The Jewsassembledin their citiesthroughout allthe provincesof KingAhasuerusto layhandson those who soughttheir harm;and noonecould standbeforethem, for the dreadof them had fallenon allthe peoples.
As they journeyed,there was a greatterrorupon the citieswhichwere aroundthem, and they did not pursuethe sonsof Jacob.
In them the kinggrantedthe Jewswhowere in eachand everycity[the right] to assembleand to defendtheir lives,to destroy,to killand to annihilatethe entirearmyof any peopleor provincewhich might attackthem, includingchildrenand women,and to plundertheir spoil,
In eachand everyprovinceand in eachand everycity,whereverthe king'scommandmentand his decreearrived,there was gladnessand joyfor the Jews,a feastand a holiday.And manyamongthe peoplesof the landbecameJews,for the dreadof the Jewshad fallenon them.
the tensonsof Hamanthe sonof Hammedatha,the Jews'enemy;but they did not laytheir handson the plunder.
Let those who are adversariesof my soulbe ashamed[and] consumed;Let them be coveredwith reproachand dishonor,who seekto injureme.
My tonguealsowill utterYour righteousnessalldaylong; For they are ashamed,for they are humiliatedwho seekmy hurt.
"I will sendMy terroraheadof you, and throwinto confusionallthe peopleamong whomyou come,and I will makeallyour enemiesturn[their] backsto you.
"Be broken,O peoples,and be shattered;And giveear,allremoteplacesof the earth.Girdyourselves, yet be shattered;Girdyourselves, yet be shattered.
"But Sihonkingof Heshbonwas not willingfor us to passthrough his land; for the LORDyour Godhardenedhis spiritand madehis heartobstinate,in orderto deliverhim into your hand,as [he is] today.
For it was of the LORDto hardentheir hearts,to meetIsraelin battlein orderthat he might utterlydestroythem, that they might receivenomercy,but that he might destroythem, justas the LORDhad commandedMoses.
and saidto the men,"I knowthat the LORDhas givenyou the land,and that the terrorof you has fallenon us, and that allthe inhabitantsof the landhave meltedawaybeforeyou.
