For the Jews there was radiant happiness and joyous honor.<n id="1" />

Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus. He was the highest-ranking<n id="1" /> Jew, and he was admired by his numerous relatives.<n id="2" /> He worked enthusiastically<n id="3" /> for the good of his people and was an advocate for the welfare of<n id="4" /> all his descendants.<n id="5" />p>

Throughout each and every province where the king&#8217;s edict and law were announced<n id="1" /> there was considerable<n id="2" /> mourning among the Jews, along with fasting, weeping, and sorrow.<n id="3" /> Sackcloth and ashes were characteristic<n id="4" /> of many.

&#8220;Don&#8217;t imagine that because you are part of the king&#8217;s household you will be the one Jew<n id="1" /> who will escape. If you keep quiet at this time, liberation and protection for the Jews will appear<n id="2" /> from another source,<n id="3" /> while you and your father&#8217;s household perish. It may very well be<n id="4" /> that you have achieved royal status<n id="5" /> for such a time as this!&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">The king thereby allowed the Jews who were in every city to assemble and to stand up for themselves &#8211; to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any army of whatever people or province that should become their adversaries, including their women and children,<n id="1" /> and to confiscate their property.

Throughout every province and throughout every city where the king&#8217;s edict and his law arrived, the Jews experienced happiness and joy, banquets and holidays. Many of the resident peoples<n id="1" /> pretended<n id="2" /> to be Jews, because the fear of the Jews had overcome them.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="bodytext">Esther replied, &#8220;If the king is so inclined, let the Jews who are in Susa be permitted to act tomorrow also according to today&#8217;s law, and let them hang the ten sons of Haman on the gallows.&#8221;p>