1 Depois disto, quando a raiva do rei Assuero já havia passado, ele se lembrou de Vasti e do que ela havia feito, e do que havia sido decretado contra ela. 2 Então os servos do rei, que o serviam, lhe disseram:

— Que se procurem moças virgens de boa aparência para o rei. 3 Que o rei nomeie comissários em todas as províncias do seu reino, que reúnam todas as moças virgens e de boa aparência no harém da cidadela de Susã, sob os cuidados de Hegai, eunuco do rei, guarda das mulheres. E que se dê a elas os produtos de beleza que desejarem. 4 A moça que cair no agrado do rei, essa reine em lugar de Vasti.

O rei concordou com isto, e assim se fez.

5 Ora, na cidadela de Susã havia um judeu da tribo de Benjamim chamado Mordecai, filho de Jair, filho de Simei, filho de Quis. 6 Ele tinha sido levado de Jerusalém com os exilados que foram deportados com Jeconias, rei de Judá, a quem Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, havia levado para o exílio. 7 Mordecai havia criado Hadassa, que é Ester, filha de seu tio, que era órfã de pai e mãe. A jovem era bonita e formosa. Depois que o pai e a mãe dela morreram, Mordecai a adotou como filha.

8 Quando a ordem e o decreto do rei foram divulgados, muitas moças foram levadas para a cidadela de Susã, sob os cuidados de Hegai. Levaram também Ester ao palácio real e a entregaram aos cuidados de Hegai, guarda das mulheres. 9 A moça lhe pareceu formosa e alcançou favor diante dele. Por isso Hegai se apressou em dar-lhe os produtos de beleza e a alimentação especial. Também lhe deu sete moças escolhidas do palácio real e a transferiu com essas moças para os melhores aposentos do harém. 10 Ester não havia declarado o seu povo nem a sua parentela, pois Mordecai lhe havia ordenado que não dissesse nada a respeito disso. 11 Mordecai passeava todos os dias diante do pátio do harém, para saber como Ester estava passando e o que ia acontecer com ela.

12 Depois de doze meses de tratamento seguindo as prescrições para as mulheres, que eram embelezadas seis meses com óleo de mirra e seis meses com óleos aromáticos, essências e perfumes em uso entre as mulheres, chegava a vez de cada moça ser levada ao rei Assuero. 13 Então a moça ia ao encontro do rei e podia levar consigo tudo o que quisesse do harém para o palácio. 14 À tarde, ela entrava no palácio e, pela manhã, voltava para o segundo harém, sob os cuidados de Saasgaz, eunuco do rei, guarda das concubinas. A moça não voltava mais ao rei, a menos que o rei a desejasse, e ela fosse chamada pelo nome.

15 Quando chegou a vez de Ester, filha de Abiail, tio de Mordecai, que a tinha adotado como filha, ela não pediu nada além do que Hegai, eunuco do rei, guarda das mulheres, lhe havia aconselhado. E Ester alcançou favor de todos os que a contemplavam. 16 Assim, Ester foi levada ao rei Assuero, ao palácio real, no décimo mês, que é o mês de tebete, no sétimo ano do seu reinado. 17 O rei amou Ester mais do que todas as mulheres, e ela alcançou diante dele favor e aprovação mais do que todas as virgens. E o rei pôs a coroa real na cabeça dela e a fez rainha em lugar de Vasti.

18 Então o rei deu um grande banquete a todos os seus oficiais e servidores; era o banquete de Ester. Concedeu alívio às províncias e distribuiu presentes segundo a sua generosidade real.

19 Quando as virgens foram reunidas pela segunda vez, Mordecai estava sentado junto à porta do rei. 20 Ester ainda não havia declarado a sua linhagem e o seu povo, como Mordecai lhe havia ordenado. E Ester continuava a cumprir as ordens de Mordecai, como tinha feito quando este a criava.

21 Naqueles dias, quando Mordecai estava sentado junto à porta do rei, dois eunucos do rei, que se chamavam Bigtã e Teres e eram do corpo da guarda, ficaram indignados e planejaram matar o rei Assuero. 22 Isto chegou ao conhecimento de Mordecai, que o revelou à rainha Ester, e Ester o disse ao rei, em nome de Mordecai. 23 Investigou-se o caso, e era fato; e os dois conspiradores foram pendurados numa forca. Isso foi escrito no Livro das Crônicas, diante do rei.

1 After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.

2 Then said the young men of the king, who waited upon him,Let them seek out for the king young virgins, of pleasing appearance;

3 and let the king appoint officers throughout all the provinces of his kingdom, and let them gather together every young virgin of pleasing appearance unto Shusan the palace, unto the house of the women, into the custody of Hegai eunuch of the king, keeper of the women, and let there be given the things needed for their purification;

4 and, the maiden that is pleasing in the eyes of the king, let her be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing seemed good in the eyes of the king, and he did so.

5 A certain Jew, there was, in Shusan the palace,whose, name, was Mordecai, son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a man of Benjamin;

6 who had been exiled from Jerusalem, with the exiles who were carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah,whom, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, exiled.

7 And it came to pass, that he was bringing up Hadassah, the same, was Esther, his uncles daughter, for she had neither father nor mother,and, the maiden, was of beautiful form and pleasing appearance, and when her father and mother died, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.

8 So it came to pass, when the kings command and decree was heard, and there had been gathered together many maidens unto Shusan the palace, unto the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken into the house of the king, unto the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women;

9 and the maiden was pleasing in his eyes, and she received lovingkindness before him, and he hastened to give her, the things needed for her purification, and things apportioned her, and to give her, seven select maidens, out of the house of the king,and he removed her and her maidens to the best place in the house of the women.

10 Esther had not told of her people, nor of her kindred,for, Mordecai, had laid charge upon her, that she should not tell.

11 And, throughout every day, Mordecai, used to walk to and fro, before the court of the house of the women,to get to know the welfare of Esther, and what would be done with her.

12 Now, when the turn of each maiden came, to go in unto King Ahasuerus, after it had been done to her according to the law of the women for twelve months, for, so, were filled the days of their purification,six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes, and with things for the purification of the women,

13 then, indeed, the maiden came in unto the king,whatsoever she might mention, was given her, to go with her, out of the house of the women up to the house of the king:

14 in the evening, she went in, and, in the morning, she returnedunto the second house of the women, unto the custody of Shaashgaz the kings eunuch, who kept the concubines,she went not in again unto the king, except the king delighted in her, and she were called by name.

15 But, when the turn came for Esther daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecaiwho had taken her as his own daughterto go in unto the king, she requested nothing, save what Hegai the kings eunuch who kept the women might direct,but so it was, that Esther obtained favour in the eyes of all who beheld her.

16 So then Esther was taken unto King Ahasuerus, into his royal house, in the tenth month, the same, was the month Tebeth,in the seventh year of his reign.

17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained favour and lovingkindness before him, above all the virgins,so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen, instead of Vashti.

18 Then the king made a great banquet, for all his rulers and his servants, the banquet of Esther,and, a remission, for all the provinces, made he, and gave a present, according to the bounty of a king.

19 Now, when virgins were gathered together second time, then, Mordecai, was sitting in the gate of the king.

20 Esther had not told of her kindred, nor her people, as, Mordecai, had laid charge upon her,and, the command of Mordecai, Esther performed, like as when she was being brought up with him.

21 In those days, when, Mordecai, was sitting in the gate of the king, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the eunuchs of the king who guarded the threshold, were wroth, and sought to thrust a hand upon King Ahasuerus;

22 but the thing became known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen,and Esther told it unto the king, in the name of Mordecai.

23 And, when the thing was searched into and found