Ester 8

NOVA VULGATA	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Die illo dedit rex Asuerus Esther reginae domum Aman adversariiIudaeorum, et Mardochaeus ingressus est ante faciem regis; confessa est enim eiEsther quid esset sibi.	1 Queen Esther also, fearing the danger that was imminent, fled to the Lord.
2 Tulitque rex anulum suum, quem ab Aman recipiiusserat, et tradidit Mardochaeo; Esther autem constituit Mardochaeum superdomum Aman.	2 And when she had put aside her royal apparel, she took up garments suitable for weeping and mourning, and instead of various ointments, she covered her head with ashes from burnt dung, and she humbled her body with fasting, and all the aspects of her beauty, she covered with her torn hair.
3 Et adiecit Esther loqui coram rege et procidit ad pedes eius flevitque etlocuta ad eum oravit, ut malitiam Aman Agagitae et machinationes eius pessimas,quas excogitaverat contra Iudaeos, iuberet irritas fieri.	3 And she begged the Lord God of Israel, saying, “My Lord, who alone is our King, help me, a solitary woman, for there is no other helper but you.
4 At ille ex moresceptrum aureum protendit manu; illaque consurgens stetit ante eum	4 My peril is close at hand.
5 et ait: “Si placet regi, et si inveni gratiam coram eo, et deprecatio mea non ei videturesse contraria, et accepta sum in oculis eius, obsecro, ut novis epistulisveteres litterae Aman filii Amadathi, Agagitae, insidiatoris et hostisIudaeorum, quibus eos in cunctis regis provinciis perire praeceperat,corrigantur.	5 I have heard from my father that you, Lord, chose Israel from among all nations and our fathers from among all their former ancestors, to possess them as an everlasting inheritance, and you have done for them just as you said.
6 Quomodo enim potero sustinere malum, quod passurus est populusmeus, et interitum cognationis meae? ”.	6 We have sinned in your sight, and therefore you have delivered us into the hands of our enemies,
7 Responditque rex Asuerus Esther reginae et Mardochaeo Iudaeo: “ Domum Amanconcessi Esther et ipsum iussi appendi in patibulo, quia ausus est manum inIudaeos mittere.	7 for we have worshipped their gods. You are just, O Lord.
8 Scribite ergo Iudaeis sicut vobis placet, ex regis nomine,signantes litteras anulo meo, quia epistulae ex regis nomine scriptae et illiusanulo signatae non possunt immutari ”.	8 And now they are not content to oppress us with a very difficult servitude, but attributing the strength of their hands to the power of their idols,
9 Accitisque scribis regis — erat autem tempus tertii mensis, qui appellaturSivan, vicesima et tertia illius die — scriptae sunt epistulae, ut Mardochaeusvoluerat, ad Iudaeos et ad satrapas procuratoresque et principes, qui centumviginti septem provinciis ab India usque ad Aethiopiam praesidebant, provinciaeatque provinciae, populo et populo, iuxta linguas et litteras suas, et Iudaeisiuxta linguam et litteras suas.	9 they want to alter your promises, and erase your inheritance, and close the mouths of those who praise you, and extinguish the glory of your temple and your altar,
10 Ipsaeque epistulae, quae ex regis nominemittebantur, anulo ipsius obsignatae sunt et missae per veredarios electis equisregiis discurrentes.	10 so that they may open the mouths of the nations, and praise the strength of idols, and proclaim a worldly king in perpetuity.
11 Quibus permisit rex Iudaeis in singulis civitatibus, utin unum congregarentur et starent pro animabus suis et omnes inimicos suos cumconiugibus ac liberis interficerent atque delerent et spolia eorum diriperent;	11 Lord, do not hand over your scepter to that which does not exist, lest they laugh at our ruin, but turn their counsel upon themselves and destroy him who has begun to rage against us.
12 et constituta est per omnes provincias una ultionis dies, id est tertiadecima mensis duodecimi, qui vocatur Adar.	12 Be mindful, Lord, and show yourself to us in the time of our tribulation, and give me faith, Lord, King of gods and of every power.
13 Exemplar epistulae in forma legis in omnibus provinciis promulgandum erat, utomnibus populis notum fieret paratos esse Iudaeos in diem illam ad capiendamvindictam de hostibus suis.	13 Grant fitting words to my mouth in the sight of the lion, and transform his heart to hate our enemy, so that both he, and the others who conspire with him, may perish.
14 Egressique sunt veredarii celeres nuntiosperferentes, et edictum regis pependit in Susan.	14 But free us by your hand, and help me, who has no other helper but you, Lord, who holds the knowledge of all things.
15 Mardochaeus autem de palatio et de conspectu regis egrediens fulgebatvestibus regiis, hyacinthinis videlicet et albis, coronam magnam auream portansin capite et amictus pallio serico atque purpureo; omnisque civitas exsultavitatque laetata est.	15 And you know that I hate the glory of the wicked, and I detest the bed of the uncircumcised, and of all outsiders.
16 Iudaeis autem nova lux oriri visa est, gaudium, honor ettripudium.	16 You know my necessity, that I loathe the sign of my exaltation and glory, which is on my head in the days of my exhibition, and that I detest it like a menstruous rag and do not wear it in the days of my silence,
17 Apud omnes populos, urbes atque provincias, quocumque regis iussaveniebant, Iudaeis fuit exsultatio, epulae atque convivia et festus dies, intantum ut plures alterius gentis et sectae eorum religioni et caeremoniisiungerentur; grandis enim cunctos Iudaici nominis terror invaserat.	17 O God, whose strength is above all things, heed the voice of those who have no other hope, and free us from the hand of the wicked, and rescue me from my fear.”