Hey everyone, this is Mary DeMuth and this is Pray Every Day where I pray you through the Bible verse by verse.

I'm grateful to be with you in the grand story and sweep of scripture in the book of Esther.

We're almost done. We have chapter 9 and chapter 10 to do.

I'm going to be reading the first part of Esther chapter 9 verses 1 through 19 in the world English Bible and this is what it says.

Now in the 12th month, which is the month of Adar, on the 13th day of the month, when the king's

commandment and his decree came near to be put in execution on the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to conquer them,

but it turned out that the opposite happened, that the Jews conquered those who hated them.

The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasaras

to lay hands on those who wanted to harm them. No one could withstand them because the fear of them had fallen on all the people.

All the princes of the provinces, the local governors, the governors, and those who did the

king's business helped the Jews because of the fear of Mordecai that had fallen on them.

For Mordecai was great in the king's house.

And his fame went out throughout all the provinces for the man Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces

for the man Mordecai grew greater and greater. The Jews struck all their enemies with the stroke

of the sword and with the slaughter and destruction and did what they wanted to those who hated them.

In the citadel of Sousa, the Jews killed and destroyed 500 men. They killed Parshindotha, Dalfon, Aspatha, Paratha,

Adalia, Aridotha, Parmashta, Arisei, Aridae, and Vezatha, the ten sons of Haman, the sons of Hamadotha, the Jews' enemy,

but they didn't lay their hands on the plunder. On that day, the number of those who were slain in the Citadel of Susa was brought before the king,

the king said to Esther the Queen, the Jews have slain and destroyed 500 men in the Citadel of Susa,

including the ten sons of Haman. What then have they done in the rest of the king's provinces?

Now what is your petition it shall be

granted to you what is your further request it shall be done then esther said if it pleases the king

...