« | Esther 9 | » |
1 Now came the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, when the king's law was about to be carried out. It was the day when those who hated the Jews hoped to get the rule over them. But their plan was turned around, and the Jews ruled over those who hated them.
2 The Jews gathered in their cities in all the parts of the nation of King Ahasuerus to hurt those who wanted to kill them. No one could stand in front of them, for the fear of them had come upon all the people.
3 The princes of the nation, the rulers, the leaders, and those who were doing the king's work all helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai had come upon them.
4 For Mordecai was great in the king's house. His name spread through all the nation, for the man Mordecai became greater and greater.
5 So the Jews killed and destroyed with sword all those who hated them. They did as they pleased to those who hated them.
6 In the city of Susa where the king ruled the Jews killed and destroyed 500 men,
7 and Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha,
8 Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha,
9 Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha.
10 These were the ten sons of Haman, the son of Hammedatha, who hated the Jews. But they did not touch anything that belonged to them.
11 On that day the number of those who were killed in the city of Susa where the king lived was told to the king.
12 And the king said to Queen Esther, "The Jews have killed and destroyed 500 men and the ten sons of Haman in Susa. What then have they done in the rest of the king's nation! Now what do you ask of me? It will be done for you. What else do you want? It will be done."
13 Esther said, "If it pleases the king, let the Jews in Susa be allowed tomorrow also to carry out today's law. Let the bodies of Haman's ten sons be hanged on the tower."
14 So the king said that this should be done. He made it known in Susa, and the bodies of Haman's ten sons were hanged.
15 The Jews in Susa gathered also on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and killed 300 men in Susa. But they did not touch anything that belonged to them.
16 Now the rest of the Jews who were in the king's nation gathered to fight for their lives and get rid of those who hated them. They killed 75,000 of those who hated them. But they did not touch anything that belonged to them.
17 This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. On the fourteenth day they rested and made it a day of eating and joy.
18 But the Jews in Susa gathered on the thirteenth and fourteenth days of the same month. And they rested on the fifteenth day and made it a day of eating and joy.
19 So the Jews of the villages, who lived in the small towns without walls, made the fourteenth day of the month of Adar a special day of joy and eating and sharing their food with one another.
20 Mordecai wrote down these things. And he sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the nation of King Ahasuerus, both near and far.
21 He told them to remember the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar each year.
22 Because on those days the Jews got rid of those who hated them. It was a month which was changed from sorrow into joy, from a day of sorrow into a special day. He said that they should make them days of eating and joy and sending food to one another and gifts to the poor.
23 So the Jews agreed to do what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them.
24 For Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the one who hated all the Jews, had planned to destroy the Jews. He had drawn names, using Pur, to trouble them and destroy them.
25 But when the king heard about it, he made it known by letter that his plan against the Jews should bring trouble upon himself. And he had Haman and his sons hanged on the tower.
26 So they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Because of what was written in this letter, and what they had seen and what had happened to them,
27 the Jews set apart this special time each year for themselves, for their children and their children's children, and for all who joined them. They would always remember to keep these two days special, as it was written and at the same time every year.
28 These days were to be remembered and kept as a special time for all their children-tocome, in every family, every land, and every city. These days of Purim were not to be forgotten by the Jews. Their children and their children's children were to remember them forever.
29 Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full power to make this second letter about Purim sure.
30 Letters were sent to all the Jews in the 127 parts of the nation of Ahasuerus, in words of peace and truth.
31 They made sure that these days of Purim would be kept at the right times, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had told them. These days were set apart for themselves and for their children and their children's children, with the times they were to go without food and the times they were to be sad.
32 The words of Esther made the rules for keeping Purim sure, and it was written in the book.
The New Life Version (NLV)
The New Life Version (NLV) is a unique English translation of the Bible designed to be exceptionally easy to read and understand. First published in 1969, the NLV was created by Gleason Ledyard, a missionary and linguist, to make the Scriptures accessible to people who have limited English proficiency or are new to the language. Ledyard’s aim was to provide a Bible that even those with minimal education could read and comprehend, thus opening the door for a wider audience to engage with the biblical texts.
A defining characteristic of the New Life Version is its use of a limited vocabulary of about 850 basic English words, along with some necessary theological terms. This restricted vocabulary ensures that the language remains simple and straightforward, making the text accessible to young readers, new Christians, and those for whom English is a second language. The translators also avoided idiomatic expressions and complex sentence structures, further enhancing clarity and understanding. This makes the NLV a particularly valuable resource for educational and missionary work.
The NLV also emphasizes faithfulness to the original texts, despite its simplified language. The translation aims to maintain the integrity and message of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts. By carefully choosing words that accurately convey the meaning of the original texts while ensuring simplicity, the NLV provides a balance between accessibility and fidelity. Additionally, the NLV includes explanatory footnotes and cross-references that help readers understand the context and deeper meanings of the passages, making it a useful tool for both personal study and group teaching.
However, the New Life Version is not without its critics. Some scholars and traditionalists argue that the limited vocabulary and simplified language can lead to a loss of nuance and depth found in the original texts. They suggest that the NLV’s focus on simplicity may sometimes oversimplify complex theological concepts. Despite these criticisms, the New Life Version remains a valuable translation for its intended audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps a wide range of readers engage with the Scriptures and grow in their faith.