Esther 9:20-22

Good News Translation

The Festival of Purim

²⁰ Mordecai had these events written down and sent letters to all the Jews, near and far, throughout the Persian Empire, ²¹ telling them to observe the fourteenth and fifteenth days of Adar as holidays every year. ²² These were the days on which the Jews had rid themselves of their enemies; this was a month that had been turned from a time of grief and despair into a time of joy and happiness. They were told to observe these days with feasts and parties, giving gifts of food to one another and to the poor.