1 And he commanded her ( no doubt but Mardocheus commanded Esther ) that she should go unto the king, & make petition for her people and for her country.
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.
2 Remember (quoth he,) the days of thy humility, how thou wast brought up in my hand, because Aman the second after the king hath spoken against us unto death:
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.
3 & do thou invocate our Lord, and speak to the king for us, and deliver us from death.
3 And do thou call upon the Lord, and speak to the king for us, and deliver us from death.
4 And in the third day she laid away the garments which she wore, and was clothed in her glory.
4 And on the third day she laid away the garments she wore, and put on her glorious apparel.
5 And when she glistered in royal apparel, and had invocated God the ruler and saviour of all, she took two waiting maids,
5 And glittering in royal robes, after she had called upon God the ruler and Savior of all, she took two maids with her,
6 and upon the one indeed she leaned, as it were for delicateness & very much tenderness not able to bear up her body:
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.
7 but the other of the maids followed her lady, bearing up her garments trailing on the ground.
7 And the other maid followed her lady, bearing up her train flowing on the ground.
8 But herself in all her countenance of colour like the rose, also with gracious and shining eyes hid her mind full of sorrow, & exceeding fear.
8 But she with a rosy color in her face, and with gracious and bright eyes hid a mind full of anguish, and exceeding great fear.
9 She therefore entering through all the doors in order, stood before the king, where he sat upon the throne of his kingdom, clothed with royal garments, & glittering in gold, and precious stones, and he was terrible to behold.
9 So going in she passed through all the 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.
10 And when he had lifted up his face, and with burning eyes had shewed the fury of his breast, the queen fell down, & her colour being changed into paleness, she rested her weary head upon her handmaid.
10 And when he had lifted up his countenance, and with burning eyes had shown the wrath of his heart, the queen sunk down, and her color turned pale, and she rested her weary head upon her handmaid.
11 And God turned the king's spirit into mildness, & in haste & fearing he lept out of the throne, & holding her up in his arms, till she came to herself, spake her fair with these words:
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:
12 What aileth thee Esther? I am thy brother, fear not.
12 What is the matter, Esther? I am thy brother, fear not.
13 Thou shalt not die: for this law is not made for thee, but for the common sort.
13 Thou shalt not die: for this law is not made for thee, but for all others.
14 Come near therefore, and touch the sceptre.
14 Come near then, and touch the scepter.
15 And when she held her peace, he took the golden rod, & put it upon her neck, & kissed her, & said: Why speakest thou not to me?
15 And as she held her peace, he took the golden scepter, and laid it upon her neck, and kissed her, and said: Why dost thou not speak to me?
16 Who answered: I saw thee, my lord, as an angel of God, and my heart was troubled for the fear of thy glory.
16 She answered: ¹I saw thee, my lord, as an angel of God, and my heart was troubled for fear of thy majesty.
17 For thou, my lord, art exceeding marvelous, and thy face is full of graces.
17 For thou, my lord, art very admirable, and thy face is full of graces.
18 And when she spake, she fell down again, and was almost in a swoon.
18 And while she was speaking, she fell down again, and was almost in a swoon.
19 But the king was troubled, and all his servants did comfort her.
19 But the king was troubled, and all his servants comforted her.