Original Douay-Rheims 1582–1610 First English Vulgate Translation
Douay-Rheims Challoner 1752 Douay-Rheims Revision
1 Therefore in the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which we have said now before to be called Adar, when slaughter was prepared for all the Jews, and their enemies gaped after their blood, the case being changed to the contrary, the Jews began to be superiors, and to revenge themselves of their adversaries.
1 So on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which as we have said above is called Adar, when all the Jews were designed to be massacred, and their enemies were greedy after their blood, the case being altered, the Jews began to have the upper hand, and to revenge themselves of their adversaries.
2 And they were gathered together in every city, and town, & place, to extend their hand against their enemies and their persecutors. And none durst resist, because the fear of their greatness did penetrate all peoples.
2 And they gathered themselves together in every city, and town, and place, to lay their hands on their enemies, and their persecutors. And no one durst withstand them, for the fear of their power had gone through every people.
3 For both the judges of the Provinces, and captains, and lieutenants, and every dignity that was chief over every place and work, extolled the Jews for fear of Mardocheus:
3 And the judges of the provinces, and the governors, and lieutenants, and everyone in dignity, that presided over every place and work, extolled the Jews for fear of Mardochai:
4 Whom they knew to be Prince of the palace, and to be able to do very much: the fame also of his name increased daily, and flew abroad through all men's mouths.
4 For they knew him to be prince of the palace, and to have great power: and the fame of his name increased daily, and was spread abroad through all men’s mouths.
5 Therefore the Jews struck their enemies with a great slaughter, and slew them, repaying them that which they had prepared to do to them:
5 So the Jews made a great slaughter of their enemies, and killed them, repaying according to what they had prepared to do to them:
6 in so much that in Susan also they killed five hundred men, besides the ten sons of Aman the Agagite the enemy of the Jews: whose names be these:
6 Insomuch that even in Susan they killed five hundred men, besides the ten sons of Aman the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews: whose names are these:
7 Pharsandatha, and Delphon, and Esphatha,
7 Pharsandatha, and Delphon, and Esphatha,
8 and Phoratha, and Adalia, & Aridatha,
8 And Phoratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,
9 and Phermesta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Iezatha.
9 And Phermesta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Jezatha.
10 Whom when they had slain, they would not take preys of their goods.
10 And when they had slain them, they would not touch the spoils of their goods.
11 And by and by the number of them that were killed in Susan, was brought to the king.
11 And presently the number of them that were killed in Susan was brought to the king.
12 Who said to the queen: In the city of Susan the Jews have killed five hundred men, besides the ten sons of Aman: how great a slaughter thinkest thou do they make in all the Provinces? What askest thou more, and what wilt thou that I command to be done?
12 And he said to the queen: The Jews have killed five hundred men in the city of Susan, besides the ten sons of Aman: how many dost thou think they have slain in all the provinces? What askest thou more, and what wilt thou have me to command to be done?
13 To whom she answered: If it please the king, let there authority be given to the Jews, that as they have done today in Susan, so also they may do tomorrow, and that the ten sons of Aman be hanged on gibbets.
13 And she answered: If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews, to do tomorrow in Susan as they have done today, and that the ten sons of Aman may be hanged upon gibbets.
14 And the king commanded that it should be so done. And forthwith the edict hung in Susan, and the ten sons of Aman were hanged.
14 And the king commanded that it should be so done. And forthwith the edict was hung up in Susan, and the ten sons of Aman were hanged.
15 The fourteenth day of the month Adar, the Jews being gathered together, there were killed in Susan three hundred men: neither was their substance spoiled by them.
15 And on the fourteenth day of the month Adar the Jews gathered themselves together, and they killed in Susan three hundred men: but they took not their substance.
16 Yea and through all Provinces, which were subject to the king's dominion, the Jews stood for their lives, their enemies and persecutors being slain: in so much that there was fully seventy five thousand of them that were killed, and no man took any of their goods.
16 Moreover through all the provinces which were subject to the king’s dominion the Jews stood for their lives, and slew their enemies and persecutors: insomuch that the number of them that were killed amounted to seventy-five thousand, and no man took any of their goods.
17 And the thirteenth day of the month Adar was the first day with them all of the slaughter, & the fourteenth day they ceased to kill. Which they ordained to be solemn, so that in it at all times afterward they gave themselves to good cheer, mirth and banquets.
17 Now the thirteenth day of the month Adar was the first day with them all of the slaughter, and on the fourteenth day they left off. Which they ordained to be kept holy day, so that all times hereafter they should celebrate it with feasting, joy, and banquets.
18 But they that made the slaughter in the city of Susan, were occupied in the slaughter the thirteenth and fourteenth day of the same month: and in the fifteenth day they ceased to kill. And therefore they ordained the same a solemn day of good cheer and joyfulness.
18 But they that were killing in the city of Susan, were employed in the slaughter on the thirteenth and fourteenth day of the same month: and on the fifteenth day they rested. And therefore they appointed that day to be a holy day of feasting and gladness.
19 But those Jews, that abode in towns not walled and villages, ordained the fourteenth day of the month Adar for banquets and joy, so that they rejoice in it, and send one another portions of banquets and meats.
19 But those Jews that dwelt in towns not walled and in villages, appointed the fourteenth day of the month Adar for banquets and gladness, so as to rejoice on that day, and send one another portions of their banquets and meats.
20 Mardocheus therefore wrote all these things, and being comprised in letters sent them to the Jews, that abode in all the king's Provinces, as well those that lay near, as far off,
20 And Mardochai wrote all these things, and sent them comprised in letters to the Jews that abode in all the king’s provinces, both those that lay near and those afar off,
21 that they should take the fourteenth and fifteenth day of the month Adar for feasts, and the year always returning should celebrate them with solemn honour:
21 That they should receive the fourteenth and fifteenth day of the month Adar for holy days, and always at the return of the year should celebrate them with solemn honor:
22 because in the same days the Jews revenged themselves of their enemies, and mourning and sorrow were turned into mirth and joy, and that these should be days of good cheer and gladness, and they should send one to another portions of meats, and should give gifts to the poor.
22 Because on those days the Jews revenged themselves of their enemies, and their mourning and sorrow were turned into mirth and joy, and that these should be days of feasting and gladness, in which they should send one to another portions of meats, and should give gifts to the poor.
23 And the Jews received into a solemn rite all things, which they had begun to do at that time, and which Mardocheus by letters had commanded to be done.
23 And the Jews undertook to observe with solemnity all they had begun to do at that time, which Mardochai by letters had commanded to be done.
24 For Aman, the son of Amadathi of the stock of Agag, the enemy & adversary of the Jews, purposed evil against them, to kill them and destroy them: & he cast Phur, which in our language is turned, a lot.
24 For Aman, the son of Amadathi of the race of Agag, the enemy and adversary of the Jews, had devised evil against them, to kill them and destroy them; and had cast Phur, that is, the lot.
25 And afterward Esther went in to the king, beseeching that his endeavours might by the king's letters be made void: & the evil that he had intended against the Jews, might return upon his own head. Finally, they hung both him and his sons upon the gallows,
25 And afterwards Esther went in to the king, beseeching him that his endeavors might be made void by the king’s letters: and the evil that he had intended against the Jews, might return upon his own head. And so both he and his sons were hanged upon gibbets.
26 and since that time these days are called Phurim, that is, of Lots: because Phur, that is, a lot, was cast into the pot. And all things that were done, are contained in the volume of this epistle, that is, of this Book:
26 And since that time these days are called Phurim, that is, of lots: because Phur, that is, the lot, was cast into the urn. And all things that were done, are contained in the volume of this epistle, that is, of this book:
27 and the things that they sustained, and that were afterward changed, the Jews took upon themselves and their seed, & upon all that would be joined to their religion, that it should be lawful for none to pass without solemnity these days: which the writing testifieth, and certain times require; as years continually succeed one another.
27 And the things that they suffered, and that were afterwards changed, the Jews took upon themselves and their seed, and upon all that had a mind to be joined to their religion, so that it should be lawful for none to pass these days without solemnity: which the writing testifieth, and certain times require, as the years continually succeed one another.
28 These are days, which no oblivion shall ever put out: and all Provinces in all the world shall celebrate throughout all generations: neither is there any city, wherein the days of Phurim, that is, of lots, must not be observed of the Jews, and of their progeny, which is bound to these ceremonies.
28 These are the days which shall never be forgot: and which all provinces in the whole world shall celebrate throughout all generations: neither is there any city wherein the days of Phurim, that is, of lots, must not be observed by the Jews, and by their posterity, which is bound to these ceremonies.
29 And Esther the queen the daughter of Abihail, & Mardocheus the Jew wrote also the second epistle, that with all diligence this day should be established solemn for the time to come.
29 And Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mardochai the Jew, wrote also a second epistle, that with all diligence this day should be established a festival for the time to come.
30 and they sent to all the Jews, that were in the hundred and seven and twenty Provinces of king Assuerus, that they should have peace, and receive truth,
30 And they sent to all the Jews that were in the hundred and twenty-seven provinces of king Assuerus, that they should have peace, and receive truth,
31 observing the Days of lots, and in their time should celebrate them with joy: as Mardocheus and Esther had appointed, and they took upon them to be observed of themselves, and of their seed, fasts, and cries, and the days of lots,
31 And observe the days of lots, and celebrate them with joy in their proper time: as Mardochai and Esther had appointed, and they undertook them to be observed by themselves and by their seed, fasts, and cries, and the days of lots,
32 and all things, which are contained in the history of this Book, which is called Esther.
32 And all things which are contained in the history of this book, which is called Esther.