New Revised Standard Version
So the Jews adopted as a custom what they had begun to do, as Mordecai had written to them.

Contemporary English Version
They followed Mordecai's instructions and set aside these two days every year as a time of celebration.

New American Bible
The Jews adopted as a custom what they had begun doing and what Mordecai had written to them.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Jews undertook to observe with solemnity all they had begun to do at that time, which Mardochai by letters had commanded to be done.

And the Jews undertook to observe with solemnity all they had begun to do at that time, which Mardochai by letters had commanded to be done.

the days.

Esther 3:12,13 And the king's scribes were called in the first month Nisan, on the thirteenth day of the same mouth: and they wrote, as Aman had commanded, to all the king's lieutenants, and to the judges of the provinces, and of divers nations, as every nation could read, and hear according to their different languages, in the name of king Assuerus: and the letters, sealed with his ring, . . .

Exodus 13:3-8 And Moses said to the people: Remember this day in which you came forth out of Egypt, and out of the house of bondage, for with a strong hand hath the Lord brought you forth out of this place: that you eat no leavened bread. . . .

Psalm 103:2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and never forget all he hath done for thee.

Isaiah 12:1,2 And thou shalt say in that day: I will give thanks to thee, O Lord, for thou wast angry with me: thy wrath is turned away, and thou hast comforted me. . . .

Isaiah 14:3 And it shall come to pass in that day, that when God shall give thee rest from thy labour, and from thy vexation, and from the hard bondage, wherewith thou didst serve before,

from sorrow.

Psalm 30:11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into joy: thou hast cut my sackcloth, and hast compassed me with gladness:

Matthew 5:4 Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.

John 16:20-22 Amen, amen, I say to you, that you shall lament and weep, but the world shall rejoice: and you shall be made sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. . . .

sending portions.

Esther 9:19 But those Jews that dwelt in towns not walled and in villages, appointed the fourteenth day of the month Adar for banquets and gladness, so as to rejoice on that day, and send one another portions of their banquets and meats.

Nehemiah 8:10-12 And he said to them: Go, eat fat meats, and drink sweet wine, and send portions to them that have not prepared for themselves: because it is the holy day of the Lord, and be not sad: for the joy of the Lord is our strength. . . .

Luke 11:41 But yet that which remaineth, give alms: and behold, all things are clean unto you.

Acts 2:44-46 And all they that believed were together and had all things common. . . .

Galatians 2:10 Only that we should be mindful of the poor: which same thing also I was careful to do.