1 Depois destas coisas quando a ira do rei Assuero era já aplacada, lembrou- se de Vasti, e do que ela tinha feito e do que tinha sido decretado contra ela.2 Então disseram os servos do rei que lhe ministravam: Busquem-se para o rei moças virgens e formosas.3 Designe o rei em todas as províncias do seu reino oficiais que ajuntem e tragam todas as moças virgens e formosas ao castelo de Susã, à casa das mulheres, à custódia de Hegai, eunuco do rei, guarda das mulheres; e dêem-se-lhes os seus cosméticos.4 Seja rainha em lugar de Vasti a donzela que agrade ao rei. Isso pareceu bem ao rei; e assim fez.5 Havia certo judeu, benjamita, no castelo de Susã, por nome Mordecai, filho de Jair, filho de Simei, filho de Quis,6 que tinha sido levado de Jerusalém com os exilados que foram deportados com Jeconias, rei de Judá, a quem Nabucodonozor, rei de Babilônia, levou cativo.7 Criou ele a Hadassa, isto é, Ester, filha de seu tio, pois não tinha ela nem pai nem mãe, e era donzela de bela presença e formosa. Tendo falecido seu pai e sua mãe, Mordecai a tinha adotado por filha.8 Quando se tornaram conhecidas as palavras do rei e a sua lei, e quando muitas donzelas foram ajuntadas e levadas ao castelo de Susã, à custódia de Hegai, foi levada também Ester à casa do rei, à custódia de Hegai, guarda das mulheres.9 A donzela agradou-lhe, e alcançou o favor dele que se apressou em lhe dar os cosméticos e os seus quinhões, como também as sete donzelas, escolhidas da casa do rei. Colocou-a com as donzelas nos melhores cômodos da casa das mulheres.10 Ester não tinha declarado o seu povo nem a sua linhagem, pois Mordecai lhe tinha ordenado que o não declarasse.11 Todos os dias passeava Mordecai diante do átrio da casa das mulheres, para saber como Ester se achava, e o que lhe sucederia.12 Ora, quando chegava o tempo de vir cada donzela por sua ordem ao rei Assuero, depois que lhe tinha sido feito segundo a lei das mulheres por doze meses (pois assim se cumpriam os dias do seu uso de cosméticos, a saber, seis meses do uso de óleo de mirra, e seis meses do uso de perfumes e de cosméticos em uso entre as mulheres);13 então desta maneira vinha a donzela ao rei, sendo-lhe dado tudo quanto ela desejava, para levar consigo da casa das mulheres para a casa do rei.14 À tarde ela entrava, e pela manhã voltava para a segunda casa das mulheres, à custódia de Saasgaz, eunuco do rei, guarda das concubinas. Ela não voltava mais ao rei, a menos que o rei a desejasse, e fosse chamada por nome.15 Ora, quando chegou o tempo de ir ao rei, Ester, filha de Abiail, tio de Mordecai que a tinha adotado por filha, ela não pediu nada afora o que aconselhou Hegai, eunuco do rei, guarda das mulheres. Ester achou graça aos olhos de todos quantos a contemplavam.16 Ester foi levada ao rei Assuero, à casa real, no décimo mês, que é o mês de Tebete, no sétimo ano do seu reinado.17 O rei amou a Ester mais do que a todas as mulheres, e ela alcançou graça e favor diante dele mais do que todas as virgens; de sorte que lhe pôs sobre a cabeça a coroa real, e a fez rainha em lugar de Vasti.18 Então deu o rei a todos os seus príncipes e aos seus servos um grande banquete, banquete em honra de Ester; concedeu alívio às províncias, e fez donativos segundo a liberalidade digna dum rei.19 Quando pela segunda vez se ajuntavam virgens, Mordecai estava sentado na porta do rei.20 Ester ainda não tinha manifestado a sua linhagem nem o seu povo, como Mordecai lhe havia ordenado; pois cumpria a ordem de Mordecai, como quando estava sendo criada em casa dele.21 Naqueles dias, enquanto Mordecai estava sentado na porta do rei, indignaram-se os dois eunucos do rei, Bigtã e Teres, guardas da porta, e procuraram tirar a vida ao rei Assuero.22 Isso veio ao conhecimento de Mordecai, que o revelou à rainha Ester; e Ester deu disso parte ao rei em nome de Mordecai.23 Investigou-se o negócio, achou-se ser verdade e ambos foram pendurados numa forca. Isso foi escrito no livro das crônicas perante o rei.

1 After this, when the wrath of king Assuerus was appeased, he remembered Vasthi, and what she had done end what she had suffered:2 And the king's servants and his officers said: Let young women be sought for the king, virgins and beautiful,3 And let some persons be sent through all the provinces to look for beautiful maidens and virgins: and let them bring them to the city of Susan, and put them into the house of the women under the hand of Egeus the eunuch, who is the overseer and keeper of the king's women: and let them receive women's ornaments, and other things necessary for their use.4 And whosoever among them all shall please the king's eyes, let her be queen instead of Vasthi. The word pleased the king: and he commanded it should be done as they had suggested.5 There was a man in the city of Susan, a Jew, named Mardochai, the son of Jair, the son of Semei, the son of Cis, of the race of Jemini,6 Who had been carried away from Jerusalem at the time that Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon carried away Jechonias king of Juda,7 And he had brought up his brother's daughter Edissa, who by another name was called Esther: now she had lost both her parents: and was exceeding fair and beautiful. And her father and mother being dead, Mardochai adopted her for his daughter.8 And when the king's ordinance was noised abroad, and according to his commandment many beautiful virgins were brought to Susan, and were delivered to Egeus the eunuch: Esther also among the rest of the maidens was delivered to him to be kept in the number of the women.9 And she pleased him, and found favour in his sight. And he commanded the eunuch to hasten the women's ornaments, and to deliver to her her part, and seven of the most beautiful maidens of the king's house, and to adorn and deck out both her and her waiting maids.10 And she would not tell him her people nor her country. For Mardochai had charged her to say nothing at all of that:11 And he walked every day before the court of the house, in which the chosen virgins werre kept, having a care for Esther's welfare, and desiring to know what would befall her.12 Now when every virgin's turn came to go in to the king, after all had been done for setting them off to advantage, it was the twelfth month: so that for six months they were anointed with oil of myrrh, and for other six months they used certain perfumes and sweet spices.13 And when they were going in to the king, whatsoever they asked to adorn themselves they received: and being decked out, as it pleased them, they passed from the chamber of the women to the king's chamber.14 And she that went in at evening, came out in the morning, and from thence she was conducted to the second house, that was under the hand of Susagaz the eunuch, who had the charge over the king's concubines: neither could she re- turn any more to the king, unless the king desired it, and had ordered her by name to come.15 And as the time came orderly about, the day was at hand, when Esther, the daughter of Abihail the brother of Mardochai, whom he had adopted for his daughter, was to go in to the king. But she sought not women's ornaments, but whatsoever Egeus the eunuch the keeper of the virgins had a mind, he gave her to adorn her. For she was exceeding fair, and her incredible beauty made her appear agreeable and amiable in the eyes of all.16 So she was brought to the chamber of king Assuerus the tenth month, which is called Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.17 And the king loved her more than all the women, and she had favour and kindness before him above all the women, and he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vasthi.18 And he commanded a magnificent feast to be prepared for all the princes, and for his servants, for the marriage and wedding of Esther. And he gave rest to all the provinces, and bestowed gifts according to princely magnificence.19 And when the virgins were sought the second time, and gathered together, Mardochai stayed at the king's gate,20 Neither had Esther as yet declared her country and people, according to his commandment. For whatsoever he commanded, Esther observed: and she did all things in the same manner as she was wont at that time when he brought her up a little one.21 At that time, therefore, when Mardochai abode at the king's gate, Bagathan and Thares, two of the king's eunuchs, who were porters, and presided in the first entry of the palace, were angry: and they designed to rise up against the king, and to kill him.22 And Mardochai had notice of it, and immediately he told it to queen Esther: and she to the king in Mardochai's name, who had reported the thing unto her.23 It was inquired into, and found out: and they were both hanged on a gibbet. And it was put in the histories, and recorded in the chronicles before the king.