Ester 3

BIBBIA CEI 2008	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Dopo questi avvenimenti, il re Artaserse onorò grandemente Aman, figlio di Amadàta, il Bugeo. Lo elevò in dignità e, fra tutti i suoi amici, lo faceva sedere al primo posto.	1 After these things, king Assuerus advanced Aman, the son of Amadathi, who was of the race of Agag: and he set his throne above all the princes that were with him.
2 Tutti quelli che stavano al palazzo si prostravano davanti a lui, poiché il re aveva ordinato di fare così. Ma Mardocheo non si prostrava davanti a lui.	2 And all the king's servants, that were at the doors of the palace, bent their knees, and worshipped Aman: for so the emperor had commanded them, only Mardochai did not bend his knee, nor worship him.
3 Allora quelli che stavano nel palazzo dissero a Mardocheo: «Mardocheo, perché non ascolti i comandi del re?».	3 And the king's servants that were chief at the doors of the palace, said to him: Why dost thou alone not observe the king's commandment?
4 Essi glielo dicevano giorno dopo giorno, ma egli non li ascoltava. Allora fecero presente ad Aman che Mardocheo trasgrediva gli ordini del re. Mardocheo inoltre aveva rivelato loro di essere un Giudeo.	4 And when they were saying this often, and he would not hearken to them; they told Aman, desirous to know whether he would continue in his resolution: for he had told them that he was a Jew.
5 Ma Aman, accortosi che Mardocheo non si prostrava davanti a lui, si indignò grandemente	5 Now when Aman had heard this, and had proved by experience that Mardochai did not bend his knee to him, nor worship him, he was exceeding angry.
6 e decise di sterminare tutti i Giudei che si trovavano sotto il dominio di Artaserse.	6 And he counted it nothing to lay his hands upon Mardochai alone: for he had heard that he was of the nation of the Jews, and he chose rather to destroy all the nation of the Jews that were in the kingdom of Assuerus.
7 Fece un editto nell’anno dodicesimo del regno di Artaserse; tirò a sorte il giorno e il mese, per sterminare in un solo giorno il popolo di Mardocheo. La sorte cadde sul quattordicesimo giorno del mese di Adar.	7 In the first month (which is called Nisan) in the twelfth year a of the reign of Assuerus, the lot was cast into an urn, which in Hebrew is called Phur, before Aman, on what day and what month the nation of the Jews should be destroyed: and there came out the twelfth month, which is called Adar.
8 Allora disse al re Artaserse: «C’è un popolo disperso tra le nazioni in tutto il tuo regno, le cui leggi differiscono da quelle di tutte le altre nazioni; essi disobbediscono alle leggi del re e non è conveniente che il re glielo permetta.	8 And Aman said to king Assuerus: There is a people scattered through all the provinces of thy kingdom, and separated one from another, that use new laws and ceremonies, and moreover despise the king's ordinances: and thou knowest very well that it is not expedient for thy kingdom that they should grow insolent by impunity.
9 Se piace al re, dia ordine di ucciderli, e io assegnerò al tesoro del re diecimila talenti d’argento».	9 If it please thee, decree that they may he destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents to thy treasurers.
10 Il re, preso il suo anello, lo dette in mano ad Aman, per mettere il sigillo sui decreti contro i Giudei.	10 And the king took the ring that he used, from his own hand, and gave it to Aman, the son of Amadathi of the race of Agag, the enemy of the Jews,
11 Il re disse ad Aman: «Tieni pure il denaro, e tratta questo popolo come vuoi tu».	11 And he said to him: As to the money which thou promisest, keep it for thyself: and as to the people, do with them as seemeth good to thee.
12 Nel tredicesimo giorno del primo mese furono chiamati gli scribi e, come aveva ordinato Aman, scrissero ai capi e ai governatori di ogni provincia, dall’India fino all’Etiopia, a centoventisette province, e ai capi delle nazioni, secondo la loro lingua, a nome del re Artaserse.	12 And the king's scribes were called in the first month Nisan, on the thirteenth day of the same month: and they wrote, as Aman had commanded, to all the king's lieutenants, and to the judges of the provinces, and of divers nations, as every nation could read, and hear according to their different languages, in the name of king Assuerus: and the letters, sealed with his ring,
13 ]cosicché questi nostri oppositori di ieri e di oggi, precipitando violentemente negli inferi in un solo giorno, ci assicurino definitivamente per l’avvenire un governo stabile e tranquillo».	13 Were sent by the king's messengers to all provinces, to kill and destroy all the Jews, both young and old, little children, and women, in one day, that is, on the thirteenth of the twelfth month, which is called Adar, and to make a spoil of their goods.
14 Le copie delle lettere furono pubblicate in ogni provincia e a tutte le nazioni fu ordinato di stare pronti per quel giorno.	14 And the contents of the letters were to this effect, that all provinces might know and be ready against that day.
15 L’applicazione fu sollecitata anche nella città di Susa e, mentre il re e Aman si davano a bere smodatamente, la città era costernata.	15 The couriers that were sent made haste to fulfil the king's commandment. And immediately the edict was hung up in Susan, the king and Aman feasting together, and all the Jews that were in the city weeping.