ΕΣΘΗΡ - Ester - Esther 9

LXX	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 εν γαρ τω δωδεκατω μηνι τρισκαιδεκατη του μηνος ος εστιν αδαρ παρην τα γραμματα τα γραφεντα υπο του βασιλεως	1 So, on the third day, she put away her ornate apparel, and surrounded herself with glory.
2 εν αυτη τη ημερα απωλοντο οι αντικειμενοι τοις ιουδαιοις ουδεις γαρ αντεστη φοβουμενος αυτους	2 And when she was shining in a royal manner, and had called upon God, the Guide and Savior of all, she took two maids with her.
3 οι γαρ αρχοντες των σατραπων και οι τυραννοι και οι βασιλικοι γραμματεις ετιμων τους ιουδαιους ο γαρ φοβος μαρδοχαιου ενεκειτο αυτοις	3 And she was leaning upon one of them, as if, out of delicateness and great tenderness, she were not able to bear carrying her own body.
4 προσεπεσεν γαρ το προσταγμα του βασιλεως ονομασθηναι εν παση τη βασιλεια	4 And the other maid followed her lady, carrying her garment flowing on the ground.
5 -	5 Yet she had a rosy color pouring over her face, for, with gracious and bright eyes, she restrained a sorrowful soul and very great fear.
6 και εν σουσοις τη πολει απεκτειναν οι ιουδαιοι ανδρας πεντακοσιους	6 And so, entering hesitantly through a series of doors, she stood opposite the king, where he sat upon his royal throne, clothed in royal robes, and shining with gold and precious stones. And he was terrible to behold.
7 τον τε φαρσαννεσταιν και δελφων και φασγα	7 And when he had lifted up his face, and with burning eyes had shown the fury of his heart, the queen collapsed, and her color turned pale, and she rested her exhausted head upon her handmaid.
8 και φαρδαθα και βαρεα και σαρβαχα	8 And God changed the king’s spirit into gentleness; quickly and apprehensively, he leapt from his throne, and lifting her up in his arms until she came to herself, he coaxed her with these words:
9 και μαρμασιμα και αρουφαιον και αρσαιον και ζαβουθαιθαν	9 “What is the matter, Esther? I am your brother, do not be afraid.
10 τους δεκα υιους αμαν αμαδαθου βουγαιου του εχθρου των ιουδαιων και διηρπασαν	10 You will not die. For this law has not been established for you, but for all others.
11 εν αυτη τη ημερα επεδοθη ο αριθμος τω βασιλει των απολωλοτων εν σουσοις	11 So approach and touch the scepter.”
12 ειπεν δε ο βασιλευς προς εσθηρ απωλεσαν οι ιουδαιοι εν σουσοις τη πολει ανδρας πεντακοσιους εν δε τη περιχωρω πως οιει εχρησαντο τι ουν αξιοις ετι και εσται σοι	12 And since she remained silent, he took the golden scepter and placed it on her neck, and he kissed her and said, “Why do you not speak to me?”
13 και ειπεν εσθηρ τω βασιλει δοθητω τοις ιουδαιοις χρησθαι ωσαυτως την αυριον ωστε τους δεκα υιους κρεμασαι αμαν	13 She answered, “I saw you, my lord, as an angel of God, and my heart was disturbed for fear of your glory.
14 και επετρεψεν ουτως γενεσθαι και εξεθηκε τοις ιουδαιοις της πολεως τα σωματα των υιων αμαν κρεμασαι	14 For you, my lord, are great and wonderful, and your face is full of grace.”
15 και συνηχθησαν οι ιουδαιοι εν σουσοις τη τεσσαρεσκαιδεκατη του αδαρ και απεκτειναν ανδρας τριακοσιους και ουδεν διηρπασαν	15 And while she was speaking, she collapsed again, because she was out of breath.
16 οι δε λοιποι των ιουδαιων οι εν τη βασιλεια συνηχθησαν και εαυτοις εβοηθουν και ανεπαυσαντο απο των πολεμιων απωλεσαν γαρ αυτων μυριους πεντακισχιλιους τη τρισκαιδεκατη του αδαρ και ουδεν διηρπασαν	16 But the king was troubled, and all his servants consoled her.
17 και ανεπαυσαντο τη τεσσαρεσκαιδεκατη του αυτου μηνος και ηγον αυτην ημεραν αναπαυσεως μετα χαρας και ευφροσυνης	17 (Alternate text from the Hebrew, verses 17-18:) And so, on the third day, Esther had put on her royal apparel and was standing in the atrium of the king’s house, which was inside, opposite the king’s hall, while he was sitting on his throne in the council room of the palace, opposite the entrance of the house.
18 οι δε ιουδαιοι οι εν σουσοις τη πολει συνηχθησαν και τη τεσσαρεσκαιδεκατη και ουκ ανεπαυσαντο ηγον δε και την πεντεκαιδεκατην μετα χαρας και ευφροσυνης	18 And when he saw Esther the queen standing there, she pleased his eyes, and he extended toward her the golden scepter, which he held in his hand, and she approached and kissed the top of his scepter.
19 δια τουτο ουν οι ιουδαιοι οι διεσπαρμενοι εν παση χωρα τη εξω αγουσιν την τεσσαρεσκαιδεκατην του αδαρ ημεραν αγαθην μετ' ευφροσυνης αποστελλοντες μεριδας εκαστος τω πλησιον οι δε κατοικουντες εν ταις μητροπολεσιν και την πεντεκαιδεκατην του αδαρ ημεραν ευφροσυνην αγαθην αγουσιν εξαποστελλοντες μεριδας τοις πλησιον	19 And the king said to her, “What do you wish, queen Esther? What is your request? Even if you ask for half of the kingdom, it will be given to you.”
20 εγραψεν δε μαρδοχαιος τους λογους τουτους εις βιβλιον και εξαπεστειλεν τοις ιουδαιοις οσοι ησαν εν τη αρταξερξου βασιλεια τοις εγγυς και τοις μακραν	20 But she responded, “If it pleases the king, I beg you to come with me today, and Haman with you, to the feast that I have prepared.”
21 στησαι τας ημερας ταυτας αγαθας αγειν τε την τεσσαρεσκαιδεκατην και την πεντεκαιδεκατην του αδαρ	21 And immediately the king said, “Call Haman quickly, so that he may obey Esther’s will. And so the king and Haman came to the feast, which the queen had prepared for them.
22 εν γαρ ταυταις ταις ημεραις ανεπαυσαντο οι ιουδαιοι απο των εχθρων αυτων και τον μηνα εν ω εστραφη αυτοις ος ην αδαρ απο πενθους εις χαραν και απο οδυνης εις αγαθην ημεραν αγειν ολον αγαθας ημερας γαμων και ευφροσυνης εξαποστελλοντας μεριδας τοις φιλοις και τοις πτωχοις	22 And the king said to her, after he had drunk wine abundantly, “What are you asking for that should be given to you? And which things do you require? Even if you request half of my kingdom, you will obtain it.”
23 και προσεδεξαντο οι ιουδαιοι καθως εγραψεν αυτοις ο μαρδοχαιος	23 Esther answered him, “My petition and prayer is this:
24 πως αμαν αμαδαθου ο μακεδων επολεμει αυτους καθως εθετο ψηφισμα και κληρον αφανισαι αυτους	24 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to give me what I ask, and to fulfill my petition, let the king and Haman come to the feast which I have prepared for them, and tomorrow I will open my mind to the king.”
25 και ως εισηλθεν προς τον βασιλεα λεγων κρεμασαι τον μαρδοχαιον οσα δε επεχειρησεν επαξαι επι τους ιουδαιους κακα επ' αυτον εγενοντο και εκρεμασθη αυτος και τα τεκνα αυτου	25 And so Haman went out that day joyful and cheerful. And when he saw that Mordecai was sitting in front of the gate of the palace, and that he alone did not get up for him, but did not so much as move from the place where he sat, he was very indignant.
26 δια τουτο επεκληθησαν αι ημεραι αυται φρουραι δια τους κληρους οτι τη διαλεκτω αυτων καλουνται φρουραι δια τους λογους της επιστολης ταυτης και οσα πεπονθασιν δια ταυτα και οσα αυτοις εγενετο	26 But, concealing his anger and returning into his house, he gathered to him his friends and Zeresh, his wife.
27 και εστησεν και προσεδεχοντο οι ιουδαιοι εφ' εαυτοις και επι τω σπερματι αυτων και επι τοις προστεθειμενοις επ' αυτων ουδε μην αλλως χρησονται αι δε ημεραι αυται μνημοσυνον επιτελουμενον κατα γενεαν και γενεαν και πολιν και πατριαν και χωραν	27 And he explained to them the greatness of his riches, and the influence of his sons, and how, with such glory, the king had elevated him above all his rulers and servants.
28 αι δε ημεραι αυται των φρουραι αχθησονται εις τον απαντα χρονον και το μνημοσυνον αυτων ου μη εκλιπη εκ των γενεων	28 And after this, he said, “Also, queen Esther has called no one else to the feast with the king, except me. And I will be dining with the king again tomorrow.
29 και εγραψεν εσθηρ η βασιλισσα θυγατηρ αμιναδαβ και μαρδοχαιος ο ιουδαιος οσα εποιησαν το τε στερεωμα της επιστολης των φρουραι	29 And though I have all these things, I consider that I have nothing as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting in front of the king’s gate.”
30 -	30 And Zeresh his wife and his other friends answered him, “Order a great beam to be prepared, having a height of fifty cubits, and in the morning speak to the king, so that Mordecai may be hanged from it, and so you will go joyfully with the king to the feast.” This advice pleased him, and so he ordered a high cross to be prepared.
31 και μαρδοχαιος και εσθηρ η βασιλισσα εστησαν εαυτοις καθ' εαυτων και τοτε στησαντες κατα της υγιειας αυτων και την βουλην αυτων
32 και εσθηρ λογω εστησεν εις τον αιωνα και εγραφη εις μνημοσυνον