And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, {there was} great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. {many...: Heb. sackcloth and ashes were laid under many}

And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What {is} thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what {is} thy request? and it shall be performed, {even} to the half of the kingdom.

And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king's provinces? now what {is} thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what {is} thy request further? and it shall be done.

As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.