Esther


Chapter 0
¹etous deuterou basileuontos artaxerxou tou megalou th mia tou nisa enupnion eiden mardocaios o tou iai+rou tou semei+ou tou kisaiou ek fulhs beniamin²anqrwpos ioudaios oikwn en sousois th polei anqrwpos megas qerapeuwn en th aulh tou basilews³hn de ek ths aicmalwsias hs hcmalwteusen naboucodonosor o basileus babulwnos ex ierousalhm meta ieconiou tou basilews ths ioudaias⁴kai touto autou to enupnion kai idou fwnai kai qorubos brontai kai seismos taracos epi ths ghs⁵kai idou duo drakontes megaloi etoimoi prohlqon amfoteroi palaiein kai egeneto autwn fwnh megalh⁶kai th fwnh autwn htoimasqh pan eqnos eis polemon wste polemhsai dikaiwn eqnos⁷kai idou hmera skotous kai gnofou qliyis kai stenocwria kakwsis kai taracos megas epi ths ghs⁸kai etaracqh dikaion pan eqnos foboumenoi ta eautwn kaka kai htoimasqhsan apolesqai kai ebohsan pros ton qeon⁹apo de ths bohs autwn egeneto wsanei apo mikras phghs potamos megas udwr polu¹⁰fws kai o hlios aneteilen kai oi tapeinoi uywqhsan kai katefagon tous endoxous¹¹kai diegerqeis mardocaios o ewrakws to enupnion touto kai ti o qeos bebouleutai poihsai eicen auto en th kardia kai en panti logw hqelen epignwnai auto ews ths nuktos¹²kai hsucasen mardocaios en th aulh meta gabaqa kai qarra twn duo eunoucwn tou basilews twn fulassontwn thn aulhn¹³hkousen te autwn tous logismous kai tas merimnas autwn exhreunhsen kai emaqen oti etoimazousin tas ceiras epibalein artaxerxh tw basilei kai upedeixen tw basilei peri autwn¹⁴kai exhtasen o basileus tous duo eunoucous kai omologhsantes aphcqhsan¹⁵kai egrayen o basileus tous logous toutous eis mnhmosunon kai mardocaios egrayen peri twn logwn toutwn¹⁶kai epetaxen o basileus mardocaiw qerapeuein en th aulh kai edwken autw domata peri toutwn¹⁷kai hn aman amadaqou bougaios endoxos enwpion tou basilews kai ezhthsen kakopoihsai ton mardocaion kai ton laon autou uper twn duo eunoucwn tou basilews¹⁸kai egeneto meta tous logous toutous en tais hmerais artaxerxou outos o artaxerxhs apo ths indikhs ekaton eikosi epta cwrwn ekrathsen

Chapter 1
¹See Esther 0:1-17 ²en autais tais hmerais ote eqronisqh o basileus artaxerxhs en sousois th polei³en tw tritw etei basileuontos autou dochn epoihsen tois filois kai tois loipois eqnesin kai tois perswn kai mhdwn endoxois kai tois arcousin twn satrapwn⁴kai meta tauta meta to deixai autois ton plouton ths basileias autou kai thn doxan ths eufrosunhs tou ploutou autou epi hmeras ekaton ogdohkonta⁵ote de aneplhrwqhsan ai hmerai tou gamou epoihsen o basileus poton tois eqnesin tois eureqeisin eis thn polin epi hmeras ex en aulh oikou tou basilews⁶kekosmhmenh bussinois kai karpasinois tetamenois epi scoiniois bussinois kai porfurois epi kubois crusois kai argurois epi stulois parinois kai liqinois klinai crusai kai argurai epi liqostrwtou smaragditou liqou kai pinninou kai parinou liqou kai strwmnai diafaneis poikilws dihnqismenai kuklw roda pepasmena⁷pothria crusa kai argura kai anqrakinon kulikion prokeimenon apo talantwn trismuriwn oinos polus kai hdus on autos o basileus epinen⁸o de potos outos ou kata prokeimenon nomon egeneto outws de hqelhsen o basileus kai epetaxen tois oikonomois poihsai to qelhma autou kai twn anqrwpwn⁹kai astin h basilissa epoihse poton tais gunaixin en tois basileiois opou o basileus artaxerxhs¹⁰en de th hmera th ebdomh hdews genomenos o basileus eipen tw aman kai bazan kai qarra kai bwrazh kai zaqolqa kai abataza kai qaraba tois epta eunoucois tois diakonois tou basilews artaxerxou¹¹eisagagein thn basilissan pros auton basileuein authn kai periqeinai auth to diadhma kai deixai authn pasin tois arcousin kai tois eqnesin to kallos auths oti kalh hn¹²kai ouk eishkousen autou astin h basilissa elqein meta twn eunoucwn kai eluphqh o basileus kai wrgisqh¹³kai eipen tois filois autou kata tauta elalhsen astin poihsate oun peri toutou nomon kai krisin¹⁴kai proshlqen autw arkesaios kai sarsaqaios kai malhsear oi arcontes perswn kai mhdwn oi eggus tou basilews oi prwtoi parakaqhmenoi tw basilei¹⁵kai aphggeilan autw kata tous nomous ws dei poihsai astin th basilissh oti ouk epoihsen ta upo tou basilews prostacqenta dia twn eunoucwn¹⁶kai eipen o moucaios pros ton basilea kai tous arcontas ou ton basilea monon hdikhsen astin h basilissa alla kai pantas tous arcontas kai tous hgoumenous tou basilews¹⁷kai gar dihghsato autois ta rhmata ths basilisshs kai ws anteipen tw basilei ws oun anteipen tw basilei artaxerxh¹⁸outws shmeron ai turannides ai loipai twn arcontwn perswn kai mhdwn akousasai ta tw basilei lecqenta up� auths tolmhsousin omoiws atimasai tous andras autwn¹⁹ei oun dokei tw basilei prostaxatw basilikon kai grafhtw kata tous nomous mhdwn kai perswn kai mh allws crhsasqw mhde eiselqatw eti h basilissa pros auton kai thn basileian auths dotw o basileus gunaiki kreittoni auths²⁰kai akousqhtw o nomos o upo tou basilews on ean poih en th basileia autou kai outws pasai ai gunaikes periqhsousin timhn tois andrasin eautwn apo ptwcou ews plousiou²¹kai hresen o logos tw basilei kai tois arcousi kai epoihsen o basileus kaqa elalhsen o moucaios²²kai apesteilen eis pasan thn basileian kata cwran kata thn lexin autwn wste einai fobon autois en tais oikiais autwn

Chapter 2
¹kai meta tous logous toutous ekopasen o basileus tou qumou kai ouketi emnhsqh ths astin mnhmoneuwn oia elalhsen kai ws katekrinen authn²kai eipan oi diakonoi tou basilews zhthqhtw tw basilei korasia afqora kala tw eidei³kai katasthsei o basileus kwmarcas en pasais tais cwrais ths basileias autou kai epilexatwsan korasia parqenika kala tw eidei eis sousan thn polin eis ton gunaikwna kai paradoqhtwsan tw eunoucw tou basilews tw fulaki twn gunaikwn kai doqhtw smhgma kai h loiph epimeleia⁴kai h gunh h an aresh tw basilei basileusei anti astin kai hresen tw basilei to pragma kai epoihsen outws⁵kai anqrwpos hn ioudaios en sousois th polei kai onoma autw mardocaios o tou iai+rou tou semei+ou tou kisaiou ek fulhs beniamin⁶os hn aicmalwtos ex ierousalhm hn hcmalwteusen naboucodonosor basileus babulwnos⁷kai hn toutw pais qrepth qugathr aminadab adelfou patros autou kai onoma auth esqhr en de tw metallaxai auths tous goneis epaideusen authn eautw eis gunaika kai hn to korasion kalon tw eidei⁸kai ote hkousqh to tou basilews prostagma sunhcqhsan korasia polla eis sousan thn polin upo ceira gai kai hcqh esqhr pros gai ton fulaka twn gunaikwn⁹kai hresen autw to korasion kai euren carin enwpion autou kai espeusen auth dounai to smhgma kai thn merida kai ta epta korasia ta apodedeigmena auth ek basilikou kai ecrhsato auth kalws kai tais abrais auths en tw gunaikwni¹⁰kai ouc upedeixen esqhr to genos auths oude thn patrida o gar mardocaios eneteilato auth mh apaggeilai¹¹kaq� ekasthn de hmeran o mardocaios periepatei kata thn aulhn thn gunaikeian episkopwn ti esqhr sumbhsetai¹²outos de hn kairos korasiou eiselqein pros ton basilea otan anaplhrwsh mhnas deka duo outws gar anaplhrountai ai hmerai ths qerapeias mhnas ex aleifomenai en smurninw elaiw kai mhnas ex en tois arwmasin kai en tois smhgmasin twn gunaikwn¹³kai tote eisporeuetai pros ton basilea kai o ean eiph paradwsei auth suneisercesqai auth apo tou gunaikwnos ews twn basileiwn¹⁴deilhs eisporeuetai kai pros hmeran apotrecei eis ton gunaikwna ton deuteron ou gai o eunoucos tou basilews o fulax twn gunaikwn kai ouketi eisporeuetai pros ton basilea ean mh klhqh onomati¹⁵en de tw anaplhrousqai ton cronon esqhr ths qugatros aminadab adelfou patros mardocaiou eiselqein pros ton basilea ouden hqethsen wn auth eneteilato o eunoucos o fulax twn gunaikwn hn gar esqhr euriskousa carin para pantwn twn blepontwn authn¹⁶kai eishlqen esqhr pros artaxerxhn ton basilea tw dwdekatw mhni os estin adar tw ebdomw etei ths basileias autou¹⁷kai hrasqh o basileus esqhr kai euren carin para pasas tas parqenous kai epeqhken auth to diadhma to gunaikeion¹⁸kai epoihsen o basileus poton pasi tois filois autou kai tais dunamesin epi hmeras epta kai uywsen tous gamous esqhr kai afesin epoihsen tois upo thn basileian autou¹⁹o de mardocaios eqerapeuen en th aulh²⁰h de esqhr ouc upedeixen thn patrida auths outws gar eneteilato auth mardocaios fobeisqai ton qeon kai poiein ta prostagmata autou kaqws hn met� autou kai esqhr ou methllaxen thn agwghn auths²¹kai eluphqhsan oi duo eunoucoi tou basilews oi arciswmatofulakes oti prohcqh mardocaios kai ezhtoun apokteinai artaxerxhn ton basilea²²kai edhlwqh mardocaiw o logos kai eshmanen esqhr kai auth enefanisen tw basilei ta ths epiboulhs²³o de basileus htasen tous duo eunoucous kai ekremasen autous kai prosetaxen o basileus katacwrisai eis mnhmosunon en th basilikh biblioqhkh uper ths eunoias mardocaiou en egkwmiw

Chapter 3
¹meta de tauta edoxasen o basileus artaxerxhs aman amadaqou bougaion kai uywsen auton kai eprwtobaqrei pantwn twn filwn autou²kai pantes oi en th aulh prosekunoun autw outws gar prosetaxen o basileus poihsai o de mardocaios ou prosekunei autw³kai elalhsan oi en th aulh tou basilews tw mardocaiw mardocaie ti parakoueis ta upo tou basilews legomena⁴kaq� ekasthn hmeran elaloun autw kai ouc uphkouen autwn kai upedeixan tw aman mardocaion tois tou basilews logois antitassomenon kai upedeixen autois o mardocaios oti ioudaios estin⁵kai epignous aman oti ou proskunei autw mardocaios equmwqh sfodra⁶kai ebouleusato afanisai pantas tous upo thn artaxerxou basileian ioudaious⁷kai epoihsen yhfisma en etei dwdekatw ths basileias artaxerxou kai ebalen klhrous hmeran ex hmeras kai mhna ek mhnos wste apolesai en mia hmera to genos mardocaiou kai epesen o klhros eis thn tessareskaidekathn tou mhnos os estin adar⁸kai elalhsen pros ton basilea artaxerxhn legwn uparcei eqnos diesparmenon en tois eqnesin en pash th basileia sou oi de nomoi autwn exalloi para panta ta eqnh twn de nomwn tou basilews parakouousin kai ou sumferei tw basilei easai autous⁹ei dokei tw basilei dogmatisatw apolesai autous kagw diagrayw eis to gazofulakion tou basilews arguriou talanta muria¹⁰kai perielomenos o basileus ton daktulion edwken eis ceira tw aman sfragisai kata twn gegrammenwn kata twn ioudaiwn¹¹kai eipen o basileus tw aman to men argurion ece tw de eqnei crw ws boulei¹²kai eklhqhsan oi grammateis tou basilews mhni prwtw th triskaidekath kai egrayan ws epetaxen aman tois strathgois kai tois arcousin kata pasan cwran apo indikhs ews ths aiqiopias tais ekaton eikosi epta cwrais tois te arcousi twn eqnwn kata thn autwn lexin di� artaxerxou tou basilews¹³kai apestalh dia bibliaforwn eis thn artaxerxou basileian afanisai to genos twn ioudaiwn en hmera mia mhnos dwdekatou os estin adar kai diarpasai ta uparconta autwn¹³ths de epistolhs estin to antigrafon tode basileus megas artaxerxhs tois apo ths indikhs ews ths aiqiopias ekaton eikosi epta cwrwn arcousi kai toparcais upotetagmenois tade grafei¹³pollwn eparxas eqnwn kai pashs epikrathsas oikoumenhs eboulhqhn mh tw qrasei ths exousias epairomenos epieikesteron de kai meta hpiothtos aei diexagwn tous twn upotetagmenwn akumatous dia pantos katasthsai bious thn te basileian hmeron kai poreuthn mecri peratwn parexomenos ananewsasqai te thn poqoumenhn tois pasin anqrwpois eirhnhn¹³puqomenou de mou twn sumboulwn pws an acqeih touto epi peras swfrosunh par� hmin dienegkas kai en th eunoia aparallaktws kai bebaia pistei apodedeigmenos kai deuteron twn basileiwn geras apenhnegmenos aman¹³epedeixen hmin en pasais tais kata thn oikoumenhn fulais anamemeicqai dusmenh laon tina tois nomois antiqeton pros pan eqnos ta te twn basilewn parapempontas dihnekws diatagmata pros to mh katatiqesqai thn uf� hmwn kateuqunomenhn amemptws sunarcian¹³dieilhfotes oun tode to eqnos monwtaton en antiparagwgh panti dia pantos anqrwpw keimenon diagwghn nomwn xenizousan parallasson kai dusnooun tois hmeterois pragmasin ta ceirista sunteloun kaka kai pros to mh thn basileian eustaqeias tugcanein¹³prostetacamen oun tous shmainomenous umin en tois gegrammenois upo aman tou tetagmenou epi twn pragmatwn kai deuterou patros hmwn pantas sun gunaixi kai teknois apolesai olorrizei tais twn ecqrwn macairais aneu pantos oiktou kai feidous th tessareskaidekath tou dwdekatou mhnos adar tou enestwtos etous¹³opws oi palai kai nun dusmeneis en hmera mia biaiws eis ton adhn katelqontes eis ton metepeita cronon eustaqh kai ataraca parecwsin hmin dia telous ta pragmata¹⁴ta de antigrafa twn epistolwn exetiqeto kata cwran kai prosetagh pasi tois eqnesin etoimous einai eis thn hmeran tauthn¹⁵espeudeto de to pragma kai eis sousan o de basileus kai aman ekwqwnizonto etarasseto de h polis

Chapter 4
¹o de mardocaios epignous to sunteloumenon dierrhxen ta imatia autou kai enedusato sakkon kai katepasato spodon kai ekphdhsas dia ths plateias ths polews eboa fwnh megalh airetai eqnos mhden hdikhkos²kai hlqen ews ths pulhs tou basilews kai esth ou gar hn exon autw eiselqein eis thn aulhn sakkon econti kai spodon³kai en pash cwra ou exetiqeto ta grammata kraugh kai kopetos kai penqos mega tois ioudaiois sakkon kai spodon estrwsan eautois⁴kai eishlqon ai abrai kai oi eunoucoi ths basilisshs kai anhggeilan auth kai etaracqh akousasa to gegonos kai apesteilen stolisai ton mardocaion kai afelesqai autou ton sakkon o de ouk epeisqh⁵h de esqhr prosekalesato acraqaion ton eunoucon auths os pareisthkei auth kai apesteilen maqein auth para tou mardocaiou to akribes⁷o de mardocaios upedeixen autw to gegonos kai thn epaggelian hn ephggeilato aman tw basilei eis thn gazan talantwn muriwn ina apolesh tous ioudaious⁸kai to antigrafon to en sousois ekteqen uper tou apolesqai autous edwken autw deixai th esqhr kai eipen autw enteilasqai auth eiselqoush paraithsasqai ton basilea kai axiwsai auton peri tou laou mnhsqeisa hmerwn tapeinwsews sou ws etrafhs en ceiri mou dioti aman o deutereuwn tw basilei elalhsen kaq� hmwn eis qanaton epikalesai ton kurion kai lalhson tw basilei peri hmwn kai rusai hmas ek qanatou⁹eiselqwn de o acraqaios elalhsen auth pantas tous logous toutous¹⁰eipen de esqhr pros acraqaion poreuqhti pros mardocaion kai eipon oti¹¹ta eqnh panta ths basileias ginwskei oti pas anqrwpos h gunh os eiseleusetai pros ton basilea eis thn aulhn thn eswteran aklhtos ouk estin autw swthria plhn w ekteinei o basileus thn crushn rabdon outos swqhsetai kagw ou keklhmai eiselqein pros ton basilea eisin autai hmerai triakonta¹²kai aphggeilen acraqaios mardocaiw pantas tous logous esqhr¹³kai eipen mardocaios pros acraqaion poreuqhti kai eipon auth esqhr mh eiphs seauth oti swqhsh monh en th basileia para pantas tous ioudaious¹⁴ws oti ean parakoushs en toutw tw kairw alloqen bohqeia kai skeph estai tois ioudaiois su de kai o oikos tou patros sou apoleisqe kai tis oiden ei eis ton kairon touton ebasileusas¹⁵kai exapesteilen esqhr ton hkonta pros authn pros mardocaion legousa¹⁶badisas ekklhsiason tous ioudaious tous en sousois kai nhsteusate ep� emoi kai mh faghte mhde pihte epi hmeras treis nukta kai hmeran kagw de kai ai abrai mou asithsomen kai tote eiseleusomai pros ton basilea para ton nomon ean kai apolesqai me h¹⁷kai badisas mardocaios epoihsen osa eneteilato autw esqhr¹⁷kai edehqh kuriou mnhmoneuwn panta ta erga kuriou kai eipen¹⁷kurie kurie basileu pantwn kratwn oti en exousia sou to pan estin kai ouk estin o antidoxwn soi en tw qelein se swsai ton israhl¹⁷oti su epoihsas ton ouranon kai thn ghn kai pan qaumazomenon en th up� ouranon kai kurios ei pantwn kai ouk estin os antitaxetai soi tw kuriw¹⁷su panta ginwskeis su oidas kurie oti ouk en ubrei oude en uperhfania oude en filodoxia epoihsa touto to mh proskunein ton uperhfanon aman oti hudokoun filein pelmata podwn autou pros swthrian israhl¹⁷alla epoihsa touto ina mh qw doxan anqrwpou uperanw doxhs qeou kai ou proskunhsw oudena plhn sou tou kuriou mou kai ou poihsw auta en uperhfania¹⁷kai nun kurie o qeos o basileus o qeos abraam feisai tou laou sou oti epiblepousin hmin eis katafqoran kai epequmhsan apolesai thn ex archs klhronomian sou¹⁷mh uperidhs thn merida sou hn seautw elutrwsw ek ghs aiguptou¹⁷epakouson ths dehsews mou kai ilasqhti tw klhrw sou kai streyon to penqos hmwn eis euwcian ina zwntes umnwmen sou to onoma kurie kai mh afanishs stoma ainountwn soi¹⁷kai pas israhl ekekraxan ex iscuos autwn oti qanatos autwn en ofqalmois autwn¹⁷kai esqhr h basilissa katefugen epi ton kurion en agwni qanatou kateilhmmenh kai afelomenh ta imatia ths doxhs auths enedusato imatia stenocwrias kai penqous kai anti twn uperhfanwn hdusmatwn spodou kai kopriwn eplhsen thn kefalhn auths kai to swma auths etapeinwsen sfodra kai panta topon kosmou agalliamatos auths eplhse streptwn tricwn auths kai edeito kuriou qeou israhl kai eipen¹⁷kurie mou o basileus hmwn su ei monos bohqhson moi th monh kai mh ecoush bohqon ei mh se oti kindunos mou en ceiri mou¹⁷egw hkouon ek geneths mou en fulh patrias mou oti su kurie elabes ton israhl ek pantwn twn eqnwn kai tous pateras hmwn ek pantwn twn progonwn autwn eis klhronomian aiwnion kai epoihsas autois osa elalhsas¹⁷kai nun hmartomen enwpion sou kai paredwkas hmas eis ceiras twn ecqrwn hmwn anq� wn edoxasamen tous qeous autwn dikaios ei kurie¹⁷kai nun ouc ikanwqhsan en pikrasmw douleias hmwn alla eqhkan tas ceiras autwn epi tas ceiras twn eidwlwn autwn exarai orismon stomatos sou kai afanisai klhronomian sou kai emfraxai stoma ainountwn soi kai sbesai doxan oikou sou kai qusiasthrion sou¹⁷kai anoixai stoma eqnwn eis aretas mataiwn kai qaumasqhnai basilea sarkinon eis aiwna¹⁷mh paradws kurie to skhptron sou tois mh ousin kai mh katagelasatwsan en th ptwsei hmwn alla streyon thn boulhn autwn ep� autous ton de arxamenon ef� hmas paradeigmatison¹⁷mnhsqhti kurie gnwsqhti en kairw qliyews hmwn kai eme qarsunon basileu twn qewn kai pashs archs epikratwn¹⁷dos logon euruqmon eis to stoma mou enwpion tou leontos kai metaqes thn kardian autou eis misos tou polemountos hmas eis sunteleian autou kai twn omonoountwn autw¹⁷hmas de rusai en ceiri sou kai bohqhson moi th monh kai mh ecoush ei mh se kurie¹⁷pantwn gnwsin eceis kai oidas oti emishsa doxan anomwn kai bdelussomai koithn aperitmhtwn kai pantos allotriou¹⁷su oidas thn anagkhn mou oti bdelussomai to shmeion ths uperhfanias mou o estin epi ths kefalhs mou en hmerais optasias mou bdelussomai auto ws rakos katamhniwn kai ou forw auto en hmerais hsucias mou¹⁷kai ouk efagen h doulh sou trapezan aman kai ouk edoxasa sumposion basilews oude epion oinon spondwn¹⁷kai ouk hufranqh h doulh sou af� hmeras metabolhs mou mecri nun plhn epi soi kurie o qeos abraam¹⁷o qeos o iscuwn epi pantas eisakouson fwnhn aphlpismenwn kai rusai hmas ek ceiros twn ponhreuomenwn kai rusai me ek tou fobou mou

Chapter 5
¹kai egenhqh en th hmera th trith ws epausato proseucomenh exedusato ta imatia ths qerapeias kai periebaleto thn doxan auths¹kai genhqeisa epifanhs epikalesamenh ton pantwn epopthn qeon kai swthra parelaben tas duo abras kai th men mia ephreideto ws trufereuomenh h de etera ephkolouqei koufizousa thn endusin auths¹kai auth eruqriwsa akmh kallous auths kai to proswpon auths ilaron ws prosfiles h de kardia auths apestenwmenh apo tou fobou¹kai eiselqousa pasas tas quras katesth enwpion tou basilews kai autos ekaqhto epi tou qronou ths basileias autou kai pasan stolhn ths epifaneias autou enededukei olos dia crusou kai liqwn polutelwn kai hn foberos sfodra¹kai aras to proswpon autou pepurwmenon doxh en akmh qumou ebleyen kai epesen h basilissa kai metebalen to crwma auths en eklusei kai katepekuyen epi thn kefalhn ths abras ths proporeuomenhs¹kai metebalen o qeos to pneuma tou basilews eis prau+thta kai agwniasas anephdhsen apo tou qronou autou kai anelaben authn epi tas agkalas autou mecris ou katesth kai parekalei authn logois eirhnikois kai eipen auth¹ti estin esqhr egw o adelfos sou qarsei ou mh apoqanhs oti koinon to prostagma hmwn estin proselqe²kai aras thn crushn rabdon epeqhken epi ton trachlon auths kai hspasato authn kai eipen lalhson moi²kai eipen autw eidon se kurie ws aggelon qeou kai etaracqh h kardia mou apo fobou ths doxhs sou oti qaumastos ei kurie kai to proswpon sou caritwn meston²en de tw dialegesqai authn epesen apo eklusews auths kai o basileus etarasseto kai pasa h qerapeia autou parekalei authn³kai eipen o basileus ti qeleis esqhr kai ti sou estin to axiwma ews tou hmisous ths basileias mou kai estai soi⁴eipen de esqhr hmera mou epishmos shmeron estin ei oun dokei tw basilei elqatw kai autos kai aman eis thn dochn hn poihsw shmeron⁵kai eipen o basileus kataspeusate aman opws poihswmen ton logon esqhr kai paraginontai amfoteroi eis thn dochn hn eipen esqhr⁶en de tw potw eipen o basileus pros esqhr ti estin basilissa esqhr kai estai soi osa axiois⁷kai eipen to aithma mou kai to axiwma mou⁸ei euron carin enwpion tou basilews elqatw o basileus kai aman epi thn aurion eis thn dochn hn poihsw autois kai aurion poihsw ta auta⁹kai exhlqen o aman apo tou basilews upercarhs eufrainomenos en de tw idein aman mardocaion ton ioudaion en th aulh equmwqh sfodra¹⁰kai eiselqwn eis ta idia ekalesen tous filous kai zwsaran thn gunaika autou¹¹kai upedeixen autois ton plouton autou kai thn doxan hn o basileus autw perieqhken kai ws epoihsen auton prwteuein kai hgeisqai ths basileias¹²kai eipen aman ou keklhken h basilissa meta tou basilews oudena eis thn dochn all� h eme kai eis thn aurion keklhmai¹³kai tauta moi ouk areskei otan idw mardocaion ton ioudaion en th aulh¹⁴kai eipen pros auton zwsara h gunh autou kai oi filoi kophtw soi xulon phcwn penthkonta orqrou de eipon tw basilei kai kremasqhtw mardocaios epi tou xulou su de eiselqe eis thn dochn sun tw basilei kai eufrainou kai hresen to rhma tw aman kai htoimasqh to xulon

Chapter 6
¹o de kurios apesthsen ton upnon apo tou basilews thn nukta ekeinhn kai eipen tw didaskalw autou eisferein grammata mnhmosuna twn hmerwn anaginwskein autw²euren de ta grammata ta grafenta peri mardocaiou ws aphggeilen tw basilei peri twn duo eunoucwn tou basilews en tw fulassein autous kai zhthsai epibalein tas ceiras artaxerxh³eipen de o basileus tina doxan h carin epoihsamen tw mardocaiw kai eipan oi diakonoi tou basilews ouk epoihsas autw ouden⁴en de tw punqanesqai ton basilea peri ths eunoias mardocaiou idou aman en th aulh eipen de o basileus tis en th aulh o de aman eishlqen eipein tw basilei kremasai ton mardocaion epi tw xulw w htoimasen⁵kai eipan oi diakonoi tou basilews idou aman esthken en th aulh kai eipen o basileus kalesate auton⁶eipen de o basileus tw aman ti poihsw tw anqrwpw on egw qelw doxasai eipen de en eautw aman tina qelei o basileus doxasai ei mh eme⁷eipen de pros ton basilea anqrwpon on o basileus qelei doxasai⁸enegkatwsan oi paides tou basilews stolhn bussinhn hn o basileus periballetai kai ippon ef� on o basileus epibainei⁹kai dotw eni twn filwn tou basilews twn endoxwn kai stolisatw ton anqrwpon on o basileus agapa kai anabibasatw auton epi ton ippon kai khrussetw dia ths plateias ths polews legwn outws estai panti anqrwpw on o basileus doxazei¹⁰eipen de o basileus tw aman kaqws elalhsas outws poihson tw mardocaiw tw ioudaiw tw qerapeuonti en th aulh kai mh parapesatw sou logos wn elalhsas¹¹elaben de aman thn stolhn kai ton ippon kai estolisen ton mardocaion kai anebibasen auton epi ton ippon kai dihlqen dia ths plateias ths polews kai ekhrussen legwn outws estai panti anqrwpw on o basileus qelei doxasai¹²epestreyen de o mardocaios eis thn aulhn aman de upestreyen eis ta idia lupoumenos kata kefalhs¹³kai dihghsato aman ta sumbebhkota autw zwsara th gunaiki autou kai tois filois kai eipan pros auton oi filoi kai h gunh ei ek genous ioudaiwn mardocaios hrxai tapeinousqai enwpion autou peswn pesh ou mh dunh auton amunasqai oti qeos zwn met� autou¹⁴eti autwn lalountwn paraginontai oi eunoucoi epispeudontes ton aman epi ton poton on htoimasen esqhr

Chapter 7
¹eishlqen de o basileus kai aman sumpiein th basilissh²eipen de o basileus esqhr th deutera hmera en tw potw ti estin esqhr basilissa kai ti to aithma sou kai ti to axiwma sou kai estw soi ews tou hmisous ths basileias mou³kai apokriqeisa eipen ei euron carin enwpion tou basilews doqhtw h yuch mou tw aithmati mou kai o laos mou tw axiwmati mou⁴epraqhmen gar egw te kai o laos mou eis apwleian kai diarpaghn kai douleian hmeis kai ta tekna hmwn eis paidas kai paidiskas kai parhkousa ou gar axios o diabolos ths aulhs tou basilews⁵eipen de o basileus tis outos ostis etolmhsen poihsai to pragma touto⁶eipen de esqhr anqrwpos ecqros aman o ponhros outos aman de etaracqh apo tou basilews kai ths basilisshs⁷o de basileus exanesth ek tou sumposiou eis ton khpon o de aman parhteito thn basilissan ewra gar eauton en kakois onta⁸epestreyen de o basileus ek tou khpou aman de epipeptwkei epi thn klinhn axiwn thn basilissan eipen de o basileus wste kai thn gunaika biazh en th oikia mou aman de akousas dietraph tw proswpw⁹eipen de bougaqan eis twn eunoucwn pros ton basilea idou kai xulon htoimasen aman mardocaiw tw lalhsanti peri tou basilews kai wrqwtai en tois aman xulon phcwn penthkonta eipen de o basileus staurwqhtw ep� autou¹⁰kai ekremasqh aman epi tou xulou o htoimasen mardocaiw kai tote o basileus ekopasen tou qumou

Chapter 8
¹kai en auth th hmera o basileus artaxerxhs edwrhsato esqhr osa uphrcen aman tw diabolw kai mardocaios proseklhqh upo tou basilews upedeixen gar esqhr oti enoikeiwtai auth²elaben de o basileus ton daktulion on afeilato aman kai edwken auton mardocaiw kai katesthsen esqhr mardocaion epi pantwn twn aman³kai prosqeisa elalhsen pros ton basilea kai prosepesen pros tous podas autou kai hxiou afelein thn aman kakian kai osa epoihsen tois ioudaiois⁴exeteinen de o basileus esqhr thn rabdon thn crushn exhgerqh de esqhr paresthkenai tw basilei⁵kai eipen esqhr ei dokei soi kai euron carin pemfqhtw apostrafhnai ta grammata ta apestalmena upo aman ta grafenta apolesqai tous ioudaious oi eisin en th basileia sou⁶pws gar dunhsomai idein thn kakwsin tou laou mou kai pws dunhsomai swqhnai en th apwleia ths patridos mou⁷kai eipen o basileus pros esqhr ei panta ta uparconta aman edwka kai ecarisamhn soi kai auton ekremasa epi xulou oti tas ceiras ephnegke tois ioudaiois ti eti epizhteis⁸grayate kai umeis ek tou onomatos mou ws dokei umin kai sfragisate tw daktuliw mou osa gar grafetai tou basilews epitaxantos kai sfragisqh tw daktuliw mou ouk estin autois anteipein⁹eklhqhsan de oi grammateis en tw prwtw mhni os esti nisa trith kai eikadi tou autou etous kai egrafh tois ioudaiois osa eneteilato tois oikonomois kai tois arcousin twn satrapwn apo ths indikhs ews ths aiqiopias ekaton eikosi epta satrapeiais kata cwran kai cwran kata thn eautwn lexin¹⁰egrafh de dia tou basilews kai esfragisqh tw daktuliw autou kai exapesteilan ta grammata dia bibliaforwn¹¹ws epetaxen autois crhsqai tois nomois autwn en pash polei bohqhsai te autois kai crhsqai tois antidikois autwn kai tois antikeimenois autwn ws boulontai¹²en hmera mia en pash th basileia artaxerxou th triskaidekath tou dwdekatou mhnos os estin adar¹²wn estin antigrafon ths epistolhs ta upogegrammena¹²basileus megas artaxerxhs tois apo ths indikhs ews ths aiqiopias ekaton eikosi epta satrapeiais cwrwn arcousi kai tois ta hmetera fronousi cairein¹²polloi th pleisth twn euergetountwn crhstothti puknoteron timwmenoi meizon efronhsan kai ou monon tous upotetagmenous hmin zhtousi kakopoiein ton te koron ou dunamenoi ferein kai tois eautwn euergetais epiceirousi mhcanasqai¹²kai thn eucaristian ou monon ek twn anqrwpwn antanairountes alla kai tois twn apeiragaqwn kompois eparqentes tou ta panta katopteuontos aei qeou misoponhron upolambanousin ekfeuxesqai dikhn¹²pollakis de kai pollous twn ep� exousiais tetagmenwn twn pisteuqentwn ceirizein filwn ta pragmata paramuqia metaitious aimatwn aqwwn katasthsasa periebale sumforais anhkestois¹²tw ths kakohqeias yeudei paralogismw paralogisamenwn thn twn epikratountwn akeraion eugnwmosunhn¹²skopein de exestin ou tosouton ek twn palaioterwn wn paredwkamen istoriwn osa estin para podas umas ekzhtountas anosiws suntetelesmena th twn anaxia dunasteuontwn loimothti¹²kai prosecein eis ta meta tauta eis to thn basileian ataracon tois pasin anqrwpois met� eirhnhs parexomeqa¹²crwmenoi tais metabolais ta de upo thn oyin ercomena diakrinontes aei met� epieikesteras apanthsews¹²ws gar aman amadaqou makedwn tais alhqeiais allotrios tou twn perswn aimatos kai polu diesthkws ths hmeteras crhstothtos epixenwqeis hmin¹²etucen hs ecomen pros pan eqnos filanqrwpias epi tosouton wste anagoreuesqai hmwn patera kai proskunoumenon upo pantwn to deuteron tou basilikou qronou proswpon diatelein¹²ouk enegkas de thn uperhfanian epethdeusen ths archs sterhsai hmas kai tou pneumatos¹²ton te hmeteron swthra kai dia pantos euergethn mardocaion kai thn amempton ths basileias koinwnon esqhr sun panti tw toutwn eqnei poluplokois meqodwn paralogismois aithsamenos eis apwleian¹²dia gar twn tropwn toutwn whqh labwn hmas erhmous thn twn perswn epikrathsin eis tous makedonas metaxai¹²hmeis de tous upo tou trisalithriou paradedomenous eis afanismon ioudaious euriskomen ou kakourgous ontas dikaiotatois de politeuomenous nomois¹²ontas de uious tou uyistou megistou zwntos qeou tou kateuqunontos hmin te kai tois progonois hmwn thn basileian en th kallisth diaqesei¹²kalws oun poihsete mh proscrhsamenoi tois upo aman amadaqou apostaleisi grammasin dia to auton ton tauta exergasamenon pros tais souswn pulais estaurwsqai sun th panoikia thn kataxian tou ta panta epikratountos qeou dia tacous apodontos autw krisin¹²to de antigrafon ths epistolhs tauths ekqentes en panti topw meta parrhsias ean tous ioudaious crhsqai tois eautwn nomimois kai sunepiscuein autois opws tous en kairw qliyews epiqemenous autois amunwntai th triskaidekath tou dwdekatou mhnos adar th auth hmera¹²tauthn gar o panta dunasteuwn qeos ant� oleqrias tou eklektou genous epoihsen autois eufrosunhn¹²kai umeis oun en tais epwnumois umwn eortais epishmon hmeran meta pashs euwcias agete opws kai nun kai meta tauta swthria h hmin kai tois eunoousin persais tois de hmin epibouleuousin mnhmosunon ths apwleias¹²pasa de polis h cwra to sunolon htis kata tauta mh poihsh dorati kai puri katanalwqhsetai met� orghs ou monon anqrwpois abatos alla kai qhriois kai peteinois eis ton apanta cronon ecqistos katastaqhsetai¹³ta de antigrafa ektiqesqwsan ofqalmofanws en pash th basileia etoimous te einai pantas tous ioudaious eis tauthn thn hmeran polemhsai autwn tous upenantious¹⁴oi men oun ippeis exhlqon speudontes ta upo tou basilews legomena epitelein exeteqh de to prostagma kai en sousois¹⁵o de mardocaios exhlqen estolismenos thn basilikhn stolhn kai stefanon ecwn crusoun kai diadhma bussinon porfuroun idontes de oi en sousois ecarhsan¹⁶tois de ioudaiois egeneto fws kai eufrosunh¹⁷kata polin kai cwran ou an exeteqh to prostagma ou an exeteqh to ekqema cara kai eufrosunh tois ioudaiois kwqwn kai eufrosunh kai polloi twn eqnwn perietemonto kai ioudaizon dia ton fobon twn ioudaiwn

Chapter 9
¹en gar tw dwdekatw mhni triskaidekath tou mhnos os estin adar parhn ta grammata ta grafenta upo tou basilews²en auth th hmera apwlonto oi antikeimenoi tois ioudaiois oudeis gar antesth foboumenos autous³oi gar arcontes twn satrapwn kai oi turannoi kai oi basilikoi grammateis etimwn tous ioudaious o gar fobos mardocaiou enekeito autois⁴prosepesen gar to prostagma tou basilews onomasqhnai en pash th basileia⁶kai en sousois th polei apekteinan oi ioudaioi andras pentakosious⁷ton te farsannestain kai delfwn kai fasga⁸kai fardaqa kai barea kai sarbaca⁹kai marmasima kai aroufaion kai arsaion kai zabouqaiqan¹⁰tous deka uious aman amadaqou bougaiou tou ecqrou twn ioudaiwn kai dihrpasan¹¹en auth th hmera epedoqh o ariqmos tw basilei twn apolwlotwn en sousois¹²eipen de o basileus pros esqhr apwlesan oi ioudaioi en sousois th polei andras pentakosious en de th pericwrw pws oiei ecrhsanto ti oun axiois eti kai estai soi¹³kai eipen esqhr tw basilei doqhtw tois ioudaiois crhsqai wsautws thn aurion wste tous deka uious kremasai aman¹⁴kai epetreyen outws genesqai kai exeqhke tois ioudaiois ths polews ta swmata twn uiwn aman kremasai¹⁵kai sunhcqhsan oi ioudaioi en sousois th tessareskaidekath tou adar kai apekteinan andras triakosious kai ouden dihrpasan¹⁶oi de loipoi twn ioudaiwn oi en th basileia sunhcqhsan kai eautois ebohqoun kai anepausanto apo twn polemiwn apwlesan gar autwn murious pentakiscilious th triskaidekath tou adar kai ouden dihrpasan¹⁷kai anepausanto th tessareskaidekath tou autou mhnos kai hgon authn hmeran anapausews meta caras kai eufrosunhs¹⁸oi de ioudaioi oi en sousois th polei sunhcqhsan kai th tessareskaidekath kai ouk anepausanto hgon de kai thn pentekaidekathn meta caras kai eufrosunhs¹⁹dia touto oun oi ioudaioi oi diesparmenoi en pash cwra th exw agousin thn tessareskaidekathn tou adar hmeran agaqhn met� eufrosunhs apostellontes meridas ekastos tw plhsion oi de katoikountes en tais mhtropolesin kai thn pentekaidekathn tou adar hmeran eufrosunhn agaqhn agousin exapostellontes meridas tois plhsion²⁰egrayen de mardocaios tous logous toutous eis biblion kai exapesteilen tois ioudaiois osoi hsan en th artaxerxou basileia tois eggus kai tois makran²¹sthsai tas hmeras tautas agaqas agein te thn tessareskaidekathn kai thn pentekaidekathn tou adar²²en gar tautais tais hmerais anepausanto oi ioudaioi apo twn ecqrwn autwn kai ton mhna en w estrafh autois os hn adar apo penqous eis caran kai apo odunhs eis agaqhn hmeran agein olon agaqas hmeras gamwn kai eufrosunhs exapostellontas meridas tois filois kai tois ptwcois²³kai prosedexanto oi ioudaioi kaqws egrayen autois o mardocaios²⁴pws aman amadaqou o makedwn epolemei autous kaqws eqeto yhfisma kai klhron afanisai autous²⁵kai ws eishlqen pros ton basilea legwn kremasai ton mardocaion osa de epeceirhsen epaxai epi tous ioudaious kaka ep� auton egenonto kai ekremasqh autos kai ta tekna autou²⁶dia touto epeklhqhsan ai hmerai autai frourai dia tous klhrous oti th dialektw autwn kalountai frourai dia tous logous ths epistolhs tauths kai osa peponqasin dia tauta kai osa autois egeneto²⁷kai esthsen kai prosedeconto oi ioudaioi ef� eautois kai epi tw spermati autwn kai epi tois prosteqeimenois ep� autwn oude mhn allws crhsontai ai de hmerai autai mnhmosunon epiteloumenon kata genean kai genean kai polin kai patrian kai cwran²⁸ai de hmerai autai twn frourai acqhsontai eis ton apanta cronon kai to mnhmosunon autwn ou mh ekliph ek twn genewn²⁹kai egrayen esqhr h basilissa qugathr aminadab kai mardocaios o ioudaios osa epoihsan to te sterewma ths epistolhs twn frourai³¹kai mardocaios kai esqhr h basilissa esthsan eautois kaq� eautwn kai tote sthsantes kata ths ugieias autwn kai thn boulhn autwn³²kai esqhr logw esthsen eis ton aiwna kai egrafh eis mnhmosunon

Chapter 10
¹egrayen de o basileus telh epi thn basileian ths te ghs kai ths qalasshs²kai thn iscun autou kai andragaqian plouton te kai doxan ths basileias autou idou gegraptai en bibliw basilewn perswn kai mhdwn eis mnhmosunon³o de mardocaios diedeceto ton basilea artaxerxhn kai megas hn en th basileia kai dedoxasmenos upo twn ioudaiwn kai filoumenos dihgeito thn agwghn panti tw eqnei autou³kai eipen mardocaios para tou qeou egeneto tauta³emnhsqhn gar peri tou enupniou ou eidon peri twn logwn toutwn oude gar parhlqen ap� autwn logos³h mikra phgh h egeneto potamos kai hn fws kai hlios kai udwr polu esqhr estin o potamos hn egamhsen o basileus kai epoihsen basilissan³oi de duo drakontes egw eimi kai aman³ta de eqnh ta episunacqenta apolesai to onoma twn ioudaiwn³to de eqnos to emon outos estin israhl oi bohsantes pros ton qeon kai swqentes kai eswsen kurios ton laon autou kai errusato kurios hmas ek pantwn twn kakwn toutwn kai epoihsen o qeos ta shmeia kai ta terata ta megala a ou gegonen en tois eqnesin³dia touto epoihsen klhrous duo ena tw law tou qeou kai ena pasi tois eqnesin³kai hlqon oi duo klhroi outoi eis wran kai kairon kai eis hmeran krisews enwpion tou qeou kai en pasi tois eqnesin³kai emnhsqh o qeos tou laou autou kai edikaiwsen thn klhronomian autou³kai esontai autois ai hmerai autai en mhni adar th tessareskaidekath kai th pentekaidekath tou autou mhnos meta sunagwghs kai caras kai eufrosunhs enwpion tou qeou kata geneas eis ton aiwna en tw law autou israhl³etous tetartou basileuontos ptolemaiou kai kleopatras eishnegken dwsiqeos os efh einai iereus kai leuiths kai ptolemaios o uios autou thn prokeimenhn epistolhn twn frourai hn efasan einai kai ermhneukenai lusimacon ptolemaiou twn en ierousalhm