Esther 3

The king promoted Haman the Agagite above all the princes, but Mordecai refused to bow to him. Enraged, Haman persuaded the king to issue a decree to destroy all the Jews in the empire on a date chosen by casting lots (Purim).

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.	After these events, King Ahasuerus honored Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, promoting him and giving him a seat of honor higher than all the other officials.
2	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.	All the king's servants at the king's gate bowed down and paid honor to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would not bow down or pay him honor.
3	Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?	Then the king's servants at the king's gate asked Mordecai, "Why do you disobey the king's command?"
4	Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.	When they spoke to him day after day and he would not listen, they told Haman in order to see whether Mordecai's reason would be accepted, for he had told them that he was a Jew.
5	And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.	When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or pay him honor, Haman was enraged.
6	And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.	But he scorned the idea of laying hands on Mordecai alone, since they had told him Mordecai's people. So Haman sought to destroy all the Jews — the people of Mordecai — throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.
7	In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.	In the first month, the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur — that is, the lot — before Haman, from day to day and from month to month. It fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.
8	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.	Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their customs are different from those of every other people. They do not keep the king's laws. It is not in the king's best interest to tolerate them.
9	If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.	If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them. I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the royal treasury for those who carry out this business."
10	And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.	So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.
11	And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.	The king said to Haman, "The silver is given to you, and the people also, to do with them as seems good to you."
12	Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.	On the thirteenth day of the first month the royal scribes were summoned. They wrote out all Haman's orders to the king's lieutenants, to the governors of each province, and to the officials of each people — to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king's signet ring.
13	And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.	Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king's provinces with orders to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews — young and old, women and children — on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods.
14	The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.	A copy of the written decree was to be issued as law in every province, proclaimed to all peoples, so that they would be ready for that day.
15	The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.	The couriers went out urgently at the king's command, and the decree was issued in the citadel of Shushan. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shushan was in confusion.