1 Depois destas coisas engrandeceu o rei Assuero a Hamã, filho de Hamedata, agagita, e exaltou-o, e pôs-lhe o assento sobre todos os príncipes que estavam com ele.2 Todos os servos do rei, que estavam na porta do rei, dobravam os joelhos e prostravam-se a Hamã; pois assim tinha ordenado o rei acerca dele. Mas Mordecai não dobrava os joelhos, nem o reverenciava.3 Então os servos do rei, que estavam na porta do rei, disseram a Mordecai: Por que transgrides tu a ordem do rei?4 Tendo eles falado com ele dia após dia e, não lhes dando ele ouvidos, referiram-no a Hamã, para ver se a conduta de Mordecai seria tolerada; pois Mordecai lhes tinha dito que era judeu.5 Vendo Hamã que Mordecai não dobrava os joelhos, nem se prostrava diante dele, encheu-se de furor.6 Porém desprezou a idéia de tirar a vida só a Mordecai (porque se lhe havia dito de que povo era Mordecai). Por este motivo Hamã procurou destruir todos os judeus, povo de Mordecai, que havia em todo o reino de Assuero.7 No primeiro mês que é o mês de Nisã, no duodécimo ano do rei Assuero, deitaram Pur, que quer dizer, sortes diante de Hamã de dia em dia e de mês em mês até o duodécimo mês, que é o mês de Adar.8 Hamã disse ao rei Assuero: Há um povo espalhado e disperso por entre os povos em todas as províncias do teu reino, e as suas leis divergem das de todos os povos. Não observa as leis do rei: portanto não convém ao rei tolerá-lo.9 Se parecer bem ao rei, escreva-se que seja destruído. Eu pagarei dez mil talentos de prata aos encarregados dos negócios do rei, para os meterem nas tesourarias do rei.10 Então o rei tirou o anel da sua mão, e o deu a Hamã, filho de Hamedata, agagita, inimigo dos judeus.11 O rei disse a Hamã: A prata te é dada a ti, como também este povo, para lhes fazeres como te aprouver.12 Então foram chamados os secretários do rei no primeiro mês, no dia treze do mesmo, e, conforme tudo quanto Hamã ordenou, se escreveu aos sátrapas do rei, e aos governadores sobre todas as províncias, e aos príncipes de todos os povos: a cada província segundo o seu modo de escrever, e a cada povo segundo a sua língua. Em nome do rei Assuero foi escrito, e com o anel foi selado.13 Cartas foram enviadas pelos correios a todas as províncias do rei, para que destruíssem e matassem e fizessem perecer a todos os judeus, desde o menino até o velho, crianças e mulheres, em um mesmo dia, a treze do duodécimo mês, que é o mês de Adar, e para que saqueassem os seus bens.14 A cópia do despacho, que determinou a divulgação do decreto em todas as províncias, foi publicado entre todos os povos, a fim de que estivessem preparados para aquele dia.15 Os correios saíram às pressas pela ordem do rei, e o decreto foi proclamado no castelo de Susã. O rei e Hamã sentaram-se a banquetear, mas a cidade de Susã estava consternada.

1 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.2 And all the king's servants, that were at the doors of the palace, bent their knees, and worshipped Aman: for so the emperor had commanded them, only Mardochai did not bend his knee, nor worship him.3 And the king's servants that were chief at the doors of the palace, said to him: Why dost thou alone not observe the king's commandment?4 And when they were saying this often, and he would not hearken to them; they told Aman, desirous to know whether he would continue in his resolution: for he had told them that he was a Jew.5 Now when Aman had heard this, and had proved by experience that Mardochai did not bend his knee to him, nor worship him, he was exceeding angry.6 And he counted it nothing to lay his hands upon Mardochai alone: for he had heard that he was of the nation of the Jews, and he chose rather to destroy all the nation of the Jews that were in the kingdom of Assuerus.7 In the first month (which is called Nisan) in the twelfth year a of the reign of Assuerus, the lot was cast into an urn, which in Hebrew is called Phur, before Aman, on what day and what month the nation of the Jews should be destroyed: and there came out the twelfth month, which is called Adar.8 And Aman said to king Assuerus: There is a people scattered through all the provinces of thy kingdom, and separated one from another, that use new laws and ceremonies, and moreover despise the king's ordinances: and thou knowest very well that it is not expedient for thy kingdom that they should grow insolent by impunity.9 If it please thee, decree that they may he destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents to thy treasurers.10 And the king took the ring that he used, from his own hand, and gave it to Aman, the son of Amadathi of the race of Agag, the enemy of the Jews,11 And he said to him: As to the money which thou promisest, keep it for thyself: and as to the people, do with them as seemeth good to thee.12 And the king's scribes were called in the first month Nisan, on the thirteenth day of the same month: and they wrote, as Aman had commanded, to all the king's lieutenants, and to the judges of the provinces, and of divers nations, as every nation could read, and hear according to their different languages, in the name of king Assuerus: and the letters, sealed with his ring,13 Were sent by the king's messengers to all provinces, to kill and destroy all the Jews, both young and old, little children, and women, in one day, that is, on the thirteenth of the twelfth month, which is called Adar, and to make a spoil of their goods.14 And the contents of the letters were to this effect, that all provinces might know and be ready against that day.15 The couriers that were sent made haste to fulfil the king's commandment. And immediately the edict was hung up in Susan, the king and Aman feasting together, and all the Jews that were in the city weeping.