in the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and servants, namely unto the mighty men of Persia and Media, to the captains and rulers of his countries,
And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were in the castle of Susan, both unto great and small, seven days long in the court of the garden by the king's palace:
where there hanged white, red and yellow clothes, fastened with cords of linen and scarlet in silver rings, upon pillars of Marble stone. The benches were of gold and silver made upon a pavement of green, white, yellow and black Marble.
And on the seventh day when the king was merry of the wine, he commanded Mehuman, Bartha, Harbona, Bagatha, Abagtha, Zathar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains (that did service in the presence of king Ahasuerus)
And the king spake to the wise men that had understanding in the ordinances of the land (for the king's matters must be handled before all such as have knowledge of the law and judgment:)
and the next unto him were Carsena, Sethar, Admatha, Tharsis, Mares, Marsana, and Mamucan, the seven princes of the Persians, and Meedes, which saw the king's face, and sat above in the kingdom;
Then said Mamucan before the king and the princes: the queen Vasthi hath not onely done evil against the king but also against all the princes and all the people in all the lands of king Ahasuerus
for this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands before their eyes, and shall say: the king Ahasuerus commanded Vasthi the queen to come before him, but she would not.
And so shall the princesses in Persia and Media say likewise unto all the king's princes, when they hear of this deed of the queen, thus shall there arise dispitefulness and wrath enough.
If it please the king, let there go a |kingly| commandment from him, and let it be written according to the law of the Persians and Medians (and not to be transgressed) that Vasthi come no more before king Ahasuerus, and let the king give the kingdom unto another that is better than she.
And that this writing of the king which shall be made, be published thorowout all his empire, (which is great) that all wives may hold their husbands in honour, both among the great and small.
Then were there letters sent forth into all the king's lands, into every land according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should be lord in his own house. And this caused he be spoken after the language of his people.
and let the king appoint overseers in all the lands of his empire, that they may bring together all fair young virgins unto the castle Susan to the women's building, under the hand of Hegei the king's chamberlain, that keepeth the Women, and let him give them their apparel.
and he nourished Hadasah (that is Esther)|Hester| his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and she was a fair and beautiful damsel. And when her father and mother died, Mardocheus received her as his own daughter.
Now when the king's commandment and commission was published, and many damsels were brought together unto the castle of Susan under the hand of Hagei, Esther was taken also unto the king's house under the hand of Hagei the keeper of the women,
and the damsel pleased him, and she found grace in his sight. And he caused her ointment to be given her, and her gifts, and gave her seven notable gentle women of the king's house, and arrayed both her and her gentle women very richly in the house of women.|And he put her wt hir maydes in the best place of the Womes building.|
And when the appointed time of every damsel came that she should come to the king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months in the decking of the women (for their decking must have so much time, namely six months with Balm and Myrre, and six months with good spices, so were the women beautified)
then went there one damsel unto the king, and whatsoever she required, that must be given her to go with her out of the women's building unto the king's palace.
And when one came in the evening, the same went from him on the morrow into the second house of women, under the hand of Sasagas the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines. And she must come in unto the king no more, except it pleased the king, and that he caused her to be called by name.
Now when the time came of Esther the daughter of Abihail Mardocheus uncle (whom he had received as his own daughter) that she should come to the king, she desired nothing but what Hagei the king's chamberlain the keeper of the women, said. And Esther found favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she found grace and mercy in his sight before all the virgins: and he set the queens crown upon her head, and made her queen in stead of Vasthi.
And the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, (which feast was because of Esther) and let the lands be in quietness, and gave royal gifts.
And as yet had not Esther shewed her kindred and her people, according as Mardocheus had bidden her: for Esther did after the word of Mardocheus, like as when he was her tutor.
At the same time while Mardocheus sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bagathan and Thares which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay their hands on the king Ahasuerus:
After these acts did the king promote Haman the son of Amadatha the Agagite, and set him high, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
And all the king's servants that were in the gate, bowed their knees, and did reverenced unto Haman: for the king had so commanded. But Mardocheus bowed not the knee, and worshiped him not.
And when they spake this daily unto him and he followed them not, they told Haman, that they might see whether Mardocheus' matters would endure: for he had told them, that he was a Jew.
and thought it too little to lay hands|and despyte, that he shulde laye hondes| onely on Mardocheus: for they had shewed him the nation|people| of Mardocheus, but he sought to destroy all the Jews the nation|people| of Mardocheus, that were in the whole empire of Ahasuerus.
In the first month (that is the month Nisan) in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus they cast Phur, (that is a lot) before Haman, on what day and what month this should be done: and it went out the twelfth month that is the month Adar.|was there occasion and oportunity sought by Aman, from one day to another, and from the same month unto the twelfth month, that is the month Adar.|
And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus: There is a people scattered abroad and dispersed among all people in all the lands of thine empire, and their law is contrary unto all people, and they do not after the king's laws, neither is it the king's profit to suffer them after this manner.
If it please the king, let him write, that they may be destroyed, and so will I weigh down ten thousand talents of silver, under the hands of the workmen, to be brought into the king's chamber.
Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written (according as Haman commanded) unto the king's princes, and to the captains|Debytes| everywhere in the lands, and to the rulers of every people in the countries on every side, according to the writing of every nation, and after their language in the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed with the king's ring.
And the writings were sent by posts in to all the king's lands, to root out, to kill, and to destroy all Jews, both young and old, children and women in one day, (namely upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar) and to spoil their goods.
This was the sum of the writing, that there should be a commandment given in all lands, to be published unto all people, that they should be ready against the same day.
And the posts went in all the haste according to the king's commandment. And in the castle of Susan was the commandment devised. And the king and Haman sat and drank. But the city Susan was disquieted.
When Mardocheus perceived all that was done, he rent his clothes, and put on sack cloth, and ashes, and went out into the midst|middes| of the city, and cried loud and lamentably,
And in all lands and places, as far as the king's word and commandment extended, there was great lamentation among the Jews and many fasted, wept, mourned and lay in sack clothes and in ashes.
So Esther's damsels and her chamberlains, came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly astonied. And she sent raiment, that Mardocheus should put them on, and lay the sackcloth from him. But Mardocheus would not take them.
Then called Esther Hathath one of the king's chamberlains (which stood before her) and gave him a commandment to Mardocheus, that he might know what it were, and wherefore he did so.
And Mardocheus told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of silver that Haman had promised to weigh down in the king's chamber because of the Jews, for to destroy them.
And he gave him the copy of the commandment, that was devised at Susan to destroy them, that he might shew it unto Esther, and to speak to her and charge her, that she should go into the king, and make her prayer and supplication unto him for her people.
All the king's servants, and the people in the lands of the king know, that whosoever cometh within the court unto the king, whether it be man or woman, which is not called, the commandment is that the same shall die immediately, except the king hold out the golden scepter unto him, that he may live. As for me, I have not been called to come in to the king now this thirty days.
for if thou holdest thy peace at this time, then shall the Jews have help and deliverance out of another place, and thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed. And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom, for this time's sake?
Go thou thy way then, and gather together all the Jews that are found at Susan, and fast ye for me, that ye eat not and drink not in three days, neither day nor night. I and my damsels will fast likewise, and so will I go in to the king contrary to the commandment: if I perish, I perish.
And on the third day put Esther on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's palace within over against the king's house. And the king sat upon his royal seat in the king's palace over against the gate|door| of the house.
And when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she found grace in his sight. And the king held out the golden scepter in his hand toward Esther. So Esther stepped|stepte| forth, and touched the top of the scepter.
The king said: Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. Now when the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared,
the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine,|when he had drunken wine| Esther what is thy petition? and it shall be given thee. And what requirest thou? even the half of the empire, it shall be done.
if I have found grace in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to give me my petition, and to fulfill my request, then let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and so will I do tomorrow as the king hath said.
Then went Haman forth the same day joyful and merry in his mind. And when he saw Mardocheus in the king's gate, that he stood not up and kneeled before him, he was full of indignation at Mardocheus.
and told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children all together how the king had promoted him so greatly, and how that he was taken above the princes and servants of the king.
Haman said moreover: Yea and Esther the queen let no man come with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared, except me, and tomorrow am I bidden unto her also with the king.
Then said Zares his wife and all his friends unto him: Let them make a gallows of fifty cubits high, and tomorrow speak thou unto the king, that Mardocheus may be hanged thereon, if thou comest merrily with the king unto the banquet. Haman was well content with all, and caused a gallows to be prepared.
they happened on the place where it was written, how Mardocheus had told, that the king's two chamberlains, (which kept the thresholds) sought: to lay hands on king Ahasuerus.
And the king said: What worship and good have we done to Mardocheus therefore? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, there is nothing done for him.
And the king said: Who is in the court? (for Haman was gone into the court without before the king's house, that he might speak unto the king to hang Mardocheus on the tree, that he had prepared for him.)
And when Haman came in, the king said unto him: what shall be done unto the man, whom the king would fain bring unto worship? But Haman thought in his heart: Whom should the king else be glad to bring unto worship, but me?
that he may be arrayed with the royal garments which the king useth to wear: and the horse that the king rideth upon, and that the crown royal may be set upon his head.
And let this raiment and horse be delivered under the hand of one of the king's princes, that he may array the man withal (whom the king would fain honour) and carry him upon the horse thorow the street of the city, and cause it to be proclaimed before him: Thus shall it be done to every man, whom the king would fain honour.
The king said: make haste, and take as thou hath said, the raiment and the horse: and do even so with Mardocheus the Jew that sitteth before the king's gate, and let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.
Then took Haman the raiment and the horse, and arrayed him, and brought him on horseback thorow the street of the city, and proclaimed before him: Even thus shall it be done unto every man whom the king is disposed to honour.
and told Zares his wife and all his friends, every thing that had happened him. Then said his wise men and Zares his wife unto him: If it be Mardocheus of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou canst do nothing unto him, but shalt fall before him.
the king said unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine:|whan he had droken wyne:| What is thy petition queen Esther, that it may be given thee? And what requirest thou? Yea, ask even half of the empire, and it shall be done.
Esther the queen answered and said: If I have found grace in thy sight, (O king) and if it please the king, then grant me my life at my desire and my people for my petition's sake:
for we are sold, I and my people both to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. And would God we were sold to be bondmen and bondwomen, then would I hold my tongue, so should not the enemy be so high to the king's harm.
The king Ahasuerus spake and said unto queen Esther: What is he that? Or where is he that dare presume in his mind to do such a thing after that manner?
And the king arose from the banquet and from the wine in his displeasure and went in to the palace garden. And Haman stood up, and besought queen Esther for his life: for he saw that there was a mischance prepared for him of the king already.
And when the king came again out of the palace garden into the parlor where they had eaten, Haman had laid him upon the bed that Esther sat upon. Then said the king; Will he force the queen also beside me in the house? As soon as that word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.
And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains that stood before the king, said: Behold, there standeth a gallows in Haman's house fifty cubits high, which he had made for Mardocheus, that spake good for the king. The king said: hang him thereon.
The same day did king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy, unto queen Esther. And Mardocheus came before the king: for Esther told how that he belonged unto her.
And Esther spake yet more before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him, that he would put away the wickedness of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had imagined against the Jews.
and said: if it please the king, and if I have found grace in his sight, and if it be convenient for the king, and if it be accepted in his sight, then let it be written, that the letters of the device of Haman the son of Hamadatha the Agagite, may be called again: which letters he wrote, to destroy the Jews in all the king's lands.
Then said the king Ahasuerus unto queen Esther, and to Mardocheus the Jew. Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him have they hanged upon a tree, because he laid hand upon the Jews.
Write ye now therefore for the Jews, as it liketh you in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring, (for the writings that were written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, durst no man disannul)
Then were the king's scribes called at the same time in the third month, that is the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day. And it was written (as Mardocheus commanded) unto the Jews and to the princes, to the Deputies and captains in the lands from India until Ethiopia, namely an hundredth and seven and twenty lands, unto every one according to the writing thereof, unto every people after their speach, and to the Jews according to their writing and language.
wherein the king granted the Jews (in what cities soever they were) to gather them selves together, and to stand for their life,{(To stand for their life is a manner of speaking familiar to the Hebrews, for that we say, to defend their lives, and shift them selves from the cruel persecution of their enemies)} and for to root out, to slay and to destroy all the power of the people and land that would trouble them, with children and women, and to spoil their good
The sum of the writing was, how there was a commandment given in all lands to be published unto all the people, that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
And the posts that rode upon the Mules, made haste with all speed, according to the king's word: and the commandment was devised in the castle of Susan.
As for Mardocheus, he went out from the king in royal apparel of yellow and white, and with a great crown of gold, being arrayed with a garment of linen and purple, and the city of Susan rejoiced and was glad:
And in all lands and cities, into what places soever, the king's word and commandment reached, there was joy and mirth, prosperity and good days among the Jews: insomuch that many of the people in the land became of the Jews' belief, for the fear of the Jews came upon them.
In the twelfth month, that is the month Adar, upon the thirteenth day, which the king's word and commandment had appointed, that it should be done, even upon the same day that the enemies should have destroyed the Jews to have oppressed them, it turned contrary wise, even that the Jews should subdue their enemies.
Then gathered the Jews together in their cities within all the lands of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as would do them evil, and no man could withstand them: for the fear of them was come over all people.
And the king said unto queen Esther: The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundredth men at the castle of Susan, and the ten sons of Haman: What shall they do in the other lands of the king? What is thy petition, that it may be given thee? and what requirest thou more to be done?
Esther said: If it please the king, let him suffer the Jews tomorrow also to do according unto this day's commandment, that they may hang Haman's ten sons upon the tree.
And the Jews gathered themselves together at Susan, upon the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and slew three hundredth men at Susan, but on their goods they laid no hands.
As for the other Jews in the king's lands, they came together, and stood for their lives, and gat rest from their enemies: and slew of their enemies five and seventy thousand, how be it they laid no hands on their goods.
This was done on the thirteenth day of the month Adar, and on the fourteenth day of the same month rested they, which day they ordained to be a day of feasting and gladness.
But the Jews at Susan were come together both on the thirteenth day and on the fourteenth, and on the fifteenth day they rested, and the same day ordained they to be a day of feasting and gladness.
Therefore the Jews that dwelt in the villages and unwalled towns, ordained the fourteenth day of the month Adar, to be a day of feasting and gladness, and one sent gifts to another.
as the days wherein the Jews came to rest from their enemies, and as a month wherein their pain was turned to joy, and their sorrow to prosperity: that they should observe the same days of wealth and gladness, and one to send gifts to another, and to distribute unto the poor.
how that Haman the son of Hamadatha, all the Jews enemy, had devised to destroy all the Jews, and caused to cast Phur, (that is Lot) for to put them in fear, and to bring them to naught:
and how Hester went and spake to the king, that thorow letters his wicked device (which he imagined against the Jews) might be turned upon his own head, and how he and his sons were hanged on the tree.
For the which cause they called this day Phurim after the name of Phur,|the lot| according to all the words of this writing: and what they themselves had seen, and what had happened unto them.
And the Jews set it up, and took it upon them and their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, that they would not miss to observe these two days yearly, according as they were written and appointed,
how that these days are not to be forgotten, but to be kept of the children's children among all kindreds in all lands and cities. They are the days of Phurim, which are not to be overslipped|overslipt| among the Jews, and the memorial of them ought not to perish from their seed.
to confirm these days of Phurim, in their time appointed, according as Mardocheus the Jew and Hester the queen had ordained concerning them: like as they upon their soul and upon their seed had confirmed the acts of the fasting and of her complaint.
As for all the work of his power and authority, and the great worship of Mardocheus, which the king gave him, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia.
For Mardocheus the Jew was the second next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted among the multitude of his brethren, as one that seeketh the wealth of his people, and speaketh the best for all his seed.
11:1
Mardocheus the son of Iair, the son of Semei, the son of Cisei of the tribe of Ben Iamin a Iew:
11:2
which had his dwelling in Susis, a man of great reputation, and excellent among all them that were in the kings court
11:3
(Nevertheless he was one of the prisoners, whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babilon had caried away from Ierusalem unto Babilon with Iechonias the king of Iuda.)
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In the second year of the reign of great Artaxerses, in the first day of the month Nisan, had this Mardocheus such a dream:
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He thought he heard a great tempest, with thunderclaps, and earthquakes, and great uproar in the land:
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And that he saw two great dragons, ready to fight one against another. Their cry was great.
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At the which roaring and cry all Heathen were up, to fight against the righteous people.
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And the same day was full of darkness and very unclear, full of trouble anguish, yea a great fearfulness was there in all the land.
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The righteous were amazed, for they feared the plague and evil that was devised over them, and were at a point with them selves to die.
11:10
So they cried unto God, and while they were crying, the little well grew in to a great river and in to many waters.
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And with that it was day, and the sonne rose up again. And the lowly were exalted, and devoured the glorious and proud.
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Now when Mardocheus had seen this dream, he awoke, and mused stedfastly in his heart, what God would do: and so he desired to know all the matter, and his mind was there upon until the night.
12:1
At the time dwelt Mardocheus with Bagatha and Thares the kings chamberlains and porters of the place.
12:2
But when he heard their device, and had diligently considered their imaginations, he perceived that they went about, to lay their cruel hands upon the king Artaxerses: and so he certified the king thereof.
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Then caused the king to examine the two guelded with torments. And when they had granted it, they were put to death.
12:4
This the king caused to be put in the Chronicles for an everlasting remembrance, and Mardocheus wrote up the same matter.
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So the king commanded, that Mardocheus should do service in the court, and for this faithfulness of his, he gave him a reward.
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But Aman the son of Amadathu the Agagite, which was holden in great honour and reputation in the king's court, undertook to hurt Mardocheus and his people, because of the two chamberlains that were put to death.
13:1
The great king Artaxerxses which reigneth from India unto Ethiopia, over an hundreth and seven and twenty lands, sendeth his friendly salutation unto all the princes and debites of the countries, which be subject unto his dominion.
13:2
When I was made lord over many people, and had subdued the whole earth unto my dominion, my mind was not with cruelty and wrong to exalt myself by the reason of my power: but purposed with equity alway and gentilness, to govern those that be under my jurisdiction, and wholy to set them in a peaceable life, and thereby to bring my kingdom unto tranquility, that men might safely go thorow on every side, and to renew peace again, which all men desire.
13:3
Now when I asked my counsellors, how these things might be brought to a good end, there was one by us, excellent in wisdom, whose good will, truth and faithfulness hath oft been shewed and proved (which was also the principal and next unto the king) Aman by name,
13:4
which certified us, how that in all lands there was crept in a rebelious folk, that made statutes and lawas against all other people, and have alway despised the proclaimed commandments of kings: and how that for this cause it were not to be suffered, that such rule should continue by you and not to be put down.
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Seeing now we perceive the same, that this people alone are contrary unto every man, using strange and other manner of laws, and withstand our statutes and doings, and go about to stablish shrewd matters, that our kingdom should never come to good estate and steadfastness:
13:6
Therefore have we commanded, that all they that are appointed in writting and shewed unto you by Aman (which is ordained and set over all our business, and the most principal next unto the king, and in manner as a father) shall their wives and children be destroyed and rooted out with the sword of their enemies and adversaries: and that there shall be no mercy shewed, and no man spared. And this shall be done the fourteenth day of the month called Adar) of this year,
13:7
that they which of old (and now also) have ever been rebelious, may in one day with violence be thrust down in to the hell, to the intent that after this manner our empire may have peace and tranquility.
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But Mardocheus thought upon all the works and noble acts of the LORD, and made his prayer unto him,
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saying, O Lord Lord, thou valiant and almighty king (for all things are in thy power, and if thou wilt help and deliver Israel, there is no man that can withstand nor let thee:
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for thou has made heaven and earth, and what wonderous thing so ever is under the heaven:
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thou art LORD of all things, and there is no man, that can resist thee O LORD)
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Thou knowest all things, thou wotest LORD, that it was neither of malice, nor presumption, nor for any desire of glory, that I would not bow down myself nor worhsip yonder proud presumptuous Aman
13:13
(for I would have been content, and that with good will, if it might have done Israel any good, to have kissed even his footsteps)
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but that I did it, because I would not set the honour of a man in the stead of the glory of God, and because I would worship none but onely thee my LORD. ANd this have I done in no pride nor presunption.
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And therefore O LORD thou God and king, have mercy upon thy people for they imagine how they may bring us to naught, yea their mind and desire is to destroy and to overthrow the people, that hath ever been thine inheritence of old.
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O despise not thy portion, which thou hast delivered and brought out of Egypt for thine own self.
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Hear my prayer, and be merciful unto thy people, whom thou hast chosen for an heritage unto thyself. Turn our complaint and sorrow in to joy, that we may live O LORD, and praise thy name. O LORD, suffer not the mouths of them that praise thee, to be destroyed.
13:18
All the people of Israel in like manner cried as earnestly as they could unto the LORD, for their death and destruction stood before their eyes.
14:1
Queen Esther also being in battle of death, resorted unto the LORD,
14:2
laid away her glorious apparel, and put on the garments that served for sighing and mourning. In the stead of precious ointment, she scatered ashes and dong upon her head: and as for her body, she humbled it, and brought it very low, All the places where she was wont to have joy afore, those filled she with hair, that she pucked out herself.
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She praid also unto the LORD God of Israel with these words:
14:4
O my LORD, thou onely art our king, help me delate woman, which have no helper but thee, for my misery and destruction is hard at my hand.
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From my youth up I have heard out of the kinred of my father, that thou tookest Israel from among all people (and so have our fathers of their fore elders) that they should be thy perpetual inheritance, and look what thou didest promise them, thou hast made it good unto them.
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Now well LORD, we have sinned before thee: therefore hast thou given us in to the hands of our enemies,
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because we worshipped their gods: LORD thou art righteous.
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Nevertheless it satisfieth them not, that we are in bitter and heavy captivity and opressed among them, but thou hast laid their hands upon the hands of their gods:
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so that they begin to take away, the thing that thou with thy mouth hast ordained and appointed: to destroy thine inheritance, to shut and to stop the mouths of them that praise thee, to quench the glory and worship of they house and thine aulter,
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and to open the mouths of the Heathen, that they may praise the power and virtue of the gods, and to magnify the fleshly king for ever.
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O LORD, give not thy cepter unto them that be nothing, lest they laugh us to scron in our misery and fall: but turn their device upon themselves, and punish him, that hath begon the same over us, and set him to an example.
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Think upon us O LORD, and shew thy self in the time of our distress and of our trouble.
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Strengthen me O thou king of gods, thou LORD of all power, give me an eloquent and pleasant speech in my mouth before the Lion.
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Turn his heart in to the hate of our enemy, to destroy him, and all such as consent unto him. But deliver us with thy hand, and help me desolate woman, which have no defence nor helper but onely thee
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LORD thou knowest all things, thou wotest that I love not the glory and worship of the unrighteous, and that I hate and abhor the bed of the uncircumcised and of all Heathen.
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Thou knowest and wotest my necessity, that I hate the token of my preeminence and worship, which I bear upon my head, what time as I must shew my self and be seen, and that I abhor it as an unclean cloth, and that I wear it not when I am quite and alone by my self.
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Thou knowest also that I thy hand maiden have not eaten at Aman's table, and that I have had no pleasure nor delite in the kings feast, that I have not drunk the drinkofferings,
14:18
and that I thy hand maiden have no joy since the day that I was brought hither unto this day: but onely in thee O LORD. O thou God of Abraham,
14:19
O thou mighty God above all, hear the voice of them, that have none other hope, and deliver us out of the hand of the wicked, and deliver me out of my fear.
15:1
And upon the third day it happened, that Hester laid away the mourning garments, and put on her glorious apparel,
15:2
and decked herself goodly (after that she had called upon God, which is the beholder and Saviour of all things) took two maids with her:
15:3
upon the one she leaned her self, as one that was tender:
15:4
the other followed her, and bare the train of her vesture.
15:5
The shine of her beauty made her face rose coloured. The similitude of her face was cheerful and amiable, but her heart was sorrowful for great fear.
15:6
She went thorow all the doors, and stood before the king. The king sat upon the throne of his kingdom, and was clothed in his goodly aray, all of gold, and set with precious stones, and he was very terrible.
15:7
He lift up his face, that shone in the clearness, and looked grimly upon her. Then fell the Queen down, was pale and faint, leaned her self upon the head of the maid that went with her.
15:8
Nevertheless God turned the kings mind, that he was gentle, that he leap out of his seat for fear, and gat her in his arms, and held her up til she came to herself again. He gave her loving words also, and said unto her:
15:9
Hester, what is the matter? I am thy brother, be of good cheer:
15:10
thou shalt not die, for our commandment toucheth the commons: not thee. Come nye.
15:11
And with that he held up his golden wand, and laid it upon her neck,
15:12
and embraced her friendly, and said: talk with me.
15:13
Then said she: I saw thee (O lord) as an angel of God, and my heart was troubled for fear of thy majesty and clearness.
15:14
For excellent and wonderful art thou (O lord) and thy face is full of amity.
15:15
But as she was thus speaking unto him, she fell down again for faintness:
15:16
for the which cause the king was afraid, and all his servants comforted her.
16:1
The great king Artaxerxes, which reigneth from India unto Ethipia, over an hundreth and twenty seven lands, sendeth unto the princes and rulers of the same lands, such as love him, his friendly salutation.
16:2
There be many, that for the sondry friendships and benefits which are diversely done unto them for their worship, be ever the more proud and high minded,
16:3
and undertake not onely to hurt our subjects (for plentous benefits may they not suffer, and begin to imagine some thing against those that do them good,
16:4
and take not onely all unthanfulness away from men) but in pride and presumption (as they that be unmindeful and unthinkful for the good deeds) they go about to escape the judgment of God, that saith all things, which (judgement) hateth and punisheth all wickedness.
16:5
It happeneth oft also, that they which be set in office by the higher power, and unto whom the business and causes of the subjects are commited to be handled, wax proud, and defile themselves with shedding of innocent blood, which bringeth them to intollerable hurt.
16:6
Which also with false and disceitful words and with lying tales, deceive and betray the innocent goodness of princes.
16:7
Now is it profitable and good, that we take heed, make search thereafter, and consider, not onely what hath happened unto us of old, but the shameful, unhonest, and noisesome things, that the debites have now taken in hand before our eyes:
16:8
and thereby to beware in time to come, that we may make the kingdom quite and peaceable for all men,
16:9
and that we might some time draw it to a change: and as for the thing that now is present before our eyes, to withstand it, and to put it down, after the most friendly manner.
16:10
What time now as Aman the son of Amadathu the Macedonian (a stranger verily of the Persians blood, and far from our goodness) was come in among us as an aliant,
16:11
and had obtained the friendship that we bear toward all people, so that he was called our father, and had in high honour of every man, as the next and principal unto the king,
16:12
he could not forbear him self from his pride, hath undertaken not onely to rob us of the kingdom, but of our life.
16:13
With manyfold deceit also hath he desired to destroy Mardocheus our helper and preserver, which hath done us good in all things: and innocent Hester the like partaker of our kingdom, with all her people.
16:14
For his mind was (when he had taken them out of the way, and robbed us of them) by this means to translate the kingdom of the Persians unto them of Macedonia.
16:15
But we find, that the Iewes (wich were accused of the wicked, that they might be destroyed) are no evil doers, but use reasonable and right laws,
16:16
and that they be the children of the most High living God, by whom the kingdom of us and our progenitors hath been well ordered hither to.
16:17
Wherefore, as the letters and commandments, that were put forth by Aman the son of Amadathu, ye shall do well, if ye hold them of none effect:
16:18
for he that set them up and invented them, hangeth at Susis before the port, with all his kinred, and God (which hath all things in his power) hath rewarded him after his deserving.
16:19
And upon this ye shall publish and set up the copy of this letter in all places, that the Iewes may freely and without hindrance hold them selves after their own statutes, and that they may be helped,
16:20
and that upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month Adar they may be avenged of them, which in the time of their anguish and trouble would have opressed them.
16:21
For the God that governeth all things, hath turned to joy, the day wherein the chosen people should have perished.
16:22
Moreover, among the high Solempne days that ye have, ye shall hold this day also with all gladness:
16:23
that now and in time to come, this day may be a remembrance to good, for all such as love the prosperity of the Persians: but a remembrance of destruction to those that be sedicious unto us.
16:24
All cities and lands that do not his, shall horribly perish and be destroyed with the sword and fire, and shall not onely be no more inhabited of men, but be abhored also of the wild beasts and fouls.