17004017"/>
+    <verse num="17">Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.</verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+  </chapter>
+  <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17005001"/>
+  <chapter num="5">
+    <heading>Esther Prepares a Banquet</heading>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="1"><crossref let="y" cid="c17005001.1"/>On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in <crossref let="z" cid="c17005001.2"/>the inner court of the king&apos;s palace, in front of the king&apos;s quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne inside the throne room opposite the entrance to the palace.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17005002"/>
+    <verse num="2">And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, <crossref let="a" cid="c17005002.1"/>she won favor in his sight, <crossref let="b" cid="c17005002.2"/>and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17005003"/>
+    <verse num="3">And the king said to her, <q class="begin-double" qid="17005003.1" from="17005003.1" to="17005003.2"/>What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even <crossref let="c" cid="c17005003.1"/>to the half of my kingdom.<q class="end-double" qid="17005003.2" from="17005003.1" to="17005003.2"/></verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17005004"/>
+    <verse num="4">And Esther said, <q class="begin-double" qid="17005004.1" from="17005004.1" to="17005004.2"/>If it please the king,<note nid="n17005004.1"/> let the king and Haman come today to a feast that I have prepared for the king.<q class="end-double" qid="17005004.2" from="17005004.1" to="17005004.2"/></verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17005005"/>
+    <verse num="5">Then the king said, <q class="begin-double" qid="17005005.1" from="17005005.1" to="17005005.2"/>Bring Haman quickly, so that we may do as Esther has asked.<q class="end-double" qid="17005005.2" from="17005005.1" to="17005005.2"/> So the king and Haman came to the feast that Esther had prepared.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17005006"/>
+    <verse num="6"><crossref let="d" cid="c17005006.1"/>And as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king said to Esther, <crossref let="e" cid="c17005006.2"/><q class="begin-double" qid="17005006.1" from="17005006.1" to="17005006.2"/>What is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? <crossref let="c" cid="c17005006.3"/>Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.<q class="end-double" qid="17005006.2" from="17005006.1" to="17005006.2"/><note nid="n17005006.1"/></verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17005007"/>
+    <verse num="7">Then Esther answered, <q class="begin-double" qid="17005007.1" from="17005007.1" to="17005008.1"/>My wish and my request is:</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17005008"/>
+    <verse num="8"><crossref let="f" cid="c17005008.1"/>If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king<note nid="n17005008.1"/> to grant my wish and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come to <crossref let="g" cid="c17005008.2"/>the feast that I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.<q class="end-double" qid="17005008.1" from="17005007.1" to="17005008.1"/></verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17005009"/>
+    <heading>Haman Plans to Hang Mordecai</heading>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="9">And Haman went out that day <crossref let="h" cid="c17005009.1"/>joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai <crossref let="i" cid="c17005009.2"/>in the king&apos;s gate, <crossref let="j" cid="c17005009.3"/>that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17005010"/>
+    <verse num="10">Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and brought his friends and <crossref let="k" cid="c17005010.1"/>his wife Zeresh.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17005011"/>
+    <verse num="11">And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, <crossref let="l" cid="c17005011.1"/>the number of his sons, all the promotions with which <crossref let="m" cid="c17005011.2"/>the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17005012"/>
+    <verse num="12">Then Haman said, <q class="begin-double" qid="17005012.1" from="17005012.1" to="17005013.1"/>Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the feast she prepared. And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17005013"/>
+    <verse num="13">Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting <crossref let="i" cid="c17005013.1"/>at the king&apos;s gate.<q class="end-double" qid="17005013.1" from="17005012.1" to="17005013.1"/></verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17005014"/>
+    <verse num="14">Then <crossref let="k" cid="c17005014.1"/>his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, <crossref let="n" cid="c17005014.2"/><q class="begin-double" qid="17005014.1" from="17005014.1" to="17005014.2"/>Let a gallows<note nid="n17005014.1"/> fifty cubits<note nid="n17005014.2"/> high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it. Then go joyfully with the king to the feast.<q class="end-double" qid="17005014.2" from="17005014.1" to="17005014.2"/> This idea pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.</verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+  </chapter>
+  <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17006001"/>
+  <chapter num="6">
+    <heading>The King Honors Mordecai</heading>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="1">On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring <crossref let="o" cid="c17006001.1"/>the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17006002"/>
+    <verse num="2">And it was found written how <crossref let="p" cid="c17006002.1"/>Mordecai had told about <crossref let="q" cid="c17006002.2"/>Bigthana<note nid="n17006002.1"/> and <crossref let="r" cid="c17006002.3"/>Teresh, two of the king&apos;s eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17006003"/>
+    <verse num="3">And the king said, <q class="begin-double" qid="17006003.1" from="17006003.1" to="17006003.2"/>What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?<q class="end-double" qid="17006003.2" from="17006003.1" to="17006003.2"/> The king&apos;s young men who attended him said, <q class="begin-double" qid="17006003.3" from="17006003.3" to="17006003.4"/>Nothing has been done for him.<q class="end-double" qid="17006003.4" from="17006003.3" to="17006003.4"/></verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17006004"/>
+    <verse num="4">And the king said, <q class="begin-double" qid="17006004.1" from="17006004.1" to="17006004.2"/>Who is in the court?<q class="end-double" qid="17006004.2" from="17006004.1" to="17006004.2"/> Now Haman had just entered <crossref let="s" cid="c17006004.1"/>the outer court of the king&apos;s palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on <crossref let="t" cid="c17006004.2"/>the gallows<note nid="n17006004.1"/> that he had prepared for him.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17006005"/>
+    <verse num="5">And the king&apos;s young men told him, <q class="begin-double" qid="17006005.1" from="17006005.1" to="17006005.2"/>Haman is there, standing in the court.<q class="end-double" qid="17006005.2" from="17006005.1" to="17006005.2"/> And the king said, <q class="begin-double" qid="17006005.3" from="17006005.3" to="17006005.4"/>Let him come in.<q class="end-double" qid="17006005.4" from="17006005.3" to="17006005.4"/></verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17006006"/>
+    <verse num="6">So Haman came in, and the king said to him, <q class="begin-double" qid="17006006.1" from="17006006.1" to="17006006.2"/>What should be done to the man <crossref let="u" cid="c17006006.1"/>whom the king delights to honor?<q class="end-double" qid="17006006.2" from="17006006.1" to="17006006.2"/> And Haman said to himself, <q class="begin-double" qid="17006006.3" from="17006006.3" to="17006006.4"/>Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?<q class="end-double" qid="17006006.4" from="17006006.3" to="17006006.4"/></verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17006007"/>
+    <verse num="7">And Haman said to the king, <q class="begin-double" qid="17006007.1" from="17006007.1" to="17006009.3"/>For the man whom the king delights to honor,</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17006008"/>
+    <verse num="8">let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, <crossref let="v" cid="c17006008.1"/>and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head <crossref let="w" cid="c17006008.2"/>a royal crown<note nid="n17006008.1"/> is set.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17006009"/>
+    <verse num="9">And let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king&apos;s most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the square of the city, <crossref let="x" cid="c17006009.1"/>proclaiming before him: <q class="begin-single" qid="17006009.1" from="17006009.1" to="17006009.2"/>Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.<q class="end-single" qid="17006009.2" from="17006009.1" to="17006009.2"/><q class="end-double" qid="17006009.3" from="17006007.1" to="17006009.3"/></verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17006010"/>
+    <verse num="10">Then the king said to Haman, <q class="begin-double" qid="17006010.1" from="17006010.1" to="17006010.2"/>Hurry; take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits <crossref let="y" cid="c17006010.1"/>at the king&apos;s gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned.<q class="end-double" qid="17006010.2" from="17006010.1" to="17006010.2"/></verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17006011"/>
+    <verse num="11">So Haman took the robes and the horse, and he dressed Mordecai and led him through the square of the city, proclaiming before him, <q class="begin-double" qid="17006011.1" from="17006011.1" to="17006011.2"/>Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.<q class="end-double" qid="17006011.2" from="17006011.1" to="17006011.2"/></verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17006012"/>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="12">Then Mordecai returned to the king&apos;s gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning <crossref let="z" cid="c17006012.1"/>and with his head covered.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17006013"/>
+    <verse num="13">And Haman told <crossref let="a" cid="c17006013.1"/>his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, <q class="begin-double" qid="17006013.1" from="17006013.1" to="17006013.2"/>If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him.<q class="end-double" qid="17006013.2" from="17006013.1" to="17006013.2"/></verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17006014"/>
+    <heading>Esther Reveals Haman&apos;s Plot</heading>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="14">While they were yet talking with him, the king&apos;s eunuchs arrived and hurried to bring Haman <crossref let="b" cid="c17006014.1"/>to the feast that Esther had prepared.</verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+  </chapter>
+  <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17007001"/>
+  <chapter num="7">
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="1">So the king and Haman went in to feast with Queen Esther.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17007002"/>
+    <verse num="2">And on the second day, as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king again said to Esther, <crossref let="c" cid="c17007002.1"/><q class="begin-double" qid="17007002.1" from="17007002.1" to="17007002.2"/>What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? <crossref let="d" cid="c17007002.2"/>Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.<q class="end-double" qid="17007002.2" from="17007002.1" to="17007002.2"/></verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17007003"/>
+    <verse num="3">Then Queen Esther answered, <crossref let="e" cid="c17007003.1"/><q class="begin-double" qid="17007003.1" from="17007003.1" to="17007004.1"/>If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17007004"/>
+    <verse num="4"><crossref let="f" cid="c17007004.1"/>For we have been sold, I and my people, <crossref let="g" cid="c17007004.2"/>to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have been silent, for our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king.<q class="end-double" qid="17007004.1" from="17007003.1" to="17007004.1"/></verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17007005"/>
+    <verse num="5">Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, <q class="begin-double" qid="17007005.1" from="17007005.1" to="17007005.2"/>Who is he, and where is he, who has dared<note nid="n17007005.1"/> to do this?<q class="end-double" qid="17007005.2" from="17007005.1" to="17007005.2"/></verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17007006"/>
+    <verse num="6">And Esther said, <crossref let="h" cid="c17007006.1"/><q class="begin-double" qid="17007006.1" from="17007006.1" to="17007006.2"/>A foe and enemy! This wicked Haman!<q class="end-double" qid="17007006.2" from="17007006.1" to="17007006.2"/> Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.</verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17007007"/>
+    <heading>Haman Is Hanged</heading>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="7">And the king arose in his wrath from the wine-drinking and went into <crossref let="i" cid="c17007007.1"/>the palace garden, but Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that harm was determined against him by the king.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17007008"/>
+    <verse num="8">And the king returned from <crossref let="i" cid="c17007008.1"/>the palace garden to the place where they were drinking wine, as Haman was falling on <crossref let="j" cid="c17007008.2"/>the couch where Esther was. And the king said, <q class="begin-double" qid="17007008.1" from="17007008.1" to="17007008.2"/>Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in my own house?<q class="end-double" qid="17007008.2" from="17007008.1" to="17007008.2"/> As the word left the mouth of the king, they covered Haman&apos;s face.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17007009"/>
+    <verse num="9">Then <crossref let="k" cid="c17007009.1"/>Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, <q class="begin-double" qid="17007009.1" from="17007009.1" to="17007009.2"/>Moreover, <crossref let="l" cid="c17007009.2"/>the gallows<note nid="n17007009.1"/> that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, <crossref let="m" cid="c17007009.3"/>whose word saved the king, is standing at Haman&apos;s house, fifty cubits<note nid="n17007009.2"/> high.<q class="end-double" qid="17007009.2" from="17007009.1" to="17007009.2"/> And the king said, <q class="begin-double" qid="17007009.3" from="17007009.3" to="17007009.4"/>Hang him on that.<q class="end-double" qid="17007009.4" from="17007009.3" to="17007009.4"/></verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17007010"/>
+    <verse num="10"><crossref let="n" cid="c17007010.1"/>So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. <crossref let="o" cid="c17007010.2"/>Then the wrath of the king abated.</verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+  </chapter>
+  <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17008001"/>
+  <chapter num="8">
+    <heading>Esther Saves the Jews</heading>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="1">On that day King Ahasuerus gave to Queen Esther the house of Haman, <crossref let="h" cid="c17008001.1"/>the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told <crossref let="p" cid="c17008001.2"/>what he was to her.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17008002"/>
+    <verse num="2"><crossref let="q" cid="c17008002.1"/>And the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.</verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17008003"/>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="3">Then Esther spoke again to the king. She fell at his feet and wept and pleaded with him to avert the evil plan of Haman <crossref let="r" cid="c17008003.1"/>the Agagite and the plot that he had devised against the Jews.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17008004"/>
+    <verse num="4"><crossref let="s" cid="c17008004.1"/>When the king held out the golden scepter to Esther, Esther rose and stood before the king.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17008005"/>
+    <verse num="5">And she said, <q class="begin-double" qid="17008005.1" from="17008005.1" to="17008006.1"/>If it please the king, <crossref let="t" cid="c17008005.1"/>and if I have found favor in his sight, and if the thing seems right before the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let an order be written to revoke <crossref let="u" cid="c17008005.2"/>the letters devised by Haman <crossref let="r" cid="c17008005.3"/>the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17008006"/>
+    <verse num="6">For how can I bear <crossref let="v" cid="c17008006.1"/>to see the calamity that is coming to my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?<q class="end-double" qid="17008006.1" from="17008005.1" to="17008006.1"/></verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17008007"/>
+    <verse num="7">Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, <q class="begin-double" qid="17008007.1" from="17008007.1" to="17008008.1"/>Behold, <crossref let="w" cid="c17008007.1"/>I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows,<note nid="n17008007.1"/> because he intended to lay hands on the Jews.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17008008"/>
+    <verse num="8">But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, <crossref let="x" cid="c17008008.1"/>and seal it with the king&apos;s ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king&apos;s ring <crossref let="y" cid="c17008008.2"/>cannot be revoked.<q class="end-double" qid="17008008.1" from="17008007.1" to="17008008.1"/></verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17008009"/>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="9"><crossref let="z" cid="c17008009.1"/>The king&apos;s scribes were summoned at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day. And an edict was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews, to <crossref let="a" cid="c17008009.2"/>the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces <crossref let="b" cid="c17008009.3"/>from India to Ethiopia, <crossref let="b" cid="c17008009.4"/>127 provinces, <crossref let="c" cid="c17008009.5"/>to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17008010"/>
+    <verse num="10"><crossref let="d" cid="c17008010.1"/>And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus <crossref let="e" cid="c17008010.2"/>and sealed it with the king&apos;s signet ring. Then he sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on <crossref let="f" cid="c17008010.3"/>swift horses that were used in the king&apos;s service, bred from the royal stud,</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17008011"/>
+    <verse num="11">saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city <crossref let="g" cid="c17008011.1"/>to gather and defend their lives, <crossref let="h" cid="c17008011.2"/>to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included, <crossref let="i" cid="c17008011.3"/>and to plunder their goods,</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17008012"/>
+    <verse num="12"><crossref let="j" cid="c17008012.1"/>on one day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17008013"/>
+    <verse num="13"><crossref let="k" cid="c17008013.1"/>A copy of what was written was to be issued as a decree in every province, being publicly displayed to all peoples, and the Jews were to be ready on that day to take vengeance on their enemies.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17008014"/>
+    <verse num="14">So the couriers, mounted on their <crossref let="f" cid="c17008014.1"/>swift horses that were used in the king&apos;s service, rode out hurriedly, urged by the king&apos;s command. And the decree was issued in Susa the citadel.</verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17008015"/>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="15">Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king <crossref let="l" cid="c17008015.1"/>in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown<note nid="n17008015.1"/> and <crossref let="m" cid="c17008015.2"/>a robe of fine linen and purple, <crossref let="n" cid="c17008015.3"/>and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17008016"/>
+    <verse num="16">The Jews had <crossref let="o" cid="c17008016.1"/>light and gladness and joy and honor.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17008017"/>
+    <verse num="17">And in every province and in every city, wherever the king&apos;s command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and <crossref let="p" cid="c17008017.1"/>a holiday. <crossref let="q" cid="c17008017.2"/>And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, <crossref let="r" cid="c17008017.3"/>for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.</verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+  </chapter>
+  <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009001"/>
+  <chapter num="9">
+    <heading>The Jews Destroy Their Enemies</heading>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="1"><crossref let="s" cid="c17009001.1"/>Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, <crossref let="t" cid="c17009001.2"/>on the thirteenth day of the same, <crossref let="u" cid="c17009001.3"/>when the king&apos;s command and edict were about to be carried out, <crossref let="j" cid="c17009001.4"/>on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009002"/>
+    <verse num="2"><crossref let="v" cid="c17009002.1"/>The Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could stand against them, <crossref let="w" cid="c17009002.2"/>for the fear of them had fallen on all peoples.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009003"/>
+    <verse num="3">All the officials of the provinces and <crossref let="x" cid="c17009003.1"/>the satraps and the governors and the royal agents also helped the Jews, for the fear of Mordecai had fallen on them.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009004"/>
+    <verse num="4">For Mordecai was great in the king&apos;s house, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces, for the man Mordecai grew <crossref let="y" cid="c17009004.1"/>more and more powerful.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009005"/>
+    <verse num="5">The Jews struck all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and did as they pleased to those who hated them.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009006"/>
+    <verse num="6">In Susa the citadel itself the Jews killed and destroyed 500 men,</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009007"/>
+    <verse num="7">and also killed Parshandatha and Dalphon and Aspatha</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009008"/>
+    <verse num="8">and Poratha and Adalia and Aridatha</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009009"/>
+    <verse num="9">and Parmashta and Arisai and Aridai and Vaizatha,</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009010"/>
+    <verse num="10"><crossref let="z" cid="c17009010.1"/>the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, <crossref let="a" cid="c17009010.2"/>the enemy of the Jews, <crossref let="b" cid="c17009010.3"/>but they laid no hand on the plunder.</verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009011"/>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="11">That very day the number of those killed in Susa the citadel was reported to the king.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009012"/>
+    <verse num="12">And the king said to Queen Esther, <q class="begin-double" qid="17009012.1" from="17009012.1" to="17009012.2"/>In Susa the citadel the Jews have killed and destroyed 500 men and also the ten sons of Haman. What then have they done in the rest of the king&apos;s provinces! <crossref let="c" cid="c17009012.1"/>Now what is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what further is your request? It shall be fulfilled.<q class="end-double" qid="17009012.2" from="17009012.1" to="17009012.2"/></verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009013"/>
+    <verse num="13">And Esther said, <q class="begin-double" qid="17009013.1" from="17009013.1" to="17009013.2"/>If it please the king, let the Jews who are in Susa be allowed <crossref let="d" cid="c17009013.1"/>tomorrow also to do according to this day&apos;s edict. And let the ten sons of Haman be hanged on the gallows.<q class="end-double" qid="17009013.2" from="17009013.1" to="17009013.2"/><note nid="n17009013.1"/></verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009014"/>
+    <verse num="14">So the king commanded this to be done. A decree was issued in Susa, and the ten sons of Haman were hanged.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009015"/>
+    <verse num="15">The Jews who were in Susa gathered also on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and they killed 300 men in Susa, but they laid no hands on the plunder.</verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009016"/>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="16"><crossref let="e" cid="c17009016.1"/>Now the rest of the Jews who were in the king&apos;s provinces also <crossref let="f" cid="c17009016.2"/>gathered to defend their lives, and got relief from their enemies and killed 75,000 of those who hated them, but they laid no hands on the plunder.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009017"/>
+    <verse num="17">This was <crossref let="g" cid="c17009017.1"/>on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested and made that a day of feasting and gladness.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009018"/>
+    <verse num="18">But the Jews who were in Susa gathered <crossref let="g" cid="c17009018.1"/>on the thirteenth day and on the fourteenth, and rested <crossref let="h" cid="c17009018.2"/>on the fifteenth day, making that a day of feasting and gladness.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009019"/>
+    <verse num="19">Therefore the Jews of the villages, who live in <crossref let="i" cid="c17009019.1"/>the rural towns, hold the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day for gladness and feasting, as <crossref let="j" cid="c17009019.2"/>a holiday, and <crossref let="k" cid="c17009019.3"/>as a day on which they send gifts of food to one another.</verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009020"/>
+    <heading>The Feast of Purim Inaugurated</heading>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="20">And Mordecai recorded these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far,</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009021"/>
+    <verse num="21">obliging them to keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same, year by year,</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009022"/>
+    <verse num="22">as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into <crossref let="j" cid="c17009022.1"/>a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and gifts to the poor.</verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009023"/>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="23">So the Jews accepted what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009024"/>
+    <verse num="24">For Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, <crossref let="l" cid="c17009024.1"/>the enemy of all the Jews, <crossref let="m" cid="c17009024.2"/>had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and <crossref let="n" cid="c17009024.3"/>had cast Pur (that is, cast lots), to crush and to destroy them.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009025"/>
+    <verse num="25">But when it came before the king, he gave orders in writing <crossref let="o" cid="c17009025.1"/>that his evil plan that he had devised against the Jews <crossref let="p" cid="c17009025.2"/>should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009026"/>
+    <verse num="26">Therefore they called these days Purim, after the term <crossref let="n" cid="c17009026.1"/>Pur. Therefore, because of all that was written in <crossref let="q" cid="c17009026.2"/>this letter, and of what they had faced in this matter, and of what had happened to them,</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009027"/>
+    <verse num="27">the Jews firmly obligated themselves and their offspring and <crossref let="r" cid="c17009027.1"/>all who joined them, that without fail they would keep <crossref let="s" cid="c17009027.2"/>these two days according to what was written and at the time appointed every year,</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009028"/>
+    <verse num="28">that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, in every clan, province, and city, and that these days of Purim should never fall into disuse among the Jews, nor should the commemoration of these days cease among their descendants.</verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009029"/>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="29">Then Queen Esther, <crossref let="t" cid="c17009029.1"/>the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew gave full written authority, confirming <crossref let="u" cid="c17009029.2"/>this second letter about Purim.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009030"/>
+    <verse num="30">Letters were sent to all the Jews, <crossref let="v" cid="c17009030.1"/>to the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, in words of peace and truth,</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009031"/>
+    <verse num="31">that these days of Purim should be observed at their appointed seasons, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther obligated them, and as they had obligated themselves and their offspring, with regard to <crossref let="w" cid="c17009031.1"/>their fasts and their lamenting.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17009032"/>
+    <verse num="32">The command of Esther confirmed these practices of <crossref let="x" cid="c17009032.1"/>Purim, and it was recorded in writing.</verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+  </chapter>
+  <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17010001"/>
+  <chapter num="10">
+    <heading>The Greatness of Mordecai</heading>
+    <begin-paragraph/>
+    <verse num="1">King Ahasuerus imposed tax on the land and on <crossref let="y" cid="c17010001.1"/>the coastlands of the sea.</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17010002"/>
+    <verse num="2">And all the acts of his power and might, and the full account of the high honor of Mordecai, <crossref let="z" cid="c17010002.1"/>to which the king advanced him, are they not written in <crossref let="a" cid="c17010002.2"/>the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?</verse>
+    <marker class="begin-verse" mid="v17010003"/>
+    <verse num="3">For Mordecai the Jew was <crossref let="b" cid="c17010003.1"/>second in rank to King Ahasuerus, and he was great among the Jews and popular with the multitude of his brothers, for he <crossref let="c" cid="c17010003.2"/>sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people.</verse>
+    <end-paragraph/>
+  </chapter>
+</book>
+</crossway-bible>