AddEsth 15:2 And being gloriously adorned, after she had called upon G.o.d, 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 pa.s.sed 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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d, 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 G.o.d, 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 dest.i.tute 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 G.o.d, 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: G.o.d, 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 G.o.d 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 unpa.s.sable for men, but also most hateful to wild beasts and fowls for ever.

The First Book of the Maccabees

1 Mac 1:1 And it happened, after that Alexander son of Philip, the Macedonian, who came out of the land of Chettim, had smitten Darius king of the Persians and Medes, that he reigned in his stead, the first over Greece,

1 Mac 1:2 And made many wars, and won many strong holds, and slew the kings of the earth,

1 Mac 1:3 And went through to the ends of the earth, and took spoils of many nations, insomuch that the earth was quiet before him; whereupon he was exalted and his heart was lifted up.

1 Mac 1:4 And he gathered a mighty strong host and ruled over countries, and nations, and kings, who became tributaries unto him.

1 Mac 1:5 And after these things he fell sick, and perceived that he should die.

1 Mac 1:6 Wherefore he called his servants, such as were honourable, and had been brought up with him from his youth, and parted his kingdom among them, while he was yet alive.

1 Mac 1:7 So Alexander reigned twelves years, and then died.