Esther’s Request to the King

5 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes^(A) and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s^(B) hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. ² When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.^(C)

³ Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom,^(D) it will be given you.”

⁴ “If it pleases the king,” replied Esther, “let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.”

⁵ “Bring Haman at once,” the king said, “so that we may do what Esther asks.”

So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared. ⁶ As they were drinking wine,^(E) the king again asked Esther, “Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom,^(F) it will be granted.”^(G)

⁷ Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this: ⁸ If the king regards me with favor^(H) and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet^(I) I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”

Haman’s Rage Against Mordecai

⁹ Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage^(J) against Mordecai.^{(K) 10} Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home.

Calling together his friends and Zeresh,^(L) his wife, ¹¹ Haman boasted^(M) to them about his vast wealth, his many sons,^(N) and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. ¹² “And that’s not all,” Haman added. “I’m the only person^(O) Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. ¹³ But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.^(P)”

¹⁴ His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a pole set up, reaching to a height of fifty cubits,^[a](Q) and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai impaled^(R) on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself.” This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up.

Mordecai Honored

6 That night the king could not sleep;^(S) so he ordered the book of the chronicles,^(T) the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. ² It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.^(U)

³ “What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked.

“Nothing has been done for him,”^(V) his attendants answered.

⁴ The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him.

⁵ His attendants answered, “Haman is standing in the court.”

“Bring him in,” the king ordered.

⁶ When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?”

Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?” ⁷ So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor, ⁸ have them bring a royal robe^(W) the king has worn and a horse^(X) the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. ⁹ Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!^(Y)’”

¹⁰ “Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.”

¹¹ So Haman got^(Z) the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!”

¹² Afterward Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered^(AA) in grief, ¹³ and told Zeresh^(AB) his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him.

His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall^(AC) has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him—you will surely come to ruin!”^{(AD) 14} While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet^(AE) Esther had prepared.

The Lord Comes and Reigns

14 A day of the Lord^(A) is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions^(B) will be plundered and divided up within your very walls.

² I will gather all the nations^(C) to Jerusalem to fight against it;^(D) the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped.^(E) Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city.^{(F) 3} Then the Lord will go out and fight^(G) against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle.^{(H) 4} On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives,^(I) east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split^(J) in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. ⁵ You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake^[a](K) in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come,^(L) and all the holy ones with him.^(M)

⁶ On that day there will be neither sunlight^(N) nor cold, frosty darkness. ⁷ It will be a unique^(O) day—a day known only to the Lord—with no distinction between day and night.^(P) When evening comes, there will be light.^(Q)

⁸ On that day living water^(R) will flow^(S) out from Jerusalem, half of it east^(T) to the Dead Sea and half of it west to the Mediterranean Sea, in summer and in winter.^(U)

⁹ The Lord will be king^(V) over the whole earth.^(W) On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.^(X)

¹⁰ The whole land, from Geba^(Y) to Rimmon,^(Z) south of Jerusalem, will become like the Arabah. But Jerusalem will be raised up^(AA) high from the Benjamin Gate^(AB) to the site of the First Gate, to the Corner Gate,^(AC) and from the Tower of Hananel^(AD) to the royal winepresses, and will remain in its place.^{(AE) 11} It will be inhabited;^(AF) never again will it be destroyed. Jerusalem will be secure.^(AG)

¹² This is the plague with which the Lord will strike^(AH) all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.^{(AI) 13} On that day people will be stricken by the Lord with great panic.^(AJ) They will seize each other by the hand and attack one another.^{(AK) 14} Judah^(AL) too will fight at Jerusalem. The wealth of all the surrounding nations will be collected^(AM)—great quantities of gold and silver and clothing. ¹⁵ A similar plague^(AN) will strike the horses and mules, the camels and donkeys, and all the animals in those camps.

¹⁶ Then the survivors^(AO) from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship^(AP) the King,^(AQ) the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.^{(AR) 17} If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship^(AS) the King, the Lord Almighty, they will have no rain.^{(AT) 18} If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The Lord^[b] will bring on them the plague^(AU) he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.^{(AV) 19} This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.^(AW)

²⁰ On that day holy to the Lord^(AX) will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots^(AY) in the Lord’s house will be like the sacred bowls^(AZ) in front of the altar. ²¹ Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy^(BA) to the Lord Almighty, and all who come to sacrifice will take some of the pots and cook in them. And on that day^(BB) there will no longer be a Canaanite^[c](BC) in the house^(BD) of the Lord Almighty.^(BE)

Babylon, the Prostitute on the Beast

17 One of the seven angels^(A) who had the seven bowls^(B) came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment^(C) of the great prostitute,^(D) who sits by many waters.^{(E) 2} With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”^(F)

³ Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit^(G) into a wilderness.^(H) There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet^(I) beast that was covered with blasphemous names^(J) and had seven heads and ten horns.^{(K) 4} The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls.^(L) She held a golden cup^(M) in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.^{(N) 5} The name written on her forehead was a mystery:^(O)

⁶ I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people,^(R) the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.

When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. ⁷ Then the angel said to me: “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery^(S) of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns.^{(T) 8} The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss^(U) and go to its destruction.^(V) The inhabitants of the earth^(W) whose names have not been written in the book of life^(X) from the creation of the world will be astonished^(Y) when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.

⁹ “This calls for a mind with wisdom.^(Z) The seven heads^(AA) are seven hills on which the woman sits. ¹⁰ They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. ¹¹ The beast who once was, and now is not,^(AB) is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.

¹² “The ten horns^(AC) you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour^(AD) will receive authority as kings along with the beast. ¹³ They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast.^{(AE) 14} They will wage war^(AF) against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over^(AG) them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings^(AH)—and with him will be his called, chosen^(AI) and faithful followers.”

¹⁵ Then the angel said to me, “The waters^(AJ) you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.^{(AK) 16} The beast and the ten horns^(AL) you saw will hate the prostitute.^(AM) They will bring her to ruin^(AN) and leave her naked;^(AO) they will eat her flesh^(AP) and burn her with fire.^{(AQ) 17} For God has put it into their hearts^(AR) to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority,^(AS) until God’s words are fulfilled.^{(AT) 18} The woman you saw is the great city^(AU) that rules over the kings of the earth.”

Lament Over Fallen Babylon

18 After this I saw another angel^(AV) coming down from heaven.^(AW) He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor.^{(AX) 2} With a mighty voice he shouted:

Warning to Escape Babylon’s Judgment

⁴ Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

Threefold Woe Over Babylon’s Fall

⁹ “When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her^(BQ) and shared her luxury^(BR) see the smoke of her burning,^(BS) they will weep and mourn over her.^{(BT) 10} Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off^(BU) and cry:

¹¹ “The merchants^(BX) of the earth will weep and mourn^(BY) over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore^(BZ)— ¹² cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble;^{(CA) 13} cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and human beings sold as slaves.^(CB)

¹⁴ “They will say, ‘The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.’ ¹⁵ The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her^(CC) will stand far off,^(CD) terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn^{(CE) 16} and cry out:

“Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea,^(CJ) will stand far off.^{(CK) 18} When they see the smoke of her burning,^(CL) they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city^(CM)?’^{(CN) 19} They will throw dust on their heads,^(CO) and with weeping and mourning^(CP) cry out:

The Finality of Babylon’s Doom

²¹ Then a mighty angel^(CU) picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea,^(CV) and said: