And Mordecai wrote all these things, and he sent all these things written by letters to the Jews, that dwelled in all the provinces of the king, as well to Jews dwelling nigh as far, [or both in nigh set and afar],
that they should receive and hold for their feast days the fourteenth and the fifteenth days of the month [of] Adar, and ever[more] when the year turneth again, to hallow these days with solemn honour;
for in those days the Jews avenged themselves of their enemies, and then their mourning and their sorrow were turned into gladness and joy; and therefore these days should be days of feasts, and of gladness, and that they should send, each to other, parts of meats, and give little gifts to poor men.
