Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
Esther
16 chapters
Chapters
Esther 1
In the days of Assuerus, who reigned from India to Ethiopia over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces:
Esther 2
After this, when the wrath of king Assuerus was appeased, he remembered Vasthi, and what she had done and what she had suffered:
Esther 3
After these things, king Assuerus advanced Aman, the son of Amadathi, who was of the race of Agag: and he set his throne above all the princes that were with him.
Esther 4
Now when Mardochai had heard these things, he rent his garments, and put on sackcloth, strewing ashes on his head: and he cried with a loud voice in the street in the midst of the city, shewing the anguish of his mind.
Esther 5
And on the third day Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s hall: now he sat upon his throne in the hall of the palace, over against the door of the house.
Esther 6
That night the king passed without sleep, and he commanded the histories and chronicles of former times to be brought him. And when they were reading them before him,
Esther 7
So the king and Aman went in, to drink with the queen.
Esther 8
On that day king Assuerus gave the house of Aman, the Jews’ enemy, to queen Esther, and Mardochai came in before the king. For Esther had confessed to him that he was her uncle.
Esther 9
So on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which as we have said above is called Adar, when all the Jews were designed to be massacred, and their enemies were greedy after their blood, the case being altered, the Jews began to have the upper hand, and to revenge themselves of their adversaries.
Esther 10
And king Assuerus made all the land, and all the islands of the sea tributary.
Esther 11
In the fourth year of the reign of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, Dositheus, who said he was a priest, and of the Levitical race, and Ptolemy his son brought this epistle of Phurim, which they said Lysimachus the son of Ptolemy had interpreted in Jerusalem.
Esther 12
And he abode at that time in the king’s court with Bagatha and Thara the king’s eunuchs, who were porters of the palace.
Esther 13
And this was the copy of the letter: Artaxerxes the great king who reigneth from India to Ethiopia, to the princes and governors of the hundred and twenty-seven provinces, that are subject to his empire, greeting.
Esther 14
Queen Esther also, fearing the danger that was at hand, had recourse to the Lord.
Esther 15
And he commanded her (no doubt but he was Mardochai) to go to the king, and petition for her people, and for her country.
Esther 16
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.