Home

The Greek Additions to Esther

[The Rest of the Chapters of the Book of Esther]

AddEsth 10:4

Then Mardocheus said, God hath done these things.

AddEsth 10:5

For I remember a dream which I saw concerning these matters,

and nothing thereof hath failed.

AddEsth 10:6

A little fountain became a river, and there was light, and the

sun, and much water: this river is Esther, whom the king

married, and made queen:

AddEsth 10:7

And the two dragons are I and Aman.

AddEsth 10:8

And the nations were those that were assembled to destroy the

name of the Jews:

AddEsth 10:9

And my nation is this Israel, which cried to God, and were

saved: for the Lord hath saved his people, and the Lord hath

delivered us from all those evils, and God hath wrought signs

and great wonders, which have not been done among the Gentiles.

AddEsth 10:10

Therefore hath he made two lots, one for the people of God,

and another for all the Gentiles.

AddEsth 10:11

And these two lots came at the hour, and time, and day of

judgment, before God among all nations.

AddEsth 10:12

So God remembered his people, and justified his inheritance.

AddEsth 10:13

Therefore those days shall be unto them in the month Adar,

the fourteenth and fifteenth day of the same month, with an

assembly, and joy, and with gladness before God, according to

the generations for ever among his people.

AddEsth 11:1

In the fourth year of the reign of Ptolemeus and Cleopatra,

Dositheus, who said he was a priest and Levite, and Ptolemeus

his son, brought this epistle of Phurim, which they said was the

same, and that Lysimachus the son of Ptolemeus, that was in

Jerusalem, had interpreted it.

AddEsth 11:2

In the second year of the reign of Artexerxes the great, in

the first day of the month Nisan, Mardocheus the son of Jairus,

the son of Semei, the son of Cisai, of the tribe of Benjamin,

had a dream;

AddEsth 11:3

Who was a Jew, and dwelt in the city of Susa, a great man,

being a servitor in the king's court.

AddEsth 11:4

He was also one of the captives, which Nabuchodonosor the

king of Babylon carried from Jerusalem with Jechonias king of

Judea; and this was his dream:

AddEsth 11:5

Behold a noise of a tumult, with thunder, and earthquakes,

and uproar in the land:

AddEsth 11:6

And, behold, two great dragons came forth ready to fight, and

their cry was great.

AddEsth 11:7

And at their cry all nations were prepared to battle, that

they might fight against the righteous people.

AddEsth 11:8

And lo a day of darkness and obscurity, tribulation and

anguish, affliction and great uproar, upon earth.

AddEsth 11:9

And the whole righteous nation was troubled, fearing their

own evils, and were ready to perish.

AddEsth 11:10

Then they cried unto God, and upon their cry, as it were from

a little fountain, was made a great flood, even much water.

AddEsth 11:11

The light and the sun rose up, and the lowly were exalted,

and devoured the glorious.

AddEsth 11:12

Now when Mardocheus, who had seen this dream, and what God

had determined to do, was awake, he bare this dream in mind, and

until night by all means was desirous to know it.

AddEsth 12:1

And Mardocheus took his rest in the court with Gabatha and

Tharra, the two eunuchs of the king, and keepers of the palace.

AddEsth 12:2

And he heard their devices, and searched out their purposes,

and learned that they were about to lay hands upon Artexerxes

the king; and so he certified the king of them.

AddEsth 12:3

Then the king examined the two eunuchs, and after that they

had confessed it, they were strangled.

AddEsth 12:4

And the king made a record of these things, and Mardocheus

also wrote thereof.

AddEsth 12:5

So the king commanded, Mardocheus to serve in the court, and

for this he rewarded him.

AddEsth 12:6

Howbeit Aman the son of Amadathus the Agagite, who was in

great honour with the king, sought to molest Mardocheus and his

people because of the two eunuchs of the king.

AddEsth 13:1

The copy of the letters was this: The great king Artexerxes

writeth these things to the princes and governours that are under

him from India unto Ethiopia in an hundred and seven and twenty

provinces.

AddEsth 13:2

After that I became lord over many nations and had dominion

over the whole world, not lifted up with presumption of my

authority, but carrying myself always with equity and mildness,

I purposed to settle my subjects continually in a quiet life,

and making my kingdom peaceable, and open for passage to the

utmost coasts, to renew peace, which is desired of all men.

AddEsth 13:3

Now when I asked my counsellors how this might be brought to

pass, Aman, that excelled in wisdom among us, and was approved

for his constant good will and steadfast fidelity, and had the

honour of the second place in the kingdom,

AddEsth 13:4

Declared unto us, that in all nations throughout the world

there was scattered a certain malicious people, that had laws

contrary to ail nations, and continually despised the

commandments of kings, so as the uniting of our kingdoms,

honourably intended by us cannot go forward.

AddEsth 13:5

Seeing then we understand that this people alone is

continually in opposition unto all men, differing in the strange

manner of their laws, and evil affected to our state, working

all the mischief they can that our kingdom may not be firmly

established:

AddEsth 13:6

Therefore have we commanded, that all they that are signified

in writing unto you by Aman, who is ordained over the affairs,

and is next unto us, shall all, with their wives and children,

be utterly destroyed by the sword of their enemies, without all

mercy and pity, the fourteenth day of the twelfth month Adar of

this present year:

AddEsth 13:7

That they, who of old and now also are malicious, may in one

day with violence go into the grave, and so ever hereafter cause

our affairs to be well settled, and without trouble.

AddEsth 13:8

Then Mardocheus thought upon all the works of the Lord, and

made his prayer unto him,

AddEsth 13:9

Saying, O Lord, Lord, the King Almighty: for the whole world

is in thy power, and if thou hast appointed to save Israel,

there is no man that can gainsay thee:

AddEsth 13:10

For thou hast made heaven and earth, and all the wondrous

things under the heaven.

AddEsth 13:11

Thou art Lord of all things, and and there is no man that can

resist thee, which art the Lord.

AddEsth 13:12

Thou knowest all things, and thou knowest, Lord, that it was

neither in contempt nor pride, nor for any desire of glory, that

I did not bow down to proud Aman.

AddEsth 13:13

For I could have been content with good will for the

salvation of Israel to kiss the soles of his feet.

AddEsth 13:14

But I did this, that I might not prefer the glory of man

above the glory of God: neither will I worship any but thee, O

God, neither will I do it in pride.

AddEsth 13:15

And now, O Lord God and King, spare thy people: for their

eyes are upon us to bring us to nought; yea, they desire to

destroy the inheritance, that hath been thine from the

beginning.

AddEsth 13:16

Despise not the portion, which thou hast delivered out of

Egypt for thine own self.

AddEsth 13:17

Hear my prayer, and be merciful unto thine inheritance: turn

our sorrow into joy, that we may live, O Lord, and praise thy

name: and destroy not the mouths of them that praise thee, O

Lord.

AddEsth 13:18

All Israel in like manner cried most earnestly unto the Lord,

because their death was before their eyes.

AddEsth 14:1

Queen Esther also, being in fear of death, resorted unto the

Lord:

AddEsth 14:2

And laid away her glorious apparel, and put on the garments

of anguish and mourning: and instead of precious ointments, she

covered her head with ashes and dung, and she humbled her body

greatly, and all the places of her joy she filled with her torn

hair.

AddEsth 14:3

And she prayed unto the Lord God of Israel, saying, O my

Lord, thou only art our King: help me, desolate woman, which

have no helper but thee:

AddEsth 14:4

For my danger is in mine hand.

AddEsth 14:5

From my youth up I have heard in the tribe of my family that

thou, O Lord, tookest Israel from among all people, and our

fathers from all their predecessors, for a perpetual

inheritance, and thou hast performed whatsoever thou didst

promise them.

AddEsth 14:6

And now we have sinned before thee: therefore hast thou given

us into the hands of our enemies,

AddEsth 14:7

Because we worshipped their gods: O Lord, thou art righteous.

AddEsth 14:8

Nevertheless it satisfieth them not, that we are in bitter

captivity: but they have stricken hands with their idols,

AddEsth 14:9

That they will abolish the thing that thou with thy mouth

hast ordained, and destroy thine inheritance, and stop the mouth

of them that praise thee, and quench the glory of thy house, and

of thine altar,

AddEsth 14:10

And open the mouths of the heathen to set forth the praises

of the idols, and to magnify a fleshly king for ever.

AddEsth 14:11

O Lord, give not thy sceptre unto them that be nothing, and

let them not laugh at our fall; but turn their device upon

themselves, and make him an example, that hath begun this

against us.

AddEsth 14:12

Remember, O Lord, make thyself known in time of our

affliction, and give me boldness, O King of the nations, and

Lord of all power.

AddEsth 14:13

Give me eloquent speech in my mouth before the lion: turn his

heart to hate him that fighteth against us, that there may be an

end of him, and of all that are likeminded to him:

AddEsth 14:14

But deliver us with thine hand, and help me that am desolate,

and which have no other help but thee.

AddEsth 14:15

Thou knowest all things, O Lord; thou knowest that I hate the

glory of the unrighteous, and abhor the bed of the

uncircumcised, and of all the heathen.

AddEsth 14:16

Thou knowest my necessity: for I abhor the sign of my high

estate, which is upon mine head in the days wherein I shew

myself, and that I abhor it as a menstruous rag, and that I wear

it not when I am private by myself.

AddEsth 14:17

And that thine handmaid hath not eaten at Aman's table, and

that I have not greatly esteemed the king's feast, nor drunk the

wine of the drink offerings.

AddEsth 14:18

Neither had thine handmaid any joy since the day that I was

brought hither to this present, but in thee, O Lord God of

Abraham.

AddEsth 14:19

O thou mighty God above all, hear the voice of the forlorn

and deliver us out of the hands of the mischievous, and deliver

me out of my fear.

AddEsth 15:1

And upon the third day, when she had ended her prayers, she

laid away her mourning garments, and put on her glorious

apparel.

AddEsth 15:2

And being gloriously adorned, after she had called upon God,

who is the beholder and saviour of all things, she took two

maids with her:

AddEsth 15:3

And upon the one she leaned, as carrying herself daintily;

AddEsth 15:4

And the other followed, bearing up her train.

AddEsth 15:5

And she was ruddy through the perfection of her beauty, and

her countenance was cheerful and very amiable: but her heart was

in anguish for fear.

AddEsth 15:6

Then having passed through all the doors, she stood before

the king, who sat upon his royal throne, and was clothed with

all his robes of majesty, all glittering with gold and precious

stones; and he was very dreadful.

AddEsth 15:7

Then lifting up his countenance that shone with majesty, he

looked very fiercely upon her: and the queen fell down, and was

pale, and fainted, and bowed herself upon the head of the maid

that went before her.

AddEsth 15:8

Then God changed the spirit of the king into mildness, who in

a fear leaped from his throne, and took her in his arms, till

she came to herself again, and comforted her with loving words

and said unto her,

AddEsth 15:9

Esther, what is the matter? I am thy brother, be of good

cheer:

AddEsth 15:10

Thou shalt not die, though our our commandment be general:

come near.

AddEsth 15:11

And so be held up his golden sceptre, and laid it upon her

neck,

AddEsth 15:12

And embraced her, and said, Speak unto me.

AddEsth 15:13

Then said she unto him, I saw thee, my lord, as an angel of

God, and my heart was troubled for fear of thy majesty.

AddEsth 15:14

For wonderful art thou, lord, and thy countenance is full of

grace.

AddEsth 15:15

And as she was speaking, she fell down for faintness.

AddEsth 15:16

Then the king was troubled, and ail his servants comforted

her.

AddEsth 16:1

The great king Artexerxes unto the princes and governors of

an hundred and seven and twenty provinces from India unto

Ethiopia, and unto all our faithful subjects, greeting.

AddEsth 16:2

Many, the more often they are honoured with the great bounty

of their gracious princes, the more proud they are waxen,

AddEsth 16:3

And endeavour to hurt not our subjects only, but not being

able to bear abundance, do take in hand to practise also against

those that do them good:

AddEsth 16:4

And take not only thankfulness away from among men, but also

lifted up with the glorious words of lewd persons, that were

never good, they think to escape the justice of God, that seeth

all things and hateth evil.

AddEsth 16:5

Oftentimes also fair speech of those, that are put in trust

to manage their friends' affairs, hath caused many that are in

authority to be partakers of innocent blood, and hath enwrapped

them in remediless calamities:

AddEsth 16:6

Beguiling with the falsehood and deceit of their lewd

disposition the innocency and goodness of princes.

AddEsth 16:7

Now ye may see this, as we have declared, not so much by

ancient histories, as ye may, if ye search what hath been

wickedly done of late through the pestilent behaviour of them

that are unworthily placed in authority.

AddEsth 16:8

And we must take care for the time to come, that our kingdom

may be quiet and peaceable for all men,

AddEsth 16:9

Both by changing our purposes, and always judging things that

are evident with more equal proceeding.

AddEsth 16:10

For Aman, a Macedonian, the son of Amadatha, being indeed a

stranger from the Persian blood, and far distant from our

goodness, and as a stranger received of us,

AddEsth 16:11

Had so far forth obtained the favour that we shew toward

every nation, as that he was called our father, and was

continually honoured of all the next person unto the king.

AddEsth 16:12

But he, not bearing his great dignity, went about to deprive

us of our kingdom and life:

AddEsth 16:13

Having by manifold and cunning deceits sought of us the

destruction, as well of Mardocheus, who saved our life, and

continually procured our good, as also of blameless Esther,

partaker of our kingdom, with their whole nation.

AddEsth 16:14

For by these means he thought, finding us destitute of

friends to have translated the kingdom of the Persians to the

Macedonians.

AddEsth 16:15

But we find that the Jews, whom this wicked wretch hath

delivered to utter destruction, are no evildoers, but live by

most just laws:

AddEsth 16:16

And that they be children of the most high and most mighty,

living God, who hath ordered the kingdom both unto us and to our

progenitors in the most excellent manner.

AddEsth 16:17

Wherefore ye shall do well not to put in execution the

letters sent unto you by Aman the son of Amadatha.

AddEsth 16:18

For he that was the worker of these things, is hanged at the

gates of Susa with all his family: God, who ruleth all things,

speedily rendering vengeance to him according to his deserts.

AddEsth 16:19

Therefore ye shall publish the copy of this letter in all

places, that the Jews may freely live after their own laws.

AddEsth 16:20

And ye shall aid them, that even the same day, being the

thirteenth day of the twelfth month Adar, they may be avenged on

them, who in the time of their affliction shall set upon them.

AddEsth 16:21

For Almighty God hath turned to joy unto them the day,

wherein the chosen people should have perished.

AddEsth 16:22

Ye shall therefore among your solemn feasts keep it an high

day with all feasting:

AddEsth 16:23

That both now and hereafter there may be safety to us and the

well affected Persians; but to those which do conspire against

us a memorial of destruction.

AddEsth 16:24

Therefore every city and country whatsoever, which shall not

do according to these things, shall be destroyed without mercy

with fire and sword, and shall be made not only unpassable for

men, but also most hateful to wild beasts and fowls for ever.