Книга Есфири 2

1 И по словесех сих утолися царь от гнева, и не воспомяну ктому Астини, воспоминая, елика глагола и како осуди ея.

And after this the king's anger was pacified, and he no more mentioned Astin, bearing in mind what she had said, and how he had condemned her.

2 И реша слуги царевы: да изыщутся царю девицы нерастленны, красны зраком, и да поставит царь взыскатели во всех странах царствия своего,

Then the servants of the king said, Let there be sought for the king chaste [and] beautiful young virgins.

3 и да изберут отроковиц девственных доброзрачных в Сусы град, в чертог женский, и да отдадутся евнухови цареву стражу жен, и да дадутся масти и прочыя потребы:

And let the king appoint local governors in all the provinces of his kingdom, and let them select fair [and] chaste young damsels [and bring them] to the city Susa, into the women's apartment, and let them be consigned to the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women; and let things for purification and other attendance be given [to them].

4 и жена, юже возлюбит царь, да будет царицею вместо Астини. И угодно бе царю слово, и сотвори тако.

And let the woman who shall please the king be queen instead of Astin. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.

5 И муж бе Иудеанин во граде Сусех, и имя ему Мардохей сын Иаиров, сына Семеина, сына Кисеова, от племене Вениаминя,

Now there was a Jew in the city Susa, and his name was Mardochaeus, the [son] of Jairus, [the son] of Semeias, [the son] of Cisaeus, of the tribe of Benjamin;

6 иже бяше пленен от Иерусалима Навуходоносором царем Вавилонским:

who had been brought a prisoner from Jerusalem, which Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had carried into captivity.

7 и бяше ему отроковица воспитана, дщерь Аминадава брата отцу его, и имя ей Есфирь. По преставлении же родителей ея, прия ю Мардохей во дщере место: и бяше девица красна и доброзрачна.

And he had a foster child, daughter of Aminadab his father's brother, and her name [was] Esther; and when her parents were dead, he brought her up for a wife for himself: and the damsel was beautiful.

8 И егда услышано бысть повеление царево, собраны быша девицы многи во град Сусы, под руку Гаиеву, и приведена бысть Есфирь ко Гаию хранителю жен:

And because the king's ordinance was published, many damsels were gathered to the city Susa under the hand of Gai; and Esther was brought to Gai the keeper of the women.

9 и угодна бысть ему отроковица и окрете благодать пред ним: и потщася дати ей масти и участие, и седмь девиц пристави к ней из дому царева, и снабдеваше ю и рабынь ея добре в дому женстем.

And the damsel pleased him, and she found favor in his sight; and he hasted to give her the things for purification, and her portion, and the seven maidens appointed her out of the palace: and he treated her and her maidens well in the women's apartment.

10 И не поведа Есфирь рода своего, ниже отечества, Мардохей бо заповеда ей не возвещати.

But Esther didn’t reveal her family nor her kindred: for Mardochaeus had charged her not to tell.

11 На всяк же день хождаше Мардохей по двору женскому, назирая, что Есфири случится.

But Mardochaeus used to walk every day by the women's court, to see what would become of Esther.

12 Сие же бе время девиц входити ко царю, егда исполнятся дванадесять месяцей: тако бо наполняхуся дние украшения, шесть месяц во ароматех и в мастех женских, и шесть месяц намазующяся смирновым елеем,

Now this was the time for a virgin to go into the king, when she should have fulfilled twelve months; for so are the days of purification fulfilled, six months while they are anointing themselves with oil of myrrh, and six months with spices and women's purifications.

13 и тогда вхождаху ко цареви: и емуже аще речет привести ю, входит с ним купно из дому женскаго даже до дому царева:

And then [the damsel] goes in to the king; and [the officer] to whoever he shall give the command, will bring her to come in with him from the women's apartment to the king's chamber.

14 на вечер вхождаше и заутра возвращашеся в дом женский вторый, идеже Гай евнух царев хранитель жен, и не вхождаше паки ко царю, аще не будет позвана именем.

She enters in the evening, and in the morning she departs to the second women's apartment, where Gai the king's chamberlain [is] keeper of the women: and she goes not in to the king again, unless she should be called by name.

15 Егда же исполнися время Есфири дщери Аминадава, брата отца Мардохеова, (иже поял ю себе в дщере место, ) внити ко цареви, ничтоже преступи от сих, яже заповеда ей евнух хранитель жен: бе бо Есфирь обретающая благодать пред всеми зрящими ю.

And when the time. was fulfilled for Esther the daughter of Aminadab the brother of Mardochaeus' father to go in to the king, she neglected nothing which the chamberlain, the women's keeper, commanded; for Esther found grace in the sight of all that looked upon her.

16 И вниде Есфирь ко царю Артаксерксу во вторыйнадесять месяц, иже есть Адар, в лето седмое царства его.

So Esther went in to king Artaxerxes in the twelfth month, which is Adar, in the seventh year of his reign.

17 И возлюби царь Есфирь, и обрете благодать паче всех девиц, и возложи венец женский на главу ея.

And the king loved Esther, and she found favor beyond all the [other] virgins: and he put on her the queen's crown.

18 И сотвори царь пир всем другом своим и силам седмь дний, и вознесе брак Есфирин, и сотвори отраду сущым во царствии его.

And the king made a banquet for all his friends and great men for seven days, and he highly celebrated the marriage of Esther; and he made a release to those who were under his dominion.

19 Мардохей же служаше во дворе (цареве).

But Mardochaeus served in the palace.

20 Есфирь же не поведа рода своего, (ни людий своих): сице бо заповеда ей Мардохей боятися Бога и творити заповеди Его, якоже бе с ним, Есфирь же не измени обычая своего.

Now Esther had not revealed her kindred; for so Mardochaeus commanded her, to fear God, and perform his commandments, as when she was with him: and Esther changed not her manner of life.

21 И опечалистася два евнуха царева началнейшии стражы тела его, яко предпочтен бысть Мардохей, и искаста убити Артаксеркса царя.

And two chamberlains of the king, the chiefs of the body-guard, were grieved, because Mardochaeus was promoted; and they sought to kill king Artaxerxes.

22 И возвестися слово Мардохею, и сказа Есфири: она же поведа царю, яже наветуют.

And the matter was revealed to Mardochaeus, and he made it known to Esther, and she declared to the king the matter of the conspiracy.

23 Царь же испыта дву евнуху, (и исповедаста, ) и обеси их. И повеле царь вписати на память в царстей книгохранителнице о благодеянии Мардохеове в похвалу.

And the king examined the two chamberlains, and hanged them: and the king gave orders to make a note for a memorial in the royal records of the good offices of Mardochaeus, as a commendation.