Ester 8
La Nuova Diodati
8 In quello stesso giorno il re Assuero diede alla regina Ester la casa di Haman, il nemico dei Giudei; e Mardocheo venne davanti al re, al quale Ester aveva spiegato chi era per lei.
2 Cosí il re si tolse l'anello che aveva ripreso da Haman e lo diede a Mardocheo. Ester stabilí poi Mardocheo sopra la casa di Haman.
3 Ester parlò ancora davanti al re, cadde ai suoi piedi e lo supplicò con le lacrime agli occhi di impedire il malvagio complotto di Haman, l'Agaghita, e il piano che egli aveva ideato contro i Giudei.
4 Allora il re stese lo scettro d'oro verso Ester; cosí Ester si alzò, rimase in piedi davanti al re
5 e disse: «Se sembra bene al re, se ho trovato grazia ai suoi occhi, se la cosa pare giusta al re e se io sono gradita ai suoi occhi, si scriva per revocare i documenti ideati da Haman, figlio di Hammedatha, l'Agaghita, che egli scrisse per distruggere i Giudei che sono in tutte le province del re.
6 Come potrei infatti io resistere nel vedere la calamità che colpirebbe il mio popolo? O come potrei resistere nel vedere la distruzione della mia stirpe?».
7 Allora il re Assuero disse alla regina Ester e a Mardocheo, il Giudeo: «Ecco io ho dato a Ester la casa di Haman, e questi è stato impiccato alla forca, perché aveva cercato di stendere la sua mano contro i Giudei.
8 Voi stessi scrivete un decreto in favore dei Giudei a nome del re, come meglio vi sembra, e sigillatelo con l'anello reale perché il decreto scritto a nome del re e sigillato con l'anello reale è irrevocabile».
9 Allora, il ventitre del terzo mese, che è il mese di Sivan, furono chiamati i segretari del re e, secondo tutto ciò che Mardocheo aveva ordinato, fu scritto ai Giudei, ai satrapi, ai governatori e ai capi delle centoventisette province, dall'India all'Etiopia, a ogni provincia secondo la sua scrittura, a ogni popolo nella sua lingua, e ai Giudei secondo la loro scrittura e nella loro lingua.
10 Cosí egli scrisse a nome del re Assuero, mettendo il sigillo con l'anello reale, e mandò i documenti per mezzo di corrieri a cavallo che montavano veloci corsieri, nati da cavalli di razza.
11 In essi il re dava ai Giudei, in qualunque città si trovassero, il diritto di riunirsi e di difendere la loro vita, distruggendo, uccidendo e sterminando tutta la gente armata di qualsiasi popolo o provincia che li assalisse compresi bambini e donne e di saccheggiare i suoi beni,
12 in un sol giorno, in tutte le province del re Assuero: il tredici del dodicesimo mese, che è il mese di Adar.
13 Una copia del decreto, emanato come legge in ogni provincia, doveva essere promulgato per tutti i popoli, perche i Giudei si tenessero pronti per quel giorno a vendicarsi dei loro nemici.
14 Cosí i corrieri che montavano veloci corsieri partirono sollecitati e stimolati dall'ordine del re; e il decreto fu promulgato nella cittadella di Susa.
15 Mardocheo uscí dalla presenza del re con una veste reale di porpora e di lino bianco, con una grande corona d'oro e un manto di bisso e di scarlatto, la città di Susa mandava grida di gioia ed era in festa.
16 Per i Giudei fu luce, allegrezza, gioia e gloria.
17 In ogni provincia e in ogni città, dovunque giungeva l'ordine del re e il suo decreto, c'era per i Giudei gioia e allegrezza, banchetti e giorni lieti. E molti appartenenti ai popoli del paese si fecero Giudei, perché il terrore dei Giudei era caduto su di loro.
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.
Esther 8
English Standard Version
Esther Saves the Jews
8 On that day King Ahasuerus gave to Queen Esther the house of Haman, (A)the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told (B)what he was to her. 2 (C)And the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
3 Then Esther spoke again to the king. She fell at his feet and wept and pleaded with him to avert the evil plan of Haman (D)the Agagite and the plot that he had devised against the Jews. 4 (E)When the king held out the golden scepter to Esther, Esther rose and stood before the king. 5 And she said, “If it please the king, (F)and if I have found favor in his sight, and if the thing seems right before the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let an order be written to revoke (G)the letters devised by Haman (H)the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king. 6 For how can I bear (I)to see the calamity that is coming to my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?” 7 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, (J)I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows,[a] because he intended to lay hands on the Jews. 8 But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, (K)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 (L)cannot be revoked.”
9 (M)The king's scribes 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 Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews, to (N)the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces (O)from India to Ethiopia, (P)127 provinces, (Q)to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language. 10 (R)And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus (S)and sealed it with the king's signet ring. Then he sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on (T)swift horses that were used in the king's service, bred from the royal stud, 11 saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city (U)to gather and defend their lives, (V)to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included, (W)and to plunder their goods, 12 (X)on one day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. 13 (Y)A copy of what was written was to be issued as a decree in every province, being publicly displayed to all peoples, and the Jews were to be ready on that day to take vengeance on their enemies. 14 So the couriers, mounted on their (Z)swift horses that were used in the king's service, rode out hurriedly, urged by the king's command. And the decree was issued in Susa the citadel.
15 Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king (AA)in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown[b] and (AB)a robe of fine linen and purple, (AC)and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. 16 The Jews had (AD)light and gladness and joy and honor. 17 And in every province and in every city, wherever the king's command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and (AE)a holiday. (AF)And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, (AG)for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.
Footnotes
- Esther 8:7 Or wooden beam (see note on 2:23)
- Esther 8:15 Or headdress
Copyright © 1991 by La Buona Novella s.c.r.l.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
