⁷ In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the pur^(A) (that is, the lot^(B)) was cast in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on^[a] the twelfth month, the month of Adar.^(C)

²² as the time when the Jews got relief^(A) from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration.^(B) He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food^(C) to one another and gifts to the poor.^(D)

¹¹ And rejoice^(A) before the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name^(B)—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, the Levites^(C) in your towns, and the foreigners,^(D) the fatherless and the widows living among you.^(E)

¹⁴ Be joyful^(A) at your festival—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites, the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns.

¹⁰ Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing^(A) prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy^(B) of the Lord is your strength.”

¹² Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy,^(A) because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.

⁹ She pleased him and won his favor.^(A) Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food.^(B) He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king’s palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem.

¹⁰ The inhabitants of the earth^(A) will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts,^(B) because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.