1 After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him. 2 And all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed down, and did reverence to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not down, nor did him reverence. 3 Then the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king’s commandment? 4 Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew. 5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not down, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. 6 But he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had made known to him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.

7 In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. 8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from those of every people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them. 9 If it please the king, let it be written that they be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those that have the charge of the king’s business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries. 10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy. 11 And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.

12 Then were the king’s scribes called in the first month, on the thirteenth day thereof; and there was written according to all that Haman commanded unto the king’s satraps, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the princes of every people, to every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and it was sealed with the king’s ring. 13 And letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey. 14 A copy of the writing, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published unto all the peoples, that they should be ready against that day. 15 The posts went forth in haste by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given out in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.

1 DOPO queste cose, il re Assuero ingrandì Haman, figliuolo di Hammedata, Agageo, e l’innalzò, e pose il suo seggio disopra a tutti i principi ch’erano con lui.

2 E tutti i servitori del re ch’erano alla porta del re s’inchinavano, e adoravano Haman; perciocchè il re avea comandato che si facesse così inverso lui. Ma Mardocheo non s’inchinava, e non lo adorava.

3 Ed i servitori del re ch’erano alla porta del re, dissero a Mardocheo: Perchè trapassi il comandamento del re?

4 Ora, come essi glielo dicessero ogni giorno, ed egli non desse loro orecchie, essi lo rapportarono ad Haman, per vedere se le parole di Mardocheo sarebbero costanti; perciocchè egli avea lor dichiarato ch’egli era Giudeo.

5 Haman adunque vide che Mardocheo non s’inchinava, e non l’adorava, e fu ripieno di furore.

6 Ma egli sdegnava di metter la mano sopra Mardocheo solo; anzi, perchè gli era stato dichiarato il popolo di Mardocheo, cercava di distruggere tutti i Giudei, popolo di Mardocheo, ch’erano in tutto il regno di Assuero

7 E nel primo mese, che è il mese di Nisan, nell’anno duodecimo del re Assuero, fu tirata Pur, cioè la sorte, davanti ad Haman, per ciascun giorno, e per ciascun mese; e la sorte cadde sul duodecimo mese che è il mese di Adar.

8 Ed Haman disse al re Assuero: Ei v’è un popolo sparso e diviso fra gli altri popoli, in tutte le provincie del tuo regno, le cui leggi son differenti da quelle di ogni altro popolo; ed esso non osserva le leggi del re; talchè non è spediente al re di lasciarlo vivere.

9 Se così par bene al re, scrivasi che sia distrutto; ed io pagherò, in mano di coloro che fanno le faccende del re, diecimila talenti di argento, per portarli ne’ tesori del re.

10 Allora il re si trasse il suo anello di mano, e lo diede ad Haman, figliuolo di Hammedata, Agageo, nemico de’ Giudei.

11 E il re disse ad Haman: Quell’argento ti è rimesso in dono; e pur sia fatto a quel popolo come ti parrà bene.

12 E nel tredicesimo giorno del primo mese, furono chiamati i segretari del re, e furono scritte lettere, interamente come Haman comandò, a’ satrapi del re, e a’ governatori di ciascuna provincia, ed a’ principi di ciascun popolo; a ciascuna provincia, secondo la sua maniera di scrivere, ed a ciascun popolo, secondo il suo linguaggio. E quelle furono scritte a nome del re Assuero, e suggellate con l’anello del re.

13 E furono mandate, per man de’ corrieri, a tutte le provincie del re, per far distruggere, uccidere, e sterminare tutti i Giudei, fanciulli, vecchi, piccoli figliuoli, e femmine, in un medesimo giorno, cioè, nel tredicesimo giorno del duodecimo mese, ch’è il mese di Adar, e per predar le loro spoglie.

14 Il tenore delle lettere era, che si bandisse un decreto in ciascuna provincia, sì che fosse palese a tutti i popoli; acciocchè fosser presti per quel giorno.

15 I corrieri, sollecitati dal comandamento del re, si misero in cammino; e il decreto fu bandito in Susan, stanza reale. E il re, ed Haman, sedevano bevendo, mentre la città di Susan era in gran perplessità