Esther 4:8

4:8 He also gave him a written copy of the law that had been disseminated ¹  in Susa for their destruction so that he could show it to Esther and talk to her about it. He also gave instructions that she should go to the king to implore him and petition him on behalf of her people.

Esther 5:8

5:8 If I have found favor in the king’s sight and if the king is inclined ²  to grant my request and perform my petition, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet that I will prepare for them. At that time ³  I will do as the king wishes. ⁴ 

Esther 8:11

8:11 The king thereby allowed the Jews who were in every city to assemble and to stand up for themselves – to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any army of whatever people or province that should become their adversaries, including their women and children, ⁵  and to confiscate their property.

¹ tn Heb “given” (so KJV); NASB, NRSV, TEV, NLT “issued”; NIV “published”; NAB “promulgated.”

² tn Heb “if upon the king it is good.” Cf. the similar expression in v. 4, which also occurs in 7:3; 8:5; 9:13.

³ tn Heb “and tomorrow” (so NASB); NAB, NRSV “and then.”

⁴ tn Heb “I will do according to the word of the king,” i.e., answer the question that he has posed. Cf. NCV “Then I will answer your question about what I want.”

³ tn Heb “children and women.” As in 3:13, the translation follows contemporary English idiom, which reverses the order.