[Today’s English Version E.17; Revised Standard Version 16.17]

The pronoun You that begins this verse refers to the persons addressed in verse 1.

The word therefore connects verse 17 with the preceding verses. What has been said by the king about Haman and the Jews in the preceding part of this letter gives the reasons that the readers should not carry out Haman’s instructions.

You will … do well is a polite and formal way of advising or requesting someone to do something or, in this case, not to do something. Today’s English Version says “I advise you.” In some languages an imperative may need to be used. Compare Revised English Bible: “You will, therefore, disregard the letters sent by Haman….”

Not to put in execution the letters means that the readers should not obey the orders given in the letters that Haman had sent earlier (Today’s English Version). Bible en français courant says they should “disregard the letters” that Haman had sent.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Noss, Philip A. A Handbook on the Book of Esther — Deuterocanon: The Greek Text. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .