The Bible, Douay Rheims, Book 19: Esther
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8:4. But he, as the manner was, held out the golden sceptre with his
hand, which was the sign of clemency: and she arose up and stood before
him,
8:5. And said: If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his
sight, and my request be not disagreeable to him, I beseech thee, that
the former letters of Aman the traitor and enemy of the Jews, by which
he commanded that they should be destroyed in all the king's provinces,
may be reversed by new letters.
8:6. For how can I endure the murdering and slaughter of my people?
8:7. And king Assuerus answered Esther the queen, and Mardochai the Jew:
I have given Aman's house to Esther, and I have commanded him to be
hanged on a gibbet, because he durst lay hands on the Jews.
8:8. Write ye therefore to the Jews, as it pleaseth you in the king's
name, and seal the letters with my ring. For this was the custom, that
no man durst gainsay the letters which were sent in the king's name, and
were sealed with his ring.
8:9. Then the king's scribes and secretaries were called for (now it was
the time of the third month which is called Siban) the three and
twentieth day of the month, and letters were written, as Mardochai had a
mind, to the Jews, and to the governors, and to the deputies, and to the
judges, who were rulers over the hundred and twenty-seven provinces,
from India even to Ethiopia: to province and province, to people and
people, according to their languages and characters, and to the Jews,
according as they could read and hear.
8:10. And these letters which were sent in the king's name, were sealed
with his ring, and sent by posts: who were to run through all the
provinces, to prevent the former letters with new messages.
8:11. And the king gave orders to them, to speak to the Jews in every
city, and to command them to gather themselves together, and to stand
for their lives, and to kill and destroy all their enemies with their
wives and children and all their houses, and to take their spoil.
8:12. And one day of revenge was appointed through all the provinces, to
wit, the thirteenth of the twelfth month Adar.
8:13. And this was the content of the letter, that it should be notified
in all lands and peoples that were subject to the empire of king
Assuerus, that the Jews were ready to be revenged of their enemies.
8:14. So the swift posts went out carrying the messages, and the king's
edict was hung up in Susan.
8:15. And Mardochai going forth out of the palace, and from the king's
presence, shone in royal apparel, to wit, of violet and sky colour,
wearing a golden crown on his head, and clothed with a cloak of silk and
purple. And all the city rejoiced, and was glad.
8:16. But to the Jews, a new light seemed to rise, joy, honour, and
dancing.
8:17. And in all peoples, cities, and provinces, whithersoever the
king's commandments came, there was wonderful rejoicing, feasts and
banquets, and keeping holy day: Insomuch that many of other nations and
religion, joined themselves to their worship and ceremonies. For a great
dread of the name of the Jews had fallen upon all.
Esther Chapter 9
The Jews kill their enemies that would have killed them. The days of
Phurim are appointed to be kept holy.
9:1. So on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which as we have
said above is called Adar, when all the Jews were designed to be
massacred, and their enemies were greedy after their blood, the case
being altered, the Jews began to have the upper hand, and to revenge
themselves of their adversaries.
To revenge, etc... The Jews on this occasion, by authority from the
king, were made executioners of the public justice, for punishing by
death a crime worthy of death, viz., a malicious conspiracy for
extirpating their whole nation.
9:2. And they gathered themselves together in every city, and town, and
place, to lay their hands on their enemies, and their persecutors. And
no one durst withstand them, for the fear of their power had gone
through every people.
9:3. And the judges of the provinces, and the governors, and
lieutenants, and every one in dignity, that presided over every place
and work, extolled the Jews for fear of Mardochai:
9:4. For they knew him to be prince of the palace, and to have great
power: and the fame of his name increased daily, and was spread abroad
through all men's mouths.
9:5. So the Jews made a great slaughter of their enemies, and killed
them, repaying according to what they had prepared to do to them:
9:6. Insomuch that even in Susan they killed five hundred men, besides
the ten sons of Aman the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews: whose names are
these:
9:7. Pharsandatha, and Delphon, and Esphatha
9:8. And Phoratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,
9:9. And Phermesta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Jezatha.
9:10. And when they had slain them, they would not touch the spoils of
their goods.
9:11. And presently the number of them that were killed in Susan was
brought to the king.
9:12. And he said to the queen: The Jews have killed five hundred men in
the city of Susan, besides the ten sons of Aman: how many dost thou
think they have slain in all the provinces? What askest thou more, and
what wilt thou have me to command to be done?
9:13. And she answered: If it please the king, let it be granted to the
Jews, to do to morrow in Susan as they have done to day, and that the
ten sons of Aman may be hanged upon gibbets.
9:14. And the king commanded that it should be so done. And forthwith
the edict was hung up in Susan, and the ten sons of Aman were hanged.
9:15. And on the fourteenth day of the month Adar the Jews gathered
themselves together, and they killed in Susan three hundred men: but
they took not their substance.
9:16. Moreover through all the provinces which were subject to the
king's dominion the Jews stood for their lives, and slew their enemies
and persecutors: insomuch that the number of them that were killed
amounted to seventy-five thousand, and no man took any of their goods.
9:17. Now the thirteenth day of the month Adar was the first day with
them all of the slaughter, and on the fourteenth day they left off.
Which they ordained to be kept holy day, so that all times hereafter
they should celebrate it with feasting, joy, and banquets.
9:18. But they that were killing in the city of Susan, were employed in
the slaughter on the thirteenth and fourteenth day of the same month:
and on the fifteenth day they rested. And therefore they appointed that
day to be a holy day of feasting and gladness.
9:19. But those Jews that dwelt in towns not walled and in villages,
appointed the fourteenth day of the month Adar for banquets and
gladness, so as to rejoice on that day, and send one another portions of
their banquets and meats.
9:20. And Mardochai wrote all these things, and sent them comprised in
letters to the Jews that abode in all the king's provinces, both those
that lay near and those afar off,
9:21. That they should receive the fourteenth and fifteenth day of the
month Adar for holy days, and always at the return of the year should
celebrate them with solemn honour:
9:22. Because on those days the Jews revenged themselves of their
enemies, and their mourning and sorrow were turned into mirth and joy,
and that these should be days of feasting and gladness, in which they
should send one to another portions of meats, and should give gifts to
the poor.
9:23. And the Jews undertook to observe with solemnity all they had
begun to do at that time, which Mardochai by letters had commanded to be
done.
9:24. For Aman, the son of Amadathi of the race of Agag, the enemy and
adversary of the Jews, had devised evil against them, to kill them and
destroy them; and had cast Phur, that is, the lot.
9:25. And afterwards Esther went in to the king, beseeching him that his
endeavours might be made void by the king's letters: and the evil that
he had intended against the Jews, might return upon his own head. And so
both he and his sons were hanged upon gibbets.
9:26. And since that time these days are called Phurim, that is, of
lots: because Phur, that is, the lot, was cast into the urn. And all
things that were done, are contained in the volume of this epistle, that
is, of this book:
9:27. And the things that they suffered, and that were afterwards
changed, the Jews took upon themselves and their seed, and upon all that
had a mind to be joined to their religion, so that it should be lawful
for none to pass these days without solemnity: which the writing
testifieth, and certain times require, as the years continually succeed
one another.
9:28. These are the days which shall never be forgot: and which all
provinces in the whole world shall celebrate throughout all generations:
neither is there any city wherein the days of Phurim, that is, of lots,
must not be observed by the Jews, and by their posterity, which is bound
to these ceremonies.
9:29. And Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mardochai the
Jew, wrote also a second epistle, that with all diligence this day
should be established a festival for the time to come.
9:30. And they sent to all the Jews that were in the hundred and twenty-
seven provinces of king Assuerus, that they should have peace, and
receive truth,
9:31. And observe the days of lots, and celebrate them with joy in their
proper time: as Mardochai and Esther had appointed, and they undertook
them to be observed by themselves and by their seed, fasts, and cries,
and the days of lots,
9:32. And all things which are contained in the history of this book,
which is called Esther.
Esther Chapter 10
Assuerus's greatness. Mardochai's dignity.
10:1. And king Assuerus made all the land, and all the islands of the
sea tributary.
10:2. And his strength and his empire, and the dignity and greatness
wherewith he exalted Mardochai, are written in the books of the Medes,
and of the Persians:
10:3. And how Mardochai of the race of the Jews, was next after king
Assuerus: and great among the Jews, and acceptable to the people of his
brethren, seeking the good of his people, and speaking those things
which were for the welfare of his seed.
10:4. Then Mardochai said: God hath done these things.
Then Mardochai, etc... Here St. Jerome advertiseth the reader, that what
follows is not in the Hebrew, but is found in the septuagint Greek
edition, which the seventy-two interpreters translated out of the
Hebrew, or added by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost.
10:5. I remember a dream that I saw, which signified these same things:
and nothing thereof hath failed.
A dream... This dream was prophetical and extraordinary: otherwise the
general rule is not to observe dreams.
10:6. The little fountain which grew into a river, and was turned into a
light, and into the sun, and abounded into many waters, is Esther, whom
the king married, and made queen.
10:7. But the two dragons are I and Aman.
10:8. The nations that were assembled are they that endeavoured to
destroy the name of the Jews.
10:9. And my nation is Israel, who cried to the Lord, and the Lord saved
his people: and he delivered us from all evils, and hath wrought great
signs and wonders among the nations:
10:10. And he commanded that there should be two lots, one of the people
of God, and the other of all the nations.
10:11. And both lots came to the day appointed already from that time
before God to all nations:
10:12. And the Lord remembered his people, and had mercy on his
inheritance.
10:13. And these days shall be observed in the month of Adar on the
fourteenth, and fifteenth day of the same month, with all diligence, and
joy of the people gathered into one assembly, throughout all the
generations hereafter of the people of Israel.
Esther Chapter 11
The dream of Mardochai, which in the ancient Greek and Latin Bibles was
into the beginning of the book, but was detached by St. Jerome, and put
in this place.
11:1. In the fourth year of the reign of Ptolemy and Cleopatra,
Dositheus, who said he was a priest, and of the Levitical race, and
Ptolemy his son brought this epistle of Phurim, which they said
Lysimachus the son of Ptolemy had interpreted in Jerusalem.
11:2. In the second year of the reign of Artaxerxes the great, in the
first day of the month Nisan, Mardochai the son of Jair, the son of
Semei, the son of Cis, of the tribe of Benjamin:
11:3. A Jew who dwelt in the city of Susan, a great man and among the
first of the king's court, had a dream.
11:4. Now he was of the number of the captives, whom Nabuchodonosor king
of Babylon had carried away from Jerusalem with Jechonias king of Juda:
11:5. And this was his dream: Behold there were voices, and tumults, and
thunders, and earthquakes, and a disturbance upon the earth.
11:6. And behold two great dragons came forth ready to fight one against
another.
11:7. And at their cry all nations were stirred up to fight against the
nation of the just.
11:8. And that was a day of darkness and danger, of tribulation and
distress, and great fear upon the earth.
11:9. And the nation of the just was troubled fearing their own evils,
and was prepared for death.
11:10. And they cried to God: and as they were crying, a little fountain
grew into a very great river, and abounded into many waters.
11:11. The light and the sun rose up, and the humble were exalted, and
they devoured the glorious.
11:12. And when Mardochai had seen this, and arose out of his bed, he
was thinking what God would do: and he kept it fixed in his mind,
desirous to know what the dream should signify.
Esther Chapter 12
Mardochai detects the conspiracy of the two eunuchs.
12:1. And he abode at that time in the king's court with Bagatha and
Thara the king's eunuchs, who were porters of the palace.
12:2. And when he understood their designs, and had diligently searched
into their projects, he learned that they went about to lay violent
hands on king Artaxerxes, and he told the king thereof.
12:3. Then the king had them both examined, and after they had
confessed, commanded them to be put to death.
12:4. But the king made a record of what was done: and Mardochai also
committed the memory of the thing to writing.
12:5. And the king commanded him, to abide in the court of the palace,
and gave him presents for the information.
12:6. But Aman the son of Amadathi the Bugite was in great honour with
the king, and sought to hurt Mardochai and his people, because of the
two eunuchs of the king who were put to death.
Esther Chapter 13
A copy of a letter sent by Aman to destroy the Jews. Mardochai's prayer
for the people.
13:1. And this was the copy of the letter: Artaxerxes the great king who
reigneth from India to Ethiopia, to the princes and governors of the
hundred and twenty-seven provinces, that are subject to his empire,
greeting.
13:2. Whereas I reigned over many nations, and had brought all the world
under my dominion, I was not willing to abuse the greatness of my power,
but to govern my subjects with clemency and that they might live quietly
without any terror, and might enjoy peace, which is desired by all men,
13:3. But when I asked my counsellors how this might be accomplished,
one that excelled the rest in wisdom and fidelity, and was second after
the king, Aman by name,
13:4. Told me that there was a people scattered through the whole world,
which used new laws, and acted against the customs of all nations,
despised the commandments of kings, and violated by their opposition the
concord of all nations.
13:5. Wherefore having learned this, and seeing one nation in opposition
to all mankind using perverse laws, and going against our commandments,
and disturbing the peace and concord of the provinces subject to us,
13:6. We have commanded that all whom Aman shall mark out, who is chief
over all the provinces, and second after the king, and whom we honour as
a father, shall be utterly destroyed by their enemies, with their wives
and children, and that none shall have pity on them, on the fourteenth
day of the twelfth month Adar of this present year:
13:7. That these wicked men going down to hell in one day, may restore
to our empire the peace which they had disturbed.
13:8. But Mardochai besought the Lord, remembering all his works,
13:9. And said: O Lord, Lord, almighty king, for all things are in thy
power, and there is none that can resist thy will, if thou determine to
save Israel.
13:10. Thou hast made heaven and earth and all things that are under the
cope of heaven.
13:11. Thou art Lord of all, and there is none that can resist thy
majesty.
13:12. Thou knowest all things, and thou knowest that it was not out of
pride and or any desire of glory, that I refused to worship the proud
Aman,
13:13. (For I would willingly and readily for the salvation of Israel
have kissed even the steps of his feet,)
13:14. But I feared lest I should transfer the honour of my God to a
man, and lest I should adore any one except my God.
13:15. And now, O Lord, O king, O God of Abraham, have mercy on thy
people, because our enemies resolve to destroy us, and extinguish thy
inheritance.
13:16. Despise not thy portion, which thou hast redeemed for thyself out
of Egypt.
13:17. Hear my supplication, and be merciful to thy lot and inheritance,
and turn our mourning into joy, that we may live and praise thy name, O
Lord, and shut not the mouths of them that sing to thee.
13:18. And all Israel with like mind and supplication cried to the Lord,
because they saw certain death hanging over their heads.
Esther Chapter 14
The prayer of Esther for herself and her people.
14:1. Queen Esther also, fearing the danger that was at hand, had
recourse to the Lord.
14:2. And when she had laid away her royal apparel, she put on garments
suitable for weeping and mourning: instead of divers precious ointments,
she covered her head with ashes and dung, and she humbled her body with
fasts: and all the places in which before she was accustomed to rejoice,
she filled with her torn hair.
14:3. And she prayed to the Lord the God of Israel, saying: O my Lord,
who alone art our king, help me a desolate woman, and who have no other
helper but thee.
14:4. My danger is in my hands.
14:5. I have heard of my father that thou, O Lord, didst take Israel
from among all nations, and our fathers from all their predecessors, to
possess them as an everlasting inheritance, and thou hast done to them
as thou hast promised.
14:6. We have sinned in thy sight, and therefore thou hast delivered us
into the hands of our enemies:
14:7. For we have worshipped their gods. Thou art just, O Lord.
14:8. And now they are not content to oppress us with most hard bondage,
but attributing the strength of their hands to the power of their idols.
14:9. They design to change thy promises, and destroy thy inheritance,
and shut the mouths of them that praise thee, and extinguish the glory
of thy temple and altar,
14:10. That they may open the mouths of Gentiles, and praise the
strength of idols, and magnify for ever a carnal king.
14:11. Give not, O Lord, thy sceptre to them that are not, lest they
laugh at our ruin: but turn their counsel upon themselves, and destroy
him that hath begun to rage against us.
14:12. Remember, O Lord, and shew thyself to us in the time of our
tribulation, and give me boldness, O Lord, king of gods, and of all
power:
14:13. Give me a well ordered speech in my mouth in the presence of the
lion, and turn his heart to the hatred of our enemy, that both he
himself may perish, and the rest that consent to him.
14:14. But deliver us by thy hand, and help me, who have no other
helper, but thee, O Lord, who hast the knowledge of all things.
14:15. And thou knowest that I hate the glory of the wicked, and abhor
the bed of the uncircumcised, and of every stranger.
14:16. Thou knowest my necessity, that I abominate the sign of my pride
and glory, which is upon my head in the days of my public appearance,
and detest it as a menstruous rag, and wear it not in the days of my
silence,
14:17. And that I have not eaten at Aman's table, nor hath the king's
banquet pleased me, and that I have not drunk the wine of the drink
offerings:
14:18. And that thy handmaid hath never rejoiced, since I was brought
hither unto this day but in thee, O Lord, the God of Abraham.
14:19. O God, who art mighty above all, hear the voice of them, that
have no other hope, and deliver us from the hand of the wicked, and
deliver me from my fear.
Esther Chapter 15
Esther comes into the king's presence: she is terrified, but God turns
his heart.
15:1. And he commanded her (no doubt but he was Mardochai) to go to the
king, and petition for her people, and for her country.
15:2. Remember, (said he,) the days of thy low estate, how thou wast
brought up by my hand, because Aman the second after the king hath
spoken against us unto death.
15:3. And do thou call upon the Lord, and speak to the king for us, and
deliver us from death.
15:4. And on the third day she laid away the garments she wore, and put
on her glorious apparel.
15:5. And glittering in royal robes, after she had called upon God the
ruler and Saviour of all, she took two maids with her,
15:6. And upon one of them she leaned, as if for delicateness and
overmuch tenderness she were not able to bear up her own body.
15:7. And the other maid followed her lady, bearing up her train flowing
on the ground.
15:8. But she with a rosy colour in her face, and with gracious and
bright eyes hid a mind full of anguish, and exceeding great fear.
15:9. So going in she passed through all doors in order, and stood
before the king, where he sat upon his royal throne, clothed with his
royal robes, and glittering with gold, and precious stones, and he was
terrible to behold.
15:10. And when he had lifted up his countenance, and with burning eyes
had shewn the wrath of his heart, the queen sunk down, and her colour
turned pale, and she rested her weary head upon her handmaid.
15:11. And God changed the king's spirit into mildness, and all in haste
and in fear he leaped from his throne, and holding her up in his arms,
till she came to herself, caressed her with these words:
15:12. What is the matter, Esther? I am thy brother, fear not.
15:13. Thou shalt not die: for this law is not made for thee, but for
all others.
15:14. Come near then, and touch the sceptre.
15:15. And as she held her peace, he took the golden sceptre, and laid
it upon her neck, and kissed her, and said: Why dost thou not speak to
me?
15:16. She answered: I saw thee, my lord, as an angel of God, and my
heart was troubled for fear of thy majesty.
15:17. For thou, my lord, art very admirable, and thy face is full of
graces.
15:18. And while she was speaking, she fell down again, and was almost
in a swoon.
15:19. But the king was troubled, and all his servants comforted her.
Esther Chapter 16
A copy of the king's letter in favour of the Jews.
16:1. The great king Artaxerxes, from India to Ethiopia, to the
governors and princes of a hundred and twenty-seven provinces, which
obey our command, sendeth greeting.
From India to Ethiopia... That is, who reigneth from India to Ethiopia.
16:2. Many have abused unto pride the goodness of princes, and the
honour that hath been bestowed upon them:
16:3. And not only endeavour to oppress the king's subjects, but not
bearing the glory that is given them, take in hand, to practise also
against them that gave it.
16:4. Neither are they content not to return thanks for benefits
received, and to violate in themselves the laws of humanity, but they
think they can also escape the justice of God who seeth all things.
16:5. And they break out into so great madness, as to endeavour to
undermine by lies such as observe diligently the offices committed to
them, and do all things in such manner as to be worthy of all men's
praise,
16:6. While with crafty fraud they deceive the ears of princes that are
well meaning, and judge of others by their own nature.
16:7. Now this is proved both from ancient histories, and by the things
which are done daily, how the good designs of kings are depraved by the
evil suggestions of certain men.
16:8. Wherefore we must provide for the peace of all provinces.
16:9. Neither must you think, if we command different things, that it
cometh of the levity of our mind, but that we give sentence according to
the quality and necessity of times, as the profit of the commonwealth
requireth.
16:10. Now that you may more plainly understand what we say, Aman the
son of Amadathi, a Macedonian both in mind and country, and having
nothing of the Persian blood, but with his cruelty staining our
goodness, was received being a stranger by us:
16:11. And found our humanity so great towards him, that he was called
our father, and was worshipped by all as the next man after the king:
16:12. But he was so far puffed up with arrogancy, as to go about to
deprive us of our kingdom and life.
16:13. For with certain new and unheard of devices he hath sought the
destruction of Mardochai, by whose fidelity and good services our life
was saved, and of Esther the partner of our kingdom with all their
nation:
