ΕΣΘΗΡ - Ester - Esther 3

GREEK BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Μετα τα πραγματα ταυτα εμεγαλυνεν ο βασιλευς Ασσουηρης τον Αμαν, τον υιον του Αμμεδαθα του Αγαγιτου, και υψωσεν αυτον και εθεσε τον θρονον αυτου υπερανω παντων των αρχοντων των περι αυτον.	1 In the days of Artaxerxes, who reigned from India to Ethiopia over one hundred twenty-seven provinces,
2 Και παντες οι δουλοι του βασιλεως, οι εν τη βασιλικη πυλη, εκλινον και προσεκυνουν τον Αμαν? διοτι ουτω προσεταξεν ο βασιλευς περι αυτου. Ο Μαροδοχαιος ομως δεν εκλινε και δεν προσεκυνει αυτον.	2 when he sat on the throne of his kingdom, the city of Susa was the root of his kingdom.
3 Και ειπον οι δουλοι του βασιλεως, οι εν τη βασιλικη πυλη, προς τον Μαροδοχαιον, Δια τι συ παραβαινεις την προσταγην του βασιλεως;	3 And so, in the third year of his reign, he made a great feast for all the leaders and his servants, for the most powerful among the Persians and the distinguished among the Medes, and for the rulers of the provinces before him,
4 Αφου δε καθ' ημεραν ελεγον προς αυτον, και εκεινος δεν υπηκουεν εις αυτους, απηγγειλαν τουτο προς τον Αμαν, δια να ιδωσιν αν οι λογοι του Μαροδοχαιου ησαν στερεοι? διοτι ειχε φανερωσει προς αυτους οτι ητο Ιουδαιος.	4 so that he might show the glorious riches of his kingdom, as well as its greatness, and so boast of his power, for a long time, namely, one hundred and eighty days.
5 Και οτε ο Αμαν ειδεν οτι ο Μαροδοχαιος δεν εκλινε και δεν προσεκυνει αυτον, ενεπλησθη θυμου ο Αμαν.	5 And when the days of the feast were nearly completed, he invited all the people, who had been found in Susa, from the greatest even to the least, and he commanded a feast to be prepared, for seven days, in the court of the garden and the arboretum, which had been planted by the care and by the hand of the king.
6 Και εστοχασθη ταπεινον να βαλη χειρα επι μονον τον Μαροδοχαιον? διοτι ειχον φανερωσει προς αυτον τον λαον του Μαροδοχαιου? οθεν εζητει ο Αμαν να αφανιση παντας τους Ιουδαιους τους εν παντι τω βασιλειω του Ασσουηρου, τον λαον του Μαροδοχαιου.	6 And, in every direction, tents the color of the sky and of flax as well as hyacinth were hung up, suspended by cords of linen and even purple, which had been placed through rings of ivory and were held up with marble columns. The couches also, of gold and silver, had been arranged over a pavement of emerald-green, bearing scattered jewels, which was decorated with a wonderful variety of images.
7 Και εν τω πρωτω μηνι, ουτος ειναι ο μην Νισαν, εν τω δωδεκατω ετει του βασιλεως Ασσουηρου, ερριψαν φουρ, ηγουν κληρον, ενωπιον του Αμαν, απο ημερας εις ημεραν και απο μηνος εις μηνα, μεχρι του δωδεκατου μηνος, ουτος ειναι ο μην Αδαρ.	7 Moreover, those who had been invited drank from golden cups, and dishes of foods were brought in one after another. Likewise, choice wine was presented in abundance, as was worthy of royal magnificence.
8 Και ειπεν ο Αμαν προς τον βασιλεα Ασσουηρην, Υπαρχει τις λαος διεσπαρμενος και διακεχωρισμενος μεταξυ των λαων κατα πασας τας επαρχιας του βασιλειου σου? και οι νομοι αυτων διαφοροι των νομων παντων των λαων, και δεν φυλαττουσι τους νομους του βασιλεως? οθεν δεν αρμοζει εις τον βασιλεα να υποφερη αυτους?	8 Nor was anyone compelled to drink who was unwilling, but, just as the king had appointed, one of his nobles was set over each table, so that each one might select what he wanted.
9 εαν ηναι αρεστον εις τον βασιλεα, ας γραφη να εξολοθρευθωσι και εγω θελω μετρησει δεκα χιλιαδας ταλαντων αργυριου εις τας χειρας των οικονομων δια να φερωσιν εις τα θησαυροφυλακια του βασιλεως.	9 Likewise, Vashti the queen made a feast for the women, in the palace where king Artaxerxes was accustomed to stay the night.
10 Και εκβαλων ο βασιλευς το δακτυλιδιον αυτου απο της χειρος αυτου, εδωκεν αυτο εις τον Αμαν τον υιον του Αμμεδαθα του Αγαγιτου, τον εχθρον των Ιουδαιων,	10 And so, on the seventh day, when the king was more cheerful, and, after excessive drinking, had become warmed with wine, he ordered Mehuman, and Biztha, and Harbona, and Bigtha, and Abagtha, and Zethar, and Charkas, seven eunuchs who served in his presence,
11 Και ειπεν ο βασιλευς προς τον Αμαν? το αργυριον διδεται εις σε, και ο λαος, δια να καμης εις αυτον οπως σοι αρεσκει.	11 to bring in queen Vashti before the king, with the crown set upon her head, to show her beauty to the whole people and to the leaders, for she was very beautiful.
12 Και προσεκληθησαν οι γραμματεις του βασιλεως την δεκατην τριτην ημεραν του πρωτου μηνος, και εγραφη κατα παντα οσα προσεταξεν ο Αμαν, προς τους σατραπας του βασιλεως και προς τους διοικητας τους κατα πασαν επαρχιαν και προς τους αρχοντας εκαστου λαου πασης επαρχιας κατα το γραφειν αυτων, και προς εκαστον λαον κατα την γλωσσαν αυτων? εν ονοματι του βασιλεως Ασσουηρου εγραφη και εσφραγισθη με το δακτυλιδιον του βασιλεως.	12 She refused, and she showed contempt towards the king’s command, which he had delivered to her by the eunuchs. Whereupon the king, being angry and inflamed with a very great fury,
13 Και εσταλησαν γραμματα δια ταχυδρομων εις πασας τας επαρχιας του βασιλεως, δια να αφανισωσι, να φονευσωσι και να εξολοθρευσωσι παντας τους Ιουδαιους, νεους και γεροντας, νηπια και γυναικας, εν μια ημερα, την δεκατην τριτην του δωδεκατου μηνος, ουτος ειναι ο μην Αδαρ, και να διαρπασωσι τα υπαρχοντα αυτων.	13 questioned the wise men, who, according to royal custom were always near him and all he did was by their counsel, who knew the laws as well as the judgments of their ancestors,
14 Το αντιγραφον της επιστολης, το προς διαδοσιν του προσταγματος κατα πασαν επαρχιαν, εδημοσιευθη προς παντας τους λαους, δια να ηναι ετοιμοι εν εκεινη τη ημερα.	14 (but first and foremost were Carshena, and Shethar, and Admatha, and Tarshish, and Meres, and Marsena, and Memucan, seven rulers of the Persians as well as the Medes, who saw the face of the king and who were accustomed to sitting down first after him,)
15 Οι ταχυδρομοι εξηλθον, σπευδοντες δια την προσταγην του βασιλεως, και η διαταγη εξεδοθη εν Σουσοις τη βασιλευουση. Ο δε βασιλευς και ο Αμαν εκαθησαν να συμποσιασωσιν? η δε πολις Σουσα ητο εν αμηχανια.	15 and he sent letters to all the provinces of his kingdom, so that every nation was able to hear and to read, in various languages and letters, that husbands are to be the greater rulers in their own houses, and that this should be published to every people.