10:4-16:24
Esther 10
4 Then Mardocheus said, God
hath done these things. 5 For I remember a dream which I saw
concerning these matters, and nothing thereof hath failed. 6 A
little fountain became a river, and there was light, and the sun, and
much water: this river is Esther, whom the king married, and made
queen: 7 And the two dragons are I and Aman. 8 And the nations
were those that were assembled to destroy the name of the Jews: 9
And my nation is this Israel, which cried to God, and were saved: for
the Lord hath saved his people, and the Lord hath delivered us from
all those evils, and God hath wrought signs and great wonders, which
have not been done among the Gentiles. 10 Therefore hath he
made two lots, one for the people of God, and another for all the
Gentiles. 11 And these two lots came at the hour, and time, and day
of judgment, before God among all nations. 12 So God remembered
his people, and justified his inheritance. 13 Therefore those days
shall be unto them in the month Adar, the fourteenth and fifteenth
day of the same month, with an assembly, and joy, and with gladness
before God, according to the generations for ever among his people.
Esther 11
1 In the fourth year of the reign of Ptolemeus and Cleopatra,
Dositheus, who said he was a priest and Levite, and Ptolemeus his
son, brought this epistle of Phurim, which they said was the same,
and that Lysimachus the son of Ptolemeus, that was in Jerusalem, had
interpreted it. 2 In the second year of the reign of Artexerxes the
great, in the first day of the month Nisan, Mardocheus the son of
Jairus, the son of Semei, the son of Cisai, of the tribe of
Benjamin, had a dream; 3 Who was a Jew, and dwelt in the city of
Susa, a great man, being a servitor in the king's court. 4 He
was also one of the captives, which Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon
carried from Jerusalem with Jechonias king of Judea; and this was his
dream: 5 Behold a noise of a tumult, with thunder, and earthquakes,
and uproar in the land: 6 And, behold, two great dragons came
forth ready to fight, and their cry was great. 7 And at their
cry all nations were prepared to battle, that they might fight
against the righteous people. 8 And lo a day of darkness and
obscurity, tribulation and anguish, affliction and great uproar,
upon earth. 9 And the whole righteous nation was troubled, fearing
their own evils, and were ready to perish. 10 Then they cried
unto God, and upon their cry, as it were from a little fountain, was
made a great flood, even much water. 11 The light and the sun rose
up, and the lowly were exalted, and devoured the glorious. 12
Now when Mardocheus, who had seen this dream, and what God had
determined to do, was awake, he bare this dream in mind, and until
night by all means was desirous to know it.
Esther 12
1
And Mardocheus took his rest in the court with Gabatha and Tharra, the
two eunuchs of the king, and keepers of the palace. 2 And he
heard their devices, and searched out their purposes, and learned
that they were about to lay hands upon Artexerxes the king; and so he
certified the king of them. 3 Then the king examined the two
eunuchs, and after that they had confessed it, they were strangled.
4 And the king made a record of these things, and Mardocheus also
wrote thereof. 5 So the king commanded, Mardocheus to serve in
the court, and for this he rewarded him. 6 Howbeit Aman the son
of Amadathus the Agagite, who was in great honour with the king,
sought to molest Mardocheus and his people because of the two
eunuchs of the king.
Esther 13 1 The copy of the letters was this: The great king Artexerxes writeth these things to the princes and governours that are under him from India unto Ethiopia in an hundred and seven and twenty provinces. 2 After that I became lord over many nations and had dominion over the whole world, not lifted up with presumption of my authority, but carrying myself always with equity and mildness, I purposed to settle my subjects continually in a quiet life, and making my kingdom peaceable, and open for passage to the utmost coasts, to renew peace, which is desired of all men. 3 Now when I asked my counsellors how this might be brought to pass, Aman, that excelled in wisdom among us, and was approved for his constant good will and steadfast fidelity, and had the honour of the second place in the kingdom, 4 Declared unto us, that in all nations throughout the world there was scattered a certain malicious people, that had laws contrary to ail nations, and continually despised the commandments of kings, so as the uniting of our kingdoms, honourably intended by us cannot go forward. 5 Seeing then we understand that this people alone is continually in opposition unto all men, differing in the strange manner of their laws, and evil affected to our state, working all the mischief they can that our kingdom may not be firmly established: 6 Therefore have we commanded, that all they that are signified in writing unto you by Aman, who is ordained over the affairs, and is next unto us, shall all, with their wives and children, be utterly destroyed by the sword of their enemies, without all mercy and pity, the fourteenth day of the twelfth month Adar of this present year: 7 That they, who of old and now also are malicious, may in one day with violence go into the grave, and so ever hereafter cause our affairs to be well settled, and without trouble. 8 Then Mardocheus thought upon all the works of the Lord, and made his prayer unto him, 9 Saying, O Lord, Lord, the King Almighty: for the whole world is in thy power, and if thou hast appointed to save Israel, there is no man that can gainsay thee: 10 For thou hast made heaven and earth, and all the wondrous things under the heaven. 11 Thou art Lord of all things, and and there is no man that can resist thee, which art the Lord. 12 Thou knowest all things, and thou knowest, Lord, that it was neither in contempt nor pride, nor for any desire of glory, that I did not bow down to proud Aman. 13 For I could have been content with good will for the salvation of Israel to kiss the soles of his feet. 14 But I did this, that I might not prefer the glory of man above the glory of God: neither will I worship any but thee, O God, neither will I do it in pride. 15 And now, O Lord God and King, spare thy people: for their eyes are upon us to bring us to nought; yea, they desire to destroy the inheritance, that hath been thine from the beginning. 16 Despise not the portion, which thou hast delivered out of Egypt for thine own self. 17 Hear my prayer, and be merciful unto thine inheritance: turn our sorrow into joy, that we may live, O Lord, and praise thy name: and destroy not the mouths of them that praise thee, O Lord. 18 All Israel in like manner cried most earnestly unto the Lord, because their death was before their eyes.
Esther 14
1 Queen Esther also, being in fear of death, resorted unto the Lord:
2 And laid away her glorious apparel, and put on the garments of
anguish and mourning: and instead of precious ointments, she covered
her head with ashes and dung, and she humbled her body greatly, and
all the places of her joy she filled with her torn hair. 3 And
she prayed unto the Lord God of Israel, saying, O my Lord, thou only
art our King: help me, desolate woman, which have no helper but thee:
4 For my danger is in mine hand. 5 From my youth up I have heard
in the tribe of my family that thou, O Lord, tookest Israel from
among all people, and our fathers from all their predecessors, for a
perpetual inheritance, and thou hast performed whatsoever thou
didst promise them. 6 And now we have sinned before thee: therefore
hast thou given us into the hands of our enemies, 7 Because we
worshipped their gods: O Lord, thou art righteous. 8 Nevertheless it
satisfieth them not, that we are in bitter captivity: but they have
stricken hands with their idols, 9 That they will abolish the thing
that thou with thy mouth hast ordained, and destroy thine
inheritance, and stop the mouth of them that praise thee, and quench
the glory of thy house, and of thine altar, 10 And open the mouths
of the heathen to set forth the praises of the idols, and to magnify
a fleshly king for ever. 11 O Lord, give not thy sceptre unto them
that be nothing, and let them not laugh at our fall; but turn their
device upon themselves, and make him an example, that hath begun
this against us. 12 Remember, O Lord, make thyself known in time of
our affliction, and give me boldness, O King of the nations, and
Lord of all power. 13 Give me eloquent speech in my mouth before the
lion: turn his heart to hate him that fighteth against us, that
there may be an end of him, and of all that are likeminded to him:
14 But deliver us with thine hand, and help me that am desolate, and
which have no other help but thee. 15 Thou knowest all things, O
Lord; thou knowest that I hate the glory of the unrighteous, and
abhor the bed of the uncircumcised, and of all the heathen. 16 Thou
knowest my necessity: for I abhor the sign of my high estate, which
is upon mine head in the days wherein I shew myself, and that I abhor it
as a menstruous rag, and that I wear it not when I am private by
myself. 17 And that thine handmaid hath not eaten at Aman's table,
and that I have not greatly esteemed the king's feast, nor drunk the
wine of the drink offerings. 18 Neither had thine handmaid any
joy since the day that I was brought hither to this present, but in
thee, O Lord God of Abraham. 19 O thou mighty God above all, hear
the voice of the forlorn and deliver us out of the hands of the
mischievous, and deliver me out of my fear.
Esther 15
1 And
upon the third day, when she had ended her prayers, she laid away her
mourning garments, and put on her glorious apparel. 2 And being
gloriously adorned, after she had called upon God, who is the
beholder and saviour of all things, she took two maids with her: 3
And upon the one she leaned, as carrying herself daintily; 4 And the
other followed, bearing up her train. 5 And she was ruddy through
the perfection of her beauty, and her countenance was cheerful and
very amiable: but her heart was in anguish for fear. 6 Then
having passed through all the doors, she stood before the king, who
sat upon his royal throne, and was clothed with all his robes of
majesty, all glittering with gold and precious stones; and he was
very dreadful. 7 Then lifting up his countenance that shone with
majesty, he looked very fiercely upon her: and the queen fell down,
and was pale, and fainted, and bowed herself upon the head of the
maid that went before her. 8 Then God changed the spirit of the king
into mildness, who in a fear leaped from his throne, and took her
in his arms, till she came to herself again, and comforted her with
loving words and said unto her, 9 Esther, what is the matter? I am
thy brother, be of good cheer: 10 Thou shalt not die, though our
commandment be general: come near. 11 And so be held up his golden
sceptre, and laid it upon her neck, 12 And embraced her, and said,
Speak unto me. 13 Then said she unto him, I saw thee, my lord, as an
angel of God, and my heart was troubled for fear of thy majesty.
14 For wonderful art thou, lord, and thy countenance is full of grace.
15 And as she was speaking, she fell down for faintness. 16
Then the king was troubled, and ail his servants comforted her.
Esther 16
1 The great king Artexerxes unto the princes and governors of an
hundred and seven and twenty provinces from India unto Ethiopia, and
unto all our faithful subjects, greeting. 2 Many, the more
often they are honoured with the great bounty of their gracious princes,
the more proud they are waxen, 3 And endeavour to hurt not our
subjects only, but not being able to bear abundance, do take in hand
to practise also against those that do them good: 4 And take not
only thankfulness away from among men, but also lifted up with the
glorious words of lewd persons, that were never good, they think to
escape the justice of God, that seeth all things and hateth evil. 5
Oftentimes also fair speech of those, that are put in trust to manage
their friends' affairs, hath caused many that are in authority to be
partakers of innocent blood, and hath enwrapped them in remediless
calamities: 6 Beguiling with the falsehood and deceit of their
lewd disposition the innocency and goodness of princes. 7 Now ye
may see this, as we have declared, not so much by ancient
histories, as ye may, if ye search what hath been wickedly done of late
through the pestilent behaviour of them that are unworthily placed
in authority. 8 And we must take care for the time to come, that
our kingdom may be quiet and peaceable for all men, 9 Both by
changing our purposes, and always judging things that are evident
with more equal proceeding. 10 For Aman, a Macedonian, the son of
Amadatha, being indeed a stranger from the Persian blood, and far
distant from our goodness, and as a stranger received of us, 11
Had so far forth obtained the favour that we shew toward every nation,
as that he was called our father, and was continually honoured of
all the next person unto the king. 12 But he, not bearing his
great dignity, went about to deprive us of our kingdom and life:
13 Having by manifold and cunning deceits sought of us the
destruction, as well of Mardocheus, who saved our life, and
continually procured our good, as also of blameless Esther, partaker
of our kingdom, with their whole nation. 14 For by these means
he thought, finding us destitute of friends to have translated the
kingdom of the Persians to the Macedonians. 15 But we find that the
Jews, whom this wicked wretch hath delivered to utter destruction,
are no evildoers, but live by most just laws: 16 And that they be
children of the most high and most mighty, living God, who hath
ordered the kingdom both unto us and to our progenitors in the most
excellent manner. 17 Wherefore ye shall do well not to put in
execution the letters sent unto you by Aman the son of Amadatha.
18 For he that was the worker of these things, is hanged at the gates
of Susa with all his family: God, who ruleth all things, speedily
rendering vengeance to him according to his deserts. 19
Therefore ye shall publish the copy of this letter in all places, that
the Jews may freely live after their own laws. 20 And ye shall
aid them, that even the same day, being the thirteenth day of the
twelfth month Adar, they may be avenged on them, who in the time of
their affliction shall set upon them. 21 For Almighty God hath
turned to joy unto them the day, wherein the chosen people should
have perished. 22 Ye shall therefore among your solemn feasts keep
it an high day with all feasting: 23 That both now and hereafter
there may be safety to us and the well affected Persians; but to
those which do conspire against us a memorial of destruction. 24
Therefore every city and country whatsoever, which shall not do
according to these things, shall be destroyed without mercy with
fire and sword, and shall be made not only unpassable for men, but
also most hateful to wild beasts and fowls for ever.
