1 After some time, the king was not mad now. He thought about Queen Vashti and what happened. ️ 2 The king’s helpers said, “Find many pretty young women for the king.” 3 Send men to all lands. Bring the pretty girls to the king’s house. Put them in the women house. Hegai, the king’s helper, will care for them. Give them care and baths. 4 The girl the king likes will be queen. The king liked this plan. 5 In Susa city, there was a man named Mordecai. He was a Jew. He was from the family of Kish. ️ 6 Long ago, soldiers took his family from Jerusalem to a far land. The big king of Babylon did this. ♂️ 7 Mordecai raised a girl named Hadassah, called Esther. Her mom and dad were gone. Esther was very pretty. Mordecai loved her like his own girl. ❤️ 8 Many girls came to the king’s house. Esther came too. Hegai, the helper boss, took care of her. ➡️ 9 Hegai liked Esther. He was kind fast. He gave her good food and seven helper girls. He put her in the best room. ️ 10 Esther did not say she was a Jew. Mordecai told her not to say it. 11 Each day Mordecai walked by the women house. He asked, “Is Esther okay?” ♂️❓ 12 The girls waited one year. They had baths and oils. Then each girl went to see the king. ️ 13 Each girl could take what she wanted to the king. 14 She went at night and came back in the morning to a second women house with guard Shaashgaz. She could not see the king again unless he called her by name. ➡️ 15 It was Esther’s turn. She took only what Hegai said. All people liked Esther. 16 Esther met the king in the big house in month ten, in year seven for the king. 17 The king loved Esther most. He put a crown on her. Esther became queen. 18 The king made a big party for Esther. He gave gifts and let people pay less money. 19 Later, more girls came again. Mordecai sat at the king’s gate. 20 Esther still did not say she was a Jew. She obeyed Mordecai, like before. 21 Two gate guards, Bigthan and Teresh, were mad. They made a bad plan to hurt the king. Mordecai was at the gate. 22 Mordecai heard the plan. He told Queen Esther. Esther told the king and said it was from Mordecai. ️ 23 People checked the plan. It was true. The bad men were punished. The story was written in the king’s book. ✅