\NormalFont\ShortTitle{Esther}
{\MTB The Book of
\par }{\MT Esther

\par }\ChapOne{1}{\PP \VerseOne{1}In
the
days
of Assuerus,
who
reigned
from
India
to
Ethiopia
over
a
hundred
and twenty-seven
provinces:
\VS{2}When
he
sat
on
the
throne
of
his
kingdom,
the city Susan
was
the capital
of
his
kingdom.
\VS{3}Now
in
the
third
year
of
his
reign
he
made
a great
feast
for
all
the
princes,
and
for
his
servants,
for
the most mighty
of
the Persians,
and
the
nobles
of
the
Medes,
and
the
governors
of
the
provinces
in
his
sight,
\VS{4}That
he might shew
the
riches
of
the
glory
of
his
kingdom,
and
the
greatness,
and boasting
of
his power,
for
a
long
time,
to wit,
for
a
hundred
and fourscore
days.
\VS{5}And
when
the
days
of
the
feast
were
expired,
he invited
all
the
people
that
were
found
in Susan,
from
the
greatest
to
the least:
and commanded
a
feast
to
be
made
seven
days
in
the
court
of
the
garden,
and
of
the wood,
which
was planted
by
the care
and
the hand
of
the
king.
\VS{6}And there
were hung
up
on every side sky coloured,
and green,
and
violet hangings,
fastened
with
cords
of silk,
and
of
purple, which
were put
into
rings
of ivory,
and
were
held
up
with marble
pillars.
The
beds also
were
of
gold
and
silver, placed
in order
upon
a floor paved
with
porphyry
and
white marble: which
was embellished
with painting
of wonderful variety.
\VS{7}And
they
that
were invited, drank
in
golden cups,
and
the meats
were
brought
in divers
vessels
one after another.
Wine
also
in abundance
and
of
the best
was presented,
as
was worthy
of
a
king’s magnificence.
\VS{8}Neither
was
there
any
one
to compel
them
to drink
that
were
not willing,
but
as
the
king
had
appointed,
who
set
over
every table
one
of
his nobles,
that
every
man might
take
what
he
would.
\VS{9}Also Vasthi
the
queen
made
a
feast
for
the
women
in
the
palace,
where
king Assuerus
was
used
to dwell.
\VS{10}Now
on
the
seventh
day,
when
the
king
was merry,
and
after very much drinking
was
well warmed
with
wine,
he
commanded Mauman,
and Bazatha,
and
Harbona,
and Bagatha,
and Abgatha,
and
Zethar,
and Charcas,
the
seven
eunuchs
that
served
in
his
presence,
\VS{11}To
bring
in
queen Vasthi
before
the
king,
with
the
crown
set
upon
her
head,
to shew
her
beauty
to all
the
people
and
the
princes:
for
she
was exceeding
beautiful.
\VS{12}But
she
refused,
and
would not
come
at
the
king’s
commandment,
which
he
had signified
to
her
by
the
eunuchs. Whereupon
the
king, being
angry,
and inflamed
with
a
very
great
fury,
\VS{13}Baked
the
wise
men,
who according
to
the
custom
of
the
kings,
were
always
near
his
person,
and
all
he
did
was
by
their
counsel,
who
knew
the
laws,
and judgments
of
their forefathers:
\VS{14}(Now
the
chief
and
nearest
him
were, Charsena,
and Sethar,
and
Admatha,
and Tharsis,
and Mares,
and Marsana,
and Mamuchan,
seven
princes
of
the Persians,
and
of
the
Medes,
who
saw
the
face
of
the
king,
and
were used
to
sit
first
after
him:)
\VS{15}What sentence ought
to pass
upon Vasthi
the
queen,
who
had
refused
to
obey
the commandment
of
king Assuerus,
which
he
had
sent
to
her
by
the
eunuchs?
\VS{16}And Mamuchan
answered,
in
the hearing
of
the
king
and
the
princes:
Queen Vasthi hath
not
only injured
the
king,
but
also
all
the
people
and
princes
that
are
in
all
the
provinces
of
king Assuerus.
\VS{17}For
this
deed
of
the
queen
will
go abroad
to
all
women,
so
that
they
will
despise
their
husbands,
and
will
say:
King Assuerus
commanded
that
queen Vasthi
should
come
in
to
him,
and
she
would
not.
\VS{18}And
by
this example
all
the wives
of
the
princes
of
the Persians
and
the
Medes
will slight
the
commandments
of
their husbands: wherefore
the
king’s indignation
is
just.
\VS{19}If
it
please thee,
let
an
edict
go
out
from thy
presence,
and
let
it
be
written
according
to
the
law
of
the Persians
and
of
the
Medes,
which
must
not
be altered,
that Vasthi
come
in
no
more
to
the
king,
but
another,
that
is
better
than
her,
be
made queen
in
her
place.
\VS{20}And
let
this
be published
through
all
the provinces
of thy
empire, (which
is
very wide,)
and
let
all
wives,
as
well
of
the
greater
as
of
the
lesser,
give honour
to
their
husbands.
\VS{21}His
counsel
pleased
the
king,
and
the
princes:
and
the
king
did according
to
the
counsel
of Mamuchan.
\VS{22}And
he
sent
letters
to
all
the
provinces
of
his
kingdom,
as
every
nation
could
hear
and
read,
in divers
languages
and characters,
that
the
husbands
should
be rulers
and masters
in
their
houses:
and
that
this
should
be published
to
every
people.

\par }\Chap{2}{\PP \VerseOne{1}After
this,
when
the
wrath
of
king Assuerus
was appeased,
he
remembered Vasthi,
and
what
she
had
done
and
what
she
had suffered:
\VS{2}And
the
king’s
servants
and
his officers
said: Let
young
women
be
sought
for
the
king,
virgins
and
beautiful,
\VS{3}And
let
some persons
be
sent
through
all
the
provinces
to
look
for
beautiful
maidens
and
virgins:
and
let
them
bring
them
to
the city
of Susan,
and
put
them
into
the
house
of
the
women
under
the
hand
of Egeus
the
eunuch,
who
is
the
overseer
and
keeper
of
the
king’s
women:
and
let
them
receive women’s ornaments,
and
other
things necessary
for
their use.
\VS{4}And whosoever
among
them
all
shall
please
the
king’s
eyes,
let
her
be queen
instead
of Vasthi.
The
word
pleased
the
king:
and
he commanded
it
should
be
done
as
they
had suggested.
\VS{5}There
was
a
man
in
the city
of Susan,
a
Jew,
named Mardochai,
the
son
of
Jair,
the
son
of Semei,
the
son
of Cis,
of
the
race
of Jemini,
\VS{6}Who
had
been
carried
away
from
Jerusalem
at
the time
that Nabuchodonosor
king
of
Babylon
carried
away Jechonias
king
of Juda,
\VS{7}And
he
had
brought
up
his brother’s
daughter Edissa,
who
by another name
was called
Esther:
now
she
had lost both
her
parents:
and
was exceeding
fair
and
beautiful.
And
her
father
and
mother
being
dead, Mardochai adopted
her
for
his
daughter.
\VS{8}And
when
the
king’s ordinance
was noised abroad,
and
according
to
his
commandment
many beautiful virgins
were
brought
to Susan,
and
were
delivered
to Egeus
the eunuch:
Esther
also
among
the
rest
of
the
maidens
was
delivered
to
him
to
be
kept
in
the number
of
the
women.
\VS{9}And
she
pleased
him,
and
found favour
in
his
sight.
And
he commanded
the eunuch
to hasten
the women’s ornaments,
and
to
deliver
to
her
her part,
and
seven
of
the
most beautiful
maidens
of
the
king’s
house,
and
to adorn
and deck
out both
her
and
her waiting
maids.
\VS{10}And
she
would
not
tell
him
her
people
nor
her country.
For Mardochai
had
charged
her
to say
nothing
at all
of
that:
\VS{11}And
he
walked
every
day
before
the
court
of
the
house,
in
which
the
chosen virgins
were
kept, having
a care
for
Esther’s
welfare,
and desiring
to
know
what
would befall
her.
\VS{12}Now
when
every virgin’s
turn
came
to
go
in
to
the
king,
after
all
had
been
done
for setting
them
off
to advantage,
it
was
the twelfth
month:
so
that
for
six
months
they
were anointed
with
oil
of
myrrh,
and
for
other
six
months
they
used certain perfumes
and
sweet
spices.
\VS{13}And
when
they
were
going
in
to
the
king,
whatsoever
they
asked
to adorn themselves
they
received:
and being decked
out,
as
it pleased
them,
they passed
from
the chamber
of
the
women
to
the
king’s chamber.
\VS{14}And
she
that
went
in
at
evening,
came
out
in
the
morning,
and
from thence
she
was conducted
to
the
second
house,
that
was
under
the
hand
of Susagaz
the
eunuch,
who
had
the
charge
over
the
king’s
concubines:
neither could
she
return
any
more
to
the
king,
unless
the
king
desired
it,
and
had ordered
her
by
name
to
come.
\VS{15}And
as
the
time
came orderly
about,
the day
was
at hand,
when
Esther,
the
daughter
of
Abihail
the brother
of Mardochai,
whom
he
had adopted
for
his
daughter,
was
to
go
in
to
the
king.
But
she
sought
not women’s
ornaments,
but
whatsoever Egeus
the
eunuch
the
keeper
of
the virgins
had
a
mind,
he
gave
her
to adorn
her.
For
she
was exceeding fair,
and
her incredible beauty
made
her
appear agreeable
and amiable
in
the
eyes
of
all.
\VS{16}So
she
was
brought
to
the chamber
of
king Assuerus
the
tenth
month,
which
is called
Tebeth,
in
the
seventh
year
of
his
reign.
\VS{17}And
the
king
loved
her more
than
all
the
women,
and
she
had favour
and
kindness
before
him
above
all
the
women,
and
he
set
the
royal
crown
on
her
head,
and
made
her queen
instead
of Vasthi.
\VS{18}And
he commanded
a
magnificent
feast
to
be
prepared
for
all
the
princes,
and
for
his
servants,
for
the marriage
and wedding
of
Esther.
And
he
gave rest
to
all
the
provinces,
and
bestowed
gifts
according
to princely magnificence.
\VS{19}And
when
the
virgins
were sought
the
second
time,
and
gathered
together, Mardochai
stayed
at
the
king’s
gate,
\VS{20}Neither
had
Esther
as
yet
declared
her country
and
people,
according
to
his
commandment.
For whatsoever
he
commanded,
Esther
observed:
and
she
did all
things
in
the
same manner
as
she
was wont
at
that
time
when
he
brought
her
up
a little
one.
\VS{21}At
that
time,
therefore,
when Mardochai
abode
at
the
king’s
gate, Bagathan
and Thares,
two
of
the
king’s
eunuchs,
who
were porters,
and presided
in
the
first entry
of
the palace,
were
angry:
and
they designed
to rise
up
against
the
king,
and
to kill
him.
\VS{22}And Mardochai
had
notice
of
it,
and immediately
he
told
it
to
queen
Esther:
and
she
to
the
king
in Mardochai’s
name,
who
had
reported
the
thing unto
her.
\VS{23}It
was
inquired
into,
and
found
out:
and
they
were
both
hanged
on
a gibbet.
And
it
was put
in
the histories,
and
recorded
in
the
chronicles
before
the
king.

\par }\Chap{3}{\PP \VerseOne{1}After
these
things,
king Assuerus
advanced Aman,
the
son
of Amadathi,
who
was
of
the
race
of Agag:
and
he
set
his
throne
above
all
the
princes
that
were
with
him.
\VS{2}And
all
the
king’s
servants,
that
were
at
the doors
of
the palace, bent
their knees,
and worshipped Aman:
for
so
the emperor
had
commanded
them,
only Mardochai
did
not bend
his knee,
nor
worship
him.
\VS{3}And
the
king’s
servants
that
were chief
at
the doors
of
the palace,
said
to
him:
Why dost thou alone not observe
the
king’s
commandment?
\VS{4}And
when
they
were
saying
this often,
and
he
would
not hearken
to
them;
they
told Aman, desirous
to
know
whether
he
would
continue
in
his resolution:
for
he
had
told
them
that
he
was
a
Jew.
\VS{5}Now
when Aman
had
heard
this,
and
had proved
by
experience
that Mardochai
did
not bend
his knee
to
him,
nor
worship
him,
he
was exceeding
angry.
\VS{6}And
he counted
it
nothing
to
lay
his
hands
upon Mardochai
alone:
for
he
had
heard
that
he
was
of
the
nation
of
the
Jews,
and
he chose
rather
to
destroy
all
the
nation
of
the
Jews
that
were
in
the
kingdom
of Assuerus.
\VS{7}In
the
first
month (which
is called
Nisan)
in
the twelfth
year
a
of
the
reign
of Assuerus,
the
lot
was
cast
into
an urn,
which
in Hebrew
is called Phur,
before Aman,
on what
day
and what
month
the nation
of
the Jews
should
be destroyed:
and there
came
out
the twelfth
month,
which
is called
Adar.
\VS{8}And Aman
said
to
king Assuerus:
There
is
a
people
scattered
through
all
the
provinces
of thy
kingdom,
and
separated
one
from
another,
that use new
laws
and ceremonies,
and moreover despise
the
king’s ordinances:
and thou knowest
very well
that
it
is
not expedient
for thy
kingdom
that
they
should grow insolent
by impunity.
\VS{9}If
it
please thee, decree
that
they
may
he
destroyed,
and
I
will
pay
ten
thousand
talents
to thy treasurers.
\VS{10}And
the
king
took
the
ring
that
he
used,
from
his own
hand,
and
gave
it
to Aman,
the
son
of Amadathi
of
the
race
of Agag,
the
enemy
of
the
Jews,
\VS{11}And
he
said
to
him:
As
to
the
money
which thou promisest,
keep
it
for thyself:
and
as
to
the
people,
do
with
them
as seemeth
good
to thee.
\VS{12}And
the
king’s
scribes
were
called
in
the
first
month Nisan,
on
the thirteenth
day
of
the
same
month:
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,
\VS{13}Were
sent
by
the
king’s
messengers
to
all
provinces,
to
kill
and
destroy
all
the
Jews,
both
young
and
old,
little
children,
and
women,
in
one
day,
that
is,
on
the thirteenth
of
the twelfth
month,
which
is called
Adar,
and
to
make
a
spoil
of
their goods.
\VS{14}And
the contents
of
the letters
were
to
this
effect,
that
all
provinces might know
and
be
ready
against
that
day.
\VS{15}The
couriers
that
were
sent
made haste
to fulfill
the
king’s
commandment.
And immediately
the
edict
was
hung
up
in Susan,
the
king
and Aman
feasting together,
and
all
the Jews
that
were
in
the
city weeping.

\par }\Chap{4}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Now
when Mardochai
had heard
these
things,
he rent
his
garments,
and
put
on
sackcloth, strewing
ashes
on
his head:
and
he
cried
with
a
loud
voice
in
the street
in
the
midst
of
the
city, shewing
the anguish
of
his
mind.
\VS{2}And
he
came lamenting
in
this manner
even
to
the
gate
of
the palace:
for
no
one
clothed
with
sackcloth might
enter
the
king’s
court.
\VS{3}And
in
all
provinces, towns,
and
places,
to
which
the
king’s cruel
edict
was
come,
there
was
great
mourning among
the
Jews,
with
fasting,
wailing,
and
weeping,
many using
sackcloth
and
ashes
for
their
bed.
\VS{4}Then
Esther’s
maids
and
her
eunuchs
went
in,
and
told
her.
And
when
she
heard
it
she
was
in
a consternation:
and
she
sent
a
garment,
to
clothe
him,
and
to
take
away
the
sackcloth:
but
he
would
not
receive
it.
\VS{5}And
she
called
for Athach
the
eunuch,
whom
the
king
had
appointed
to
attend
upon
her,
and
she
commanded
him
to go
to Mardochai,
and
learn
of
him
why
he
did
this.
\VS{6}And Athach
going
out
went
to Mardochai,
who
was standing
in
the
street
of
the
city,
before
the palace
gate:
\VS{7}And Mardochai
told
him
all
that
had
happened,
how Aman
had
promised
to
pay
money
into
the
king’s treasures,
to
have
the
Jews
destroyed.
\VS{8}He
gave
him
also
a
copy
of
the
edict
which
was
hanging
up
in Susan,
that
he
should shew
it
to
the queen,
and admonish
her
to
go
in
to
the
king,
and
to entreat
him
for
her
people.
\VS{9}And Athach
went
back
and
told
Esther
all
that Mardochai
had
said.
\VS{10}She
answered
him,
and bade
him
say
to Mardochai:
\VS{11}All
the
king’s
servants,
and
all
the
provinces
that
are
under
his dominion,
know,
that whosoever, whether
man
or
woman, cometh
into
the
king’s
inner
court,
who
is
not
called
for,
is immediately
to
be
put
to
death
without
any delay:
except
the
king
shall hold
out
the
golden sceptre
to
him,
in token
of clemency,
that
so
he
may
live.
How
then
can
I
go
in
to
the
king,
who
for
these
thirty
days
now
have
not
been
called unto
him?
\VS{12}And when Mardochai
had
heard
this,
\VS{13}He
sent
word
to
Esther
again,
saying:
Think
not
that thou mayst
save thy
life
only,
because thou art
in
the
king
a
house,
more
than
all
the
Jews:
\VS{14}For
if thou wilt
now
hold thy peace,
the
Jews
shall
be delivered
by
some
other occasion:
and thou,
and thy
father’s
house
shall
perish.
And
who knoweth
whether thou art
not
therefore
come
to
the
kingdom,
that thou mightest
be ready
in
such
a
time
as
this?
\VS{15}And
again
Esther
sent
to Mardochai
in these words:
\VS{16}Go,
and
gather
together
all
the
Jews
whom thou shalt
find
in Susan,
and pray ye
for
me.
Neither
eat
nor
drink
for
three
days
and
three
nights:
and
I
with
my handmaids
will
fast
in
like
manner,
and
then
I
will
go
in
to
the
king,
against
the
law,
not
being called,
and expose
myself
to death
and
to danger.
\VS{17}So Mardochai went,
and
did
all
that
Esther
had
commanded
him.

\par }\Chap{5}{\PP \VerseOne{1}And
on
the
third
day
Esther
put
on
her
royal
apparel,
and
stood
in
the
inner
court
of
the
king’s
house,
over
against
the
king’s
hall:
now
he
sat
upon
his
throne
in
the
hall
of
the
palace,
over
against
the
door
of
the
house.
\VS{2}And
when
he
saw
Esther
the
queen
standing,
she
pleased
his
eyes,
and
he
held
out
toward
her
the
golden sceptre,
which
he
held
in
his
hand:
and
she
drew
near,
and kissed
the
top
of
his sceptre.
\VS{3}And
the
king
said
to
her:
What wilt
then,
queen
Esther?
what
is thy
request? if thou shouldst
even
ask
one
half
of
the
kingdom,
it
shall
be
given
to thee.
\VS{4}But
she
answered:
If
it
please
the
king.
I beseech thee
to
come
to
me
this
day,
and Aman
with thee
to
the
banquet
which
I
have
prepared.
\VS{5}And
the
king
said forthwith:
Call ye Aman
quickly,
that
he
may
obey
Esther’s
will.
So
the
king
and Aman
came
to
the
banquet
which
the queen
had
prepared
for
them.
\VS{6}And
the
king
said
to
her,
after
he
had
drunk
wine plentifully:
What dost thou desire
should
be
given thee?
and
for
what
thing askest thou?
although thou shouldst
ask
the
half
of
my
kingdom, thou shalt
have
it.
\VS{7}And
Esther
answered:
My
petition
and
request
is this:
\VS{8}If
I
have
found favour
in
the
king’s
sight,
and
if
it
please
the
king
to
give
me
what
I
ask,
and
to fulfill
my
petition:
let
the
king
and Aman
come
to
the
banquet
which
I
have
prepared
them,
and
tomorrow
I
will open
my mind
to
the
king.
\VS{9}So Aman
went
out
that
day
joyful
and merry.
And
when
he
saw Mardochai sitting
before
the
gate
of
the palace,
and
that
he
not only
did
not
rise
up
to honour
him,
but
did
not
so
much
as move
from
the place
where
he sat,
he
was exceedingly
angry:
\VS{10}But dissembling
his anger,
and returning
into
his
house,
he called together
to
him
his
friends,
and Zares
his
wife:
\VS{11}And
he
declared
to
them
the
greatness
of
his
riches,
and
the
multitude
of
his
children,
and
with
how
great
glory
the
king
had
advanced
him
above
all
his
princes
and
servants.
\VS{12}And
after
this
he
said:
Queen
Esther
also hath
invited
no other
to
the
banquet
with
the
king,
but
me:
and
with
her
I
am
also
to dine
tomorrow
with
the
king:
\VS{13}And whereas
I
have
all
these
things,
I
think
I
have
nothing,
so long
as
I
see Mardochai
the
Jew
sitting before
the
king’s
gate.
\VS{14}Then Zares
his
wife,
and
the rest
of
his
friends
answered
him:
Order
a great beam
to
be
prepared,
fifty
cubits
high,
and
in
the
morning
speak
to
the
king,
that Mardochai
may
be
hanged
upon
it,
and
so thou shalt
go
full
of
joy
with
the
king
to
the
banquet.
The
counsel
pleased
him,
and
he
commanded
a
high gibbet
to
be
prepared.

\par }\Chap{6}{\PP \VerseOne{1}That
night
the
king
passed without
sleep,
and
he
commanded
the histories
and
chronicles
of
former
times
to
be
brought
him.
And
when
they
were
reading
them
before
him,
\VS{2}They
came
to
that
place
where
it
was
written,
how Mardochai
had
discovered
the treason
of Bagathan
and Thares
the
eunuchs,
who
sought
to kill
king Assuerus.
\VS{3}And
when
the
king heard
this,
he
said:
What honour
and reward hath Mardochai
received
for
this fidelity?
His
servants
and
ministers
said
to
him:
He hath
received
no reward
at
all.
\VS{4}And
the
king
said immediately:
Who
is
in
the
court?
for Aman
was
coming
in
to
the
inner
court
of
the
king’s
house,
to
speak
to
the
king,
that
he
might
order Mardochai
to
be
hanged
upon
the gibbet
which
was
prepared
for
him.
\VS{5}The
servants
answered: Aman standeth
in
the
court,
and
the
king
said: Let
him
come
in.
\VS{6}And
when
he
was
come
in,
he
said
to
him:
What ought
to
be
done
to
the
man
whom
the
king
is desirous
to honour?
But Aman
thinking
in
his
heart,
and supposing
that
the
king
would honour
no
other
but
himself,
\VS{7}Answered:
The
man
whom
the
king desireth
to honour,
\VS{8}Ought
to
be
clothed
with
the
king’s
apparel,
and
to
be
set
upon
the
horse
that
the
king rideth
upon,
and
to
have
the
royal
crown
upon
his
head,
\VS{9}And
let
the
first
of
the
king’s
princes
and
nobles
hold
his
horse,
and going
through
the
street
of
the
city,
proclaim
before
him
and say:
Thus
shall
he
be honoured,
whom
the
king hath
a
mind
to honour.
\VS{10}And
the
king
said
to
him:
Make
haste
and
take
the
robe
and
the
horse,
and
do
as thou hast
spoken
to Mardochai
the
Jew,
who sitteth before
the
gates
of
the palace. Beware thou pass
over
any
of
those
things
which thou hast
spoken.
\VS{11}So Aman
took
the
robe
and
the
horse,
and arraying Mardochai
in
the
street
of
the
city,
and setting
him
on
the
horse,
went
before
him,
and
proclaimed:
This honour
is
he worthy
of,
whom
the
king hath
a
mind
to honour.
\VS{12}But Mardochai
returned
to
the
palace
gate:
and Aman
made haste
to
go
to
his
house,
mourning
and
having
his
head
covered:
\VS{13}And
he
told Zares
his
wife,
and
his
friends,
all
that
had befallen
him.
And
the
wise
men
whom
he
had
in counsel,
and
his
wife
answered
him:
If Mardochai
be
of
the
seed
of
the
Jews,
before
whom thou hast
begun
to
fall, thou canst
not resist
him,
but thou shalt
fall
in
his
sight.
\VS{14}As
they
were
yet
speaking,
the
king’s
eunuchs
came,
and compelled
him
to
go
quickly
to
the
banquet
which
the queen
had
prepared.

\par }\Chap{7}{\PP \VerseOne{1}So
the
king
and Aman
went
in,
to
drink
with
the
queen.
\VS{2}And
the
king
said
to
her
again
the
second
day,
after
he
was warm
with
wine:
What
is thy
petition,
Esther,
that
it
may
be
granted thee?
and
what wilt thou
have
done:
although thou
ask
the
half
of
my
kingdom, thou shalt
have
it.
\VS{3}Then
she
answered:
If
I
have
found Favour
in thy
sight,
O
king,
and
if
it
please thee,
give
me
my
life
for
which
I
ask,
and
my
people
for
which
I
request.
\VS{4}For
we
are
given
up,
I
and
my
people,
to
be
destroyed,
to
be
slain,
and
to
perish.
And
would
God
we
were
sold
for bondmen
and bondwomen:
the evil might
be borne
with,
and
I
would
have mourned
in silence:
but
now
we
have
an enemy,
whose cruelty redoundeth upon
the
king.
\VS{5}And
king Assuerus
answered
and
said:
Who
is
this,
and
of
what power,
that
he
should
do
these
things?
\VS{6}And
Esther
said:
It
is
this Aman
that
is
our adversary
and
most
wicked
enemy. Aman hearing
this
was forthwith astonished,
not being able
to bear
the
countenance
of
the
king
and
of
the
queen.
\VS{7}But
the
king
being
angry
rose
up,
and
went
from
the
place
of
the
banquet
into
the
garden
set
with trees. Aman
also
rose
up
to entreat
Esther
the
queen
for
his
life,
for
he understood
that
evil
was
prepared
for
him
by
the
king.
\VS{8}And
when
the
king
came
back
out
of
the
garden
set
with trees,
and
entered
into
the
place
of
the
banquet,
he
found Aman
was
fallen
upon
the
bed
on
which
Esther
lay,
and
he
said:
He
will force
the
queen
also
in
my
presence,
in
my
own
house.
The
word
was
not
yet
gone
out
of
the
king’s
mouth,
and immediately
they
covered
his
face.
\VS{9}And
Harbona,
one
of
the
eunuchs
that
stood waiting
on
the
king,
said:
Behold
the gibbet
which
he hath
prepared
for Mardochai,
who
spoke
for
the
king, standeth
in Aman’s
house, being
fifty
cubits
high.
And
the
king
said
to
him:
Hang
him
upon
it.
\VS{10}So Aman
was
hanged
on
the gibbet,
which
he
had
prepared
for Mardochai:
and
the
king’s
wrath ceased.

\par }\Chap{8}{\PP \VerseOne{1}On
that
day
king Assuerus
gave
the
house
of Aman,
the
Jews’
enemy,
to
queen
Esther,
and Mardochai
came
in
before
the
king.
For
Esther
had confessed
to
him
that
he
was
her uncle.
\VS{2}And
the
king
took
the
ring
which
he
had commanded
to
be
taken again
from Aman,
and
gave
it
to Mardochai.
And
Esther
set Mardochai
over
her
house.
\VS{3}And
not content
with
these
things,
she
fell
down
at
the
king’s
feet
and
wept,
and
speaking
to
him besought
him,
that
he
would
give orders
that
the malice
of Aman
the
Agagite,
and
his
most
wicked devices
which
he
had
invented
against
the
Jews, should
be
of no effect.
\VS{4}But
he,
as
the manner
was, held
out
the
golden sceptre
with
his hand, which
was
the sign
of clemency:
and
she
arose
up
and
stood
before
him,
\VS{5}And
said:
If
it please
the
king,
and
if
I
have
found favour
in
his
sight,
and
my
request
be
not disagreeable
to
him,
I beseech thee,
that
the
former
letters
of Aman
the traitor
and enemy
of
the
Jews,
by
which
he
commanded
that
they
should
be
destroyed
in
all
the
king’s
provinces,
may
be reversed
by new
letters.
\VS{6}For
how call
I
endure
the murdering
and slaughter
of
my
people?
\VS{7}And
king Assuerus
answered
Esther
the
queen,
and Mardochai
the
Jew:
I
have
given Aman’s
house
to
Esther,
and
I
have
commanded
him
to
be
hanged
on
a gibbet,
because
he durst
lay
hands
on
the
Jews.
\VS{8}Write ye
therefore
to
the
Jews,
as
it pleaseth
you,
in
the
king’s
name,
and
seal
the letters
with
my
ring.
For
this
was
the custom,
that
no
man durst gainsay
the letters
which
were
sent
in
the
king’s
name,
and
were
sealed
with
his
ring.
\VS{9}Then
the
king’s
scribes
and secretaries
were
called
for (now
it
was
the
time
of
the
third
month
which
is
called Siban)
the
three
and
twentieth
day
of
the
month,
and letters
were
written,
as Mardochai
had
a mind,
to
the
Jews,
and
to
the
governors,
and
to
the deputies,
and
to
the judges,
who
were
rulers
over
the
hundred
and twenty-seven
provinces,
from
India
even
to
Ethiopia:
to
province
and
province,
to
people
and
people,
according
to
their
languages
and characters,
and
to
the
Jews,
according
as
they
could
read
and hear.
\VS{10}And these
letters which
were
sent
in
the
king’s
name,
were
sealed
with
his
ring,
and
sent
by posts:
who
were
to
run
through all
the provinces,
to prevent
the former
letters
with new messages.
\VS{11}And
the
king
gave orders
to
them,
to speak
to
the
Jews
in
every
city,
and
to
command
them
to
gather
themselves
together,
and
to
stand
for
their
lives,
and
to
kill
and
destroy
all
their enemies
with
their
wives
and
children
and
all
their houses,
and
to
take
their
spoil.
\VS{12}And
one
day
of revenge
was appointed
through
all
the
provinces,
to wit,
the thirteenth
of
the twelfth
month
Adar.
\VS{13}And
this
was
the content
of
the
letter,
that
it
should
be notified
in
all lands
and
peoples
that
were subject
to
the empire
of king Assuerus,
that
the
Jews
were ready
to
be revenged
of
their
enemies.
\VS{14}So
the
swift posts
went
out carrying
the
messages,
and
the
king’s
edict
was
hung
up
in Susan.
\VS{15}And Mardochai
going
forth
out
of
the palace,
and
from
the
king’s
presence, shone
in
royal
apparel,
to wit,
of
violet
and sky colour, wearing
a
golden
crown
on
his
head,
and
clothed
with
a cloak
of silk
and
purple.
And
all
the
city
rejoiced
and
was
glad.
\VS{16}But
to
the
Jews
a new light seemed
to rise,
joy, honour,
and dancing.
\VS{17}And
in
all
peoples,
cities,
and
provinces, whithersoever
the
king’s
commandments
came,
there
was wonderful
rejoicing, feasts
and
banquets,
and keeping holy
day: insomuch
that
many
of
other
nations
and religion,
joined
themselves
to
their worship
and ceremonies.
For
a
great
dread
of
the name
of
the
Jews
had
fallen
upon
all.

\par }\Chap{9}{\PP \VerseOne{1}So
on
the thirteenth
day
of
the twelfth
month,
which
as
we
have
said above
is called
Adar,
when
all
the
Jews
were designed
to
be massacred,
and
their
enemies
were greedy
after
their blood,
the
case being altered,
the
Jews began
to
have
the upper hand,
and
to revenge
themselves
of
their adversaries.
\VS{2}And
they
gathered
themselves
together
in
every
city,
and
town,
and
place,
to
lay
their
hands
on
their enemies,
and
their persecutors.
And
no
one durst
withstand
them,
for
the
fear
of
their
power
had
gone
through
every
people.
\VS{3}And
the judges
of
the
provinces,
and
the
governors,
and lieutenants,
and
every
one
in dignity,
that presided
over
every
place
and
work, extolled
the
Jews
for
fear
of Mardochai:
\VS{4}For
they knew
him
to
be prince
of
the
palace,
and
to
have
great power:
and
the
fame
of
his name increased daily,
and
was
spread abroad
through
all
men’s mouths.
\VS{5}So
the
Jews
made
a great
slaughter
of
their
enemies,
and
killed
them, repaying according
to
what
they
had
prepared
to
do
to
them:
\VS{6}Insomuch
that even
in Susan
they
killed
five
hundred
men, besides
the ten sons
of Aman
the Agagite,
the enemy
of
the
Jews:
whose names
are these:
\VS{7}Pharsandatha,
and Delphon,
and Esphatha,
\VS{8}And Phoratha,
and
Adalia,
and
Aridatha,
\VS{9}And Phermesta,
and
Arisai,
and
Aridai,
and Jezatha.
\VS{10}And
when
they
had
slain
them,
they would
not touch
the spoils
of
their goods.
\VS{11}And presently
the
number
of
them
that
were
killed
in Susan
was
brought
to
the
king.
\VS{12}And
he
said
to
the
queen:
The
Jews
have
killed
five
hundred
men
in
the city
of Susan,
besides
the
ten
sons
of Aman:
how
many dost thou
think
they
have
slain
in
all
the
provinces?
What askest thou
more,
and
what wilt thou
have
me
to
command
to
be
done?
\VS{13}And
she
answered:
If
it please
the
king,
let
it
be
granted
to
the
Jews,
to
do
tomorrow
in Susan
as
they
have
done
today,
and
that
the
ten
sons
of Aman
may
be
hanged
upon gibbets.
\VS{14}And
the
king
commanded
that
it
should
be
so
done.
And forthwith
the
edict
was
hung
up
in Susan,
and
the
ten
sons
of Aman
were
hanged.
\VS{15}And
on
the fourteenth
day
of
the
month
Adar
the
Jews
gathered
themselves
together,
and
they
killed
in Susan
three
hundred
men:
but
they
took
not
their substance.
\VS{16}Moreover
through
all
the
provinces
which
were subject
to
the
king’s dominion
the
Jews
stood
for
their
lives,
and
slew
their
enemies
and persecutors: insomuch
that
the
number
of
them
that
were Billed amounted
to
seventy-five
thousand,
and
no
man
took
any
of
their goods.
\VS{17}Now
the thirteenth
day
of
the
month
Adar
was
the
first
day
with
them
all
of
the slaughter,
and
on
the fourteenth
day
they
left
off.
Which
they ordained
to
be
kept holy
day,
so
that
all
times hereafter
they
should celebrate
it
with
feasting,
joy,
and
banquets.
\VS{18}But
they
that
were killing
in
the city
of Susan,
were employed
in
the slaughter
on
the thirteenth
and fourteenth
day
of
the
same month:
and
on
the fifteenth
day
they
rested.
And
therefore
they appointed
that
day
to
be
a holy
day
of
feasting
and
gladness.
\VS{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.
\VS{20}And Mardochai
wrote
all
these
things,
and
sent
them comprised
in
letters
to
the
Jews
that abode
in
all
the
king’s
provinces,
both
those
that
lay
near
and
those
afar
off,
\VS{21}That
they
should
receive
the fourteenth
and fifteenth
day
of
the
month
Adar
for holy
days,
and
always
at
the return
of
the
year
should celebrate
them
with solemn honour:
\VS{22}Because
on
those
days
the
Jews revenged
themselves
of
their
enemies,
and
their
mourning
and
sorrow
were
turned
into
mirth
and
joy,
and
that
these
should
be
days
of
feasting
and
gladness,
in
which
they
should send
one
to
another
portions
of meats;
and
should
give
gifts
to
the
poor.
\VS{23}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.
\VS{24}For Aman,
the
son
of Amadathi
of
the
race
of Agag,
the
enemy
and adversary
of
the
Jews,
had
devised evil
against
them,
to kill
them
and
destroy
them:
and
had
cast Phur,
that
is,
the
lot.
\VS{25}And afterwards Esther
went
in
to
the
king, beseeching
him
that
his endeavours
might
be
made void
by
the
king’s
letters:
and
the
evil
that
he
had
intended
against
the
Jews,
might
return
upon
his
own
head.
And
so
both
he
and
his
sons
were
hanged
upon gibbets.
\VS{26}And
since
that
time
these
days
are
called Phurim,
that
is,
of lots:
because Phur,
that
is,
the lot,
was
cast
into
the urn.
And
all
things
that
were
done,
are contained
in
the volume
of
this epistle,
that
is,
of
this book:
\VS{27}And
the
things
that
they suffered,
and
that
were afterwards changed,
the
Jews
took
upon
themselves
and
their
seed,
and
upon
all
that
had
a
mind
to
be joined
to
their religion,
so
that
it
should
be lawful
for
none
to
pass
these
days
without solemnity:
which
the
writing testifieth,
and certain
times require,
as
the
years
continually
succeed
one
another.
\VS{28}These
are
the
days
which
shall
never
be forgot:
and
which
all
provinces
in
the
whole world
shall
celebrate
throughout
all
generations:
neither
is
there
any
city wherein
the
days
of Phurim,
that
is,
of lots,
must
not
be
observed
by
the
Jews,
and
by
their
posterity,
which
is bound
to
these ceremonies.
\VS{29}And
Esther
the
queen,
the
daughter
of
Abihail,
and Mardochai
the
Jew,
wrote
also
a
second epistle,
that
with
all diligence
this day should
be
established
a festival
for
the
time
to
come.
\VS{30}And
they
sent
to
all
the
Jews
that
were
in
the
hundred
and twenty-seven
provinces
of king Assuerus,
that
they
should
have
peace,
and receive
truth,
\VS{31}And observe
the
days
of lots,
and celebrate
them
with
joy
in
their proper
time:
as Mardochai
and
Esther
had
appointed,
and
they undertook
them
to
be
observed
by
themselves
and
by
their
seed, fasts,
and
cries,
and
the
days
of lots,
\VS{32}And
all
things
which
are contained
in
the history
of
this
book,
which
is called
Esther.

\par }\Chap{10}{\PP \VerseOne{1}And
king Assuerus
made all
the
land,
and all
the
islands
of
the
sea tributary.
\VS{2}And
his
strength
and
his empire,
and
the
dignity
and
greatness wherewith
he
exalted Mardochai,
are
written
in
the
books
of
the
Medes,
and
of
the Persians:
\VS{3}And
how Mardochai
of
the
race
of
the
Jews,
was
next
after
king Assuerus:
and
great
among
the
Jews,
and
acceptable
to
the
people
of
his
brethren,
seeking
the
good
of
his
people,
and
speaking
those
things which
were
for
the
welfare
of
his
seed.
\VS{4}Then Mardochai said: God hath done these things.
\VS{5}I remember a dream that I saw, which signified these same things: and nothing thereof hath failed.
\VS{6}The little fountain which grew into a river, and was turned into a light, and into the sun, and abounded into many waters, is Esther, whom the king married, and made queen.
\VS{7}But the two dragons are I and Aman.
\VS{8}The nations that were assembled are they that endeavoured to destroy the name of the Jews.
\VS{9}And my nation is Israel, who cried to the Lord, and the Lord saved his people: and he delivered us from all evils, and hath wrought great signs and wonders among the nations:
\VS{10}And he commanded that there should be two lots, one of the people of God, and the other of all the nations.
\VS{11}And both lots came to the day appointed already from that time before God to all nations:
\VS{12}And the Lord remembered his people, and had mercy on his inheritance.
\VS{13}And these days shall be observed in the month of Adar on the fourteenth, and fifteenth day of the same month. with all diligence, and joy of the people gathered into one assembly, throughout all the generations hereafter of the people of Israel.

\par }\Chap{11}{\PP \VerseOne{1}In the fourth year of the reign of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, Dositheus, who said he was a priest, and of the Levitical race, and Ptolemy his son brought this epistle of Phurim, which they said Lysimachus the son of Ptolemy had interpreted in Jerusalem.
\VS{2}In the second year of the reign of Artaxerxes the great, in the first day of the month Nisan, Mardochai the son of Jair, the son of Semei, the son of Cis, of the tribe of Benjamin:
\VS{3}A Jew who dwelt in the city of Susan, a great man and among the first of the king’s court, had it dream.
\VS{4}Now he was of the number of the captives, whom Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had carried away from Jerusalem with Jechonias king of Juda:
\VS{5}And this was his dream: Behold there were voices, and tumults, and thunders, and earthquakes, and a disturbance upon the earth.
\VS{6}And behold two great dragons came forth ready to fight one against another.
\VS{7}And at their cry all nations were stirred up to fight against the nation of the just.
\VS{8}And that was a day of darkness and danger, of tribulation and distress, and great fear upon the earth.
\VS{9}And the nation of the just was troubled fearing their own evils, and was prepared for death.
\VS{10}And they cried to God: and as they were crying, a little fountain grew into a very great river, and abounded into many waters.
\VS{11}The light and the sun rose up, and the humble were exalted, and they devoured the glorious.
\VS{12}And when Mardochai had seen this, and arose out of his bed, he was thinking what God would do: and he kept it fixed in his mind, desirous to know what the dream should signify.

\par }\Chap{12}{\PP \VerseOne{1}And he abode at that time in the king’s court with Bagatha and Thara the king’s eunuchs, who were porters of the palace.
\VS{2}And when he understood their designs, and had diligently searched into their projects, he learned that they went about to lay violent hands on king Artaxerxes, and he told the king thereof.
\VS{3}Then the king had them both examined, and after they had confessed, commanded them to be put to death.
\VS{4}But the king made a record of what was done: and Mardochai also committed the memory of the thing to writing.
\VS{5}And the king commanded him, to abide in the court of the palace, and gave him presents for the information.
\VS{6}But Aman the son of Amadathi the Bugite was in great honour with the king, and sought to hurt Mardochai and his people, because of the two eunuchs of the king who were put to death.

\par }\Chap{13}{\PP \VerseOne{1}And this was the copy of the letter: Artaxerxes the great king who reigneth from India to Ethiopia, to the princes and governors of the hundred and twenty-seven provinces, that are subject to his empire, greeting.
\VS{2}Whereas I reigned over many nations, and had brought all the world under my dominion, I was not willing to abuse the greatness of my power, but to govern my subjects with clemency and lenity, that they might live quietly without any terror. and might enjoy peace, which is desired by all men.
\VS{3}But when I asked my counsellors how this might be accomplished, one that excelled the rest in wisdom and fidelity, and was second after the king, Aman by name,
\VS{4}Told me that there was a people scattered through the whole world, which used new laws, and acted against the customs of all nations, despised the commandments of kings, and violated by their opposition the concord of all nations.
\VS{5}Wherefore having learned this, and seeing one nation in opposition to all mankind using perverse laws, and going against our commandments, and disturbing the peace and concord of the provinces subject to us,
\VS{6}We have commanded that all whom Aman shall mark out, who is chief over all the provinces, and second after the king, and whom we honour as a father, shall be utterly destroyed by their enemies, with their wives and children, and that none shall have pity on them. on the fourteenth day of the twelfth month Adar of this present year:
\VS{7}That these wicked men going down to hell in one day, may restore to our empire the peace which they had disturbed.
\VS{8}But Mardochai besought the Lord, remembering all his works,
\VS{9}And said: O Lord, Lord, almighty king, for all things are in thy power, and there is none that can resist thy will, if thou determine to save Israel.
\VS{10}Thou hast made heaven and earth, and all things that are under the cope of heaven.
\VS{11}Thou art Lord of all, and there is none that can resist thy majesty.
\VS{12}Thou knowest all things, and thou knowest that it was not out of pride and contempt, or any desire of glory, that I refused to worship the proud Aman,
\VS{13}(For I would willingly and readily for the salvation of Israel have kissed even the steps of his feet,)
\VS{14}But I feared lest I should transfer the honour of my God to a man, and lest I should adore any one except my God.
\VS{15}And now, O Lord, O king, O God of Abraham, have mercy on thy people, because our enemies resolve to destroy us, and extinguish thy inheritance.
\VS{16}Despise not thy portion, which thou hast redeemed for thyself out of Egypt.
\VS{17}Hear my supplication, and be merciful to thy lot and inheritance, and turn our mourning into joy, that we may live and praise thy name, O Lord, and shut not the mouths of them that sing to thee.
\VS{18}And all Israel with like mind and supplication cried to the Lord, because they saw certain death hanging over their heads.

\par }\Chap{14}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Queen Esther also, fearing the danger that was at hand, had recourse to the Lord.
\VS{2}And when she had laid away her royal apparel, she put on garments suitable for weeping and mourning: instead of divers precious ointments, she covered her head with ashes and dung, and she humbled her body with fasts: and all the places in which before she was accustomed to rejoice, she filled with her torn hair.
\VS{3}And she prayed to the Lord the God of Israel, saying: O my Lord, who alone art our king, help me a desolate woman, and who have no other helper but thee.
\VS{4}My danger is in my hands.
\VS{5}I have heard of my father that thou, O Lord, didst take Israel from among all nations, and our fathers from all their predecessors, to possess them as an everlasting inheritance, and thou hast done to them as thou hast promised.
\VS{6}We have sinned in thy sight, and therefore thou hast delivered us into the hands of our enemies:
\VS{7}For we have worshipped their gods. Thou art just, O Lord.
\VS{8}And now they are not content to oppress us with most hard bondage, but attributing the strength of their hands to the power of their idols,
\VS{9}They design to change thy promises, and destroy thy inheritance, and shut the mouths of them that praise thee, and extinguish the glory of thy temple and altar,
\VS{10}That they may open the mouths of Gentiles, and praise the strength of idols, and magnify for ever a carnal king.
\VS{11}Give not, O Lord, thy sceptre to them that are not, lest they laugh at our ruin: but turn their counsel upon themselves, and destroy him that hath begun to rage against us.
\VS{12}Remember, O Lord, and shew thyself to us in the time of our tribulation, and give me boldness, O Lord, king of gods, and of all power:
\VS{13}Give me a well ordered speech in my mouth in the presence of the lion, and turn his heart to the hatred of our enemy, that both he himself may perish, and the rest that consent to him.
\VS{14}But deliver us by thy hand, and help me, who have no other helper, but thee, O Lord, who hast the knowledge of all things.
\VS{15}And thou knowest that I hate the glory of the wicked, and abhor the bed of the uncircumcised, and of every stranger.
\VS{16}Thou knowest my necessity, that I abominate the sign of my pride and glory, which is upon my head in the days of my public appearance, and detest it as a menstruous rag, and wear it not in the days of my silence,
\VS{17}And that I have not eaten at Aman’s table, nor hath the king’s banquet pleased me, and that I have not drunk the wine of the drink offerings:
\VS{18}And that thy handmaid hath never rejoiced, since I was brought hither unto this day, but in thee, O Lord, the God of Abraham.
\VS{19}O God, who art mighty above all, hear the voice of them, that have no other hope, and deliver us from the hand of the wicked, and deliver me from my fear.

\par }\Chap{15}{\PP \VerseOne{1}And he commanded her (no doubt but he was Mardochai) to go to the king, and petition for her people, and for her country.
\VS{2}Remember, (said he,) the days of thy low estate, how thou wast brought up by my hand, because Aman the second after the king hath spoken against us unto death.
\VS{3}And do thou call upon the Lord, and speak to the king for us, and deliver us from death.
\VS{4}And on the third day she laid away the garments she wore, and put on her glorious apparel.
\VS{5}And glittering in royal robes, after she had called upon God the ruler and Saviour of all, she took two maids with her,
\VS{6}And upon one of them she leaned, as if for delicateness and overmuch tenderness she were not able to bear up her own body.
\VS{7}And the other maid followed her lady, bearing up her train flowing on the ground.
\VS{8}But she with a rosy colour in her face, and with gracious and bright eyes, hid a mind full of anguish, and exceeding great fear.
\VS{9}So going in she passed through all the doors in order, and stood before the king, where he sat upon his royal throne, clothed with his royal robes, and glittering with gold, and precious stones, and he was terrible to behold.
\VS{10}And when he had lifted up his countenance, and with burning eyes had shewn the wrath of his heart, the queen sunk down, and her colour turned pale, and she rested her weary head upon her handmaid.
\VS{11}And God changed the king’s spirit into mildness, and all in haste and in fear he leaped from his throne, and holding her up in his arms, till she came to herself, caressed her with these words:
\VS{12}What is the matter, Esther? I am thy brother, fear not.
\VS{13}Thou shalt not die: for this law is not made for thee, but for all others.
\VS{14}Come near then, and touch the sceptre.
\VS{15}And as she held her peace, he took the golden sceptre, and laid it upon her neck, and kissed her, and said: Why dost thou not speak to me?
\VS{16}She answered: I saw thee, my lord, as an angel of God, and my heart was troubled for fear of thy majesty.
\VS{17}For thou, my lord, art very admirable, and thy. face is full of graces.
\VS{18}And while she was speaking, she fell down again, and was almost in a swoon.
\VS{19}But the king was troubled, and all his servants comforted her.

\par }\Chap{16}{\PP \VerseOne{1}The great king Artaxerxes, from India to Ethiopia, to the governors and princes of a hundred and twenty-seven provinces, which obey our command, sendeth greeting.
\VS{2}Many have abused unto pride the goodness of princes, and the honour that hath been bestowed upon them:
\VS{3}And not only endeavour to oppress the king’s subjects, but not bearing the glory that is given them, take in hand to practise also against them that gave it.
\VS{4}Neither are they content not to return thanks for benefits received, and to violate in themselves the laws of humanity, but they think they can also escape the justice of God who seeth all things.
\VS{5}And they break out into so great madness, as to endeavour to undermine by lies such as observe diligently the offices committed to them, and do all things in such manner as to be worthy of all men’s praise,
\VS{6}While with crafty fraud they deceive the ears of princes that are well meaning, and judge of others by their own nature.
\VS{7}Now this is proved both from ancient histories, and by the things which are done daily, how the good designs of kings are depraved by the evil suggestions of certain men.
\VS{8}Wherefore we must provide for the peace of all provinces.
\VS{9}Neither must you think, if we command different things, that it cometh of the levity of our mind, but that we give sentence according to the quality and necessity of times, as the profit of the commonwealth requireth.
\VS{10}Now that you may more plainly understand what we say, I Aman the son of Amadathi, a Macedonian both in mind and country, and having nothing of the Persian blood, but with his cruelty staining our goodness, was received being a stranger by us:
\VS{11}And found our humanity so great towards him, that he was called our father, and was worshipped by all as the next man after the king:
\VS{12}But he was so far puffed up with arrogancy, as to go about to deprive us of our kingdom and life.
\VS{13}For with certain new and unheard of devices he hath sought the destruction of Mardochai, by whose fidelity and good services our life was saved, and of Esther the partner of our kingdom, with all their nation:
\VS{14}Thinking that after they were slain, he might work treason against us left alone without friends, and might transfer the kingdom of the Persians to the Macedonians.
\VS{15}But we have found that the Jews, who were by that most wicked man appointed to be slain, are in no fault at all, but contrariwise, use just laws,
\VS{16}And are the children of the highest and the greatest, and the ever living God, by whose benefit the kingdom was given both to our fathers and to us, and is kept unto this day.
\VS{17}Wherefore know ye that those letters which he sent in our name, are void and of no effect.
\VS{18}For which crime both he himself that devised it, and all his kindred hang on gibbets, before the gates of this city Susan: not we, but God repaying him as he deserved.
\VS{19}But this edict, which we now send, shall be published in all cities, that the Jews may freely follow their own laws.
\VS{20}And you shall aid them that they may kill those who had prepared themselves to kill them, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is called Adar.
\VS{21}For the almighty God hath turned this day of sadness and mourning into joy to them.
\VS{22}Wherefore you shall also count this day among other festival days, and celebrate it with all joy, that it may be known also in times to come,
\VS{23}That all they who faithfully obey the Persians, receive a worthy reward for their fidelity: but they that are traitors to their kingdom, are destroyed for their wickedness.
\VS{24}And let every province and city, that will not be partaker of this solemnity, perish by the sword and by fire, and be destroyed in such manner as to be made unpassable, both to men and beasts, for an example of contempt, and disobedience.
\par }