Ester 5

NOVA VULGATA	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Et factum est die tertio, induta Esther regalibus vestimentis ste tit inatrio domus regiae, quod erat interius contra basilicam regis. At ille sedebatsuper solium suum in consistorio palatii contra ostium domus.	1 After this, king Artaxerxes exalted Haman, the son of Hammedatha, who was of Agag lineage, and he set his throne above all the rulers whom he had.
2 Et factum est,cum vidisset Esther reginam stantem, placuit oculis eius, et extendit contra eamvirgam auream, quam tenebat manu; quae accedens tetigit summitatem virgae eius.	2 And all the king’s servants, who passed by the doors of the palace, bent their knees and adored Haman, for so the ruler had instructed them. Only Mordecai did not bend his knee, nor adore him.
3 Dixitque ad eam rex: “ Quid vis, Esther regina? Quae est petitio tua?Etiamsi dimidiam partem regni petieris, dabitur tibi ”.	3 The king’s servants, who presided over the doors of the palace, said to him, “Why do you, more than the others, not observe the king’s command?”
4 At illa respondit:“ Si regi placet, obsecro, ut venias ad me hodie et Aman tecum ad convivium,quod paravi ”.	4 And when they were saying this frequently, and he would not listen to them, they reported it to Haman, desiring to know whether he would continue in his resolution, for he had told them that he was a Jew.
5 Statimque rex: “ Vocate, inquit, cito Aman, ut fiat verbumEsther ”. Venerunt itaque rex et Aman ad convivium, quod eis regina paraverat.	5 Now when Haman had heard this, and had proved by a test that Mordecai did not bend his knee to him, nor adore him, he was very angry.
6 Dixitqueei rex, postquam vinum biberat: “ Quid petis, ut detur tibi, et pro qua repostulas? Etiamsi dimidiam partem regni mei petieris, impetrabis ”.	6 And he considered it pointless to lay his hands on Mordecai alone, for he had heard that he was part of the Jewish people. And so he wanted more: to destroy the entire nation of the Jews, who were in the kingdom of Artaxerxes.
7 Cuirespondit Esther: “ Petitio mea et preces:	7 In the first month, which is called Nisan, in the twelfth year of the reign of Artaxerxes, the lot was cast into an urn, which in Hebrew is called Pur, in the presence of Haman, to determine on what day and in which month the Jewish people should be destroyed. And it turned out to be the twelfth month, which is called Adar.
8 Si inveni in conspectu regisgratiam, et si regi placet, ut det mihi, quod postulo, et meam impleatpetitionem, veniat rex et Aman ad convivium, quod parabo eis, et cras faciamsecundum verbum regis ”.	8 And Haman said to king Artaxerxes, “There is a people dispersed throughout all the provinces of your kingdom and separated one from another, who make use of unusual laws and ceremonies, and who, in addition, show contempt for the king’s ordinances. And you know very well that it is not expedient for your kingdom that they should become insolent through independence.
9 Egressus est itaque illo die Aman laetus et alacer corde. Cumque vidissetMardochaeum sedentem in foribus palatii, et non solum non assurrexisse sibi, sednec motum quidem de loco sessionis suae, indignatus est valde.	9 If it pleases you, declare that they may be destroyed, and I will weigh out ten thousand talents to the keepers of your treasury.”
10 Et,dissimulata ira, reversus in domum suam convocavit ad se amicos suos et Zaresuxorem suam	10 And so the king took the ring that he used, from his own hand, and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha, of Agag lineage, enemy of the Jews.
11 et exposuit illis magnitudinem divitiarum suarum filiorumqueturbam, et quanta eum gloria super omnes principes et servos suos rex elevasset.	11 And he said to him, “Let the silver, which you promise, be for yourself. As for the people, do with them as it pleases you.”
12 Et post haec ait: “ Regina quoque Esther nullum alium vocavit ad conviviumcum rege praeter me; apud quam etiam cras cum rege pransurus sum.	12 And the scribes of the king were summoned, in the first month Nisan, on the thirteenth day of the same month. And it was written, as Haman had commanded, to all the king’s governors, and to the judges of the provinces, and to various peoples, so that each people could read and hear according to their various languages, in the name of king Artaxerxes. And the letters were sealed with his ring.
13 Et, cumomnia haec habeam, nihil me habere puto, quamdiu videro Mardochaeum Iudaeumsedentem in foribus regis ”.	13 These were sent by the king’s messengers to all the provinces, so as to kill and destroy all the Jews, from children all the way to the elderly, even little children and women, on one day, that is, on the thirteenth of the twelfth month, which is called Adar, and to plunder their goods, even their necessities.
14 Responderuntque ei Zares uxor eius et ceteriamici: “ Iube parari excelsam trabem habentem altitudinis quinquaginta cubitoset dic mane regi, ut appendatur super eam Mardochaeus; et sic ibis cum regelaetus ad convivium ”. Placuit ei consilium et iussit excelsam parari trabem.