Esther 8

1 Die illo dedit rex Assuerus Esther reginae domum Aman adversarii Iudaeorum, et Mardochaeus ingressus est ante faciem regis. Confessa est enim ei Esther quod esset patruus suus.

On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews’ enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.

2 Tulitque rex annulum, quem ab Aman recipi iusserat, et tradidit Mardochaeo. Esther autem constituit Mardochaeum super domum suam.

And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

3 Nec his contenta, procidit ad pedes regis, flevitque et locuta ad eum oravit ut malitiam Aman Agagitae, et machinationes eius pessimas, quas excogitaverat contra Iudaeos, iuberet irritas fieri.

And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.

4 At ille ex more sceptrum aureum protendit manu, quo signum clementiae monstrabatur: illaque consurgens stetit ante eum,

Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,

5 et ait: Si placet regi, et si inveni gratiam in oculis eius, et deprecatio mea non ei videtur esse contraria, obsecro, ut novis epistolis, veteres Aman litterae, insidiatoris et hostis Iudaeorum, quibus eos in cunctis regis provinciis perire praeceperat, corrigantur.

And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king’s provinces:

6 Quo modo enim potero sustinere necem et interfectionem populi mei?

For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?

7 Responditque rex Assuerus Esther reginae, et Mardochaeo Iudaeo: Domum Aman concessi Esther, et ipsum iussi affigi cruci, quia ausus est manum mittere in Iudaeos.

Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.

8 Scribite ergo Iudaeis, sicut vobis placet, regis nomine, signantes litteras annulo meo. Haec enim consuetudo erat, ut epistolis, quae ex regis nomine mittebantur, et illius annulo signatae erant, nemo auderet contradicere.

Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring: for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may no man reverse.

9 Accitisque scribis et librariis regis (erat autem tempus tertii mensis, qui appellatur Siban) vigesima et tertia die illius scriptae sunt epistolae, ut Mardochaeus voluerat, ad Iudaeos, et ad principes, procuratoresque et iudices, qui centum vigintiseptem provinciis ab India usque ad Aethiopiam praesidebant: provinciae atque provinciae, populo et populo iuxta linguas et litteras suas, et Iudaeis, prout legere poterant, et audire.

Then were the king’s scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.

10 Ipsaeque epistolae, quae regis nomine mittebantur, annulo ipsius obsignatae sunt, et missae per veredarios: qui per omnes provincias discurrentes, veteres litteras novis nunciis praevenirent.

And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus’ name, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:

11 Quibus imperavit rex, ut convenirent Iudaeos per singulas civitates, et in unum praeciperent congregari ut starent pro animabus suis, et omnes inimicos suos cum coniugibus ac liberis et universis domibus, interficerent atque delerent.

Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,

12 Et constituta est per omnes provincias una ultionis dies, id est tertiadecima mensis duodecimi Adar.

Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.

13 Summaque epistolae haec fuit, ut in omnibus terris ac populis, qui regis Assueri subiacebant imperio, notum fieret, paratos esse Iudaeos ad capiendam vindictam de hostibus suis.

The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

14 Egressique sunt veredarii celeres nuncia perferentes, et edictum regis pependit in Susan.

So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king’s commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.

15 Mardochaeus autem de palatio, et de conspectu regis egrediens, fulgebat vestibus regiis, hyacinthinis videlicet et aeriis, coronam auream portans in capite, et amictus serico pallio atque purpureo. Omnisque civitas exultavit, atque laetata est.

And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.

16 Iudaeis autem nova lux oriri visa est, gaudium, honor, et tripudium.

The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.

17 Apud omnes populos, urbes, atque provincias, quocumque regis iussa veniebant, mira exultatio, epulae atque convivia, et festus dies: in tantum ut plures alterius gentis et sectae eorum religioni et ceremoniis iungerentur. Grandis enim cunctos Iudaici nominis terror invaserat.

And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.