Previous - Next
Click here to show the links to concordance
chapter 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.
2 Many have abused unto pride the goodness of princes,
and the honour that hath been bestowed upon them:
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.
4 Neither are they content not to re- turn 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.
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,
6 While with crafty fraud they deceive the ears of
princes that are well meaning, and judge of others by their own nature.
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.
8 Wherefore we must provide for the peace of all
provinces.
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.
10 Now that you may more plainly understand what we
say, I 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:
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:
12 But he was so far puffed up with arrogancy, as to go
about to deprive us of our kingdom and life.
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:
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.
15 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,
16 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.
17 Wherefore know ye that those letters which he sent
in our name, are void and of no effect.
18 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.
19 But this edict, which we now send, shall be
published in all cities, that the Jews may freely follow their own laws.
20 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.
21 For the almighty God hath turned this day of sadness
and mourning into joy to them.
22 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,
23 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.
24 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.
Previous - Next
Table of Contents | Words: Alphabetical - Frequency - Inverse - Length - Statistics | Help | IntraText Library
Best viewed with any browser at 800x600 or 768x1024 on Tablet PC
IntraText® (V89) - Some rights reserved by EuloTech SRL - 1996-2007. Content in this page is licensed under a Creative Commons License