initial commit of ebook 8017HEADmain

5 files changed, 1134 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6833f05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitattributes
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+* text=auto
+*.txt text
+*.md text
diff --git a/8017.txt b/8017.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f0fdc57
--- /dev/null
+++ b/8017.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,1118 @@
+Project Gutenberg EBook The Bible, King James, Book 17: Esther
+
+Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the
+copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing
+this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook.
+
+This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project
+Gutenberg file.  Please do not remove it.  Do not change or edit the
+header without written permission.
+
+Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the
+eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file.  Included is
+important information about your specific rights and restrictions in
+how the file may be used.  You can also find out about how to make a
+donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved.
+
+
+**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts**
+
+**EBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971**
+
+*****These EBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers*****
+
+
+
+Title: The Bible, King James version, Book 17: Esther
+
+Release Date: May, 2005  [EBook #8017]
+[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
+[This file was first posted on June 15, 2003]
+
+
+Edition: 10
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+
+
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE BIBLE, KING JAMES, BOOK 17 ***
+
+
+
+
+This eBook was produced by David Widger
+with the help of Derek Andrew's text from January 1992
+and the work of Bryan Taylor in November 2002.
+
+
+
+
+
+Book 17        Esther
+
+17:001:001 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is
+           Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over
+           an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)
+
+17:001:002 That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne
+           of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
+
+17:001:003 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his
+           princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the
+           nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:
+
+17:001:004 When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the
+           honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and
+           fourscore days.
+
+17:001:005 And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto
+           all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both
+           unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden
+           of the king's palace;
+
+17:001:006 Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with
+           cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of
+           marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of
+           red, and blue, and white, and black, marble.
+
+17:001:007 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels
+           being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance,
+           according to the state of the king.
+
+17:001:008 And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel:
+           for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his
+           house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.
+
+17:001:009 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal
+           house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
+
+17:001:010 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with
+           wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and
+           Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that
+           served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,
+
+17:001:011 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown
+           royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she
+           was fair to look on.
+
+17:001:012 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment
+           by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and
+           his anger burned in him.
+
+17:001:013 Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for
+           so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and
+           judgment:
+
+17:001:014 And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha,
+           Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of
+           Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, and which sat the
+           first in the kingdom;)
+
+17:001:015 What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law,
+           because she hath not performed the commandment of the king
+           Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?
+
+17:001:016 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti
+           the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to
+           all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the
+           provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
+
+17:001:017 For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women,
+           so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when
+           it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the
+           queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
+
+17:001:018 Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day
+           unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of
+           the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.
+
+17:001:019 If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from
+           him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and
+           the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more
+           before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate
+           unto another that is better than she.
+
+17:001:020 And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be
+           published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all
+           the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great
+           and small.
+
+17:001:021 And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king
+           did according to the word of Memucan:
+
+17:001:022 For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every
+           province according to the writing thereof, and to every people
+           after their language, that every man should bear rule in his
+           own house, and that it should be published according to the
+           language of every people.
+
+17:002:001 After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was
+           appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and
+           what was decreed against her.
+
+17:002:002 Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let
+           there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
+
+17:002:003 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his
+           kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young
+           virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women,
+           unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the
+           women; and let their things for purification be given them:
+
+17:002:004 And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of
+           Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
+
+17:002:005 Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name
+           was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of
+           Kish, a Benjamite;
+
+17:002:006 Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity
+           which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom
+           Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
+
+17:002:007 And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's
+           daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid
+           was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and
+           mother were dead, took for his own daughter.
+
+17:002:008 So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree
+           was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto
+           Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was
+           brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai,
+           keeper of the women.
+
+17:002:009 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him;
+           and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with
+           such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were
+           meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he
+           preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house
+           of the women.
+
+17:002:010 Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai
+           had charged her that she should not shew it.
+
+17:002:011 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's
+           house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.
+
+17:002:012 Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king
+           Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to
+           the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their
+           purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of
+           myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things
+           for the purifying of the women;)
+
+17:002:013 Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she
+           desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the
+           women unto the king's house.
+
+17:002:014 In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into
+           the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz,
+           the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in
+           unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and
+           that she were called by name.
+
+17:002:015 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle
+           of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to
+           go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the
+           king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And
+           Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked
+           upon her.
+
+17:002:016 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal
+           in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh
+           year of his reign.
+
+17:002:017 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she
+           obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the
+           virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and
+           made her queen instead of Vashti.
+
+17:002:018 Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his
+           servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the
+           provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.
+
+17:002:019 And when the virgins were gathered together the second time,
+           then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.
+
+17:002:020 Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as
+           Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of
+           Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.
+
+17:002:021 In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of
+           the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which
+           kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hands on the king
+           Ahasuerus.
+
+17:002:022 And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther
+           the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's
+           name.
+
+17:002:023 And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out;
+           therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written
+           in the book of the chronicles before the king.
+
+17:003:001 After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of
+           Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat
+           above all the princes that were with him.
+
+17:003:002 And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate,
+           bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded
+           concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.
+
+17:003:003 Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said
+           unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?
+
+17:003:004 Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he
+           hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether
+           Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he
+           was a Jew.
+
+17:003:005 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him
+           reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
+
+17:003:006 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they
+           had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought
+           to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom
+           of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
+
+17:003:007 In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth
+           year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot,
+           before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the
+           twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.
+
+17:003:008 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people
+           scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the
+           provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all
+           people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not
+           for the king's profit to suffer them.
+
+17:003:009 If it please the king, let it be written that they may be
+           destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to
+           the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to
+           bring it into the king's treasuries.
+
+17:003:010 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto
+           Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
+
+17:003:011 And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the
+           people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
+
+17:003:012 Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of
+           the first month, and there was written according to all that
+           Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the
+           governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of
+           every people of every province according to the writing
+           thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name
+           of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's
+           ring.
+
+17:003:013 And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's
+           provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all
+           Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one
+           day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which
+           is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.
+
+17:003:014 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every
+           province was published unto all people, that they should be
+           ready against that day.
+
+17:003:015 The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment,
+           and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king
+           and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was
+           perplexed.
+
+17:004:001 When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his
+           clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into
+           the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;
+
+17:004:002 And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter
+           into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.
+
+17:004:003 And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment
+           and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews,
+           and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in
+           sackcloth and ashes.
+
+17:004:004 So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her.
+           Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment
+           to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him:
+           but he received it not.
+
+17:004:005 Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains,
+           whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a
+           commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.
+
+17:004:006 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city,
+           which was before the king's gate.
+
+17:004:007 And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and
+           of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the
+           king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.
+
+17:004:008 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that
+           was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther,
+           and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should
+           go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to
+           make request before him for her people.
+
+17:004:009 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
+
+17:004:010 Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto
+           Mordecai;
+
+17:004:011 All the king's servants, and the people of the king's
+           provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or women,
+           shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not
+           called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except
+           such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that
+           he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the
+           king these thirty days.
+
+17:004:012 And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.
+
+17:004:013 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with
+           thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than
+           all the Jews.
+
+17:004:014 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then
+           shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from
+           another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be
+           destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the
+           kingdom for such a time as this?
+
+17:004:015 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,
+
+17:004:016 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan,
+           and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days,
+           night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so
+           will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law:
+           and if I perish, I perish.
+
+17:004:017 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther
+           had commanded him.
+
+17:005:001 Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her
+           royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's
+           house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon
+           his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of
+           the house.
+
+17:005:002 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in
+           the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king
+           held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So
+           Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.
+
+17:005:003 Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and
+           what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half
+           of the kingdom.
+
+17:005:004 And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the
+           king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have
+           prepared for him.
+
+17:005:005 Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do
+           as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet
+           that Esther had prepared.
+
+17:005:006 And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is
+           thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy
+           request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be
+           performed.
+
+17:005:007 Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is;
+
+17:005:008 If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it
+           please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my
+           request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I
+           shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king
+           hath said.
+
+17:005:009 Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart:
+           but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood
+           not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against
+           Mordecai.
+
+17:005:010 Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home,
+           he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.
+
+17:005:011 And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the
+           multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king
+           had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the
+           princes and servants of the king.
+
+17:005:012 Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come
+           in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but
+           myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the
+           king.
+
+17:005:013 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai
+           the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
+
+17:005:014 Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a
+           gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou
+           unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go
+           thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing
+           pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.
+
+17:006:001 On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to
+           bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were
+           read before the king.
+
+17:006:002 And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana
+           and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the
+           door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
+
+17:006:003 And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to
+           Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that
+           ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.
+
+17:006:004 And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come
+           into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the
+           king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for
+           him.
+
+17:006:005 And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth
+           in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.
+
+17:006:006 So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be
+           done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now
+           Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to
+           do honour more than to myself?
+
+17:006:007 And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king
+           delighteth to honour,
+
+17:006:008 Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear,
+           and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal
+           which is set upon his head:
+
+17:006:009 And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one
+           of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man
+           withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on
+           horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before
+           him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth
+           to honour.
+
+17:006:010 Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel
+           and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai
+           the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of
+           all that thou hast spoken.
+
+17:006:011 Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed
+           Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of
+           the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done
+           unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.
+
+17:006:012 And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted
+           to his house mourning, and having his head covered.
+
+17:006:013 And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing
+           that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his
+           wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before
+           whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against
+           him, but shalt surely fall before him.
+
+17:006:014 And while they were yet talking with him, came the king's
+           chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that
+           Esther had prepared.
+
+17:007:001 So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.
+
+17:007:002 And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the
+           banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it
+           shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall
+           be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.
+
+17:007:003 Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found
+           favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my
+           life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:
+
+17:007:004 For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be
+           slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and
+           bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not
+           countervail the king's damage.
+
+17:007:005 Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the
+           queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his
+           heart to do so?
+
+17:007:006 And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman.
+           Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.
+
+17:007:007 And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath
+           went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make
+           request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that
+           there was evil determined against him by the king.
+
+17:007:008 Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place
+           of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed
+           whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the
+           queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of
+           king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.
+
+17:007:009 And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king,
+           Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had
+           made for Mordecai, who spoken good for the king, standeth in
+           the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.
+
+17:007:010 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for
+           Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.
+
+17:008:001 On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the
+           Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before
+           the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.
+
+17:008:002 And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman,
+           and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the
+           house of Haman.
+
+17:008:003 And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at
+           his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief
+           of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised
+           against the Jews.
+
+17:008:004 Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So
+           Esther arose, and stood before the king,
+
+17:008:005 And said, If it please the king, and if I have favour in his
+           sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be
+           pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters
+           devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he
+           wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's
+           provinces:
+
+17:008:006 For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my
+           people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my
+           kindred?
+
+17:008:007 Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to
+           Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of
+           Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he
+           laid his hand upon the Jews.
+
+17:008:008 Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's
+           name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which
+           is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's
+           ring, may no man reverse.
+
+17:008:009 Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third
+           month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth
+           day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai
+           commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the
+           deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto
+           Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every
+           province according to the writing thereof, and unto every
+           people after their language, and to the Jews according to
+           their writing, and according to their language.
+
+17:008:010 And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with
+           the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and
+           riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:
+
+17:008:011 Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to
+           gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to
+           destroy, to slay and to cause to perish, all the power of the
+           people and province that would assault them, both little ones
+           and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,
+
+17:008:012 Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely,
+           upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the
+           month Adar.
+
+17:008:013 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every
+           province was published unto all people, and that the Jews
+           should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their
+           enemies.
+
+17:008:014 So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being
+           hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the
+           decree was given at Shushan the palace.
+
+17:008:015 And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal
+           apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and
+           with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of
+           Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
+
+17:008:016 The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.
+
+17:008:017 And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the
+           king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and
+           gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of
+           the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.
+
+17:009:001 Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the
+           thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and
+           his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that
+           the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though
+           it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over
+           them that hated them;)
+
+17:009:002 The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities
+           throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay
+           hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand
+           them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.
+
+17:009:003 And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and
+           the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews;
+           because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.
+
+17:009:004 For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went
+           out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed
+           greater and greater.
+
+17:009:005 Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the
+           sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would
+           unto those that hated them.
+
+17:009:006 And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five
+           hundred men.
+
+17:009:007 And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha,
+
+17:009:008 And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,
+
+17:009:009 And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha,
+
+17:009:010 The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the
+           Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand.
+
+17:009:011 On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the
+           palace was brought before the king.
+
+17:009:012 And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain
+           and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the
+           ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the
+           king's provinces? now what is thy petition? and it shall be
+           granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be
+           done.
+
+17:009:013 Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to
+           the Jews which are in Shushan to do to morrow also according
+           unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged
+           upon the gallows.
+
+17:009:014 And the king commanded it so to be done: and the decree was
+           given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons.
+
+17:009:015 For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together
+           on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three
+           hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their
+           hand.
+
+17:009:016 But the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered
+           themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest
+           from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five
+           thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,
+
+17:009:017 On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth
+           day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and
+           gladness.
+
+17:009:018 But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the
+           thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on
+           the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day
+           of feasting and gladness.
+
+17:009:019 Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled
+           towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of
+           gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions
+           one to another.
+
+17:009:020 And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the
+           Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus,
+           both nigh and far,
+
+17:009:021 To stablish this among them, that they should keep the
+           fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the
+           same, yearly,
+
+17:009:022 As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and
+           the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and
+           from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days
+           of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another,
+           and gifts to the poor.
+
+17:009:023 And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as
+           Mordecai had written unto them;
+
+17:009:024 Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of
+           all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them,
+           and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to
+           destroy them;
+
+17:009:025 But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters
+           that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews,
+           should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons
+           should be hanged on the gallows.
+
+17:009:026 Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur.
+           Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which
+           they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto
+           them,
+
+17:009:027 The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed,
+           and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it
+           should not fail, that they would keep these two days according
+           to their writing, and according to their appointed time every
+           year;
+
+17:009:028 And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout
+           every generation, every family, every province, and every
+           city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among
+           the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed.
+
+17:009:029 Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai
+           the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second
+           letter of Purim.
+
+17:009:030 And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred
+           twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with
+           words of peace and truth,
+
+17:009:031 To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed,
+           according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had
+           enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for
+           their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.
+
+17:009:032 And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and
+           it was written in the book.
+
+17:010:001 And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon
+           the isles of the sea.
+
+17:010:002 And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the
+           declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king
+           advanced him, are they not written in the book of the
+           chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?
+
+17:010:003 For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great
+           among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren,
+           seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all
+           his seed.
+
+
+
+
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE BIBLE, KING JAMES, BOOK 17 ***
+
+********** This file should be named 8017.txt or 8017.zip **********
+
+This eBook was produced by David Widger
+See above the credits to previous producers of this text.
+
+Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we usually do not
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance
+of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing.
+Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections,
+even years after the official publication date.
+
+Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til
+midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement.
+The official release date of all Project Gutenberg eBooks is at
+Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month.  A
+preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment
+and editing by those who wish to do so.
+
+Most people start at our Web sites at:
+https://gutenberg.org or
+http://promo.net/pg
+
+These Web sites include award-winning information about Project
+Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new
+eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!).
+
+
+Those of you who want to download any eBook before announcement
+can get to them as follows, and just download by date.  This is
+also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the
+indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an
+announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter.
+
+http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext03 or
+ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext03
+
+Or /etext02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90
+
+Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want,
+as it appears in our Newsletters.
+
+
+Information about Project Gutenberg (one page)
+
+We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work.  The
+time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours
+to get any eBook selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright
+searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc.   Our
+projected audience is one hundred million readers.  If the value
+per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2
+million dollars per hour in 2002 as we release over 100 new text
+files per month:  1240 more eBooks in 2001 for a total of 4000+
+We are already on our way to trying for 2000 more eBooks in 2002
+If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total
+will reach over half a trillion eBooks given away by year's end.
+
+The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away 1 Trillion eBooks!
+This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers,
+which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users.
+
+Here is the briefest record of our progress (* means estimated):
+
+eBooks Year Month
+
+    1  1971 July
+   10  1991 January
+  100  1994 January
+ 1000  1997 August
+ 1500  1998 October
+ 2000  1999 December
+ 2500  2000 December
+ 3000  2001 November
+ 4000  2001 October/November
+ 6000  2002 December*
+ 9000  2003 November*
+10000  2004 January*
+
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created
+to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium.
+
+We need your donations more than ever!
+
+As of February, 2002, contributions are being solicited from people
+and organizations in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut,
+Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois,
+Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts,
+Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New
+Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio,
+Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South
+Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West
+Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
+
+We have filed in all 50 states now, but these are the only ones
+that have responded.
+
+As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list
+will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states.
+Please feel free to ask to check the status of your state.
+
+In answer to various questions we have received on this:
+
+We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork to legally
+request donations in all 50 states.  If your state is not listed and
+you would like to know if we have added it since the list you have,
+just ask.
+
+While we cannot solicit donations from people in states where we are
+not yet registered, we know of no prohibition against accepting
+donations from donors in these states who approach us with an offer to
+donate.
+
+International donations are accepted, but we don't know ANYTHING about
+how to make them tax-deductible, or even if they CAN be made
+deductible, and don't have the staff to handle it even if there are
+ways.
+
+Donations by check or money order may be sent to:
+
+Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+PMB 113
+1739 University Ave.
+Oxford, MS 38655-4109
+
+Contact us if you want to arrange for a wire transfer or payment
+method other than by check or money order.
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been approved by
+the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN
+[Employee Identification Number] 64-622154.  Donations are
+tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law.  As fund-raising
+requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be
+made and fund-raising will begin in the additional states.
+
+We need your donations more than ever!
+
+You can get up to date donation information online at:
+
+https://www.gutenberg.org/donation.html
+
+
+***
+
+If you can't reach Project Gutenberg,
+you can always email directly to:
+
+Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com>
+
+Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message.
+
+We would prefer to send you information by email.
+
+
+**The Legal Small Print**
+
+
+(Three Pages)
+
+***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS**START***
+Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers.
+They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with
+your copy of this eBook, even if you got it for free from
+someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our
+fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement
+disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how
+you may distribute copies of this eBook if you want to.
+
+*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS EBOOK
+By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm
+eBook, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept
+this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive
+a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this eBook by
+sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person
+you got it from. If you received this eBook on a physical
+medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request.
+
+ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM EBOOKS
+This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBooks,
+is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart
+through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project").
+Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright
+on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and
+distribute it in the United States without permission and
+without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth
+below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this eBook
+under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark.
+
+Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market
+any commercial products without permission.
+
+To create these eBooks, the Project expends considerable
+efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain
+works. Despite these efforts, the Project's eBooks and any
+medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other
+things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other
+intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged
+disk or other eBook medium, a computer virus, or computer
+codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment.
+
+LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES
+But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below,
+[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may
+receive this eBook from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook) disclaims
+all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including
+legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR
+UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT,
+INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE
+OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE
+POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
+
+If you discover a Defect in this eBook within 90 days of
+receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any)
+you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that
+time to the person you received it from. If you received it
+on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and
+such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement
+copy. If you received it electronically, such person may
+choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to
+receive it electronically.
+
+THIS EBOOK IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS
+TO THE EBOOK OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT
+LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A
+PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
+
+Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or
+the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the
+above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you
+may have other legal rights.
+
+INDEMNITY
+You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation,
+and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated
+with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm
+texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including
+legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the
+following that you do or cause:  [1] distribution of this eBook,
+[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the eBook,
+or [3] any Defect.
+
+DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm"
+You may distribute copies of this eBook electronically, or by
+disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this
+"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg,
+or:
+
+[1]  Only give exact copies of it.  Among other things, this
+     requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the
+     eBook or this "small print!" statement.  You may however,
+     if you wish, distribute this eBook in machine readable
+     binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form,
+     including any form resulting from conversion by word
+     processing or hypertext software, but only so long as
+     *EITHER*:
+
+     [*]  The eBook, when displayed, is clearly readable, and
+          does *not* contain characters other than those
+          intended by the author of the work, although tilde
+          (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may
+          be used to convey punctuation intended by the
+          author, and additional characters may be used to
+          indicate hypertext links; OR
+
+     [*]  The eBook may be readily converted by the reader at
+          no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent
+          form by the program that displays the eBook (as is
+          the case, for instance, with most word processors);
+          OR
+
+     [*]  You provide, or agree to also provide on request at
+          no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the
+          eBook in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC
+          or other equivalent proprietary form).
+
+[2]  Honor the eBook refund and replacement provisions of this
+     "Small Print!" statement.
+
+[3]  Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the
+     gross profits you derive calculated using the method you
+     already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  If you
+     don't derive profits, no royalty is due.  Royalties are
+     payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation"
+     the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were
+     legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent
+     periodic) tax return.  Please contact us beforehand to
+     let us know your plans and to work out the details.
+
+WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO?
+Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of
+public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed
+in machine readable form.
+
+The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time,
+public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses.
+Money should be paid to the:
+"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or
+software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at:
+hart@pobox.com
+
+[Portions of this eBook's header and trailer may be reprinted only
+when distributed free of all fees.  Copyright (C) 2001, 2002 by
+Michael S. Hart.  Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be
+used in any sales of Project Gutenberg eBooks or other materials be
+they hardware or software or any other related product without
+express permission.]
+
+*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END*
+
diff --git a/8017.zip b/8017.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7fee098
--- /dev/null
+++ b/8017.zip
diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6312041
--- /dev/null
+++ b/LICENSE.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements,
+metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be
+in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES.
+
+Procedures for determining public domain status are described in
+the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org.
+
+No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in
+jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize
+this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright
+status under the laws that apply to them.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..300322f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for
+eBook #8017 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/8017)