Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve,

Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar {a day of} gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.

And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.

Only {they would} that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that {were} over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and {to} every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring. {scribes: or, secretaries}

And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this {place}: there shall no leavened bread be eaten. {bondage: Heb. servants}

Blessed {are} they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for {this} day {is} holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. {of...: or, as you are able}

Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for {this} day {is} holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.

Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar {a day of} gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.

And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, {even} Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king. {release: Heb. rest}

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.

Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth {month}, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace. {feasts: or, solemn, or, set times}

Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David.

{Men} shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.