Esther informeth the king that Mardocheus is her uncle, he is advanced in authority, 3. and contrary letters are sent that the Jews be saved, 11. and their enemies slain. 15. Mardocheus is in high honour, and his whole nation is esteemed and feared by other people.Esther informeth the king that Mardocheus is her vncle, he is aduanced in authoritie, 3. and contrarie letters are sent that the Iewes be saued, 11. and their enemies slayne. 15. Mardocheus is in high honour, and his whole nation is estemed and feared by other people.✦
That day king Assuerus gave unto Esther the queen the house of Aman the Jews' adversary, and Mardocheus went in before the king's presence. For Esther confessed to him that he was her uncle.THAT day king Assuerus gaue vnto Esther the queene the house of Aman the Iewes aduersarie, and Mardocheus went in before the kings presence. For Esther confessed to him that he was her vncle.✦Die illo dedit rex Assuerus Esther reginæ domum Aman adversarii Judæorum, et Mardochæus ingressus est ante faciem regis. Confessa est enim ei Esther quod esset patruus suus.
2And the king took the ring, which he had commanded to be taken again from Aman, and delivered it to Mardocheus. And Esther appointed Mardocheus also over her house.And the king tooke the ring, which he had commanded to be taken agayne from Aman, and deliuered it to Mardocheus. And Esther appointed Mardocheus also ouer her house.✦Tulitque rex annulum, quem ab Aman recipi jusserat, et tradidit Mardochæo. Esther autem constituit Mardochæum super domum suam.
3Neither content with these things, she fell down at the king's feet, and she wept and speaking to him prayed him, that he would command that the malice of Aman the Agagite, and his most wicked devices, which he had invented against the Jews, should be of none effect.Neither content with these things, she fel downe at the kings feete, and she wept and speaking to him prayed him, that he would command that the malice of Aman the Agagite, and his most wicked deuises, which he had inuented agaynst the Iewes, should be of none effect.Nec his contenta, procidit ad pedes regis, flevitque, et locuta ad eum oravit ut malitiam Aman Agagitæ, et machinationes ejus pessimas quas excogitaverat contra Judæos, juberet irritas fieri.
4But he after the manner put forth the golden scepter with his hand, by the which the sign of clemency was shewed: and she rising up stood before him,But he after the maner put forth the golden scepter with his hand, by the which the signe of clemencie was shewed: and she rysing vp stood before him,At ille ex more sceptrum aureum protendit manu, quo signum clementiæ monstrabatur : illaque consurgens stetit ante eum,
5and said: If it please the king, and if I have found grace in his eyes, and my request seem not contrary to him, I beseech thee, that the old letters of Aman the traitor and enemy of the Jews, wherein he commanded that in all the king's provinces they should perish, may by new letters be corrected.and said: If it please the king, and if I haue found grace in his eies, and my request seme not contrarie to him, I beseech thee, that the old letters of Aman the traytour and enemie of the Iewes, wherein he commanded that in al the kings prouinces they should perish, may by new letters be corrected.✦et ait : Si placet regi, et si inveni gratiam in oculis ejus, et deprecatio mea non ei videtur esse contraria, obsecro ut novis epistolis, veteres Aman litteræ, insidiatoris et hostis Judæorum, quibus eos in cunctis regis provinciis perire præceperat, corrigantur.
6For how can I abide the murder and slaughter of my people?For how can I abide the murder and slaughter of my people?Quomodo enim potero sustinere necem et interfectionem populi mei ?
7And king Assuerus answered Esther the queen, and Mardocheus the Jew: Aman's house I have given to Esther, and himself I have commanded to be hanged on the gallows, because he durst lay hands on the Jews.And king Assuerus answered Esther the queene, and Mardocheus the Iewe: Amans house I haue geuen to Esther, and him self I haue commanded to be hanged on the gallowes, because he durst lay handes on the Iewes.Responditque rex Assuerus Esther reginæ, et Mardochæo Judæo : Domum Aman concessi Esther, et ipsum jussi affigi cruci, quia ausus est manum mittere in Judæos.
8Write ye therefore to the Jews, as pleaseth you, in the king's name, signing the letters with my ring. For this was the custom, that no man durst speak against the letters, which were sent in the king's name, and were signed with his ring.Write ye therfore to the Iewes, as pleaseth you, in the kings name, signing the letters with my ring. For this was the custome, that no man durst speake against the lettes, which were sent in the kings name, and were signed with his ring.Scribite ergo Judæis, sicut vobis placet, regis nomine, signantes litteras annulo meo. Hæc enim consuetudo erat, ut epistolis, quæ ex regis nomine mittebantur et illius annulo signatæ erant, nemo auderet contradicere.
9And the king's scribes and secretaries being called for (and it was the time of the third month, which is called Siban) the three and twentieth day thereof letters were written, as Mardocheus would, to the Jews, and to the princes, and the lieutenants and judges, which were rulers over the hundred and seven and twenty provinces, from India even to Æthiopia: 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.And the kings scribes and secretaries being cald for (and it was the time of the third moneth, which is called Siban) the three and twenteth day therof letters were written, as Mardocheus would, to the Iewes, and to the princes, and the lieuftenantes and iudges, which were rulers ouer the hundred and seuen and twentie prouinces, from India euen to Æthiopia: to prouince and prouince, to people and people, according to their languages and characters, and to the Iewes, according as they could read, and heare.✦Accitisque scribis et librariis regis (erat autem tempus tertii mensis, qui appellatur Siban) vigesima et tertia die illius scriptæ sunt epistolæ, ut Mardochæus voluerat, ad Judæos, et ad principes, procuratoresque et judices, qui centum viginti septem provinciis ab India usque ad Æthiopiam præsidebant : provinciæ atque provinciæ, populo et populo juxta linguas et litteras suas, et Judæis, prout legere poterant et audire.
10And the said letters, which were sent in the king's name, were signed with his ring, and sent by riding veredarii: fixed stakes; mounted couriers, royal messengers: which running through all the provinces, should praevenire: hinder, stop; go before, outrun, anticipate the old letters with the new messages.And the said letters, which were sent in the kings name, were signed with his ring, and sent by ryding postes: which running through al the prouinces, should preuent the old letters with the new messages.Ipsæque epistolæ, quæ regis nomine mittebantur, annulo ipsius obsignatæ sunt, et missæ per veredarios : qui per omnes provincias discurrentes, veteres litteras novis nuntiis prævenirent.
11To whom the king gave commandment, that they should speak to the Jews in every city, and should command them to be gathered together in one, that they might stand for their lives, and might kill and destroy all their enemies with their wives and children and all their houses, and to take the spoil of them.To whom the king gaue commandment, that they should speake to the Iewes in euerie citie, and should command them to be gathered together in one, that they might stand for their liues, and might kil and destroy al their enemies with their wiues and children and al their houses, and to take the spoyle of them.✦Quibus imperavit rex, ut convenirent Judæos per singulas civitates, et in unum præciperent congregari ut starent pro animabus suis, et omnes inimicos suos cum conjugibus ac liberis et universis domibus, interficerent atque delerent, et spolia eorum diriperent.
12And there was appointed through all the provinces one day of revenge, that is, the thirteenth of the twelfth month Adar.And there was appointed through al the prouinces one day of reuenge, that is, the thirtenth of the twelfth moneth Adar.Et constituta est per omnes provincias una ultionis dies, id est tertiadecima mensis duodecimi Adar.
13And this was the content of the letter, that in all lands and peoples, which were subject to the empire of king Assuerus, it should be notified, the Jews to be ready to be revenged of their enemies.And this was the content of the letter, that in al landes and peoples, which were subiect to the empire of king Assuerus, it should be notified, the Iewes to be readie to be reuenged of their enemies.Summaque epistolæ hæc fuit, ut in omnibus terris ac populis qui regis Assueri subjacebant imperio, notum fieret paratos esse Judæos ad capiendam vindictam de hostibus suis.
14And there went forth swift posts carrying the messages, and the king's edict hung in Susan.And there went forth swift postes cariyng the massages, and the kinges edict hong in Susan.Egressique sunt veredarii celeres nuntia perferentes, et edictum regis pependit in Susan.
15But Mardocheus going forth out of the palace, and from the king's presence, shining in royal garments, to wit, hyacinthine and sky colour, bearing a golden crown on his head, and clothed with a silk and purple cloak. And the city rejoiced, and was glad.But Mardocheus going forth out of the palace, and from the kinges presence, shining in royal garmentes, to wit, hyathinthine and skie colour, bearing a golden crowne on his head, and clothed with a silke and purple cloke. And the citie reioysed, and was glad.✦Mardochæus autem de palatio et de conspectu regis egrediens, fulgebat vestibus regiis, hyacinthinis videlicet et aëriis, coronam auream portans in capite, et amictus serico pallio atque purpureo. Omnisque civitas exsultavit atque lætata est.
16But to the Jews there seemed a new light to rise, joy, honour, and dancing.But to the Iewes there semed a new light to rise, ioye, honour, and dauncing.✦Judæis autem nova lux oriri visa est, gaudium, honor, et tripudium.
17With all peoples, cities, and provinces, whither soever the king's commandments came, marvellous rejoicing, feasts and banquets, and holy day: in so much that many of the other nation and sect, were joined to their religion and ceremonies. For great terror of the name of the Jews had invaded them all.With al peoples, cities, and prouinces, whither soeuer the kinges commandmentes came, meruelous reioysing, feastes and banketes, and holie day: in so much that manie of the other nation and sect, were ioyned to their religion and ceremonies. For great terrour of the name of the Iewes had inuaded them al. *✦Apud omnes populos, urbes, atque provincias, quocumque regis jussa veniebant, mira exsultatio, epulæ atque convivia, et festus dies : in tantum ut plures alterius gentis et sectæ eorum religioni et cæremoniis jungerentur. Grandis enim cunctos judaici nominis terror invaserat.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.