ESTHER 15 & 16

Esther 15

2 Mardocheus moves Esther to go in to the King and make intercession for her people. 9 And she performs his request.

MARDOCHEUS also bade Esther to go in unto the King, and pray for her people, and for her country.

Remember, saith he, the days of thy low estate, how thou wast nourished under mine hand: for Aman which is next unto the King, hath given sentence of death against us.

Call thou therefore upon the Lord, and speak for us unto the King, and deliver us from death.

And upon the third day when she had ended her prayer, she laid away the mourning garments, and put on her glorious apparel,

And decked herself goodly, after that she had called upon God, which is the beholder and Saviour of all things, and took two handmaidens with her.

Upon the one she leaned herself, as one that was tender.

And the other followed her, and bare the train of her vesture.

The shine of her beauty made her face rose colored: and her face was cheerful and amiable, but her heart was sorrowful for great fear.

Then she went in through all the doors, and stood before the King, and the King sat upon his royal throne, and was clothed in his goodly array, all glittering with gold and precious stones, and he was very terrible.

Then he lift up his face, that shone which majesty, and looked fiercely upon her: therefore the Queen fell down, and was pale and faint and leaned herself upon the head of the maid, that went with her.

Nevertheless, God turned the King’s mind and he was gentle, who being careful, leaped out of his throne, and took her in his arms, til she came to herself again: and comforted her with loving words, and said,

Esther, what is the matter? I am thy brother, be of good cheer,

Thou shalt not die: for our commandment touches the commons, and not thee. Come here.

And so he held up his golden scepter, and laid it upon her neck,

And kissed her, and said, Talk with me.

Then said she, I saw thee, o lord, as an Angel of God, and mine heart was troubled for fear of thy majesty.

For wonderful art thou, o lord, and thy face is full of grace.

And as she was thus speaking unto him, she fell down again for faintness.

Then the King was troubled, and all his servants comforted her.

Esther 16

The copy of the letters of Artaxerxes, whereby he revokes those which he first sent forth.

THE great King Artaxerxes, which reigns from India unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces, sends unto the princes and rulers that have the charge of our affairs, Salutation.

There be many that through the goodness of Princes and honor given unto them, become very proud,

And endeavor not only to hurt our subjects, but not content to live in wealth, do also imagine destruction against those that do them good,

And take not only all thankfulness away from men, but in pride and presumption, as they that be unmindful of benefits, they think to escape the vengeance of God, that sees all things, and is contrary to evil.

And oft times many, which be set in office, and unto whom their friend’s causes are committed, by vain enticements do wrap them in calamities, that can not be remedied: for they make them partakers of innocent blood,

And difficulty abuse the simplicity, and gentleness of princes with lying tales.

This may be proud not only by old histories, but also by those things that are before our eyes, and are wickedly committed of such pestilences as are not worthy to bear rule.

Therefore we must take heed hereafter, that we may make the kingdom peaceable for all men, what change so ever shall come,

And discern the things that are before our eyes, to withstand them with gentleness,

For Aman, a Macedonian, the son of Amadathus, being indeed a stranger from the Persian’s blood, and far from our goodness, was received of us,

And hath proved the friendship that we bare toward all nations, so that he was called our father, and was honored of every man, as the next person unto the King.

But he could not use himself soberly in this great dignity, but went about to deprive us of the kingdom, and of our life.

With manifold deceit also hath he desired to destroy Mardocheus our preserver, which hath done us good in all things, and innocent Esther the partaker of our kingdom, with all her nation.

For his mind was (when he had taken them out of the way) to lay wait for us, and by this means to translate the kingdom of the Persians unto them of Macedonia.

But we find that the Jews (which were accused of this most wicked man that they might be destroyed) are no evil doers, but use most just Laws,

And that they be the children of the most high and the almighty and ever living God, by whom the kingdom hath been preserved unto us, and our progenitors in very good order.

Wherefore ye shall do well, if ye do not put in execution those letters, that Aman the son of Amadathus did write unto you.

For he that invented them, hangs at Susis before the gates with all his family, and God (which hath all things in his power) hath speedily rewarded him after his deserving.

Therefore ye shall publish the copy of this letter in all places, that the Jews may freely live after their own Laws.

And ye shall aid them, that upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month Adar they may be avenged of them, which in the time of their trouble would have oppressed them.

For almighty God hath turned to joy the day, wherein the chosen people should have perished.

Moreover, among other solemn days ye shall keep this day with all gladness,

That both now and in time to come this day may be a remembrance of deliverance for us and all such as love the prosperity of the Persians, but a remembrance of destruction to those that be seditious unto us.

Therefore all cities and countries that do not this, shall horribly be destroyed with sword and fire, and shall not only not be inhabited by men, but be abhorred also of the wild beasts and fouls for ever.