Esther Chapter 8
Showing all 17 verses for Esther Chapter 8.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews’ enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her. "
"That same day, King Ahasuerus gave Haman's estate to Queen Esther. Mordecai came before the king, because Esther had told him how Mordecai was related to her."
Keep being faithful in the background, even when no one seems to notice. What you build quietly, with integrity, tends to come to light in its own time - you don't need to force recognition for it.
"And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman. "
"The king took off his signet ring, which he had taken back from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. Esther put Mordecai in charge of Haman's estate."
Notice that the same tools and positions can be used for harm or for good - it depends entirely on the character of the person holding them. Whatever influence comes your way, use it the way Mordecai will: for the good of others, not against them.
"And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews. "
"Esther spoke to the king again, falling at his feet and pleading with tears for him to stop the harm Haman the Agagite had planned against the Jews."
Don't assume that removing one source of harm finishes the work of putting things right. Sometimes real love means staying at the task, tears and all, until the actual danger is dealt with, not just its most visible cause.
"Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king, "
"The king held out the golden sceptre to Esther, so she got up and stood before him."
When you've been faithful and honest in a relationship, notice how that steadily builds trust over time. Let that encourage you to keep showing up with integrity - it tends to be recognised, even if slowly.
"And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king’s provinces: "
"She said, "If it pleases the king, and if I have found favour with him, and if this seems right to him, and if I am pleasing in his sight, let an order be written to cancel the letters Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite devised to destroy the Jews in all the king's provinces.""
You can be both firm about what truly matters and gracious in how you ask for it. I don't want you to think that being polite or respectful means being weak - Esther shows they can go together perfectly well.
"For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred? "
""For how could I bear to see the disaster that would come on my people? How could I bear to see my family destroyed?""
Don't be afraid to let your love for people be visible and personal when you're standing up for them. Genuine care, honestly expressed, moves people far more than cold argument ever could.
"Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews. "
"King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, "I have given Esther Haman's estate, and they have hanged him on the gallows, because he attacked the Jews.""
When harm has been done, don't stop at simply punishing the person responsible - ask what still needs repairing in its wake. Real justice looks after the people affected, not only the person at fault.
"Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring: for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may no man reverse. "
""So write in the king's name on behalf of the Jews, whatever you think best, and seal it with the king's ring - for a document written in the king's name and sealed with his ring cannot be revoked.""
Sometimes you can't erase the damage of a past wrong - you can only work hard to counter it going forward. Don't let the impossibility of a perfect fix stop you from doing the good, active work of setting things right as far as you're able.
"Then were the king’s scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language. "
"So the king's scribes were summoned at once, on the twenty-third day of the third month (Sivan), and a decree was written exactly as Mordecai instructed, to the Jews and to the officials, governors, and rulers of the 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia, in each province's own script and each people's own language, including to the Jews in their own script and language."
Whatever influence, platform, or structure you have access to, ask what you're using it for. The same tools that can spread harm can just as easily spread help - choose deliberately which one you're building.
"And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus’ name, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries: "
"Mordecai wrote in King Ahasuerus's name and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent the letters by messengers on horseback, riding fast horses bred specifically for royal service."
When you have good news that could genuinely help someone, don't be lazy about getting it to them. Urgency in doing good matters - don't let something that could save or lift someone sit unshared because it was inconvenient to deliver.
"Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey, "
"The king's decree allowed the Jews in every city to gather and defend themselves - to destroy, kill, and wipe out any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, including women and children, and to take their possessions as spoil."
I want you to understand that defending your own life or the lives of people you love, against those set on destroying you, is not the same thing as cruelty or vengeance. There is a real difference between striking first out of hatred and standing your ground because someone else has already chosen violence against you.
"Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. "
"This was to happen on a single day throughout all King Ahasuerus's provinces - the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar."
Don't assume that a date, situation, or circumstance set up against you has to play out the way it was intended. What looks fixed and threatening can still be turned - hold on to hope even when the odds seem stacked by someone else's design.
"The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. "
"A copy of this decree was to be issued as law in every province, made known to all peoples, so the Jews would be ready on that day to take revenge on their enemies."
When you have something that could protect or help someone, make sure it actually reaches them clearly, not just technically exists somewhere. Good intentions only help people when they're communicated plainly enough to be acted on.
"So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king’s commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace. "
"So the messengers riding the king's horses went out quickly, urged on by the king's command, and the decree was issued at Susa, the capital."
Don't let good news or good deeds move at a slower pace than trouble does in your own life. Give the good things you're doing the same urgency and priority you'd naturally give to fixing a problem.
"And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad. "
"Mordecai left the king's presence wearing royal robes of blue and white, a great gold crown, and a fine linen cloak of purple - and the city of Susa cheered and celebrated."
When good things happen to people who deserve them, let yourself celebrate with them rather than feeling envious or indifferent. Shared joy at someone else's good fortune is a quiet but real form of love.
"The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour. "
"The Jews experienced light, happiness, joy, and honour."
When real relief or deliverance comes into your life, let yourself actually feel and celebrate it fully - don't rush past joy just because the danger has passed. Gratitude for a genuine reversal of fortune deserves to be lived, not just noted.
"And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them. "
"In every province and city the king's decree reached, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday. And many people of other nations became Jews, because fear of the Jews had spread among them."
Notice how protecting the vulnerable and standing against injustice doesn't just help the people directly affected - it changes the whole atmosphere around them for the better. Let that inspire you to keep working for fairness, even when the full effects are impossible to predict in advance.