1 No duodécimo mês, que é o de Adar, no dia treze do mês, data em que entrava em vigor a ordem e o edito do rei, no mesmo dia em que os inimigos dos judeus contavam fazer-lhes mal, aconteceu tudo ao contrário, e os judeus dominaram seus inimigos.2 Estavam reunidos em suas respectivas cidades, em todas as províncias do rei Assuero para levantarem a mão contra aqueles que desejavam sua perda. Ninguém pôde resistir-lhes, porque o terror se tinha apoderado de todos os povos.3 Todos os senhores das províncias, os sátrapas, os governadores, os funcionários do rei tomaram o partido dos judeus, por temor de Mardoqueu.4 Porque este ocupava um alto lugar no palácio real e sua fama se espalhava em todas as províncias, onde sua influência não cessava de crescer.5 Os judeus, pois, feriram todos os seus inimigos a golpes de espada: massacre e extermínio de seus opressores, aos quais trataram como quiseram.6 Em Susa, na capital, mataram quinhentos homens.7 Fizeram igualmente perecer Farsandata, Delfon, Esfata,8 Forata, Adalia, Aridata,9 Fermesta, Arisai, Aridai e Jesata,10 os dez filhos de Amã, filho de Amedata, o opressor dos judeus. Mas se abstiveram de toda pilhagem.11 Nesse mesmo dia fizeram conhecer ao rei o número das vítimas em Susa, a capital.12 E o rei disse a Ester: Em Susa, na capital, os judeus mataram quinhentos homens e os dez filhos de Amã. Que não terão feito nas outras províncias do rei! {Entretanto}, tens ainda algum pedido? Ser-te-á concedido. Tens algum desejo? Será satisfeito.13 Se parecer bem ao rei, respondeu Ester, seja permitido ainda amanhã, aos judeus de Susa, agir conforme ao decreto de hoje, e que se suspendam numa forca os dez filhos de Amã.14 O rei deu ordem para que assim se fizesse. O edito foi publicado em Susa e suspenderam na forca os dez filhos de Amã.15 Os judeus de Susa se reuniram de novo no dia quatorze do mês de Adar, e mataram na cidade trezentos homens, sem entretanto dar-se à pilhagem.16 Os outros judeus que estavam disseminados pelas províncias do rei se juntaram para defender suas vidas e se pôr a salvo dos ataques de seus inimigos. Massacraram setenta e cinco mil, sem entretanto entregar-se à pilhagem.17 Era o dia treze do mês de Adar. No dia quatorze repousaram e fizeram um dia de banquete de alegria.18 Quanto aos judeus de Susa, que se juntaram no dia treze e catorze do mesmo mês, repousaram no dia quinze, fazendo-o um dia de alegre banquete19 Eis por que os judeus do campo, que habitam nas cidades não fortificadas, fazem no dia catorze do mês de Adar, um dia de festa com banquetes de alegria, dia em que mandam presentes uns aos outros.20 Mardoqueu consignou por escrito todos esses acontecimentos. Enviou cartas a todos os judeus das províncias do rei Assuero, próximas ou longínquas,21 para lhes ordenar que celebrassem cada ano o dia catorze e o dia quinze do mês de Adar,22 como sendo dias em que tinham sido postos a salvo dos ataques de seus inimigos, e mês em que sua angústia tinha sido trocada em alegria e sua dor em felicidade. Deviam, pois, nesses dias oferecer alegres banquetes, dar-se presentes e praticar generosidade com os pobres.23 Os judeus erigiram em costume o que tinham feito na primeira vez e o que Mardoqueu lhes tinha mandado.24 Porque Amã, filho de Amedata, o agagita, o opressor dos judeus, tinha resolvido perdê-los, e lançado {contra eles} o pur, isto é, a sorte, para exterminá-los e destruí-los.25 Mas quando Ester se apresentou diante do rei, este ordenou por escrito que a perversa maquinação, tramada contra os judeus, recaísse sobre a cabeça de seu autor e que este e seus filhos fossem suspensos à forca.26 É por isso que se chamam esses dias Purim, da palavra pur. Assim, conforme o conteúdo dessa carta, conforme o que eles mesmos tinham visto e o que lhes tinha acontecido,27 os judeus instituíram e estabeleceram para si, para sua posteridade e para seus adeptos, o costume irrevogável de celebrar anualmente esses dois dias, segundo a forma prescrita e no tempo marcado.28 Esses dias deviam ser recordados e celebrados de geração em geração, em cada família, em cada província e em cada cidade. Jamais poderiam ser abolidos esses dias dos Purim entre os judeus, nem sua recordação se apagar entre seus descendentes.29 A rainha Ester, filha de Abigail, e o judeu Mardoqueu escreveram uma segunda vez com insistência para confirmar a carta sobre os Purim.30 Depois enviaram a todos os judeus das cento e vinte e sete províncias do rei Assuero cartas com palavras de paz,31 e a recomendação de celebrarem fielmente esses dias dos Purim no tempo marcado, como o judeu Mardoqueu e a rainha Ester os tinham instituído, e como eles tinham estabelecido, tanto para si mesmos, como para seus descendentes, com os jejuns e as lamentações.32 Desse modo, a ordem de Ester confirmou a instituição dos Purim, e tudo isso foi consignado num livro.

1 And in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day thereof, when the king’s command with his law drew near to he put into execution, on the day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to have power over them, which had been changed nevertheless, so that the Jews had power over those that hated them,2 The Jews assembled together in their cities, throughout all the provinces of king Achashverosh, to stretch out their hand against those that had sought their injury: and no man could keep standing before them; for the dread of them had fallen upon all the nations.3 And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the governors, and the superintendents of the affairs of the king, elevated the Jews; because the dread of Mordecai had fallen upon them.4 For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame went throughout all the provinces; for the man Mordecai became greater and greater.5 And the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and extermination; and they acted with those that hated them according to their pleasure.6 And in Shushan the capital the Jews slew and exterminated five hundred men.7 And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha,8 And Poratha, and Adalya, and Aridatha,9 And Parmashtha, and Arissai, and Aridai, and Vayzatha,10 The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the adversary of the Jews, did they slay; but to the spoil did they not stretch forth their hand.11 On that same day came the number of those that were slain in Shushan the capital before the king.12 Then said the king unto Esther the queen, In Shushan the capital have the Jews slain and exterminated five hundred men, and the ten sons of Haman: what have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? Now what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request farther? and it shall be done.13 Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it tomorrow also be granted to the Jews who are in Shushan to do according to the law of this day, and let the ten sons of Haman be hanged on the gallows.14 And the king ordered that it should be done so; and the law was given out at Shushan; and the ten sons of Haman were hanged.15 And the Jews that were in Shushan assembled together also on the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and slew at Shushan three hundred men; but to the spoil they did not stretch forth their hand.16 And the remaining Jews that were in the king’s provinces assembled together, and stood forward for their life, and procured rest from their enemies, and slew of those that hated them seventy and five thousand; but to the spoil did they not stretch forth their hand,17 On the thirteenth day of the month Adar, and they rested on the fourteenth day thereof, and made it a day of entertainment and joy.18 But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof, and rested on the fifteenth thereof, and made it a day of entertainment and joy.19 Therefore do the Jews of the villages, that dwell in the unwalled towns, make the fourteenth day of the month Adar as one of joy and entertainment, and a feast–day, and of sending portions one to another.20 And Mordecai wrote down these events; and he sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of king Achashverosh, those nigh and those far away,21 To take it on themselves as a duty, that they should celebrate the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same in each and every year,22 Like those days whereon the Jews had rest from their enemies, and the month which was changed unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a feast–day: to make them days of entertainment and joy, and of sending portions one to the other, and gifts to the needy.23 And the Jews took upon themselves that which they had begun already to do, and that which Mordecai had written unto them.24 Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the adversary of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to exterminate them, and had cast the Pur, that is, the lot, to destroy them, and to exterminate them.25 But when Esther came before the king, he ordered by that letter that his wicked device, which he had devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head: and they hanged him and his sons on the gallows.26 Therefore did they call these days Purim, after the name of Pur: therefore, because of all the words of this letter, both for that which they had experienced thereby, and for that which had occurred unto them,27 The Jews confirmed it as a duty, and took upon themselves, and upon their seed, and upon all such as join themselves unto them, so that no one should fail therein, that they would celebrate these two days according to their prescription, and at their appointed time, in each and every year.28 And these days are remembered and celebrated throughout each and every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and these days of Purim will not pass away from the midst of the Jews, nor will their memorial cease from their seed.29 Then wrote Esther the queen, the daughter of Abichayil, with Mordecai the Jew, with all due strength, to confirm this letter of Purim the second time.30 And he sent letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred and twenty–seven provinces of the kingdom of Achashverosh, word’s of peace and truth,31 To confirm these days of Purim in their times, just as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined on them, and as they had confirmed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their prayers.32 And the order of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.