Esther 15

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 Truly, king Artaxerxes made all the land, and all the islands of the sea, tributaries.	1 On the third day, when she ended her prayer, she took off the garments in which she had worshipped, and arrayed herself in splendid attire.
2 And his strength and his authority, and the dignity and supremacy with which he exalted Mordecai, have been written in the books of the Medes and the Persians,	2 Then, majestically adorned, after invoking the aid of the all-seeing God and Savior, she took her two maids with her,
3 and how Mordecai of Jewish birth, was second after king Artaxerxes, and great among the Jews, and acceptable to the people of his brethren, seeking the good of his people, and speaking about things which pertained to peace for their descendents.	3 leaning daintily on one,
4 And Mordecai said, “By God have these things been done.	4 while the other followed carrying her train.
5 I remember a dream that I saw, which signified these same things, and nothing of this whatsoever has failed to occur.	5 She was radiant with perfect beauty, and she looked happy, as if beloved, but her heart was frozen with fear.
6 The little fountain which grew into a river, and had turned into light and into the sun, and overflowed into many waters, is Esther, whom the king received as wife and whom he preferred to be queen.	6 When she had gone through all the doors, she stood before the king. He was seated on his royal throne, clothed in the full array of his majesty, all covered with gold and precious stones. And he was most terrifying.
7 But the two dragons are I and Haman.	7 Lifting his face, flushed with splendor, he looked at her in fierce anger. And the queen faltered, and turned pale and faint, and collapsed upon the head of the maid who went before her.
8 The peoples who gathered together are those who had attempted to erase the name of the Jews.	8 Then God changed the spirit of the king to gentleness, and in alarm he sprang from his throne and took her in his arms until she came to herself. And he comforted her with soothing words, and said to her,
9 And my people is Israel, who cried out to the Lord, and the Lord brought salvation to his people, and he freed us from all evils, and he created great signs and portents among the nations.	9 "What is it, Esther? I am your brother. Take courage;
10 And he commanded there to be two lots, one for the people of God and the other for all the nations.	10 you shall not die, for our law applies only to the people. Come near."
11 And both lots arrived at the day appointed before God, even from that past time, for all peoples.	11 Then he raised the golden scepter and touched it to her neck;
12 And the Lord remembered his people and had mercy on his inheritance.	12 and he embraced her, and said, "Speak to me."
13 And these days shall be observed in the month of Adar, on the fourteenth and fifteenth day of the same month, with all zealousness and joy, by the people gathered together into one union, throughout all the generations hereafter of the people of Israel.”	13 And she said to him, "I saw you, my lord, like an angel of God, and my heart was shaken with fear at your glory.
14 In the fourth year of the reigns of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, Dositheus, who was himself a priest and born of the Levites, and Ptolemy his son, brought this epistle of Purim, which they said was a translation by Lysimachus the son of Ptolemy in Jerusalem.	14 For you are wonderful, my lord, and your countenance is full of grace."
	15 But as she was speaking, she fell fainting.
	16 And the king was agitated, and all his servants sought to comfort her.