Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, who had been carried from Jerusalem into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, and who brought up Esther, his uncle’s daughter.  She had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai took for his own daughter.  So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree were heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, that Esther was brought also unto the king’s house, to the custody of Hege.

The maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him, and he preferred her and her maids unto the best in the house of the women.  And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.

So Esther was taken unto King Ahasuerus, and the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther’s feast.

And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king’s gate.

Esther had not yet told her kindred nor her people, as Mordecai had charged her; for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up by him.

In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, who kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.

And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther told the king thereof in Mordecai’s name.

And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found true; therefore they were both hanged on a tree.

III

After these things did King Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.

And all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him.  But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.

Then the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, said unto Mordecai, “Why transgressest thou the king’s commandment?”

Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, for Mordecai had told them that he was a Jew.

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

And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even all the people of Mordecai.

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 are diverse from all people, neither keep they the king’s laws; therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them.