Esther 2

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Some time after this, when the king's wrath had subsided, Ahasuerus remembered Vashti, how she hadbehaved, and the measures taken against her.	1 After this, when King Ahasuerus' wrath had cooled, he thought over what Vashti had done and what had been decreed against her.
2 The king's gentlemen-in-waiting said, 'A search should be made on the king's behalf for beautiful youngvirgins,	2 Then the king's personal attendants suggested: "Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king.
3 and the king appoint commissioners throughout the provinces of his realm to bring al these beautifulyoung virgins to the citadel of Susa, to the harem under the authority of Hegai the king's eunuch, custodian ofthe women. Here he wil give them whatever they need for enhancing their beauty,	3 Let the king appoint commissaries in all the provinces of his realm to bring together all beautiful young virgins to the harem in the stronghold of Susa. Under the care of the royal eunuch Hegai, custodian of the women, let cosmetics be given them.
4 and the girl who pleases the king can take Vashti's place as queen.' This advice pleased the king and heacted on it.	4 Then the girl who pleases the king shall reign in place of Vashti." This suggestion pleased the king, and he acted accordingly.
5 Now in the citadel of Susa there lived a Jew cal ed Mordecai son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, ofthe tribe of Benjamin,	5 There was in the stronghold of Susa a certain Jew named Mordecai, son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite,
6 who had been deported from Jerusalem among the captives taken away with Jeconiah king of Judah byNebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,	6 who had been exiled from Jerusalem with the captives taken with Jeconiah, king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had deported.
7 and was now bringing up a certain Hadassah, otherwise cal ed Esther, his uncle's daughter, who hadlost both father and mother; the girl had a good figure and a beautiful face, and on the death of her parentsMordecai had adopted her as his daughter.	7 He was foster father to Hadassah, that is, Esther, his cousin; for she had lost both father and mother. The girl was beautifully formed and lovely to behold. On the death of her father and mother, Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter.
8 On the promulgation of the royal command and edict a great number of girls were brought to the citadelof Susa where they were entrusted to Hegai. Esther, too, was taken to the king's palace and entrusted to Hegai,the custodian of the women.	8 When the king's order and decree had been obeyed and many maidens brought together to the stronghold of Susa under the care of Hegai, Esther also was brought in to the royal palace under the care of Hegai, custodian of the women.
9 The girl pleased him and won his favour. Not only did he quickly provide her with al she needed for herdressing room and her meals, but he gave her seven special maids from the king's household and transferredher and her maids to the best part of the harem.	9 The girl pleased him and won his favor. So he promptly furnished her with cosmetics and provisions. Then picking out seven maids for her from the royal palace, he transferred both her and her maids to the best place in the harem.
10 Esther had not divulged her race or parentage, since Mordecai had forbidden her to do so.	10 Esther did not reveal her nationality or family, for Mordecai had commanded her not to do so.
11 Mordecai walked up and down in front of the courtyard of the harem al day and every day, to learnhow Esther was and how she was being treated.	11 Day by day Mordecai would walk about in front of the court of the harem, to learn how Esther was faring and what was to become of her.
12 Each girl had to appear in turn before King Ahasuerus after a delay of twelve months fixed by theregulations for the women; this preparatory period was occupied as fol ows: six months with oil of myrrh, and sixmonths with spices and lotions commonly used for feminine beauty treatment.	12 Each girl went in turn to visit King Ahasuerus after the twelve months' preparation decreed for the women. Of this period of beautifying treatment, six months were spent with oil of myrrh, and the other six months with perfumes and cosmetics.
13 When each girl went to the king, she was given whatever she wanted to take with her, since she thenmoved from the harem into the royal household.	13 Then, when the girl was to visit the king, she was allowed to take with her from the harem to the royal palace whatever she chose.
14 She went there in the evening, and the fol owing morning returned to another harem entrusted to thecare of Shaashgaz, the king's officer, custodian of the concubines. She did not go to the king any more, unlesshe was particularly pleased with her and had her summoned by name.	14 She would go in the evening and return in the morning to a second harem under the care of the royal eunuch Shaashgaz, custodian of the concubines. She could not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and had her summoned by name.
15 But when it was the turn of Esther the daughter of Abihail, whose nephew Mordecai had adopted heras his own daughter, to go into the king's presence, she did not ask for anything beyond what had beenassigned her by Hegai, the king's officer, custodian of the women. Esther won the approval of al who saw her.	15 As for Esther, daughter of Abihail and adopted daughter of his nephew Mordecai, when her turn came to visit the king, she did not ask for anything but what the royal eunuch Hegai, custodian of the women, suggested. Yet she won the admiration of all who saw her.
16 She was brought to King Ahasuerus in his royal apartments in the tenth month, which is cal ed Tebeth,in the seventh year of his reign;	16 Esther was led to King Ahasuerus in his palace in the tenth month, Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
17 and the king liked Esther better than any of the other women; none of the other girls found so muchfavour and approval with him. So he set the royal diadem on her head and proclaimed her queen instead ofVashti.	17 The king loved Esther more than all other women, and of all the virgins she won his favor and benevolence. So he placed the royal diadem on her head and made her queen in place of Vashti.
18 The king then gave a great banquet, Esther's banquet, for al his officers-of-state and ministers,decreed a holiday for al the provinces and distributed largesse with royal prodigality.	18 Then the king gave a great feast in honor of Esther to all his officials and ministers, granting a holiday to the provinces and bestowing gifts with royal bounty.
19 When Esther, like the other girls, had been transferred to the second harem,	19 [To resume: From the time the virgins had been brought together, and while Mordecai was passing his time at the king's gate,
20 she did not divulge her parentage or race, in obedience to the orders of Mordecai, whose instructionsshe continued to fol ow as when she had been under his care.	20 Esther had not revealed her family or nationality, because Mordecai had told her not to; and Esther continued to follow Mordecai's instructions, just as she had when she was being brought up by him.
21 At this time Mordecai was attached to the Chancel ery and two malcontents, Bigthan and Teresh,officers in the king's service as Guards of the Threshold, plotted to assassinate King Ahasuerus.	21 And during the time that Mordecai spent at the king's gate, Bagathan and Thares, two of the royal eunuchs who guarded the entrance, had plotted in anger to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.
22 Mordecai came to hear of this and informed Queen Esther, who in turn, on Mordecai's authority, toldthe king.	22 When the plot became known to Mordecai, he told Queen Esther, who in turn informed the king for Mordecai.
23 The matter was investigated and proved to be true. The two conspirators were sent to the gal ows, andthe incident was recorded in the Annals, in the royal presence.	23 The matter was investigated and verified, and both of them were hanged on a gibbet. This was written in the annals for the king's use.]