12. But he was so filled with arrogance as to strive to deprive us of our kingdom and our life.
13. For example, with certain strange and unheard of machinations, he sought the death of Mordecai, whose faith and kindness kept us alive, and Esther, the partner of our kingdom, and all their people.
14. This he planned so that, after they were executed, he might work treason against us in our solitude and transfer the kingdom of the Persians to the Macedonians.
15. But we, having been resolved to ruin in death the mortal Jews, discovered no fault within them, but on the contrary, they use just laws
16. and are sons of the highest and greatest and ever-living God, by whose kindness the kingdom was handed down both to our fathers and to us, and is cared for even unto this day.
17. Therefore, you should understand to be null and void those letters that he administered under our name.
18. For this crime, before the gates of this city, that is, Susa, both he who devised it, and all his associates, hang on gallows: not we, but God repaying him as he deserved.
19. But this edict, which we now send, shall be displayed in all cities so that the Jews may be allowed to use their own laws.
20. You must be a support to them, so that they may be able to execute those, who themselves had prepared to kill them, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is called Adar.