Esther 3

1 post haec rex Asuerus exaltavit Aman filium Amadathi qui erat de stirpe Agag et posuit solium eius super omnes principes quos habebat

After these events did king Achashverosh make great Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and he advanced him; and he placed his seat above that of all the princes that were with him.

2 cunctique servi regis qui in foribus palatii versabantur flectebant genu et adorabant Aman sic enim eis praeceperat imperator solus Mardocheus non flectebat genu neque adorabat eum

And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bent the knee and prostrated themselves to Haman; for so had the king commanded concerning him; but Mordecai bent not the knee nor prostrated himself.

3 cui dixerunt regis pueri qui ad fores palatii praesidebant cur praeter ceteros non observas mandata regis

Then said the king's, servants, who were in the king's gate, unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's command?

4 cumque hoc crebrius dicerent et ille nollet audire nuntiaverunt Aman scire cupientes utrum perseveraret in sententia dixerat enim eis se esse Iudaeum

Now it came to pass, when they spoke unto him day by day, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told it to Haman, to see whether the words of Mordecai would be able to stand; for he had told them that be was a Jew.

5 quod cum audisset Aman et experimento probasset quod Mardocheus non sibi flecteret genu nec se adoraret iratus est valde

And when Haman saw that Mordecai bent not the knee, nor prostrated himself to him, Haman became full of fury.

6 et pro nihilo duxit in unum Mardocheum mittere manus suas audierat enim quod esset gentis iudaeae magisque voluit omnem Iudaeorum qui erant in regno Asueri perdere nationem

But it appeared too contemptible in his eyes to lay his hand on Mordecai alone: for they had told him of the people of Mordecai: therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout all the kingdom of Achashverosh, the people of Mordecai.

7 mense primo cuius vocabulum est nisan anno duodecimo regni Asueri 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

In the first month, that is the month Nissan, in the twelfth year of king Achashverosh, some one cast the Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month [to month], to the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.

8 dixitque Aman regi Asuero est populus per omnes provincias regni tui dispersus et a se mutuo separatus novis utens legibus et caerimoniis insuper et regis scita contemnens et optime nosti quod non expediat regno tuo ut insolescat per licentiam

Then said Haman unto king Achashverosh, There is one people scattered yet separate among the nations in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are different from those of every people; while they do not execute the laws of the king; and it is no profit for the king to tolerate them.

9 si tibi placet decerne ut pereat et decem milia talentorum adpendam arcariis gazae tuae

If it be pleasing to the king, let [a decree] be written to destroy them; and ten thousand talents of silver will I weigh out into the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring [the same] into the king's treasuries.

10 tulit ergo rex anulum quo utebatur de manu sua et dedit eum Aman filio Amadathi de progenie Agag hosti Iudaeorum

And the king drew his signet-ring from off his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the adversary of the Jews.

11 dixitque ad eum argentum quod polliceris tuum sit de populo age quod tibi placet

And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, that people also, to do therewith as it seemeth good in thy eyes.

12 vocatique sunt scribae regis mense primo nisan tertiadecima die eius 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 Asueri et litterae ipsius signatae anulo

Then were called the king's scribes in the first month on the thirteenth day thereof, and there was written all just as Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the princes of every people, to every province according to its writing, and to every people according to its language: in the name of king Achashverosh was it written, and it was sealed with the king's signet-ring.

13 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

And the letters were sent by the runners unto all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to exterminate all the Jews, from young to old, little ones and women, on one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to plunder their property as spoil.

14 summa autem epistularum haec fuit ut omnes provinciae scirent et pararent se ad praedictam diem

A copy of the writing, to be given out as a law in every province, was published unto all the nations, that they might be ready against that day.

15 festinabant cursores qui missi erant explere regis imperium statimque in Susis pependit edictum rege et Aman celebrante convivium et cunctis qui in urbe erant flentibus

The runners went out with all speed with the king's decree, and the law was given out in Shushan the capital: and the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.