< Ester 3 >

1 Dopo queste cose, il re Assuero promosse Haman, figliuolo di Hammedatha, l’Agaghita, alla più alta dignità, e pose il suo seggio al disopra di quelli di tutti i principi ch’eran con lui.
After these things, did King Ahasuerus promote to power Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and exalted him, —and placed his seat above all the rulers who were with him.
2 E tutti i servi del re che stavano alla porta del re s’inchinavano e si prostravano davanti a Haman, perché così aveva ordinato il re a suo riguardo. Ma Mardocheo non s’inchinava né si prostrava.
And, all the kings servants who were in the kings gate, used to bend and bow themselves down unto Haman, for, so, had the king given command concerning him, —but, Mordecai, bent not nor bowed himself down.
3 E i servi del re che stavano alla porta del re dissero a Mardocheo: “Perché trasgredisci l’ordine del re?”
Then said the king’s servants who were in the king’s gate unto Mordecai, —
4 Or com’essi glielo ripetevano tutti i giorni, ed egli non dava loro ascolto, quelli riferirono la cosa a Haman, per vedere se Mardocheo persisterebbe nel suo dire; perch’egli avea lor detto ch’era Giudeo.
Wherefore art, thou, transgressing the command of the king? And it came to pass, when they had spoken unto him day by day, and he had not hearkened unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether the account of Mordecai would stand, for he had told them, that, he, was a Jew.
5 Haman vide che Mardocheo non s’inchinava né si prostrava davanti a lui, e ne fu ripieno d’ira;
And, when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bend nor bow down unto him, then was Haman filled with wrath;
6 ma sdegnò di metter le mani addosso a Mardocheo soltanto, giacché gli avean detto a qual popolo Mardocheo apparteneva; e cercò di distruggere il popolo di Mardocheo, tutti i Giudei che si trovavano in tutto il regno d’Assuero.
but, it was contemptible in his eyes, to thrust forth a hand on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai, —and Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout all the kingdom of Ahasuerus, the people of Mordecai.
7 Il primo mese, ch’è il mese di Nisan, il dodicesimo anno del re Assuero, si tirò il Pur, vale a dire si tirò a sorte, in presenza di Haman, un giorno dopo l’altro e un mese dopo l’altro, finché sortì designato il dodicesimo mese, ch’è il mese di Adar.
In the first month—the same, was the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, was Pur cast—the same, is the Lot, before Haman, from day to day, and from month to month, —and the lot fell on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the same, is the month Adar.
8 E Haman disse al re Assuero: “V’è un popolo appartato e disperso fra i popoli di tutte le province del tuo regno, le cui leggi sono diverse da quelle d’ogni altro popolo, e che non osserva le leggi del re; non conviene quindi che il re lo tolleri.
Then said Haman unto King Ahasuerus, There is a certain people, scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples, throughout all the provinces of thy kingdom, —whose laws, are diverse from every people, and, the laws of the king, they observe not, for the king, therefore, it is not fit, to suffer them.
9 Se così piace al re, si scriva ch’esso sia distrutto; e io pagherò diecimila talenti d’argento in mano di quelli che fanno gli affari del re, perché sian portati nel tesoro reale”.
If, unto the king, it seem good, let it be written, to destroy them, —and, ten thousand talents of silver, will I weigh out upon the hands of them who are doing the business, to bring [it] into the treasuries of the king.
10 Allora il re si tolse l’anello di mano, e lo diede a Haman l’Agaghita figliuolo di Hammedatha, e nemico de’ Giudei.
So then the king took his signet-ring from off his hand, and gave it unto Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the adversary of the Jews;
11 E il re disse a Haman: “Il danaro t’è dato, e il popolo pure; fagli quel che ti pare”.
and the king said unto Haman, The silver, is granted thee, —and the people, to do with them, as may seem good in thine eyes.
12 Il tredicesimo giorno del primo mese furon chiamati i segretari del re, e fu scritto, seguendo in tutto gli ordini di Haman, ai satrapi del re, ai governatori d’ogni provincia e ai capi d’ogni popolo, a ogni provincia secondo il suo modo di scrivere, e ad ogni popolo nella sua lingua. Lo scritto fu redatto in nome del re Assuero e sigillato col sigillo reale.
Then were called the scribes of the king, in the first month, on the thirteenth day therein, and it was written according to all that Haman commanded unto the satraps of the king, and unto the pashas, who were over every province, and unto the rulers of every people, every province according to the writing thereof, and every people according to the tongue thereof, —in the name of King Ahasuerus, was it written, and sealed with the signet- ring of the king.
13 E furon mandate delle lettere, a mezzo di corrieri, in tutte le province del re perché si distruggessero, si uccidessero, si sterminassero tutti i Giudei, giovani e vecchi, bambini e donne, in un medesimo giorno, il tredici del dodicesimo mese, ch’è il mese d’Adar, e si abbandonassero al saccheggio i loro beni.
Then were sent letters, by the hand of the runners, into all the provinces of the king, To destroy, to slay and to cause to perish all Jews, both young and old, little ones and women, in one day, on the thirteenth of the twelfth month, the same, is the month Adar, —and the spoil of them to be a prey.
14 Queste lettere contenevano una copia dell’editto che doveva esser pubblicato in ogni provincia, e invitavano tutti i popoli a tenersi pronti per quel giorno.
A copy of the writing, to be delivered as an edict throughout every province, was published to all the peoples, —that they should be ready against this day.
15 I corrieri partirono in tutta fretta per ordine del re, e il decreto fu promulgato nella residenza reale di Susa; e mentre il re e Haman se ne stavano a sedere bevendo, la città di Susa era costernata.
The runners, went forth, urged on by the word of the king, and, the edict, was given in Shusan the palace, —and, the king and Haman, sat down to drink, but, the city of Shusan, was perplexed.

< Ester 3 >