Esther 13
1 The copies of the letters of Artaxerxes against the Jews. 8 The prayer of Mardocheus.
THE copy of the letters was this, The great King Artaxerxes writes these things to the princes and governors that are under him from India unto Ethiopia in an hundred and seven and twenty provinces.
When I was made lord over many people, and had subdued the whole earth unto my dominion, I would not exalt myself by the reason of my power, but purposed with equity always and gentleness to govern my subjects, and wholly to set them in a peaceable life, and thereby to bring my kingdom unto tranquility, that men might safely go through on every side, and to renew peace again, which all men desire.
Now when I asked my counselors how these things might be brought to pass, one that was conversant with us, of excellent wisdom, and constant in good will, and showed himself to be of sure fidelity, which had the second place in the kingdom, even Aman,
Declared unto us, that in all nations there was scattered abroad a rebellious people, that had Laws contrary to all people, and have always despised the commandments of Kings, and so that this general empire, that we have begun, can not be governed without offense.
Seeing now we perceive, that this people alone are altogether contrary unto every man, using strange and other manner of laws, and having an evil opinion of our doings, and go about to establish wicked matters, that our kingdom should not come to good estate,
Therefore have we commanded, that all they that are appointed in writing unto you by Aman (which is ordained over the affairs, and is as our second father) shall all with their wives and children be destroyed and rooted out with the sword of their enemies without all mercy, and that none be spared the fourteenth day of the twelfth month Adar of this year,
That they which of old, and now also have ever been rebellious, may in one day with violence be thrust down into the hell, to the intent that after this time our affairs may be without troubles, and well governed in all points.
Then Mardocheus thought upon all the works and of the Lord, and made his prayer unto him,
Saying, O Lord, Lord, the King almighty (for all things are in thy power) and if thou hast appointed to save Israel, there is no man that can withstand thee.
For thou hast made heaven and earth, and all the wondrous things under the heaven.
Thou art Lord of all things, and there is no man that can resist thee, which art the Lord.
Thou knowest all things, and thou knowest, Lord, that it was neither of malice, nor presumption, nor for any desire of glory, that I did this, and not bow down to proud Aman.
For I would have been content with good will for the salvation of Israel, to have kissed the sole of his feet.
But I did it, because I would not preserve the honor of a man above the glory of God, and would not worship any but only thee, my Lord, and this have I not done of pride.
And therefore, o Lord God and King, have mercy upon thy people: for they imagine how they may bring us to naught, yea, they would destroy the inheritance, that hath been thine from the beginning.
Despise not the portion, which thou hast delivered out of Egypt for thine own self.
Hear my prayer, and be merciful unto thy portion: turn our sorrow into joy, that we may live, o Lord, and praise thy Name: shut not the mouths of them that praise thee.
All Israel in like manner cried most earnestly unto the Lord, because that death was before their eyes.
Ester 14
The prayer of Esther for the deliverance of her, and her people.
QUEEN Esther also, being in danger of death, resorted unto the Lord,
And laid away her glorious apparel, and put on the garments of sighing, and mourning. In the stead of precious ointment, she scattered ashes, and dung upon her head: and she humbled body greatly with fasting, and all the places of her joy filled she with the hair that she plucked off.
And she prayed unto the Lord God of Israel, saying, O my Lord, thou only art our King: help me desolate woman, which have no helper but thee.
For my danger is at hand.
From my youth up I have heard in the kindred of my father, that thou, o Lord, took Israel from among all people, and our fathers from their predecessors for a perpetual inheritance, and thou hast performed that which thou did promise them.
Now Lord, we have sinned before thee: therefore hast thou given us into the hands of our enemies.
Because we worshiped their gods, o Lord, thou art righteous.
Nevertheless, it satisfies them not, that we are in bitter captivity, but they have stroken [caress, stroke, rub an idol/being]*, hands with their idols,
That they will abolish the thing that thou with thy mouth hast ordained, and destroy thine inheritance, to shut up the mouth of them that praise thee, and to quench the glory of thy temple, and of thine altar,
And to open the mouths of the heathen, that they may praise the power of the idols, and to magnify a fleshly King for ever.
O Lord, give not thy scepter unto them that be nothing, lest they laugh us to scorn in our misery: but turn their devises upon themselves, and make him an example, that hath begun the same against us.
Think upon us, o lord, and show thyself unto us in the time of our distress, and strengthen me, o King of gods, and Lord of all power.
Give me an eloquent speech in my mouth before the Lion: turn his heart to hate our enemy, to destroy him, and all such as consent unto him.
But deliver us with thine hand and help me that am solitary, which have no defense but only thee.
Thou knowest my necessity: for I hate this token of my preeminence, which I bear upon mine head, what time as I must show myself, and that I abhor it as a menstruous cloth, that I wear it not when I am alone by myself,
And that I thine handmaid have no joy since the day that I was brought hither, until this day, but in thee, o Lord God of Abraham.
O thou mighty God above all, hear the voice of them, that have none other hope, and deliver us out of the hand of the wicked, and deliver me out of my fear.
*WP4Y
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