Esther 3

1 Post hæc rex Assuerus exaltavit Aman filium Amadathi, qui erat de stirpe Agag: et posuit solium eius super omnes principes, quos habebat.

After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.

2 Cunctique servi regis, qui in foribus palatii versabantur, flectebant genua, et adorabant Aman: sic enim præceperat eis imperator. Solus Mardochæus non flectebat genu, neque adorabat eum.

And all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed down, and did reverence to Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not down, nor did him reverence.

3 Cui dixerunt pueri regis, qui ad fores palatii præsidebant: Cur præter ceteros non observas mandatum regis?

Then the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king’s commandment?

4 Cumque hoc crebrius dicerent, et ille nollet audire, nuntiaverunt Aman, scire cupientes utrum perseveraret in sententia: dixerat enim eis se esse Iudæum.

Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.

5 Quod cum audisset Aman, et experimento probasset quod Mardochæus non flecteret sibi genu, nec se adoraret, iratus est valde,

And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not down, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.

6 et pro nihilo duxit in unum Mardochæum mittere manus suas: audierat enim quod esset gentis Iudææ. Magisque voluit omnem Iudæorum, qui erant in regno Assueri, perdere nationem.

But he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.

7 Mense primo (cuius vocabulum est Nisan) anno duodecimo regni Assueri, missa est sors in urnam, quæ Hebraice dicitur phur, coram Aman, quo die et quo mense gens Iudæorum deberet interfici: et exivit mensis duodecimus, qui vocatur Adar.

In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, [to] the twelfth [month], which is the month Adar.

8 Dixitque Aman regi Assuero: Est populus per omnes provincias regni tui dispersus, et a se mutuo separatus, novis utens legibus et ceremoniis, insuper et regis scita contemnens. Et optime nosti quod non expediat regno tuo ut insolescat per licentiam.

And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from [those of] every people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them.

9 Si tibi placet, decerne, ut pereat, et decem millia talentorum appendam arcariis gazæ tuæ.

If it please the king, let it be written that they be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those that have the charge of the [king’s] business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.

10 Tulit ergo rex annulum, quo utebatur, de manu sua, et dedit eum Aman filio Amadathi de progenie Agag, hosti Iudæorum,

And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy.

11 dixitque ad eum: Argentum, quod tu polliceris, tuum sit. De populo age quod tibi placet.

And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.

12 Vocatique sunt scribæ regis mense primo Nisan, tertiadecima die eiusdem mensis: et scriptum est, ut iusserat Aman, ad omnes satrapas regis, et iudices provinciarum, diversarumque gentium, ut quæque gens legere poterat, et audire pro varietate linguarum ex nomine regis Assueri: et litteræ signatæ ipsius annulo,

Then were the king’s scribes called in the first month, on the thirteenth day thereof, and there was written according to all that Haman commanded unto the king’s satraps, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the princes of every people; to every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and it was sealed with the king’s ring.

13 missæ sunt per cursores regis ad universas provincias ut occiderent atque delerent omnes Iudæos, a puero usque ad senem, parvulos, et mulieres, uno die, hoc est tertiodecimo mensis duodecimi, qui vocatur Adar, et bona eorum diriperent.

And letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.

14 Summa autem epistolarum hæc fuit, ut omnes provinciæ scirent, et pararent se ad prædictam diem.

A copy of the writing, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published unto all the peoples, that they should be ready against that day.

15 Festinabant cursores, qui missi erant, regis imperium explere. Statimque in Susan pependit edictum, rege et Aman celebrante convivium, et cunctis Iudæis, qui in urbe erant, flentibus.

The posts went forth in haste by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given out in Shushan the palace: and the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.