< Esther 3 >

1 AFTER these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
Et, après cela, le roi Artaxerxès glorifia Aman, fils d'Amadathe le Bugéen, et il l'exalta, et il le fit asseoir sur un siège au-dessus de tous ses amis.
2 And all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.
Et tous ceux qui servaient dans le parvis l'adoraient, car ainsi l'avait ordonné le roi; et Mardochée ne se prosternait pas devant lui.
3 Then the king’s servants, which were in the king’s gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king’s commandment?
Et les serviteurs du parvis dirent à Mardochée: Mardochée, pourquoi désobéis-tu à ce qu'a dit le roi?
4 Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.
Chaque jour ils lui parlaient ainsi, et il ne les écoutait pas; enfin, ils informèrent Aman que Mardochée résistait aux ordres du roi; or, Mardochée leur avait déclaré qu'il était Juif.
5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
Et Aman, en apprenant que Mardochée ne se prosternait pas devant lui, fut fort courroucé.
6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
Et il résolut d'effacer tous les Juifs du royaume d'Artaxerxès.
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 from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.
Et, en la douzième année du règne d'Artaxerxès, il prépara un édit, et il agita les sorts pour savoir le mois et le jour où il exterminerait en même temps la race de Mardochée, et le sort tomba sur le quatorzième du mois qui est appelé adar.
8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them.
Et il parla au roi disant: Il y a un peuple épars en toutes les provinces de ton royaume; leurs lois diffèrent de toutes les autres lois; ils n'obéissent point à celles du roi; il n'est pas à propos que le roi les laisse subsister.
9 If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.
S'il plaît au roi, qu'il décrète qu'on les détruise, et moi je ferai rentrer au trésor royal dix mille talents d'argent.
10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy.
Et le roi ôtant son anneau le remit à Aman pour sceller l'édit contre les Juifs.
11 And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
Et le roi lui dit: L'argent sera pour toi, fais de ce peuple ce qu'il te plaît.
12 Then were the king’s scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king’s ring.
Et, le treize du premier mois, les scribes du roi furent convoqués, et ils écrivirent, selon l'ordre d'Aman, aux généraux et aux gouverneurs des cent vingt-sept provinces de l'Inde à l'Éthiopie, et aux chefs des nations chacun en sa langue, de la part du roi Artaxerxès.
13 And the letters were sent by posts 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, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.
Et des courriers portèrent dans tout le royaume le commandement de détruire en un seul jour, le premier du douzième mois, qui est adar, toute la race des Juifs, et de piller leurs biens.
14 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.
Et les copies de ces lettres furent publiées en chaque province, et il fut enjoint à chaque nation de se tenir prête pour le jour indiqué.
15 The posts went out, being hastened by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.
On y avait mis de l'empressement à Suse, et le roi et Aman buvaient à pleines coupes; mais la ville était toute troublée.

< Esther 3 >