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Martedi, 14 maggio 2024 - San Mattia ( Letture di oggi)

Esther 4


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CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAINBIBBIA MARTINI
1 And so, after this had been carried out, and the indignation of king Artaxerxes had subsided, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what had happened to her.1 Tali cose avendo udite Mardocheo, stracciò le sue vesti, e si coperse disacco, e sparse cenere sul suo capo, e in mezzo alla piazza della città gridava ad alta voce, dando a conoscere l'amaritudine del suo spirito,
2 And the servants of the king, and his ministers, said, “Let young women be sought for the king, virgins and beautiful,2 E così urlando andava fino alle porte del palazzo: imperocché non era lecito, che uno vestito di sacco entrasse nella reggia.
3 and let investigators be sent throughout all the provinces for young women, beautiful and virgins. And let them bring them to the city of Susa, and deliver them to the house of the women under the hand of Hegai the eunuch, who is the overseer and keeper of the king’s women. And let them receive feminine ornaments, and other things necessary for their use.3 Similmente in tutte le provincie, città, e luoghi, dove era giunto il crudele editto del re, grande era la costernazione tra' Giudei; digiunavano, gettavano strida, piangevano, e molti del sacco, e della cenere si servivano in luogo di letto.
4 And whoever among them all will please the king’s eyes, let her reign instead of Vashti.” The idea pleased the king, and so he ordered it to be done as they had suggested.4 E le cameriere di Esther, e gli eunuchi presentandosi a lei le diedero questa nuova: udita la quale ella si raccapricciò, e mandò a Mardocheo un vestito, affinchè levato il sacco glielo mettessero indosso: ma egli non volle riceverlo.
5 There was a Jewish man in the city of Susa, by the name of Mordecai, son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, of the house of Benjamin,5 Ed ella chiamò Athach eunuco datole dal re per servirla, e gli ordinò, che andasse a trovar Mardocheo per inten der da lui il perchè facesse tali cose.
6 who had been carried away from Jerusalem at the time that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon carried away Jeconiah king of Judah,6 E Athach uscito fuori, si accostò a Mardocheo, che era nella piazza della città davanti alla porta del palazzo:
7 who had raised his brother’s daughter Hadassah, who by another name was called Esther. And she had lost both her parents. She was very beautiful, with a graceful appearance. Since her father and mother had both died, Mordecai adopted her as his own daughter.7 E questi gli rendè conto di tutto quello, che era avvenuto, e come Aman avea promesso di dare una somma di argento al tesoro del re per far trucidare i Giudei:
8 And when the king’s command became very well-known, in accordance with his command, many beautiful virgins were brought to Susa, and were delivered to Hegai the eunuch. Likewise, Esther, along with the other young women, was delivered to him, to be protected with the assembled women.8 E gli diede anche una copia dell'editto affisso in Susa, perchè lo facesse vedere alla regina, e la esortasse a presentarsi al re per pregarlo pel suo popolo.
9 She was pleasing to him, and she found favor in his sight. And he commanded a eunuch to hasten the women’s ornaments, and to deliver her share to her, along with seven of the most beautiful young women of the king’s house, so as to both adorn and honor her and her handmaids.9 Athach al suo ritorno riferì alla regina tutto quello, che Mardocheo gli avea detto.
10 She was not willing to reveal to him her people or her native land. For Mordecai had instructed her that she should keep silent about all these things.10 Ed ella gli comandò, che in risposta dicesse a Mardocheo:
11 He went for a walk every day, in the front courtyard of the house in which the chosen virgins were kept, having concern for Esther’s welfare and wanting to know what would happen to her.11 Sanno tutti i servi del re, e tutte le provincie, che sono sotto il suo dominio, che se un uomo, od una donna senza esser chiamato entra nell'atrio interiore del re, subito senza dilazione alcuna è messo a morte, fuori che il re, non istenda verso di lui il bastone di oro in segno di clemenza, salvandogli la vita: io adunque come potrò andare dal re, mentre già da trenta giorni non mi ha fatto chiamare a se?
12 But, when the time came for each in the line of young women to go in to the king, after everything had been completed concerning feminine grooming, the twelfth month had been reached, to the extent that for six months they were anointed with oil of myrrh, and for another six months they used certain types of makeup and perfumes.12 Udito ciò Mardocheo,
13 And when they were going in to the king, whatever they requested to adorn themselves, they received, and when each was pleased with herself, having been prepared in the chamber of the women, she passed on to the king’s chamber.13 Di nuovo mandò a dire ad Esther: Non ti dare a credere di poter salvare tu sola la tua vita tra tutti i Giudei, perchè sei nella casa del re;
14 And whoever entered at evening, departed in the morning, and then from there she was led to the second house, which was under the hand of Shaashgaz the eunuch, who presided over the king’s concubines. Nor did she have the power to return again to the king, unless the king desired it and had summoned her by name.14 Perocché se tu non parlerai, per qualche altra via saran salvati i Giudei, ma tu, e la casa del padre tuo andrete in ruina. E chi sa, che tu forse non sii pervenuta al regno per questo appunto, affinchè pronta ti avessimo in tal congiuntura?
15 But, as the order continued to progress, the day arrived when Esther, the daughter of Abihail the brother of Mordecai, whom he had adopted as his daughter, was required to go in to the king. She did not seek feminine ornaments, except that whatever Hegai the eunuch and keeper of the virgins chose, he gave her to adorn her. For she was very attractive, and her incredible beauty made her appear gracious and amiable in the eyes of all.15 E di nuovo Esther mandò a dire a Mardocheo:
16 And so she was led to the chamber of king Artaxerxes, in the tenth month, which is called Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.16 Va, e raduna tutti i Giudei, che vedrai in Susa, e fate orazione per me: non mangiate, e non bevete per tre dì, e per tre notti, ed io colle mie serve digiunerò nella stessa guisa, e poscia mi presenterò al re facendo contro la legge, non essendo io chiamata, e abbandonandomi al pericolo, e alla morte.
17 It was inquired into and discovered, and they were both hanged on a gallows. And it was committed to the histories and the chronicles which are delivered in the sight of the king.17 Andò adunque Mardocheo, e fece tutto quello, che gli era stato ordinato da Esther.