(In the Greek Esther, verses 1-7 below follow verse 13 of Chapter 3; in the Hebrew Esther, these 7 verses would also follow verse 13 of Chapter 3.)
CHAPTER 13
1 Soothly this was the sampler of the epistle. The greatest king Ahasuerus, from India unto Ethiopia, saith health to the princes and dukes of an hundred and seven and twenty provinces, which princes and dukes be subject/s to his empire.
2 When I was lord of full many folks, and I had made subject all the world to my lordship, I would not mis-use the greatness of power, but govern my subjects by mercy and softness, that they, leading their life in silence without any dread, should use peace coveted of all deadly men.
3 And when I asked of my counsellors, how this might be [ful] filled, one, Haman by name, that passed other men in wisdom and faithfulness, and was the second after the king,
4 showed [or told] to me, that a people was scattered in all the roundness of lands, the which people used new laws, and did against the custom of all folks, and despised the commandments of kings, and defouled by his dissention the according of all nations.
5 And when we had learned this thing, and saw, that one folk rebelled against all the kind of men, and that it used wayward [or shrewd] laws, and was contrary to our commandments, and disturbed or troubled the peace and according [or the accord] of provinces subject to us,
6 we commanded, that whichever [or whosoever] Haman showed, which is sovereign of all provinces [or that is provost to all provinces], and is the second from the king, and whom we honour in the place of father, they with their wives and children, be done away of their enemies, and no man have mercy upon them, in the fourteenth day of the twelfth month Adar, or March, of the present year;
7 that cursed [or wicked] men go down to hell in one day, and yield peace to our empire, which they had troubled [or have disturbed]. Hitherto is the sampler of the epistle; these things, that pursue[or follow], I found written after that place, where it is read, And Mordecai went, and did all things, which Esther had commanded to him; nevertheless those things be not had in Hebrew, and utterly those be not said at any of the translators.
(In the Greek Esther, verses 8-19 below follow verse 17 of Chapter 4; in the Hebrew Esther, these 11 verses would also follow verse 17 of Chapter 4.)
8 Forsooth Mordecai besought the Lord, and was mindful of all his works/and he was mindful of all the works of the Lord, [Mordecai forsooth prayed the Lord, mindful of all his works,]
9 and said, Lord God, King Almighty, all things be set in thy lordship, either power, and there is none, that may against-stand [or withstand] thy will; if thou deemest for to save Israel, we shall be delivered anon.
10 Thou madest heaven and earth, and whatever thing [or all thing that] is contained in the compass of heaven.
11 Thou art Lord of all things, and there is none that against-standeth thy majesty.
12 Thou knowest all things, and knowest, that not for pride and spite, neither for any covetousness of vain glory I did this thing, that I worshipped not Haman the most proud man[or that I honour not the most proud Haman;]
13 for I was ready willfully to kiss/I was ready to have kissed willfully, yea, the steps of his feet for the health of Israel,
14 but I dreaded, lest I should bear over to a man, or to man, the honour of my God, and lest I should worship any man except my God.
15 And now, Lord King, God of Abraham, have thou mercy on thy people, for our enemies will lose us, and do away thine heritage;
16 despise not thy part, which thou again-boughtest from Egypt.
17 Hear thou my prayer, and be thou merciful to the lot, and the part of thine heritage; and turn thou our mourning into joy, that we living praise thy name, Lord; and close thou not the mouths of men praising thee.
18 And all Israel with like mind and beseeching cried to the Lord, for cause that certain death nighed to them.