I saidto the king,"Ifit pleasethe king,and ifyour servanthas foundfavorbeforeyou, sendme to Judah,to the cityof my fathers'tombs,that I may rebuildit."
Joabfellon his faceto the ground,prostratedhimself and blessedthe king;then Joabsaid,"Todayyour servantknowsthat I have foundfavorin your sight,O my lord,the king,in that the kinghas performedthe requestof his servant."
"Nowifit pleasesthe king,let a searchbe conductedin the king'streasurehouse,whichis therein Babylon,ifit be that a decreewas issuedby KingCyrusto rebuildthishouseof Godat Jerusalem;and let the kingsendto us his decisionconcerningthis[matter]."
Then the kingsaidto me, "Whatwould you request?"So I prayedto the Godof heaven.
Then the kingsaidto me, the queensittingbesidehim, "Howlongwill your journeybe, and whenwill you return?"So it pleasedthe kingto sendme, and I gavehim a definitetime.
"Ifit pleasesthe king,let a royaledictbe issuedby him and let it be writtenin the lawsof Persiaand Mediaso that it cannotbe repealed,that Vashtimay nolonger comeinto the presenceof KingAhasuerus,and let the kinggiveher royalpositionto anotherwho is moreworthythanshe.
ifI have foundfavorin the sightof the king,and ifit pleasesthe kingto grantmy petitionand dowhatI request,may the kingand Hamancometo the banquetwhichI will preparefor them, and tomorrowI will doas the kingsays."
Then QueenEstherreplied,"IfI have foundfavorin your sight,O king,and ifit pleasesthe king,let my lifebe givenme as my petition,and my peopleas my request;
Then she said,"Ifit pleasesthe kingand ifI have foundfavorbeforehim and the matter[seems] properto the kingand I am pleasingin his sight,let it be writtento revokethe lettersdevisedby Haman,the sonof Hammedathathe Agagite,whichhe wroteto destroythe Jewswhoare in allthe king'sprovinces.
So you will findfavorand goodreputeIn the sightof Godand man.
"So you are to knowand discern[that] from the issuingof a decreeto restoreand rebuildJerusalemuntilMessiahthe Prince[there will be] sevenweeksand sixty-twoweeks;it will be builtagain,with plazaand moat,even in timesof distress.
"Woeto you, scribesand Pharisees,hypocrites!For you are likewhitewashedtombswhichon the outsideappearbeautiful,but insidethey are fullof dead men'sbonesand alluncleanness.
Then she said,"I have foundfavorin your sight,my lord,for you have comfortedme and indeedhave spokenkindlyto your maidservant,though I amnot like oneof your maidservants."
