1 The great king Artaxerxes, from India to Æthiopia, to the dukes and Princes of an hundred twenty seven Provinces, which obey our commandment, sendeth greeting.
1 The ¹great king Artaxerxes, from India to Ethiopia, to the governors and princes of a hundred and twenty-seven provinces, which obey our command, sendeth greeting.
2 Many have abused unto pride the goodness of Princes, and the honour, that hath been bestowed upon them:
2 Many ²have abused unto pride the goodness of princes, and the honor that hath been bestowed upon them:
3 and they do not only endeavour to oppress the king's subjects, but not bearing the glory that is given them, they work treason against them that gave it.
3 And not only endeavor to oppress the king’s subjects, but not bearing the glory that is given them, take in hand, to practice also against them that gave it.
4 Neither are they content not to give thanks for the benefits, and to violate in themselves the laws of humanity, but they think they can escape the sentence of God also who seeth all things.
4 Neither are they content not to return thanks for benefits received, and to violate in themselves the laws of humanity, but they think they can also escape the justice of God who seeth all things.
5 And they have burst forth into so great madness, that such as observe diligently the offices committed unto them, and do all things so that they are worthy of all men's praise, them they endeavour to overthrow by subtile means of lies,
5 And they break out into so great madness, as to endeavor to undermine by lies such as observe diligently the offices committed to them, and do all things in such manner as to be worthy of all men’s praise,
6 whilst with crafty fraud they deceive the simple ears of Princes, and esteeming others by their own nature.
6 While with crafty fraud they deceive the ears of princes that are well meaning, and judge of others by their own nature.
7 Which thing is proved both out of old histories, and by these things, which are done daily, how the enterprises of kings are depraved by the evil suggestions of certain men.
7 Now this is proved both from ancient histories, and by the things which are done daily, how the good designs of kings are depraved by the evil suggestions of certain men.
8 Wherefore we must provide for the peace of all Provinces.
8 Wherefore we must provide for the peace of all provinces.
9 Neither must you think, if we command diverse things, that it cometh of the lightness of our mind, but that we give sentence according to the quality and necessity of times, as the profit of the common wealth requireth.
9 Neither must you think, if we command different things, that it cometh of the levity of our mind, but that we give sentence according to the quality and necessity of times, as the profit of the commonwealth requireth.
10 And that you may more plainly understand, that which we say, Aman the son of Amadathi, both in mind & country a Macedonian, & an alien from the Persians' blood, and with his cruelty staining our piety, was received of us a stranger:
10 Now that you may more plainly understand what we say, ³Aman the son of Amadathi, a Macedonian both in mind and country, and having nothing of the Persian blood, but with his cruelty staining our goodness, was received being a stranger by us:
11 and found our humanity so great towards him, that he was called our father, & was adored of all second after the king:
11 And found our humanity so great towards him, that he was called our father, and was worshipped by all as the next man after the king:
12 who was puft up with so great swelling of arrogancy, that he went about to deprive us of Kingdom and life.
12 But he was so far puffed up with arrogancy, as to go about to deprive us of our kingdom and life.
13 For by certain new devices and not heard of before he hath sought to kill Mardocheus, by whose fidelity and benefits we live, and Esther the fellow of our Kingdom with all their nation:
13 For with certain new and unheard of devices he hath sought the destruction of Mardochai, by whose fidelity and good services our life was saved, and of Esther the partner of our kingdom with all their nation:
14 thinking this that they being slain, he might work treason to our solitariness, and might transfer the Kingdom of the Persians to the Macedonians.
14 Thinking that after they were slain, he might work treason against us left alone without friends, and might transfer the kingdom of the Persians to the Macedonians.
15 But we have found the Jews, which were by that most wicked of men appointed to be slain, in no fault at all, but contrary wise using just laws,
15 But we have found that the Jews, who were by that most wicked man appointed to be slain, are in no fault at all, but contrariwise, use just laws,
16 and the children of the highest and the greatest, and always loving God, by whose benefit the Kingdom was given both to our fathers and to us, and is kept unto this day.
16 And are the children of the highest and the greatest, and the ever living God, by whose benefit the kingdom was given both to our fathers and to us, and is kept unto this day.
17 Wherefore know ye those letters, which he directed in our name, to be of none effect.
17 Wherefore know ye that those letters which he sent in our name, are void and of no effect.
18 For the which heinous fact, before the gates of this city, that is of Susan, both himself that devised it, and all his kindred hang on gibbets: not we, but God repaying him that which he hath deserved.
18 For which crime both he himself that devised it, and all his kindred hang on gibbets, before the gates of this city Susan: not we, but God repaying him as he deserved.
19 But this edict, which we now send, let it be set forth in all cities, that it be lawful for the Jews to use their own laws.
19 But this edict, which we now send, shall be published in all cities, that the Jews may freely follow their own laws.
20 Whom you must help, that those which had prepared themselves to their slaughter, they may kill, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is called Adar.
20 And you shall aid them that they may kill those who had prepared themselves to kill them, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is called Adar.
21 For God omnipotent hath turned this day of sadness and mourning into joy to them.
21 For the almighty God hath turned this day of sadness and mourning into joy to them.
22 Wherefore count you also this day among other festival days, and celebrate it with all joy, that hereafter also it may be known,
22 Wherefore you shall also count this day among other festival days, and celebrate it with all joy, that it may be known also in times to come,
23 that all, which faithfully obey the Persians, receive worthy reward for their fidelity: and they that lie in wait against their Kingdom, perish for their wicked fact.
23 That all they who faithfully obey the Persians, receive a worthy reward for their fidelity: but they that are traitors to their kingdom, are destroyed for their wickedness.
24 And every Province and city, that will not be partaker of this solemnity, let it perish by sword and fire, and let it so be destroyed, that not only men, but also beasts have no access thereto for ever, for an example of contempt, and disobedience.
24 And let every province and city, that will not be partaker of this solemnity, perish by the sword and by fire, and be destroyed in such manner as to be made unpassable, both to men and beasts, for an example of contempt, and disobedience.