Ester 8
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
Decreto a favor de los judíos
8 Aquel mismo día el rey Asuero dio a la reina Ester la casa de Amán, enemigo de los judíos(A); y Mardoqueo vino delante del rey, porque Ester le había revelado lo que era él para ella(B). 2 Entonces el rey se quitó el anillo que había recobrado de Amán(C), y se lo dio a Mardoqueo. Y Ester puso a Mardoqueo sobre la casa de Amán.
3 Ester habló de nuevo delante del rey, cayó a sus pies, y llorando, le imploró que impidiera los propósitos perversos de Amán el agagueo y el plan que había tramado contra los judíos. 4 El rey extendió hacia Ester el cetro de oro(D), y Ester se levantó y se puso delante del rey, 5 y dijo: «Si le place al rey, y si he hallado gracia delante de él(E), si el asunto le parece bien al rey y yo soy grata ante sus ojos, que se escriba para revocar las cartas concebidas por Amán, hijo de Hamedata, el agagueo, las cuales escribió para destruir a los judíos que están en todas las provincias del rey(F). 6 Porque ¿cómo podría yo ver la calamidad que caería sobre mi pueblo? ¿Cómo podría yo ver la destrucción de mi gente(G)?».
7 Entonces el rey Asuero dijo a la reina Ester y al judío Mardoqueo: «Miren, he dado a Ester la casa de Amán(H), y a él lo han colgado en la horca porque extendió su mano contra los judíos. 8 Ustedes, pues, escriban acerca de los judíos como les parezca bien[a], en nombre del rey, y séllenlo con el anillo del rey(I). Porque un decreto que está escrito en nombre del rey y sellado con el anillo del rey no puede ser revocado(J)».
9 Así que fueron llamados los escribas del rey en aquel momento en el mes tercero (es decir, el mes de Siván), en el día veintitrés[b]; y conforme a todo lo que ordenó Mardoqueo se escribió a los judíos, a los sátrapas, a los gobernadores y a los príncipes de las provincias que se extendían desde la India hasta Etiopía[c], 127 provincias(K), a cada provincia conforme a su escritura, y a cada pueblo conforme a su lengua(L), y a los judíos conforme a su escritura y a su lengua. 10 Mardoqueo escribió en nombre del rey Asuero y sellaron las cartas con el anillo del rey, y se enviaron por medio[d] de correos a caballo(M), que montaban en corceles engendrados por caballos reales.
11 En ellas[e] el rey concedía a los judíos que estaban en cada ciudad el derecho de reunirse y defender su vida(N), de destruir, de matar y de exterminar(O) al ejército de cualquier pueblo o provincia que los atacara, incluso a niños y mujeres, y de saquear sus bienes(P), 12 en un mismo día en todas las provincias del rey Asuero, el día trece del mes doce (es decir, el mes de Adar(Q)).
13 Una copia del edicto que había de promulgarse[f] como ley en cada provincia fue publicado a todos los pueblos, para que los judíos estuvieran listos para ese día a fin de vengarse de sus enemigos(R). 14 Los correos, apresurados y apremiados por la orden del rey, salieron montados en los corceles reales; y el decreto fue promulgado[g] en la fortaleza de Susa.
15 Entonces Mardoqueo salió de la presencia del rey en vestiduras reales de azul[h] y blanco, con una gran corona de oro y un manto de lino fino y púrpura(S). La ciudad de Susa dio vivas y se regocijó(T). 16 Para los judíos fue día de luz y alegría(U), de gozo y gloria. 17 En cada provincia, en cada ciudad y en todo lugar adonde llegaba el mandato del rey y su decreto había alegría y gozo para los judíos, banquete y día festivo[i](V). Y muchos de entre los pueblos de la tierra se hicieron judíos(W), porque había caído sobre ellos el temor de los judíos.
Esther 8
Revised Standard Version
8 On that day King Ahasu-e′rus gave to Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mor′decai came before the king, for Esther had told what he was to her; 2 and the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mor′decai. And Esther set Mor′decai over the house of Haman.
Esther Saves the Jews
3 Then Esther spoke again to the king; she fell at his feet and besought him with tears to avert the evil design of Haman the Ag′agite and the plot which he had devised against the Jews. 4 And the king held out the golden scepter to Esther, 5 and Esther rose and stood before the king. And she said, “If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and if the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let an order be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman the Ag′agite, the son of Hammeda′tha, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king. 6 For how can I endure to see the calamity that is coming to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?” 7 Then King Ahasu-e′rus said to Queen Esther and to Mor′decai the Jew, “Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows, because he would lay hands on the Jews. 8 And you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king’s ring; for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king’s ring cannot be revoked.”
9 The king’s secretaries were summoned at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day; and an edict was written according to all that Mor′decai commanded concerning the Jews to the satraps and the governors and the princes of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, a hundred and twenty-seven provinces, to every province in its own script and to every people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language. 10 The writing was in the name of King Ahasu-e′rus and sealed with the king’s ring, and letters were sent by mounted couriers riding on swift horses that were used in the king’s service, bred from the royal stud. 11 By these the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to slay, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, with their children and women, and to plunder their goods, 12 upon one day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasu-e′rus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. 13 A copy of what was written was to be issued as a decree in every province, and by proclamation to all peoples, and the Jews were to be ready on that day to avenge themselves upon their enemies. 14 So the couriers, mounted on their swift horses that were used in the king’s service, rode out in haste, urged by the king’s command; and the decree was issued in Susa the capital.
15 Then Mor′decai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown and a mantle of fine linen and purple, while the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. 16 The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor. 17 And in every province and in every city, wherever the king’s command and his edict came, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for the fear of the Jews had fallen upon them.
Esther 8
King James Version
8 On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.
2 And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
3 And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.
4 Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,
5 And said, If it please the king, and if I have favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces:
6 For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?
7 Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.
8 Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.
9 Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.
10 And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:
11 Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,
12 Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.
13 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
14 So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.
15 And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
16 The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.
17 And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.
Nueva Biblia de las Américas™ NBLA™ Copyright © 2005 por The Lockman Foundation
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.