Liber Esther

Rex magnus Artaxerxes ab India usque Æthiopiam, centum viginti septem provinciarum ducibus ac principibus qui nostræ jussioni obediunt, salutem dicit.

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.

Rege magna Artaxerxe ab India usque Aethiopia, cento viginti septeme de provincia ad duces et ad principes qui nostro ad iussione obedi, salute dic.

Multi bonitate principum et honore, qui in eos collatus est, abusi sunt in superbiam:

Many have abused unto pride the goodness of princes, and the honour that hath been bestowed upon them:

Multo bonitate de principes et honore, qui in illos colfera es, abes es in superbia:

et non solum subjectos regibus nituntur opprimere, sed datam sibi gloriam non ferentes, in ipsos qui dederunt, moliuntur insidias.

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.

Et non solo subicie ad reges nitor opprime, sed da ad se gloria non fer, in ipso qui da, molior insidias.

Nec contenti sunt gratias non agere beneficiis, et humanitatis in se jura violare, sed Dei quoque cuncta cernentis arbitrantur se posse fugere sententiam.

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 God who seeth all things.

Nec contenta es gratias non age beneficios, et de humanitate in se iures viola, sed de Deo etiam cuncta cerne arbitra se posse fuge sententia.

Et in tantum vesaniæ proruperunt, ut eos qui credita sibi officia diligenter observant, et ita cuncta agunt ut omnium laude digni sint, mendaciorum cuniculis conentur subvertere,

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,

Et in tanto vesanias prorumpe, ut illos qui crede ad se observa diligenter officios, et ita cuncta age ut de omni laude digna es, de mendacios cuniculos conor subverte,

dum aures principum simplices, et ex sua natura alios æstimantes, callida fraude decipiunt.

While with crafty fraud they deceive the ears of princes that are well meaning, and judge of others by their own nature.

Dum aures de principes simplici, et ex suo natura alio aestima, callida fraude decipie.

Quæ res et ex veteribus probatur historiis, et ex his quæ geruntur quotidie, quomodo malis quorumdam suggestionibus regum studia depraventur.

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.

Que re et ex veteri proba historias, et ex hoc que gere quotidie, quomodo malo uno suggestiones de reges studios deprova.

Unde providendum est paci omnium provinciarum.

Wherefore we must provide for the peace of all provinces.

Unde provide es ad pace de omni de provincias.

Nec putare debetis, si diversa jubeamus, ex animi nostri venire levitate, sed pro qualitate et necessitate temporum, ut reipublicæ poscit utilitas, ferre sententiam.

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.

Nec puta debe, si diverso iube, ex animo nostro venire levitate, sed pro qualitate et necessitate de tempores, ut reipublico posce utilitate, ferre sententia.

Et ut manifestius quod dicimus intelligatis, Aman filius Amadathi, et animo et gente Macedo, alienusque a Persarum sanguine, et pietatem nostram sua crudelitate commaculans, peregrinus a nobis susceptus est:

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:

Et ut manifester quod dic intellige, Amane filio de Amadatho, et animo et gente Macedone, et aliena ab Persas sanguine, et pietate nostro suo crudelitate commaculor, peregrino ab nos suscipe es:

et tantam in se expertus humanitatem, ut pater noster vocaretur, et adoraretur ab omnibus post regem secundus:

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:

Et tanto in se experior humanitate, ut patre nostro voca, et adora ab omni post rege secundo:

qui in tantum arrogantiæ tumorem sublatus est, ut regno privare nos niteretur et spiritu.

But he was so far puffed up with arrogancy, as to go about to deprive us of our kingdom and life.

Qui in tanto de arrogantia tumore tolle es, ut regno priva nos nitor et spiritu.

Nam Mardochæum, cujus fide et beneficiis vivimus, et consortem regni nostri Esther cum omni gente sua, novis quibusdam atque inauditis machinis expetivit in mortem:

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:

Nam Mardochaeo, de que fide et beneficios vive, et consorte de regno nostro de Esthro cum omni gente suo, novo uno et inaudie machinas expete in morte:

hoc cogitans ut illis interfectis, insidiaretur nostræ solitudini, et regnum Persarum transferret in Macedonas.

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.

Hoc cogita ut ad illos interfice, insidior nostro ad solitudine, et regno de Persas transfer in Macedones.

Nos autem a pessimo mortalium Judæos neci destinatos, in nulla penitus culpa reperimus, sed e contrario justis utentes legibus,

But we have found that the Jews, who were by that most wicked man appointed to be slain, are in no fault at all, but contrariwise, use just laws,

Nos autem reperi ab malo mortali Iudaeos ad nece, in nullo penitus culpa destina, sed ex contrario iusto ute leges,

et filios altissimi et maximi semperque viventis Dei, cujus beneficio et patribus nostris et nobis regnum est traditum, et usque hodie custoditur.

And are the children of the highest and the greatest, and the ever living God, by whose benefit the kingdom was given both to our fathers and to us, and is kept unto this day.

Et filios altissimo et de magna et semper vive de Deo, de que beneficio et patres nostro et ad nos regno es trade, et usque hodie custodi.

Unde eas litteras, quas sub nomine nostro ille direxerat, sciatis esse irritas.

Wherefore know ye that those letters which he sent in our name, are void and of no effect.

Unde illas litteras, illo sub nomine nostro dic que, sci es irrito.

Pro quo scelere ante portas hujus urbis, id est, Susan, et ipse qui machinatus est, et omnis cognatio ejus pendet in patibulis: non nobis, sed Deo reddente ei quod meruit.

For which crime both he himself that devised it, and all his kindred hang on gibbets, before the gates of this city Susan: not we, but God repaying him as he deserved.

Pro quo scelere ante portas de hoc de urbe, id es, Susan, et ipso qui machina es, et omni cognatione de illo pende in patibulos: non ad nos, sed ad Deo redde ad illo quod mereo.

Hoc autem edictum, quod nunc mittimus, in cunctis urbibus proponatur, ut liceat Judæis uti legibus suis.

But this edict, which we now send, shall be published in all cities, that the Jews may freely follow their own laws.

Hoc autem edicto, quod nunc mitte, in cuncta urbes propone, ut lice ad Iudaeos ute leges suo.

Quibus debetis esse adminiculo, ut eos qui se ad necem eorum paraverant, possint interficere tertiadecima die mensis duodecimi, qui vocatur Adar.

And you shall aid them that they may kill those who had prepared themselves to kill them, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is called Adar.

Ad que debe es adminiculo, ut illos qui para ad nece de illos se, pote interfice tertiadecima die de mense de duodecimo, qui voca Adare.

Hanc enim diem, Deus omnipotens, mœroris et luctus, eis vertit in gaudium.

For the almighty God hath turned this day of sadness and mourning into joy to them.

Hoc nam die, Deo omnipotente, de moerore et luctu, ad illos verte in gaudio.

Unde et vos inter ceteros festos dies, hanc habetote diem, et celebrate eam cum omni lætitia, ut et in posterum cognoscatur,

Wherefore you shall also count this day among other festival days, and celebrate it with all joy, that it may be known also in times to come,

Unde et vos inter cetero festoses dies, hoc habe die, et celebra illa cum omni laetitia, ut et in postera cognosce,

omnes qui fideliter Persis obediunt, dignam pro fide recipere mercedem; qui autem insidiantur regno eorum, perire pro scelere.

That all they who faithfully obey the Persians, receive a worthy reward for their fidelity: but they that are traitors to their kingdom, are destroyed for their wickedness.

Omni qui fideliter ad Persis obedi, digna pro fide recipe mercede; qui autem insidior regno de illos, peri pro scelere.

Omnis autem provincia et civitas quæ noluerit solemnitatis hujus esse particeps, gladio et igne pereat, et sic deleatur, ut non solum hominibus, sed etiam bestiis invia sit in sempiternum, pro exemplo contemptus et inobedientiæ.

And let every province and city, that will not be partaker of this solemnity, perish by the sword and by fire, and be destroyed in such manner as to be made unpassable, both to men and beasts, for an example of contempt, and disobedience.

Omni autem provincia et civitate que ne vol de solemnitate de hoc es participe, gladio et igni peri, et sic dele, ut non solo ad homines, sed etiam ad bestias invia es in sempiterno, pro exemplo contemne et de inobedientia.