New King James Version

Darby Bible Translation

Esther Becomes Queen

After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus subsided, he remembered Vashti, what she had done, and what had been decreed against her.

1

Seeking Vashti's Successor

After these things, when the fury of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.

2

Then the king’s servants who attended him said: “Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king;

2

Then said the king's servants that attended upon him, Let there be maidens, virgins of beautiful countenance, sought for the king;

3

and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather all the beautiful young virgins to [a]Shushan the [b]citadel, into the women’s quarters, under the custody of [c]Hegai the king’s eunuch, custodian of the women. And let beauty preparations be given them.

3

and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the young virgins of beautiful countenance to Shushan the fortress, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hegai the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given.

4

Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.”
This thing pleased the king, and he did so.

4

And let the maiden that pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.

5

In [d]Shushan the [e]citadel there was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite.

5

There was in Shushan the fortress a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjaminite,

6

Kish[f] had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been captured with [g]Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.

6

who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.

7

And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman was lovely and beautiful. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.

7

And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter; for she had neither father nor mother -- and the maiden was fair and beautiful -- and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.

8

So it was, when the king’s command and decree were heard, and when many young women were gathered at [h]Shushan the [i]citadel, under the custody of Hegai, that Esther also was taken to the king’s palace, into the care of Hegai the custodian of the women.

8

Esther Finds Favor

And it came to pass when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the fortress, unto the custody of Hegai, that Esther also was brought into the king's house, unto the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.

9

Now the young woman pleased him, and she obtained his favor; so he readily gave beauty preparations to her, besides [j]her allowance. Then seven choice maidservants were provided for her from the king’s palace, and he moved her and her maidservants to the best place in the house of the women.

9

And the maiden pleased him, and obtained favour before him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, and her portions, and the seven maidens selected to be given her, out of the king's house; and he removed her and her maids to the best [place] of the house of the women.

10

Esther had not [k]revealed her people or family, for Mordecai had charged her not to reveal it.

10

Esther had not made known her people nor her birth; for Mordecai had charged her that she should not make it known.

11

And every day Mordecai paced in front of the court of the women’s quarters, to learn of Esther’s welfare and what was happening to her.

11

And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.

12

Each young woman’s turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after she had completed twelve months’ preparation, according to the regulations for the women, for thus were the days of their preparation apportioned: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes and preparations for beautifying women.

12

And when every maiden's turn came to go in to king Ahasuerus after that she had been treated for twelve months, according to the manner of the women (for so were the days of their purification accomplished -- six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with spices, and with things for the purifying of the women,

13

Thus prepared, each young woman went to the king, and she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the women’s quarters to the king’s palace.

13

and thus came the maiden in unto the king), whatever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women to the king's house.

14

In the evening she went, and in the morning she returned to the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who kept the concubines. She would not go in to the king again unless the king delighted in her and called for her by name.

14

In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, unto the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, keeper of the concubines. She came in to the king no more, unless the king delighted in her, and she were called by name.

15

Now when the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his daughter, to go in to the king, she requested nothing but what Hegai the king’s eunuch, the custodian of the women, advised. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her.

15

And when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, came to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained grace in the sight of all them that saw her.

16

So 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.

16

So Esther was taken to king Ahasuerus, into his royal house, in the tenth month, that is, the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

17

The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

17

Esther Becomes Queen

And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins, and he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

18

Then the king made a great feast, the Feast of Esther, for all his officials and servants; and he proclaimed a holiday in the provinces and gave gifts according to the [l]generosity of a king.

18

And the king made a great feast to all his princes and his servants, Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave presents according to the king's bounty.

19

Mordecai Discovers a Plot

When virgins were gathered together a second time, Mordecai sat within the king’s gate.

19

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

20

Now Esther had not revealed her family and her people, just as Mordecai had charged her, for Esther obeyed the command of Mordecai as when she was brought up by him.

20

(Esther, as Mordecai had charged her, had not yet made known her birth nor her people; for Esther did what Mordecai told her, like as when she was brought up with him.)

21

In those days, while Mordecai sat within the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, [m]Bigthan and Teresh, doorkeepers, became furious and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.

21

Mordecai Uncovers a Conspiracy

In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the threshold, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.

22

So the matter became known to Mordecai, who told Queen Esther, and Esther informed the king in Mordecai’s name.

22

And the thing became known to Mordecai, and he related it to Esther the queen, and Esther told it to the king in Mordecai's name.

23

And when an inquiry was made into the matter, it was confirmed, and both were hanged on a gallows; and it was written in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king.

23

And the matter was investigated and found out; and they were both hanged on a tree. And it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.

Parallel

New King James Version

Darby Bible Translation

Esther 2

Esther 2