AdditionsToEsther:16

---

Seeker Overlay ON

* The great king Artexerxes unto the princes and governors of an hundred and seven and twenty provinces from India unto Ethiopia , and unto all our faithful subjects , greeting . * Many , the more often they are honoured with the great bounty of their gracious princes , the more proud they are waxen , * And endeavour to hurt not our subjects only , but not being able to bear abundance , do take in hand to practise also against those that do them good : * And take not only thankfulness away from among men , but also lifted up with the glorious words of lewd persons , that were never good , they think to escape the justice of God , that seeth all things and hateth evil . * 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 : * Beguiling with the falsehood and deceit of their lewd disposition the innocency and goodness of princes . * Now ye may see this , as we have declared , not so much by ancient histories , as ye may , if ye search what hath been wickedly done of late through the pestilent behaviour of them that are unworthily placed in authority . * And we must take care for the time to come , that our kingdom may be quiet and peaceable for all men , * Both by changing our purposes , and always judging things that are evident with more equal proceeding . * For Aman , a Macedonian , the son of Amadatha , being indeed a stranger from the Persian blood , and far distant from our goodness , and as a stranger received of us , * Had so far forth obtained the favour that we shew toward every nation , as that he was called our father , and was continually honoured of all the next person unto the king . * But he , not bearing his great dignity , went about to deprive us of our kingdom and life : * Having by manifold and cunning deceits sought of us the destruction , as well of Mardocheus , who saved our life , and continually procured our good , as also of blameless Esther , partaker of our kingdom , with their whole nation . * For by these means he thought , finding us destitute of friends to have translated the kingdom of the Persians to the Macedonians . * But we find that the Jews , whom this wicked wretch hath delivered to utter destruction , are no evildoers , but live by most just laws : * And that they be 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 . * Wherefore ye shall do well not to put in execution the letters sent unto you by Aman the son of Amadatha . * 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 . * Therefore ye shall publish the copy of this letter in all places , that the Jews may freely 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 be avenged on them , who in the time of their affliction shall set upon them . * For Almighty God hath turned to joy unto them the day , wherein the chosen people should have perished . * Ye shall therefore among your solemn feasts keep it an high day with all feasting : * That both now and hereafter there may be safety to us and the well affected Persians ; but to those which do conspire against us a memorial of destruction . * Therefore every city and country whatsoever , which shall not do according to these things , shall be destroyed without mercy with fire and sword , and shall be made not only unpassable for men , but also most hateful to wild beasts and fowls for ever .

---