8
12b The great king Artaxerxes unto the governors of countries in a hundred and seven and twenty provinces from India unto Ethiopia, and unto them that are well affected to our state, greeting. 12c Many, the more often they are honored with the great bounty of their benefactors, the more proud they are waxen, and endeavor to hurt not our subjects only, but not being able to bear abundance, do take in hand to practice also against those that do them good: 12d and take not only thankfulness away from among men, but also lifted up with the boastful words of them that were never good, they think to escape the evil-hating justice of God, who always seeth all things. 12e Oftentimes also fair speech of those that are put in trust to manage their friends’ affairs, hath caused many that are in authority to be partakers of innocent blood, and hath enwrapped them in remediless calamities: 12f beguiling with the false deceit of their lewd disposition the innocent good will of princes. 12g Now ye may see this, as we have declared, not so much by more ancient histories, as ye may, if ye search what hath been wickedly done of late through the pestilent behavior of them that are unworthily placed in authority. 12h And we must take care for the time to come, to render our kingdom quiet and peaceable for all men, 12i both by changing our purposes, and always judging things that come before our eyes with more equal proceeding. 12k For Haman, a Macedonian, the son of Hammedatha, an alien in truth from the Persian blood, and far distant from our goodness, being as a guest received of us, 12l had so far forth obtained the favor that we show toward every nation, as that he was called our father, and was continually honored of all men, as the next person unto the royal throne. 12m But he, not bearing his high estate, went about to deprive us of our kingdom and our life; 12n having by manifold and cunning deceits sought of us the destruction, as well of Mordecai, who saved our life, and continually procured our good, as also of Esther the blameless partaker of our kingdom, together with their whole nation. 12o For by these means he thought, finding us destitute of friends, to have translated the kingdom of the Persians to the Macedonians. 12p But we find that the Jews, whom this most ungracious wretch hath delivered to utter destruction, are no evildoers, but live by most just laws: 12q and that they are children of the most high and most mighty living God, who hath ordered the kingdom both unto us and to our progenitors in the most excellent manner. 12r Wherefore ye shall do well not to put in execution the letters sent unto you by Haman the son of Hammedatha. For he, that was the worker of these things, is hanged at the gates of Susa with all his family: God, who ruleth all things, speedily rendering vengeance to him according to his deserts. 12s Therefore ye shall publish openly the copy of this letter in all places, and let the Jews live after their own laws, and ye shall aid them, that even the same day, being the thirteenth day of the twelfth month Adar, they may defend themselves against those who set upon them in the time of their affliction. 12t For Almighty God hath made this day to be a joy unto them, instead of the destruction of the chosen people. 12u And ye shall therefore among your commemorative feasts keep it a high day with all feasting: that both now and hereafter there may be safety to us, and the well affected Persians; but to those who do conspire against us a memorial of destruction. 12x Therefore every city or country whatsoever, which shall not do according to these things, shall be utterly destroyed without mercy with fire and sword; it shall be made not only unpassable for men, but also most hateful to wild beasts and fowls forever.