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ESTHER
CHAPTER
1
1
(11:1) Mardocheus the sonne of Iari, the sonne of Semei, the sonne of Cis of the
tribe of Beniamin,
(11:2) A Iewe, which had his dwelling in the citie of Susis, a man of great
reputation, and excellent among all them that were in the kynges court.
(11:3) Neuerthelesse, he was one of the prisoners whom Nabuchodonosor the kyng
of
Babylon
had caryed away from Hierusalem vnto
Babylon
, with Iechonias the kyng of Iuda.
(11:4) In the seconde yere of the raigne of great Artaxerxes, in the first day
of the moneth Nisan, had this Mardocheus suche a dreame.
(11:5) He thought he heard a great tempest, horrible thunderclappes,
earthquakes, and great vprore in the lande,
(11:6) And that he sawe two great dragons redie to fight one against another.
(11:7) Their crye was great: At the whiche roaring & crye, all the heathen
were vp to fight against the righteous people.
(11:8) And the same day was full of darkenesse and very vncleare, full of
trouble and anguishe, yea a great fearefulnesse was there in the lande.
(11:9) The righteous were amased, for they feared the plague and euyll that was
deuised ouer them, and were at a poynt with them selues to dye: So they cryed
vnto God.
(11:10) And whyle they were crying, the litle well grewe into a great riuer, and
into many waters.
(11:11) And with that it was day, and the sunne rose vp agayne: And the lowly
were exalted, and deuoured the glorious and proude.
(11:12) Nowe when Mardocheus had seene this dreame, he awoke, & mused
stedfastly in his heart what God would do, and so he desired to know al the
matter, and his mind was thervpon vntil night.
(12:1) At the same tyme dwelt Mardocheus with Bagatha and Thara in the kynges
court, the kynges chamberlaynes and porters of the palace.
(12:2) But when he hearde their deuice, and had diligently considered their
imaginations, he perceaued that they went about to lay their [cruell] handes
vpon the kyng Artaxerxes, and so he certified the kyng thereof.
(12:3) Then caused the kyng to examine the two gelded with tormentes: And when
they had graunted it, they were put to death.
(12:4) This the kyng caused to be put in the Chronicles for an euerlasting
remembraunce, and Mardocheus wrote vp the same matter.
(12:5) So the king commaunded that Mardocheus shoulde remayne in the court, and
for this faythfulnes of his he gaue hym a rewarde.
(12:6) But Aman the sonne of Amadathu the Agagite, whiche was holden in great
honour and reputation in the kynges court, vndertoke to hurt Mardocheus and his
people, because of the two chamberlaynes that were put to death. It came to
passe that in the dayes of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus whiche raigned from
India vnto Ethiopia, ouer an hundred and twentie and seuen prouinces)
2 Euen in those dayes when the king Ahasuerus sate on his seate royall, which
was in Susan the chiefe citie:
3 In the third yere of his raigne, he made a feast vnto all his princes &
seruauntes: and the mightie men of Persia and Media, the captaynes also and
rulers of his countreys were before hym.
4 And he shewed the richesse and glorie of his kingdome, and the glorious
worship of his greatnesse many dayes long, [euen] an hundred and fourescore
dayes.
5 And when these dayes were expired, the king made a feast vnto al the people
that were in Susan the chiefe citie, both vnto great & small, seuen dayes
long, in the court of the garden by the kinges palace.
6 Where there hanged white, greene, and yelowe clothes, fastened with cordes of
fine silke and purple, in siluer ringes, vpon pillers of marble stones: The
benches also were of golde and siluer made vpon a pauement of greene, white,
yelowe, and blacke marble.
7 And they dranke in vessels of gold, and chaunged vessel after vessel, and
royal wine in aboundaunce, according to the power of the king.
8 And the drinking was by an order, none might compell: for so the king had
appoynted to all the officers of his house, that they shoulde do according to
euery mans pleasure.
9 And the queene Uasthi made a feast also for the women in the
palace
of
Ahasuerus
.
10 And on the seuenth day when the king was mery after the wine, he commaunded
Nehuma, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagthan, Zethar, and Charchas, the seuen
chamberlayns that did seruice in the presence of king Ahasuerus,
11 To fetch the queene Uasthi with the crowne regall into the kinges presence,
that he might shewe the people & princes her fairenesse: for she was
beautifull.
12 But the queene Uasthi would not come at the kinges worde by his chamberlaynes:
Then was the king very wroth, and his indignation kindled in hym.
13 And the king spake to the wyse men which knewe the times (for so was the
kinges maner towardes all that knewe the lawe and the iudgementes:
14 And the next vnto hym were, Carsena, Sethar, Admata, Thersis, Mares, Marsena,
and Memuchan, the seuen princes of Persia and Media, whiche sawe the kinges
face, and sate the first in the kingdome.)
15 What, shall we do vnto the queene Uasthi according to the lawe, because she
dyd not according to the worde of the king Ahasuerus whiche he commaunded by his
chamberlaynes?
16 And Memuchan aunswered before the king & the princes: The queene Uasthi
hath not onely done euyll against the king, but also against all the princes,
and against all the people that are in all the prouinces of king Ahasuerus.
17 For this deede of the queene shall come abrode vnto all women, so that they
shall despise their husbandes before their eyes, and shall say: The king
Ahasuerus commaunded Uasthi the queene to be brought in before hym, but she
woulde not come.
18 And so shal the princesses in
Persia
and Media say lykewise this day vnto al the kinges princes when they heare of
this deede of the queene: thus shal there arise to much despitefulnesse and
wrath.
19 If it please the king, let there go a commaundement from hym, and let it be
written according to the lawes of the Persians and Medians, and not to be
transgressed, that Uasthi come no more before king Ahasuerus, and let the king
geue her royal estate vnto an other that is better then she.
20 And when this commaundement of the king which shalbe made, is published
throughout all his empire whiche is great, all women shall holde their husbandes
in honour both among great and small.
21 Thus saying pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to
the worde of Memucan.
22 For he sent letters foorth into all the kinges prouinces, into euery lande
according to the wryting therof, and to euery people after their language, that
euery man shoulde be lorde in his owne house: and this to be published after the
language of his people.
CHAPTER
2
1 After these actes, when the displeasure of king Ahasuerus was nowe alayed, he
thought vpon Uasthi, & what she had done, & what was decreed against
her.
2 Then sayde the kinges seruauntes that ministred vnto hym: Let there be faire
young virgins sought for the king,
3 And let the king appoynt officers in all the prouinces of his empire, that
they should bring together al the faire young virgins vnto Susan the head citie
to the womens buylding, vnder the hande of Hegai the kinges chamberlayne that
kept the women, to geue them their apparell:
4 And that the mayden which pleased the king, should be queene in Uasthis steede.
And this pleased the king, and he did so.
5 In the citie of Susan there was a certayne Iewe, whose name was Mardocheus,
the sonne of Iair, the sonne of Semei, the sonne of Cis, a man of Iemini,
6 Which was caryed away from Hierusalem with the captiuitie, when Iekonia the
king of Iuda was led away, whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon caryed
thence:
7 And he norished Hadassa (that is Esther) his vncles daughter: for he had
neither father nor mother, and she was a faire and beautifull mayden, whom
Mardocheus (when her father & mother were dead) receaued for his owne
daughter.
8 So when the kinges commaundement and commission was published, and many
maydens were brought together into the citie of Susan vnder the hand of Hegai,
Esther was brought also vnto the kinges house vnder the hande of Hegai the keper
of the women.
9 And the mayden pleased hym, and she founde fauour in his sight: and he caused
ornamentes to be geuen her speedyly, and such thinges as belonged to her, and
appoynted her seuen comely maydens out of the kinges house, & fauoured both
her and her gentlewomen singularly in the house of the women.
10 But Esther shewed not her people and her kinred: for Mardocheus had charged
her that she shoulde not tell it.
11 And Mardocheus walked euery day before the court of the womens house, that he
might knowe howe Esther did, and what shoulde become of her.
12 And when the appoynted time of euery mayden came that she shoulde go in to
the king Ahasuerus, after that she had ben twelue monethes according to the
mauer of the women (for so were the dayes of their purification accomplissed,
sixe monethes with oyle of mirre, and sixe monethes with sweete odoures, and in
the purifiyng of the women:
13 And thus went the maydens vnto the king) whatsoeuer she required, that must
be geuen her to go with her out of the womens buylding vnto the kinges palace.
14 In the euening she went, and on the morowe she returned into the seconde
house of the women abyding vnder the hande of Saasgaz the kinges chamberlayne,
which kept the concubines: And she came in vnto the king no more, except it
pleased the king to haue her, and that she were called by name.
15 Nowe when the course came of Esther the daughter of Abihail, the vncle of
Mardocheus (which had receaued her as his owne daughter) that she shoulde come
in vnto the king, she desired nothing but what Hegai the kinges chamberlayne the
keper of the women saide: And Esther found fauour in the sight of all them that
loked vpon her.
16 And Esther was taken vnto king Ahasuerus into his house royall, in the tenth
moneth (which is the moneth Tebeth) in the seuenth yere of his raigne.
17 And the king loued Esther aboue all the women, and she found grace and fauour
in his sight more then all the virgins, so that he set the crowne of the
kingdome vpon her head, and made her queene in steede of Uasthi.
18 And the king made a great feast vnto all his princes and seruauntes, whiche
feast was because of Esther, and caused the prouinces to be in quietnesse, &
gaue giftes, as became the royaltie of a king.
19 And when the virgins were gathered together the seconde time, Mardocheus sate
in the kinges gate.
20 And as yet had not Esther shewed her kinred & her people, according as
Mardocheus had bidden her: for Esther dyd after the worde of Mardocheus, like as
if she had ben yet vnder his gouernaunce.
21 At the same time (whyle Mardocheus sate in the kinges gate) two of ye kinges
chamberlaynes, Bigthan and Theres, which kept the doore, were wroth, and sought
to lay their handes on the king Ahasuerus:
22 Whereof also Mardocheus gat knowledge, and tolde it vnto queene Esther, and
Esther certified the king therof in Mardocheus name.
23 And when inquisition was made, it was founde so, and they were both hanged on
tree: and it was written in the Chronicles before the king.
CHAPTER
3
1 After these actes, dyd king Ahasuerus promote Haman the sonne of Amadatha the
Agagite, and set hym on hie, and set his seate aboue all the princes that he had
with hym.
2 And al the kinges seruauntes that were in the kinges gate, bowed their knees,
and reuerenced Haman, for the king had so commaunded concerning hym: But
Mardocheus bowed not the knee, neither dyd hym reuerence.
3 Then the kinges seruauntes whiche were in the kinges gate, said vnto
Mardocheus: Why transgressest thou the kinges commaundement?
4 And though they spake this dayly vnto hym, yet woulde he not heare them,
therfore they tolde Haman, that they might see howe Mardocheus matters woulde
stande, for he had tolde them that he was a Iewe.
5 And when Haman sawe that Mardocheus bowed not the knee vnto him, nor dyd
reuerence vnto hym, he was full of indignation,
6 And thought it to litle to lay handes onely on Mardocheus, for they had shewed
him the nation of Mardocheus: wherefore he sought to destroy all the Iewes that
were throughout the whole empire of Ahasuerus, and that were of the nation of
Mardocheus.
7 In the first moneth (that is, the moneth Nisan) in the twelfth yere of king
Ahasuerus, they cast Phur, that is a lot, before Haman from day to day, and from
moneth to moneth to the twelfth moneth, that is, the moneth Adar.
8 And Haman sayde vnto king Ahasuerus: There is here a people scattred abrode,
and dispearsed among all people in all the prouinces of thyne empire, and their
lawes are diuers from all people, and do not after the kinges lawes, therefore
it is not the kinges profite to suffer them after this maner.
9 If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and so
wyll I waye downe ten thousand talents of siluer by the handes of them that haue
the charge of this busines, to bring it into the kinges treasurie.
10 And the king toke his ring from his hand, & gaue it vnto Haman the sonne
of Amadatha the Agagite, the Iewes enemie.
11 And the king saide vnto Haman: Let the siluer be thyne, & do with that
people as it pleaseth thee.
12 Then were the kinges scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first moneth,
& there was written according as Haman commaunded vnto all the kinges
officers, and to the captaynes that were ouer euery prouince, and to the rulers
of euery people in the countryes on euery side according to the writing therof,
and to euery nation after their language, in the name of king Ahasuerus was it
writen, and sealed with the kinges ring.
13 And the letters were sent by postes into all the kinges prouinces, to roote
out, to kill, and to destroy all Iewes both young and olde, children and women
in one day [namely] vpon the thirteenth day of the twelfth moneth (which is the
moneth Adar) & to spoyle the as a pray.
(13:1) The great kyng Artaxerxes, whiche raigneth from India vnto Ethiopia ouer
an hundred and twentie and seuen landes, sendeth his frendly salutation vnto all
the princes and deputies of the countrey, whiche be subiect vnto his dominion.
(13:2) When I was made lorde ouer many people, and had subdued the whole earth
vnto my dominion, my minde was not with crueltie and wrong to exalt my selfe by
the reason of my power: but purposed with equitie alway and gentlenes to gouerne
those that be vnder my iurisdiction, and wholly to set them in a peaceable lyfe,
and thereby to bryng my kyngdome vnto tranquilitie, that men might safely go
thorowe on euery side, and to renue peace agayne, whiche all men desire.
(13:3) Nowe when I asked my counsellours howe these thinges myght be brought to
a good ende, there was one by vs excellent in wisdome, whose good wyll, trueth,
and faythfulnesse hath oft ben shewed and proued (whiche was also the principall
and next vnto the kyng) Aman by name,
(13:4) Whiche certified vs, howe that in all landes there was scattered abrode a
rebellious folke, that made statutes and lawes against all other people, &
haue alway despised the proclaymed commaundementes of kynges, and howe that for
this cause it were not to be suffred, that suche rule should continue by you,
and not to be put downe.
(13:5) Seeing nowe we perceaue the same, that this people alone are contrary
vnto euery man, vsing straunge and other maner of lawes, and withstande our
statutes and doynges, and go about to stablyshe shrewde matters, that our
kyngdome shoulde neuer come to good estate [and stedfastnesse:]
(13:6) Therefore haue we commaunded, that all they that are appointed in wrytyng
and shewed vnto you by Aman, whiche is ordayned and set ouer all our landes, and
the most principall next vnto the kyng, and in maner as a father: shall with
their wiues and chyldren be destroyed & rooted out with the sworde of their
enemies and aduersaries, and that there shalbe no mercy shewed, and no man
spared: And this shalbe done the fourteenth day of the moneth called Adad of
this yere.
(13:7) That they whiche of olde and nowe also, haue euer ben rebellious, may in
one day with violence be thrust downe into the hell, to the intent that after
this maner our empire may haue peace and tranquilitie.
14 This was the summe of the writing, that there should be a commaundement geuen
in al prouinces, and published vnto all people, that they should be redy against
the same day.
15 And the postes went in all the haste according to the kinges commaundement,
and in Susan the chiefe citie was the commaundement deuised: And the king and
Haman sate and dranke, when in the meane time the citie of Susan was disquieted.
CHAPTER
4
1 When Mardocheus perceaued all that was done, he rent his clothes, and put on
sackecloth with asshes, and went out into the middest of the citie, and cryed
loude and lamentably,
2 And came before the kinges gate: but he might not enter within the kinges
gate, because he had sackcloth on.
3 And in all prouinces, countries, and places, as farre as the kinges worde
& commaundement extented, there was great lamentatio among the Iewes,
fasting, weeping, and mourning, and many lay in sackeclothes and in asshes.
4 So Esthers maydens and her chamberlaynes, came and told it her: Then was the
queene exceedingly astonied, and she sent rayment that Mardocheus shoulde put
on, and lay the sackcloth from him: But Mardocheus would not take them.
5 Then called Esther Hathach one of the kinges chamberlaines which stoode before
her, and gaue him a commaundement vnto Mardocheus, to know what it was wherefore
he did so.
6 So Hathach went foorth to Mardocheus, vnto the streete of the citie which was
before the kinges gate:
7 And Mardocheus tolde him of al that had come vnto him, & of ye summe of
siluer that Haman had promised to waye downe into the kinges treasurie, because
of the Iewes if he would destroy them.
8 And he gaue him the copie of the kinges commaundement that was deuised at
Susan to destroy them, that he might shewe it vnto Esther, and to speake to her,
and charge her that she should go in vnto the king, & make her prayer and
supplication vnto him for her people.
9 And when Hathach came in, he tolde Esther the wordes of Mardocheus.
10 And againe Esther spake vnto Hathach and commauded him to say vnto Mardocheus:
11 All the kinges seruauntes, & the people in the prouinces of the king
knowe, that whosoeuer commeth within the courte vnto the king, whether it be man
or woman, which is not called, the comaundement is, that the same shall dye,
except the king holde out the golden septer vnto him, for then he shall lyue: As
for me, I haue not ben called to come in vnto the king now this thirtie dayes.
12 And they certified Mardocheus of Esthers wordes.
13 And Mardocheus bad say againe vnto Esther: Thinke not with thy selfe that
thou shalt escape in the kinges house more then all the Iewes.
14 For if thou holdest thy peace at this time, then shall the Iewes haue helpe
and deliueraunce out of an other place, and thou and thy fathers house shalbe
destroyed: And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdome for this causes
sake?
15 Esther bad them geue Mardocheus this aunswere:
16 Go thou thy way, and gather together all the Iewes that are founde at Susan,
and fast ye for me, that ye eate not and drinke not in three dayes neither day
nor night, I and my maydens wyll fast likewyse: and so wyll I go in to the king,
which thing yet is contrary to the commaundement: and if I perishe, I perishe.
17 So Mardocheus went his way, and did according to al that Esther had
commaunded him.
(13:8) But Mardocheus thought vpon all the workes & noble actes of the Lorde,
and made his prayer vnto him,
(13:9) Saying: O Lorde, Lorde, thou valiaunt and almightie king, for all thinges
are in thy power: and if thou wilt helpe and deliuer
Israel
, there is no man that can withstande nor let thee.
(13:10) For thou hast made heauen and earth, and what wonderous thing soeuer is
vnder the heauen.
(13:11) Thou art Lorde of all thinges, and there is no man that can resist thy
maiestie O Lorde.
(13:12) Thou knowest all thinges, thou wotest Lorde that it was neither of
malice nor presumption, nor for any desire of glory, that I would not bow downe
my selfe nor worship yonder proude presumptious Aman:
(13:13) For I woulde haue ben content, and that with good wyll, if it might haue
done Israel any good, to haue kist euen his footesteppes.
(13:14) But that I did it because I woulde not set the honour of a man in the
steede of the glory of God, & because I would worship none but only thee my
Lorde: and this haue I done in no pryde nor presumption.
(13:15) And therfore O Lord, thou God and kyng, haue mercy vpon thy people, for
they imagine howe they may bring vs to naught, yea their minde and desire is to
destroy and to ouerthrowe thy people that hath euer ben thyne inheritaunce of
olde.
(13:16) O despise not thy portion which thou hast deliuered & brought out of
Egypt
for thyne owne selfe.
(13:17) Heare my prayer, and be mercifull vnto thy people whom thou hast chosen
for an heritage vnto thy selfe: Turne our complaynt and sorow into ioy, that we
may liue O Lorde and prayse thy name: O Lord suffer not the mouthes of them that
praise thee, to be destroyed.
(13:18) All the people of
Israel
in like maner cryed as earnestly as they coulde vnto the Lorde, for their death
and destruction stoode before their eyes.
(14:1) Queene Hester also beyng in the battayle of death, resorted vnto the
Lorde,
(14:2) Layde away her glorious apparell, and put on the garmentes that serued
for sighing and mourning: In the steede of precious oyntment, she scattered
ashes and dounge vpon her head: and as for her body, she humbled it with
fasting, and brought it very low: All the places where she was wont to haue ioy
afore, those filled she with her owne heere that she pluckt of.
(14:3) She prayed also vnto the Lorde God of
Israel
with these wordes: O my Lorde, thou only art our kyng, helpe me desolate woman,
whiche haue no helper but thee.
(14:4) For my miserie and destruction is harde at my hande.
(14:5) Fro my youth vp I haue hearde out of the kinred of my father, that thou
tokest
Israel
from among all people, and so haue our fathers of their foreelders, that they
shoulde be thy perpetuall inheritaunce, and looke what thou didst promise them,
thou hast made it good vnto them.
(14:6) Nowe Lorde we haue sinned before thee, therefore hast thou geuen vs into
the handes of our enemies,
(14:7) Because we worshipped their gods: Lorde thou art righteous.
(14:8) Neuerthelesse it satisfieth them not that we are in bitter and heauie
captiuitie and oppressed among them, but thou hast layde their handes vpon the
handes of their gods.
(14:9) So that they begin to take away the thing that thou with thy mouth hast
ordayned and appoynted, to destroy thine inheritaunce, to shut and to stop the
mouthes of them that prayse thee, to quench the glory and worship of thy house
and thyne aulter:
(14:10) And to open the mouthes of the heathen, that they may prayse the power
and vertue of the gods, and to magnifie the fleshly kyng for euer.
(14:11) O Lorde geue not thy scepter vnto them that be nothing, lest they laugh
vs to scorne in our miserie and fall: but turne their deuice vpon them selues,
and punishe hym that hath begun the same ouer vs, and set hym to an example.
(14:12) Thinke vpon vs O Lord, and shewe thy selfe vnto vs in the tyme of our
distresse and of our trouble: strength me O thou kyng of Gods, thou Lorde of all
power,
(14:13) Geue me an eloquent and pleasaunt speache in my mouth before the lion:
Turne his heart into the hate of our enemies, to destroy him, and all such as
consent vnto him.
(14:14) But deliuer vs with thy hande, and helpe me thy handmayde, which haue no
defence nor helper but onlye the Lorde.
(14:15) Thou knowest all thinges, thou wotest that I loue not the glory and
worship of the vnrighteous, and that I hate and abhorre the bed of the
vncircumcised, and of all heathen.
(14:16) Thou knowest my necessitie, that I hate the token of my preeminence and
worship, which I beare vpon my head what tyme as I must shewe my selfe and be
seene, and that I abhorre it as an vncleane cloth, and that I weare it not when
I am quiet and alone by my selfe.
(14:17) Thou knowest also that I thy handmayden haue not eaten at Amans table,
and that I haue had no pleasure nor delight in the kinges feast, that I haue not
drunke the wine of the drinke offeringes.
(14:18) And that I thy handmayden haue no ioy since the day that I was brought
hyther vnto this day, but only in thee O Lorde, O thou God of Abraham,
(14:19) O thou mightie God aboue all, heare the voyce of them that haue no other
hope, and deliuer vs out of the hande of the wicked, and deliuer me out of my
feare.
CHAPTER
5
1 And on the third day it came to passe, that Esther put on her royall apparell,
and stoode in the court of the kinges palace within, ouer against ye kinges
house: and the king sat vpon his royall seate in the kinges palace ouer against
the gate of the house.
(15:1) Mardocheus also bade Hester go in vnto the kyng, and pray for her people,
and for her countrey.
(15:2) Remember (saith he) the dayes of thy lowe estate, how thou wast nourished
vnder my hande: For Aman whiche is next vnto the kyng, hath geuen sentence of
death against vs:
(15:3) Call thou therefore vpon the Lorde, and speake for vs vnto the king, and
deliuer vs from death.
(15:4) And vpon the thirde day it happened that Hester layde away the mourning
garmentes, and put on her glorious apparell,
(15:5) And deckt her selfe goodly (after that she had called vpon God, whiche is
the beholder and sauiour of all thinges) [and] toke two maydens with her:
(15:6) Upon the one she leaned her selfe, as one that was tender:
(15:7) The other folowed her, and bare the trayne of her vesture.
(15:8) The shine of her beautie made her face rose coloured, the similitude of
her face was chearefull and amiable: but her heart was sorowfull for great feare.
(15:9) She went in thorowe all the doores, and stoode before the kyng: The kyng
sate vpon the trone of his kyngdome, and was clothed in his goodly aray, all
shining with golde, and set with precious stones, and he was very terrible.
2 And when the king sawe Esther the queene standing in the court, she founde
grace in his sight: And the king held out the golden scepter that was in his
hand: So Esther stept foorth and touched the top of the scepter.
(15:10) He lyft vp his face that shone in the clearnesse, and looked grimly vpon
her: Then fel the Queene downe, was pale and faynte, leaned her selfe vpon the
head of the mayde that went with her.
(15:11) Neuerthelesse, God turned the kinges minde that he was gentle, that he
leaped out of his seate for feare, and gate her in his armes, and helde her vp
tyll she came to her self againe, he gaue her louing wordes also, and said vnto
her:
(15:12) Hester, what is the matter? I am thy brother, be of good cheare:
(15:13) Thou shalt not die, for our commaundement toucheth the commons, and not
thee: Come nye.
(15:14) And with that he helde vp his golden rodde, and layde it vpon her necke.
(15:15) And imbraced her frendly, and sayd: Talke with me.
(15:16) Then sayde she: I sawe thee (O Lorde) as an angell of God, and my heart
was troubled for feare of thy maiestie and clearnesse.
(15:17) For excellent and wonderfull art thou O Lorde, and thy face is full of
amitie.
(15:18) But as she was thus speaking vnto hym, she fell downe agayne for
fayntnesse:
(15:19) For the whiche cause the kyng was afraide, and all his seruauntes
comforted her.
3 Then saide the king vnto her: What wylt thou queene Esther? and what requirest
thou? [aske] euen the halfe of the empire, and it shalbe geuen thee.
4 And Esther aunswered: If it please the king, let the king and Haman come this
day vnto the banket that I haue prepared for him.
5 And the king saide: Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath
saide. So the king and Haman came to the banket that Esther had prepared.
6 And the king saide vnto Esther at the banket of wine: What is thy petition,
that it may be geuen thee? And what requirest thou? If it be euen the halfe of
the empire, it shall be done.
7 Then aunswered Esther, and said: My petition and desire is,
8 If I haue founde grace in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to
geue me my petition, and to fulfil my request, then let the king and Haman come
to the banket that I shall prepare for the: and so wyl I do to morowe, as the
king hath saide.
9 Then went Haman foorth the same day ioyfull and mery in his minde: But when
the same Haman sawe Mardocheus in the kinges gate, that he stoode not vp nor
moued for him, he was ful of indignation at Mardocheus.
10 Neuerthelesse, Haman refrained him selfe, and when he came home he sent and
called for his friendes and Zares his wyfe.
11 And Haman tolde them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his
children, and all the thinges wherein the king had promoted him so greatly, and
how that he had set him aboue the princes and seruauntes of the king.
12 Haman saide moreouer: Yea, Esther the queene did let no man come in with the
king vnto the bancket that she had prepared, except me: and to morowe am I
bidden vnto her also with the king.
13 But in all this am I not satisfied, as long as I see Mardocheus the Iewe
sitting at the kinges gate.
14 Then saide Zares his wyfe and all his friendes vnto him: Let them make a
galous of fiftie cubites hie, and to morowe speake thou vnto the king that
Mardocheus may be hanged thereon: then go thou in meryly with the king vnto the
banket. And Haman was well content withall, and caused the galous to be made.
CHAPTER
6
1 The same night coulde not the king sleepe, and he commaunded to bring the
chronicles and stories: and they were read before the king.
2 Then it was founde written howe Mardocheus had tolde that Bigthana &
Theres the kinges two chamberlaynes which kept the thresholdes, sought to laye
handes on king Ahasuerus.
3 And the king saide: What honour and dignitie hath ben geuen to Mardocheus
therfore? Then saide the kinges seruautes that ministred vnto him: There is
nothing at all done for him.
4 And the king saide: Who is in the court? (for Haman was come into the court
without before the kinges house, that he might speake vnto the king to hang
Mardocheus on the tree that he had prepared for him.)
5 And the kinges seruauntes saide vnto him: Beholde, Haman standeth in the
court. And the king saide: let him come in.
6 And when Haman came in, the king saide vnto him: what shalbe done vnto the man
whom the king would faine bring vnto worship? (Haman thought in his heart: Whom
desireth the king to bring vnto worship more then me?)
7 And Haman aunswered the king: Let the man whom the king pleaseth to bring vnto
worship, be brought hither,
8 That he may be arayed with the royall garmentes which the king vseth to weare,
and the horse that the king rydeth vpon, and that the crowne royall may be set
vpon his head:
9 And let this rayment and horse be deliuered vnder the hande of one of the
kinges most noble princes, that they may aray the man withal whom the king is
disposed to bring to honour, and cary him vpon the horse through the streete of
the citie, and proclayme before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the
king pleaseth to bring to honour.
10 And the king saide to Haman: Make haste, and take as thou hast saide the
rayment and the horse, and do euen so vnto Mardocheus the Iewe that sitteth
before the kinges gate, and let nothing faile of all that thou hast spoken.
11 Then toke Haman the rayment and the horse, and arayed Mardocheus, and brought
him on horsebacke through the streete of the citie, and proclaymed before him,
Euen this shall it be done vnto the man whom the king is disposed to honour.
12 And Mardocheus came againe to the kinges gate: but Haman gat him home in all
the haste mourning, and his head couered,
13 And tolde Zares his wyfe and all his friendes euery thing that had befallen
him. Then saide his wise men and Zares his wyfe vnto him: If it be Mardocheus of
the seede of the Iewes, before who thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not
preuaile against him, but shalt surely fall before him.
14 And whyle they were yet talking with him, came the kinges chamberlaynes,
& caused Haman to make hast to come vnto the banket that Esther had
prepared.
CHAPTER
7
1 And the king and Haman came to bancket with the queene Esther.
2 And the king saide againe vnto Esther on the seconde day at the bancket of
wine: What is thy petition queene Esther, that it may be geuen thee? And what
requirest thou? if it be euen to the halfe of the empire, it shalbe done.
3 And Esther the queene aunswered, and saide: If I haue found grace in thy sight
O king, and if it please the king, then graunt me my lyfe at my desire, and my
people for my petitions sake.
4 For we are solde I and my people to be destroyed, to be slaine, and to perishe:
And would God that we were solde to be bondmen and bondwomen, then would I holde
my tongue: although the enemie coulde not recompence the kinges losse.
5 The king Ahasuerus aunswered and saide vnto queene Esther: Who is he? And
where is he, that dare presume in his minde to do after that maner?
6 And Esther saide: the enemie and aduersarie is this wicked Haman. Then Haman
was exceedingly afrayde before the king and the queene.
7 And the king arose from the bancket and from the wine in his displeasure, and
went into the palace garden: And Haman stoode vp, and besought queene Esther for
his lyfe: for he saw that there was a mischiefe prepared for him of the king
alreadie.
8 And when the king came againe out of the palace garde into the place where
they dranke wine: Haman had layde him vpon the bed that Esther sate vpon. Then
saide the king: wil he force the queene also before me in the house? As soone as
that worde went out of the kinges mouth, they couered Hamans face.
9 And Harbona one of the chamberlaynes that stoode before the king, said:
Beholde, there standeth yet a galous in Hamans house, fiftie cubites hye, which
he had made for Mardocheus, that spake good for the king. Then the king saide,
Hang him thereon.
10 So they hanged Haman on the galous that he had made for Mardocheus: Then was
the kinges wrath pacified.
CHAPTER
8
1 The same day did king Ahasuerus geue the house of Haman the Iewes enemie vnto
queene Esther, and Mardocheus came before the king: for Esther tolde what he was
vnto her.
2 And the king toke of his ring which he had taken from Haman, and gaue it vnto
Mardocheus. And Esther sette Mardocheus ouer the house of Haman.
3 And Esther spake yet more before the king, and fel downe at his feete weping,
and besought him that he would put away the wickednesse of Haman the Agagite,
and his deuice that he had imagined against the Iewes.
4 And the king held out the golden scepter toward Esther. Then rose Esther, and
stode before the king,
5 And saide: if it please the king, and if I haue founde grace in his sight, and
if it be acceptable before the king, and I please him, then let it be writte,
that the letters of the deuise of Haman the sonne of Hamadatha the Agagite may
be called againe, which letters he wrote to destroy the Iewes which are in all
the kinges prouinces.
6 For how can I suffer and see the euill that shall come vnto my people? or how
can I beare and loke vpon the destruction of my kindred?
7 And the king Ahasuerus saide vnto queene Esther, and to Mardocheus the Iewe:
Beholde, I haue geuen Esther the house of Haman, whom they haue hanged vpon a
tree, because he layde hand vpon the Iewes.
8 Write ye also for the Iewes as it lyketh you, in the kinges name, and seale it
with the kinges ring: For the writinges that were written in the kinges name,
and sealed with the kinges ring, durst no man disanul.
9 Then were the kinges scribes called at the same time, euen in the thirde
moneth (that is the moneth Siuan) on the three and twentie day thereof, and it
was written according to all as Mardocheus commauded vnto the Iewes, and to the
princes, to the debuties and captaynes in the prouinces which are from India
vnto Ethiopia, namely an hundred twentie and seuen prouinces, vnto euery
prouince according to the writing thereof, and vnto euery people after their
speach, and to the Iewes according to their writing and language.
10 And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus name, & sealed it with the kinges
ring, and by postes that rode vpon horses, and swyft young Mules, sent he the
writinges,
11 Wherin the king graunted the Iewes in what cities soeuer they were, to gather
themselues together, and to stand for their lyfe, and for to roote out, to slay
and to destroy all the power of the people and prouince that woulde trouble
them, both children and women, and to spoyle their goodes:
12 Upon one day in all the prouinces of king Ahasuerus, namely vpon the
thirteenth day of the twelfth moneth, which is the moneth Adar.
(16:1) The great kyng Artaxerxes, whiche raigneth from India vnto Ethiopia ouer
an hundreth and twentie and seuen landes, sendeth vnto the princes and rulers of
the same landes, suche as loue him, his frendly salutation.
(16:2) There be many that for the sundry frendshippes and benefites whiche are
diuersly done vnto them for their worship, be euer the more proude and hye
minded:
(16:3) And vndertake not only to hurt our subiectes (for plenteous benefites may
they not suffer, and begin to imagine some thing against those that do them
good,
(16:4) And take not only all vnthankfulnes away from men) but in pride and
presumption, as they that be vnmindfull and vnthankfull for the good deedes,
they go about to escape the iudgement of God that seeth all thinges, whiche
iudgement hateth and punisheth all wickednesse.
(16:5) It happeneth oft also, that they which be set in office by the higher
power, and vnto whom the businesse and causes of the subiectes are committed to
be handled, waxe proude, and defile them selues with shedding of innocent blood,
which bringeth them to intollerable hurt.
(16:6) Whiche also with false and deceiptfull wordes and with lying tales,
deceaue and betray the innocent goodnesse of princes.
(16:7) Nowe is it profitable and good that we take heede, make searche therafter,
and consider not onlye what hath happened vnto vs of olde, but the shamefull,
vnhonest, and noysome thinges, that the deputies haue nowe taken in hande before
our eyes:
(16:8) And thereby to beware in tyme to come, that we make the kyngdome quiet
and peaceable for all men, and that we might sometime drawe it to a chaunge.
(16:9) And as for the thing that nowe is present before our eyes, to withstande
it, and to put it downe after the most frendly maner.
(16:10) What tyme nowe as Aman the sonne of Amadathu the Macedonian, a strauger
veryly of the Persians blood, and farre from our goodnes, was come in among vs
as an aliaunt,
(16:11) And had obtayned the frendship that we beare towarde all people, so that
he was called our father, and had in hye honour of euery man, as the next and
principall vnto the kyng:
(16:12) He coulde not forbeare him selfe from his pryde, hath vndertaken not
only to rob vs of the kyngdome, but of our life:
(16:13) With manyfolde deceipt also hath he desired to destroy Mardocheus our
helper and preseruer, whiche hath done vs good in all thinges, and innocent
Hester the like partaker of our kyngdome, with all her people.
(16:14) For his minde was (when he had taken them out of the way, and robbed vs
of them) by this meanes to translate the kyngdome of the Persians vnto them of
Macedonia.
(16:15) But we finde that the Iewes (which were accused of the wicked that they
might be destroyed) are no euyll doers, but vse reasonable and right lawes:
(16:16) And that they be the chyldren of the most high liuing God, by whom the
kyngdome of vs and of our progenitours hath ben well ordered hytherto.
(16:17) Wherefore, as for the letters and commaundementes that were put foorth
by Aman the sonne of Amadathu, ye shall do well if ye holde them of none effect:
(16:18) For he that set them vp and inuented them, hangeth at Susis before the
port, with all his kinred: and God whiche hath all thinges in his power, hath
rewarded hym after his deseruing.
(16:19) And vpon this ye shall publishe and set vp the copie of this letter in
all places, that the Iewes may freely and without hinderaunce holde them selues
after their owne statutes:
(16:20) And that they may be helped, and that vpon the thirteenth day of the
twelfth moneth Adar, they may be auenged of them whiche in the tyme of their
anguishe and trouble would haue oppressed them.
(16:21) For the God that gouerneth all thinges, hath turned to ioy the day
wherein the chosen people shoulde haue perished.
(16:22) Moreouer, among the hye solempne dayes that ye haue, ye shall holde this
day also with all gladnesse:
(16:23) That nowe and in tyme to come this day may be a remembraunce of good for
all such as loue the prosperitie of the Persians: but a remembraunce of
destruction to those that be seditious vnto vs.
(16:24) All cities and landes that do not this, shall horribly perishe and be
destroyed with the sworde and fire, and shall not only be no more inhabited of
men, but be abhorred also of the wylde beastes and foules.
13 The summe of the writing was, how there shoulde be a commaundement geuen in
all and euery prouince, and published among all people, and that the Iewes
should be redy against that day, to auenge them selues on their enemies.
14 And so the postes that rode vpon the swyft Horses and Mules, made haste with
all speede to execute the kinges word: and the commaundement was deuised in
Susan the chiefe citie.
15 And Mardocheus went out from the king in royall apparell, of yelowe and
white, & with a great crowne of golde, being arayed with a garment of silke
and purple: and the citie of Susan reioysed and was glad.
16 And vnto the Iewes there was come light and gladnesse, ioy and worship.
17 In all prouinces and cities into what places soeuer the kinges word and
commaundement reached, there was ioy and mirth, a feaste and good dayes among
the Iewes: insomuch, that many of the people in ye lande became Iewes, for the
feare of the Iewes came vpon them.
CHAPTER
9
1 In the twelfth moneth (that is the moneth Adar) vpo the thirteenth day of the
same, when the kinges worde and commaundement drue neare to be put in execution,
in the day that the enemies of the Iewes hoped to haue power ouer the, it turned
contrary: for the Iewes had rule ouer them that hated them.
2 For then gathered the Iewes together in their cities within all the prouinces
of king Ahasuerus, to lay hande on such as woulde do them euill, and no man
could withstand them: for the feare of them was come ouer all people.
3 And all the rulers in the prouinces, and princes, and deputies, and officers
of the king, promoted the Iewes: for the feare of Mardocheus came vpon them.
4 For Mardocheus was great in the kinges house, & the reporte of him was
noysed in all the prouinces: for this man Mardocheus waxed greater and greater.
5 Thus the Iewes smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and
slaughter, and destruction, & did what they would vnto their enemies.
6 And at Susan the chiefe citie slue the Iewes, & destroyed fiue hundred
men.
7 And slue Pharsandatha, Dalphon, Asphatha,
8 Phoratha, Adalia, Aridatha,
9 Pharmastha, Arisai, Aridai, and Uaizatha,
10 The ten sonnes of Haman the sonne of Hamadata the enemie of the Iewes: but on
his goodes they layed no handes.
11 At the same time was the king certified of the number of those that were
slaine in the citie of Susan.
12 And the king saide vnto queene Esther: The Iewes haue slaine and destroyed
fiue hundred men in the citie of Susan, and the ten sonnes of Haman: What haue
they done [thinkest thou] in other landes of the king? And what is thy petition,
that it may be geuen thee? or what requirest thou more to be done?
13 Esther aunswered: If it please the king, let him suffer the Iewes which are
in Susan, to morow also to do according vnto this dayes decree, that they may
hang Hamans ten sonnes vpon the tree.
14 And the king charged to do so: and the decree was deuised at Susan, and they
hanged Hamans ten sonnes.
15 For the Iewes that were in Susan gathered them selues together, vpon the
fourteenth day of the moneth Adar, and slue three hundred men at Susan: but on
their goodes they layed no handes.
16 As for the other Iewes that were in the kinges prouinces, they came together
and stoode for their liues, & had rest from their enemies, & slue of
their enemies seuentie and fiue thousand: howbeit they layed no handes on their
goodes.
17 [This they did] on the thirteenth day of the moneth Adar, & on the
fourteenth day of the same moneth rested they, which day they held with feasting
and gladnesse.
18 But the Iewes that were at Susan came together both on the thirteenth day and
on the fourteenth: and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and held
that day with feasting & gladnesse.
19 And therefore the Iewes that dwelt in the villages and vnwalled townes, held
the fourteenth day of the moneth Adar with gladnesse and feasting, and kept holy
day, and euery one sent preasentes vnto his neighbour.
20 And Mardocheus wrote these wordes, and sent letters vnto all the Iewes that
were in all the prouinces of king Ahasuerus, both nie and farre:
21 That they should make a lawe among the selues, & holde the fourteenth
& fifteenth day of the moneth Adar, yerely.
22 As the dayes wherein the Iewes came to rest from their enemies, and as a
moneth wherein their paine was turned to ioy, and their sorowe into a ioyful
day: and that in those dayes they should make feastes and gladnesse, and one to
send giftes vnto another, and to distribute vnto the poore.
23 And the Iewes promised to do as they had begunne, and as Mardocheus had
written vnto them:
24 Because Haman the sonne of Hamadatha the Agagite all the Iewes enemie, had
deuised against the Iewes how he might destroy them, and caused to cast Phur
(that is a lot) for to consume them, & to bring them to naught.
25 But when Esther came before the king, he commaunded by letters that his
wicked deuice which he imagined against the Iewes, should be turned vpon his
owne head, and that he and his sonnes should be hanged on the tree.
26 For the which cause they called these dayes Phurim, because of the name of
the lot, and because of all the wordes of this writing, and what they themselues
had seene, & what had come vnto them:
27 And the Iewes ordayned, and toke it vpon them and their seede, and vpon all
such as ioyned them selues vnto them, that they would not misse but obserue
these two dayes yerely, according as they were written and appoynted in their
season,
28 And that these dayes are to be remembred and to be kept of childers children
among al kinredes in all landes and cities: In these dayes of Phurim which are
not to be ouerslipt among ye Iewes, and the memoriall of them ought not to
perishe from their seede.
29 And queene Esther the daughter of Abihail & Mardocheus the Iewe, wrote
with all aucthoritie to confirme this second writing of Phurim.
30 And he sent the letters vnto all the Iewes, to the hundred twentie and seuen
prouinces of the empire of Ahasuerus, with wordes of peace and trueth:
31 To confirme these dayes of Phurim in their time appoynted, according as
Mardocheus the Iewe and Esther the queene had appoynted them: and they bound
their soule and their seede to fasting and prayer.
32 And the decree of Esther confirmed these wordes of Phurim, and was written in
the booke.
CHAPTER
10
1 (9:33) And the king Ahasuerus layed tribute vpon the land, & vpon the iles
of the sea.
2 (9:34) And all the actes of his power and of his might, & the declaration
of the dignitie of Mardocheus wherwith the king magnified him, be they not
written in the bookes of ye chronicles of the kinges of Medes and Persia?
3 (9:35) For Mardocheus the Iewe, was the second next vnto king Ahasuerus, and
great among the Iewes, and accepted among the multitude of his brethren, as one
that seeketh the wealth of his people, and speaketh peaceably for all his seede.
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