< Esther 3 >

1 After these things king Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
Post haec rex Assuerus exaltavit Aman filium Amadathi, qui erat de stirpe Agag: et posuit solium eius super omnes principes, quos habebat.
2 And all the king's servants that were in the king's gate bowed and did Haman reverence, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did [him] reverence.
Cunctique servi regis, qui in foribus palatii versabantur, flectebant genua, et adorabant Aman: sic enim praeceperat eis imperator. solus Mardochaeus non flectebat genu, neque adorabat eum.
3 Then the king's servants, who were in the king's gate, said to Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?
Cui dixerunt pueri regis, qui ad fores palatii praesidebant: Cur praeter ceteros non observas mandatum regis?
4 And it came to pass as they spoke daily to him, and he hearkened not to them, that they informed Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew.
Cumque hoc crebrius dicerent, et ille nollet audire, nunciaverunt Aman, scire cupientes utrum perseveraret in sententia: dixerat enim eis se esse Iudaeum.
5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, Haman was full of fury.
Quod cum audisset Aman, et experimento probasset quod Mardochaeus non flecteret sibi genu, nec se adoraret, iratus est valde,
6 But he scorned to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had made known to him the people of Mordecai; therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were in all the kingdom of Ahasuerus — the people of Mordecai.
et pro nihilo duxit in unum Mardochaeum mittere manus suas: audierat enim quod esset gentis Iudaeae. Magisque voluit omnem Iudaeorum, qui erant in regno Assueri, perdere nationem.
7 In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman for each day and for each month, to the twelfth [month], that is, the month Adar.
Mense primo (cuius vocabulum est Nisan) anno duodecimo regni Assueri, missa est sors in urnam, quae Hebraice dicitur phur, coram Aman, quo die et quo mense gens Iudaeorum deberet interfici: et exivit mensis duodecimus, qui vocatur Adar.
8 And Haman said to king Ahasuerus, There is a people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from [those of] every people, and they keep not the king's laws; and it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.
Dixitque Aman regi Assuero: Est populus per omnes provincias regni tui dispersus, et a se mutuo separatus, novis utens legibus et ceremoniis, insuper et regis scita contemnens. Et optime nosti quod non expediat regno tuo ut insolescat per licentiam.
9 If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those that have charge of the affairs, to bring [it] into the king's treasuries.
si tibi placet, decerne, ut pereat, et decem millia talentorum appendam arcariis gazae tuae.
10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
Tulit ergo rex annulum, quo utebatur, de manu sua, et dedit eum Aman filio Amadathi de progenie Agag, hosti Iudaeorum,
11 And the king said to Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as seems good to thee.
dixitque ad eum: Argentum, quod tu polliceris, tuum sit. De populo age quod tibi placet.
12 Then were the king's scribes called, in the first month, on the thirteenth day of the [month], and there was written according to all that Haman commanded unto the king's satraps, and to the governors over every province, and to the princes of every people; to every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people according to their language: in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.
Vocatique sunt scribae regis mense primo Nisan, tertiadecima die eiusdem mensis: et scriptum est, ut iusserat Aman, ad omnes satrapas regis, et iudices provinciarum, diversarumque gentium, ut quaeque gens legere poterat, et audire pro varietate linguarum ex nomine regis Assueri: et litterae signatae ipsius annulo,
13 And the letters were sent by couriers into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, upon the thirteenth of the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, and [to take] the spoil of them for a prey.
missae sunt per cursores regis ad universas provincias ut occiderent atque delerent omnes Iudaeos, a puero usque ad senem, parvulos, et mulieres, uno die, hoc est tertiodecimo mensis duodecimi, qui vocatur Adar, et bona eorum diriperent.
14 That the decree might be given in every province, a copy of the writing was published to all peoples, that they should be ready against that day.
Summa autem epistolarum haec fuit, ut omnes provinciae scirent, et pararent se ad praedictam diem.
15 The couriers went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the fortress. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was in consternation.
Festinabant cursores, qui missi erant, regis imperium explere. Statimque in Susan pependit edictum, rege et Aman celebrante convivium, et cunctis Iudaeis, qui in urbe erant, flentibus.

< Esther 3 >