14:8. And now they are not content to oppress us with most hard bondage, but attributing the strength of their hands to the power of their idols.
14:9. They design to change thy promises, and destroy thy inheritance, and shut the mouths of them that praise thee, and extinguish the glory of thy temple and altar,
14:10. That they may open the mouths of Gentiles, and praise the strength of idols, and magnify for ever a carnal king.
14:11. Give not, O Lord, thy sceptre to them that are not, lest they laugh at our ruin: but turn their counsel upon themselves, and destroy him that hath begun to rage against us.
14:12. Remember, O Lord, and shew thyself to us in the time of our tribulation, and give me boldness, O Lord, king of G.o.ds, and of all power:
14:13. Give me a well ordered speech in my mouth in the presence of the lion, and turn his heart to the hatred of our enemy, that both he himself may perish, and the rest that consent to him.
14:14. But deliver us by thy hand, and help me, who have no other helper, but thee, O Lord, who hast the knowledge of all things.
14:15. And thou knowest that I hate the glory of the wicked, and abhor the bed of the uncirc.u.mcised, and of every stranger.
14:16. Thou knowest my necessity, that I abominate the sign of my pride and glory, which is upon my head in the days of my public appearance, and detest it as a menstruous rag, and wear it not in the days of my silence,
14:17. And that I have not eaten at Aman"s table, nor hath the king"s banquet pleased me, and that I have not drunk the wine of the drink offerings:
14:18. And that thy handmaid hath never rejoiced, since I was brought hither unto this day but in thee, O Lord, the G.o.d of Abraham.
14:19. O G.o.d, who art mighty above all, hear the voice of them, that have no other hope, and deliver us from the hand of the wicked, and deliver me from my fear.
Esther Chapter 15
Esther comes into the king"s presence: she is terrified, but G.o.d turns his heart.
15:1. And he commanded her (no doubt but he was Mardochai) to go to the king, and pet.i.tion for her people, and for her country.
15:2. Remember, (said he,) the days of thy low estate, how thou wast brought up by my hand, because Aman the second after the king hath spoken against us unto death.
15:3. And do thou call upon the Lord, and speak to the king for us, and deliver us from death.
15:4. And on the third day she laid away the garments she wore, and put on her glorious apparel.
15:5. And glittering in royal robes, after she had called upon G.o.d the ruler and Saviour of all, she took two maids with her,
15:6. And upon one of them she leaned, as if for delicateness and overmuch tenderness she were not able to bear up her own body.
15:7. And the other maid followed her lady, bearing up her train flowing on the ground.
15:8. But she with a rosy colour in her face, and with gracious and bright eyes hid a mind full of anguish, and exceeding great fear.
15:9. So going in she pa.s.sed through all doors in order, and stood before the king, where he sat upon his royal throne, clothed with his royal robes, and glittering with gold, and precious stones, and he was terrible to behold.
15:10. And when he had lifted up his countenance, and with burning eyes had shewn the wrath of his heart, the queen sunk down, and her colour turned pale, and she rested her weary head upon her handmaid.
15:11. And G.o.d changed the king"s spirit into mildness, and all in haste and in fear he leaped from his throne, and holding her up in his arms, till she came to herself, caressed her with these words:
15:12. What is the matter, Esther? I am thy brother, fear not.
15:13. Thou shalt not die: for this law is not made for thee, but for all others.
15:14. Come near then, and touch the sceptre.
15:15. And as she held her peace, he took the golden sceptre, and laid it upon her neck, and kissed her, and said: Why dost thou not speak to me?
15:16. She answered: I saw thee, my lord, as an angel of G.o.d, and my heart was troubled for fear of thy majesty.
15:17. For thou, my lord, art very admirable, and thy face is full of graces.
15:18. And while she was speaking, she fell down again, and was almost in a swoon.
15:19. But the king was troubled, and all his servants comforted her.
Esther Chapter 16
A copy of the king"s letter in favour of the Jews.
16:1. The great king Artaxerxes, from India to Ethiopia, to the governors and princes of a hundred and twenty-seven provinces, which obey our command, sendeth greeting.
From India to Ethiopia... That is, who reigneth from India to Ethiopia.
16:2. Many have abused unto pride the goodness of princes, and the honour that hath been bestowed upon them:
16:3. And not only endeavour to oppress the king"s subjects, but not bearing the glory that is given them, take in hand, to practise also against them that gave it.
16:4. Neither are they content not to return thanks for benefits received, and to violate in themselves the laws of humanity, but they think they can also escape the justice of G.o.d who seeth all things.
16:5. And they break out into so great madness, as to endeavour to undermine by lies such as observe diligently the offices committed to them, and do all things in such manner as to be worthy of all men"s praise,
16:6. While with crafty fraud they deceive the ears of princes that are well meaning, and judge of others by their own nature.
16:7. Now this is proved both from ancient histories, and by the things which are done daily, how the good designs of kings are depraved by the evil suggestions of certain men.
16:8. Wherefore we must provide for the peace of all provinces.
16:9. Neither must you think, if we command different things, that it cometh of the levity of our mind, but that we give sentence according to the quality and necessity of times, as the profit of the commonwealth requireth.
16:10. Now that you may more plainly understand what we say, Aman the son of Amadathi, a Macedonian both in mind and country, and having nothing of the Persian blood, but with his cruelty staining our goodness, was received being a stranger by us:
16:11. And found our humanity so great towards him, that he was called our father, and was worshipped by all as the next man after the king:
16:12. But he was so far puffed up with arrogancy, as to go about to deprive us of our kingdom and life.
16:13. For with certain new and unheard of devices he hath sought the destruction of Mardochai, by whose fidelity and good services our life was saved, and of Esther the partner of our kingdom with all their nation:
16:14. Thinking that after they were slain, he might work treason against us left alone without friends, and might transfer the kingdom of the Persians to the Macedonians.