Esther 1

[In the second year of the reign of Artaxerxes the great king, on the first day of Nisan, Mardochæus the son of Jairus, the son of Semeias, the son of Cisæus, of the tribe of Benjamin,

“ἜΤΟΥΣ δευτέρου βασιλεύοντος Ἀρταξέρξου τοῦ μεγάλου βασιλέως τῇ μιᾷ τοῦ Νισὰν, ἐνύπνιον εἶδε Μαρδοχαῖος ὁ τοῦ Ἰαΐρου, τοῦ Σεμεΐου, τοῦ Κισαίου, ἐκ φυλῆς Βενιαμὶν,

a Jew dwelling in the city Susa, a great man, serving in the king's palace, saw a vision.

ἄνθρωπος Ἰουδαῖος οἰκῶν ἐν Σούσοις τῇ πόλει, ἄνθρωπος μέγας, θεραπεύων ἐν τῇ αὐλῇ τοῦ βασιλέως.

Now he was of the captivity which Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had carried captive from Jerusalem, with Jechonias the king of Judea.

Ἦν δὲ ἐκ τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας, ἦς ᾐχμαλώτευσε Ναβουχοδονόσορ βασιλεὺς Βαβυλῶνος ἐξ Ἰερουσαλὴμ, μετὰ Ἰεχονίου τοῦ βασιλέως τῆς Ἰουδαίας.

And this was his dream: Behold, voices and a noise, thunders and earthquake, tumult upon the earth.

“Καὶ τοῦτο αὐτοῦ τὸ ἐνύπνιον· καὶ ἰδοὺ φωναὶ καὶ θόρυβος, βρονταὶ καὶ σεισμὺς, τάραχος ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.

And, behold, two great serpents came forth, both ready for conflict, and there came from them a great voice,

Καὶ ἰδοὺ δύο δράκοντες μεγάλοι, ἕτομοι προῆλθον ἀμφότεροι παλαίειν· καὶ ἐγένετο αὐτῶν φωνὴ μεγάλη,

and by their voice every nation was prepared for battle, even to fight against the nation of the just.

καὶ τῇ φωνῇ αὐτῶν ἡτοιμάσθη πᾶν ἔθνος εἰς πόλεμον, ὥστε πολεμῆσαι δικαίων ἔθνος.

And, behold, a day of darkness and blackness, tribulation and anguish, affliction and great tumult upon the earth.

Καὶ ἰδοὺ ἡμέρα σκότους καὶ γνόφου, θλιψις καὶ στενοχωρία, κάκωσις καὶ τάραχος μέγας ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.

And all the righteous nation was troubled, fearing their own afflictions; and they prepared to die, and cried to God:

Καὶ ἐταράχθη πᾶν ἔθνος δίκαιον φοβούμενοι τὰ ἑαυτῶν κακὰ, καὶ ἡτοιμάσθησαν ἀπολέσθαι, καὶ ἐβόησαν πρὸς τὸν Θεόν·

and from their cry there came as it were a great river from a little fountain, even much water.

ἀπὸ δὲ τῆς βοῆς αὐτῶν ἐγένετο ὡσανεὶ ἀπὸ μικρᾶς πηγῆς ποταμὸς μέγας, ὕδωρ πολύ.

And light and the sun arose, and the lowly were exalted, and devoured the honourable.

Καὶ φῶς και ὁ ἥλιος ἀνέτειλε, καὶ οἱ ταπεινοὶ ὑψώθησαν, καὶ κατέφαγον τοὺς ἐνδόξους.

And Mardochæus who had seen this vision and what God designed to do, having awoke, kept it in his heart, and desired by all means to interpret it, even till night.

“Καὶ διεγερθεὶς Μαρδοχαῖος ὁ ἑωρακὼς τὸ ἐνύπνιον τοῦτο, καὶ τί ὁ Θεὸς βεβούλευται ποιῆσαι, εἶχεν αὐτὸ ἐν τῇ καρδία, καὶ ἐν παντὶ λόγῳ ἤθελεν ἐπιγνῶναι αὐτὸ ἕως τῆς νυκτός.

And Mardochæus rested quiet in the palace with Gabatha and Tharrha the king's two chamberlains, eunuchs who guarded the palace.

Καὶ ἡσύχασε Μαρδοχαῖος ἐν τῇ αὐλῇ. μετὰ Γαβαθὰ καὶ Θάῤῥα τῶν δύο εὐνούχων τοῦ βασιλέως, τῶν φυλασσόντων τὴν αὐλήν.

And he heard their reasonings and searched out their plans, and learnt that they were preparing to lay hands on king Artaxerxes: and he informed the king concerning them.

Ἤκουσέ τε αὐτῶν τοὺς λογισμοὺς, καὶ τὰς μερίμνας αὐτῶν ἐξηρεύνησεν· καὶ ἔμαθεν, ὅτι ἑτοιμάζουσι τὰς χεῖρας ἐπιβαλεῖν Ἀρταξέρξῃ τῷ βασιλεῖ· καὶ ὑπέδειξε τῷ βασιλεῖ περὶ αὐτῶ.

And the king examined the two chamberlains, and they confessed, and were executed.

Καὶ ἐξήτασεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τοὺς δύο εὐνούχους, καὶ ὁμολογήσαντες σαντες ἀπήχθησαν.

And the king wrote these things for a memorial; also Mardochæus wrote concerning these matters.

Καὶ ἔγραψεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τοὺς λόγους τούτους εἰς μνημόσυνον, καὶ Μαρδοχαῖος ἔγραψε περὶ τῶν λόγων τούτων.

And the king commanded Mardochæus to attend in the palace, and gave him gifts for this service.

Καὶ ἐπέταξεν ὁ βασιλεὺς Μαρδοχαίῳ θεραπεύειν ἐν τῇ αὐλῇ, καὶ ἔδωκεων αὐτῷ δόματα περὶ τούτων.

And Aman the son of Amadathes the Bugæan was honourable in the sight of the king, and he endeavoured to hurt Mardochæus and his people, because of the two chamberlains of the king.]

Καὶ ἦν Ἀμὰν Ἀμαδάθου Βουγαῖος ἔνδοξος ἐνώπιον τοῦ βασιλέως, καὶ ἐζήτησε κακποιῆσαι τὸν Μαρδοχαῖον καὶ τον λαὸν αὐτοῦ, ὑπὲρ τῶν δύο εὐνούχων τοῦ βασιλέως.”

And it came to pass after these things in the days of Artaxerxes,—(this Artaxerxes ruled over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces from India)—

Καὶ ἐγένετο μετὰ τοὺς λόγους τούτους ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις Ἀρταξέρξου· οὗτος ὁ Ἀρταξέρξης ἀπὸ τῆς Ἰνδικῆς ἑκατὸν εἰκοσιεπτὰ χωρῶν ἐκράτησεν·

in those days, when king Artaxerxes was on the throne in the city of Susa,

Ἐν αὐταῖς ταῖς ἡμέραις ὅτε ἐθρονίσθη βασιλεὺς Ἀρταξέρξης ἐν Σούσοις τῇ πόλει,

in the third year of his reign, he made a feast to his friends, and the other nations, and to the nobles of the Persians and Medes, and the chief of the satraps.

ἐν τῷ τρίτῳ ἔτει βασιλεύοντος αὐτοῦ, δοχὴν ἐποίησε τοῖς φίλοις καὶ τοῖς λοιποῖς ἔθνεσι, καὶ τοῖς Περσῶν καὶ Μήδων ἐνδόξοις, καὶ τοῖς ἄρχουσι τῶν σατραπῶν.

And after this, after he had shewn to them the wealth of his kingdom, and the abundant glory of his wealth during a hundred and eighty days,

Καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα μετὰ τὸ δεῖξαι αὐτοῖς τὸν πλοῦτον τῆς βασιλείας αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὴν δόξαν τῆς εὐφροσύνης τοῦ πλούτου αὐτοῦ ἐν ἡμέραις ἑκατὸν ὀγδοήκοντα.

when, I say, the days of the marriage feast were completed, the king made a banquet to the nations who were present in the city six days, in the court of the king's house,

Ὅτε δὲ ἀνεπληρώθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ γάμου, ἐποίησεν ὁ βασιλεὺς πότον τοῖς ἔθνεσι τοῖς εὑρεθεῖσιν εἰς τὴν πόλιν ἐπὶ ἡμέρας ἓξ, ἐν αὐλῇ οἴκου τοῦ βασιλέως

which was adorned with hangings of fine linen and flax on cords of fine linen and purple, fastened to golden and silver studs, on pillars of Parian marble and stone: there were golden and silver couches on a pavement of emerald stone, and of pearl, and of Parian stone, and open-worked coverings variously flowered, having roses worked round about;

κεκοσμημένῃ βυσσίνοις καὶ καρπασίνοις τεταμένοις ἐπὶ σχοινίοις βυσσίνοις καὶ πορφυροῖς, ἐπὶ κύβοις χρυσοῖς καὶ ἀργυροῖς, ἐπὶ στύλοις Παρίνοις καὶ λιθίνοις· κλίναι χρυσαῖ καὶ ἀργυραῖ ἐπὶ λιθοστρώτου σμαραγδίτου λίθου, καὶ πιννίνου, καὶ Παρίνου λίθου· καὶ στρωμναὶ διαφανεῖς ποικίλως διηνθισμέναι, κύκλῳ ῥόδα πεπασμένα·

gold and silver cups, and a small cup of carbuncle set out of the value of thirty thousand talents, abundant and sweet wine, which the king himself drank.

Ποτήρια χρυσᾶ καὶ ἀργυρᾶ, καὶ ἀνθράκινον κυλίκιον προκείμενον ἀπὸ ταλάντων τρισμυρίων· οἶνος πολὺς καὶ ἡδὺς, ὃν αὐτὸς ὁ βασιλεὺς ἔπινεν.

And this banquet was not according to the appointed law; but so the king would have it: and he charged the stewards to perform his will and that of the company.

Ὁ δὲ πότος οὗτος οὐ κατὰ προκείμενον νόμον ἐγένετο· οὕτως δὲ ἠθέλησεν ὁ βασιλεὺς, καὶ ἐπέταξε τοῖς οἰκονόμοις ποιῆσαι τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ, καὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων.

Also Astin the queen made a banquet for the women in the palace where king Artaxerxes dwelt.

Καὶ Ἀστὶν ἡ βασίλισσα ἐποίησε πότον ταῖς γυναιξὶν ἐν τοῖς βασιλείοις, ὅπου ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἀρταξέρξης.

Now on the seventh day the king, being merry, told Aman, and Bazan, and Tharrha, and Barazi, and Zatholtha, and Abataza, and Tharaba, the seven chamberlains, servants of king Artaxerxes,

Ἐν δὲ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ ἡδέως γενόμενος ὁ βασιλεὺς, εἶπε τῷ Ἀμὰν, καὶ Βαζὰν, καὶ Θάῤῥα, καὶ Βωραζὶ, καὶ Ζαθολθὰ, καὶ Ἀβαταζὰ, καὶ Θαραβά, τοῖς ἑπτὰ εὐνούχοις τοῖς διακόνοις τοῦ βασιλέως Ἀρταξέρξου,

to bring in the queen to him, to enthrone her, and crown her with the diadem, and to shew her to the princes, and her beauty to the nations: for she was beautiful.

εἰσαγαγεῖν τὴν βασίλισσαν πρὸς αὐτὸν, βασιλεύειν αὐτὴν, καὶ περιθεῖναι αὐτῇ τὸ διάδημα, καὶ δεῖξαι αὐτὴν τοῖς ἄρχουσι, καὶ τοῖς ἔθνεσι τὸ κάλλος αὐτῆς, ὅτι καλὴ ἦν.

But queen Astin hearkened not to him to come with the chamberlains: so the king was grieved and angered.

Καὶ οὐκ εἰσήκουσεν αὐτοῦ Ἀστὶν ἡ βασίλισσα ἐλθεῖν μετὰ τῶν εὐνούχων· καὶ ἐλυπήθη ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ ὠργίσθη,

And he said to his friends, Thus has Astin spoken: pronounce therefore upon this case law and judgment.

Καὶ εἶπε τοῖς φίλοις αὐτοῦ, κατὰ ταῦτα ἐλάλησεν Ἀστίν, ποιήσατε οὖν περὶ τούτου νόμον καὶ κρίσιν.

So Arkesæus, and Sarsathæus, and Malisear, the princes of the Persians and Medes, who were near the king, who sat chief in rank by the king, drew near to him,

Καὶ προσῆλθεν αὐτῷ Ἀρκεσαῖος, καὶ Σαρσαθαῖος, καὶ Μαλισεὰρ, οἱ ἄρχοντες Περσῶν καὶ Μήδων, οἱ ἐγγὺς τοῦ βασιλέως, οἱ πρῶτοι παρακαθήμενοι τῷ βασιλεῖ,

and reported to him according to the laws how it was proper to do to queen Astin, because she had not done the things commanded of the king by the chamberlains.

καὶ ἀπήγγειλαν αὐτῷ κατὰ τοὺς νόμους, ὡς δεῖ ποιῆσαι Ἀστὶν τῇ βασιλίσσῃ, ὅτι οὐκ ἐποίησε τὰ ὑπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως προσταχθέντα διὰ τῶν εὐνούχων.

And Muchæus said to the king and to the princes, Queen Astin has not wronged the king only, but also all the king's rulers and princes:

καὶ εἶπεν ὁ Μουχαῖος πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα καὶ τοὺς ἄρχοντας, οὐ τὸν βασιλέα μόνον ἠδίκησεν Ἀστὶν ἡ βασίλισσα, ἀλλὰ καὶ πάντας τοὺς ἄρχοντας καὶ τοὺς ἡγουμένους τοῦ βασιλέως·

for he has told them the words of the queen, and how she disobeyed the king. As then, said he, she refused to obey king Artaxerxes,

Καὶ γὰρ διηγήσατο αὐτοῖς τὰ ῥήματα τῆς βασιλίσσης, καὶ ὡς ἀντεῖπε τῷ βασιλεῖ· ὡς οὖν ἀντεῖπε τῷ βασιλεῖ Ἀρταξέρξῃ,

so this day shall the other ladies of the chiefs of the Persians and Medes, having heard what she said to the king, dare in the same way to dishonour their husbands.

οὕτω σήμερον αἱ τυραννίδες αἱ λοιπαὶ τῶν ἀρχόντων Περσῶν καὶ Μήδων ἀκούσασαι τὰ τῷ βασιλεῖ λεχθέντα ὑπʼ αὐτῆς, τολμήσουσιν ὁμοίως ἀτιμάσαι τοὺς ἄνδρας αὐτῶν.

If then it seem good to the king, let him make a royal decree, and let it be written according to the laws of the Medes and Persians, and let him not alter it: and let not the queen come in to him any more; and let the king give her royalty to a woman better than she.

Εἶ οὖν δοκεῖ τῷ βασιλεῖ, προσταξάτω βασιλικὸν, καὶ γραφήτω κατὰ τοὺς νόμους Μήδων καὶ Περσῶν, καὶ μὴ ἄλλως χρησάσθω, μηδὲ εἰσελθάτω ἔτι ἡ βασίλισσα πρὸς αὐτὸν, καὶ τὴν βασιλείαν αὐτῆς δότω ὁ βασιλεὺς γυναικὶ κρείττονι αὐτῆς.

And let the law of the king which he shall have made, be widely proclaimed, in his kingdom: and so shall all the women give honour to their husbands, from the poor even to the rich.

Καὶ ἀκουσθήτω ὁ νόμος ὁ ὑπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως, ὃν ἐὰν ποιῇ ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ αὐτοῦ· καὶ οὕτω πᾶσαι αἱ γυναῖκες περιθήσουσι τιμὴν τοῖς ἀνδράσιν ἑαυτῶν, ἀπὸ πτωχοῦ ἕως πλουσίου.

And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did as Muchæus had said,

Καὶ ἤρεσεν ὁ λόγος τῷ βασιλεῖ καὶ τοῖς ἄρχουσι· καὶ ἐποίησεν ὁ βασιλεὺς καθὰ ἐλάλησεν ὁ Μουχαῖος,

and sent into all his kingdom through the several provinces, according to their language, in order that men might be feared in their own houses.

καὶ ἀπέστειλεν εἰς πᾶσαν τὴν βασιλείαν κατὰ χώραν, κατὰ τὴν λέξιν αὐτῶν, ὥστε εἶναι φόβον αὐτοῖς ἐν ταῖς οἰκίαις αὐτῶν.