ΕΣΘΗΡ - Ester - Esther 3

LXX	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 μετα δε ταυτα εδοξασεν ο βασιλευς αρταξερξης αμαν αμαδαθου βουγαιον και υψωσεν αυτον και επρωτοβαθρει παντων των φιλων αυτου	1 In the days of Artaxerxes, who reigned from India to Ethiopia over one hundred twenty-seven provinces,
2 και παντες οι εν τη αυλη προσεκυνουν αυτω ουτως γαρ προσεταξεν ο βασιλευς ποιησαι ο δε μαρδοχαιος ου προσεκυνει αυτω	2 when he sat on the throne of his kingdom, the city of Susa was the root of his kingdom.
3 και ελαλησαν οι εν τη αυλη του βασιλεως τω μαρδοχαιω μαρδοχαιε τι παρακουεις τα υπο του βασιλεως λεγομενα	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 καθ' εκαστην ημεραν ελαλουν αυτω και ουχ υπηκουεν αυτων και υπεδειξαν τω αμαν μαρδοχαιον τοις του βασιλεως λογοις αντιτασσομενον και υπεδειξεν αυτοις ο μαρδοχαιος οτι ιουδαιος εστιν	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 επιγνους αμαν οτι ου προσκυνει αυτω μαρδοχαιος εθυμωθη σφοδρα	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 εβουλευσατο αφανισαι παντας τους υπο την αρταξερξου βασιλειαν ιουδαιους	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 εποιησεν ψηφισμα εν ετει δωδεκατω της βασιλειας αρταξερξου και εβαλεν κληρους ημεραν εξ ημερας και μηνα εκ μηνος ωστε απολεσαι εν μια ημερα το γενος μαρδοχαιου και επεσεν ο κληρος εις την τεσσαρεσκαιδεκατην του μηνος ος εστιν 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 ελαλησεν προς τον βασιλεα αρταξερξην λεγων υπαρχει εθνος διεσπαρμενον εν τοις εθνεσιν εν παση τη βασιλεια σου οι δε νομοι αυτων εξαλλοι παρα παντα τα εθνη των δε νομων του βασιλεως παρακουουσιν και ου συμφερει τω βασιλει εασαι 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 ει δοκει τω βασιλει δογματισατω απολεσαι αυτους καγω διαγραψω εις το γαζοφυλακιον του βασιλεως αργυριου ταλαντα μυρια	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 περιελομενος ο βασιλευς τον δακτυλιον εδωκεν εις χειρα τω αμαν σφραγισαι κατα των γεγραμμενων κατα 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 τω αμαν το μεν αργυριον εχε τω δε εθνει χρω ως βουλει	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 εκληθησαν οι γραμματεις του βασιλεως μηνι πρωτω τη τρισκαιδεκατη και εγραψαν ως επεταξεν αμαν τοις στρατηγοις και τοις αρχουσιν κατα πασαν χωραν απο ινδικης εως της αιθιοπιας ταις εκατον εικοσι επτα χωραις τοις τε αρχουσι των εθνων κατα την αυτων λεξιν δι' αρταξερξου 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 απεσταλη δια βιβλιαφορων εις την αρταξερξου βασιλειαν αφανισαι το γενος των ιουδαιων εν ημερα μια μηνος δωδεκατου ος εστιν αδαρ και διαρπασαι 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 τα δε αντιγραφα των επιστολων εξετιθετο κατα χωραν και προσεταγη πασι τοις εθνεσιν ετοιμους ειναι εις την ημεραν ταυτην	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 εσπευδετο δε το πραγμα και εις σουσαν ο δε βασιλευς και αμαν εκωθωνιζοντο εταρασσετο δε η πολις	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.