A copy of the epistle which Aman sent to all provinces to destroy the Jews. 8. And Mardocheus his prayer for the people.A copie of the epistle which Aman sent to al prouinces to destroy the Iewes. 8. And Mardocheus his prayer for the people.✦
And this was the copy of the letter. The most great king Artaxerxes from India unto Æthiopia, to the princes of an hundred and seven and twenty provinces, and to the captains, that are subject to his empire, greeting.AND this was the copie of the letter. The most great king Artaxerxes from India vnto Æthiopia, to the princes of an hundred and seuen and twentie prouinces, and to the captaynes, that are subiect to his empire, greeting.Rex maximus Artaxerxes ab India usque Æthiopiam, centum viginti septem provinciarum principibus et ducibus qui ejus imperio subjecti sunt, salutem.
2Whereas I reigned over many nations, and had subdued all the world to my dominion, I would not abuse the greatness of my might, but with clemency and lenitate: gentleness or mildness govern my subjects, that passing their life quietly without any terror, they might enjoy peace wished of all men.Wheras I reigned ouer manie nations, and had subdewed al the world to my dominion, I would not abuse the greatnes of my might, but with clemencie and lenitie gouerne my subiectes, that passing their life quietly without any terrour, they might enioy peace wished of al men.✦Cum plurimis gentibus imperarem, et universum orbem meæ ditioni subjugassem, volui nequaquam abuti potentiæ magnitudine, sed clementia et lenitate gubernare subjectos, ut absque ullo terrore vitam silentio transigentes, optata cunctis mortalibus pace fruerentur.
3But when I demanded of 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,But when I demanded of my counselers how this might be accomplished, one that excelled the rest in wisedom and fidelitie, and was second after the king, Aman by name,Quærente autem me a consiliariis meis quomodo posset hoc impleri, unus qui sapientia et fide ceteros præcellebat, et erat post regem secundus, Aman nomine,
4told me that there was a people dispersed through the whole world, which used new laws, and doing against the customs of all Nations, contemneret: condemned; despised or scorned the commandments of kings, and brake the concord of all nations by their dissension.told me that there was a people dispersed through the whole world, which vsed new lawes, and doing against the customes of al Nations, contemned the comandmentes of kings, and brake the concord of al nations by their dissention.indicavit mihi in toto orbe terrarum populum esse dispersum, qui novis uteretur legibus, et, contra omnium gentium consuetudinem faciens, regum jussa contemneret, et universarum concordiam nationum sua dissensione violaret.
5Which when we had learned, seeing one nation rebellious against all kind of men to use perverse laws, and to go against our commandments, and to disturb the peace and concord of the provinces subject to us,Which when we had learned, seing one nation rebellious against al kind of men to vse peruerse lawes, and to goe against our commandmentes, and to disturbe the peace and concord of the prouinces subiect to vs,Quod cum didicissemus, videntes unam gentem rebellem adversus omne hominum genus perversis uti legibus, nostrisque jussionibus contraire, et turbare subjectarum nobis provinciarum pacem atque concordiam,
6we have commanded that whomsoever Aman shall shew, who is chief over all the provinces, and second after the king, and whom we honour in stead of a father, they with their wives and children be destroyed of their enemies, and that none have pity on them the fourteenth day of the twelfth month Adar of this present year:we haue commanded that whomsoeuer Aman shal shew, who is chiefe ouer al the prouinces, and second after the king, and whom we honour in steed of a father, they with their wiues and children be destroyed of their enemies, and that none haue pitie on them the fourtenth day of the twelfth moneth Adar of this present yeare:✦jussimus ut quoscumque Aman, qui omnibus provinciis præpositus est et secundus a rege, et quem patris loco colimus, monstraverit, cum conjugibus ac liberis deleantur ab inimicis suis, nullusque eorum misereatur, quartadecima die duodecimi mensis Adar anni præsentis :
7that the wicked men going down to hell in one day, may restore the peace to our empire, which they had disturbed.that the wicked men going downe to hel in one day, may restore the peace to our empire, which they had disturbed. *ut nefarii homines uno die ad inferos descendentes, reddant imperio nostro pacem, quam turbaverant. Pergensque Mardochæus, fecit omnia quæ ei mandaverat Esther.
8But Mardocheus besought our Lord, mindful of all his works,But Mardocheus besought our Lord, mindeful of al his workes,✦Mardochæus autem deprecatus est Dominum, memor omnium operum ejus,
9and said: Lord Lord king omnipotent, for in thy dominion are all things set, and there is none that can resist thy will, if thou determine to save Israel.and said: Lord Lord king omnipotent, for in thy dominion are al thinges set, and there is none that can resist thy wil, if thou determine to saue Israel.et dixit : Domine, Domine rex omnipotens, in ditione enim tua cuncta sunt posita, et non est qui possit tuæ resistere voluntati, si decreveris salvare Israël.
10Thou madest heaven and earth, and whatsoever is contained in the compass of heaven.Thou madst heauen and earth, and whatsoeuer is conteyned in the compasse of heauen.Tu fecisti cælum et terram, et quidquid cæli ambitu continetur.
11Thou art Lord of all, neither is there that can resist thy majesty.Thou art Lord of al, neither is there that can resist thy maiestie.Dominus omnium es, nec est qui resistat majestati tuæ.
12Thou understandest all things, and knowest that I have not done this for pride and contumelia: insolent contempt or reproach, and any desire of glory, that I adored not the proud Aman,Thou vnderstandest al things, and knowest that I haue not done this for pride and contumelie, and any desire of glorie, that I adored not the proud Aman,Cuncta nosti, et scis quia non pro superbia et contumelia, et aliqua gloriæ cupiditate, fecerim hoc, ut non adorarem Aman superbissimum
13( for gladly would I be ready for the salvation of Israel to kiss even the steps of his feet,)( for gladly would I be readie for the saluation of Israel to kisse euen the steppes of his feete,)✦(libenter enim pro salute Israël etiam vestigia pedum ejus deosculari paratus essem),
14but I feared lest I should transfer the honour of my God to a man, and lest I should adore any except my God.but I feared lest I should transferre the honour of my God to a man, and lest I should adore any except my God.✦sed timui ne honorem Dei mei transferrem ad hominem, et ne quemquam adorarem, excepto Deo meo.
15And now O Lord king, the God of Abraham have mercy upon thy people, because our enemies will destroy us, and extinguish thine inheritance.And now ô Lord king, the God of Abraham haue mercie vpon thy poople, because our enemies wil destroy vs, and extinguish thyne inheritance.Et nunc, Domine rex, Deus Abraham, miserere populi tui, quia volunt nos inimici nostri perdere, et hæreditatem tuam delere.
16Despise not thy portion, which thou hast redeemed to thyself out of Ægypt.Despise not thy portion, which thou hast redemed to thyself out of Ægypt.✦Ne despicias partem tuam, quam redemisti tibi de Ægypto.
17Hear my prayer, and be propitius: favourably timed; merciful, ready to pardon to thy lot and funiculo: measuring-line, hence the allotted portion, and turn our mourning into joy, that living we may praise thy name O Lord, and do not shut the mouths of them that sing to thee.Heare my prayer, and be propitious to thy lot and corde, and turne our mourning into ioy, that liuing we may prayse thy name ô Lord, and doe not shut the mouthes of them that sing to thee.✦Exaudi deprecationem meam, et propitius esto sorti et funiculo tuo, et converte luctum nostrum in gaudium, ut viventes laudemus nomen tuum, Domine : et ne claudas ora te canentium.
18All Israel also with like mind and supplication cried to our Lord, because certain death did hang over them.Al Israel also with like mind and supplication cried to our Lord, because certayne death did hang ouer them.Omnis quoque Israël pari mente et obsecratione clamavit ad Dominum, eo quod eis certa mors impenderet.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.