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And a man, a Jew, was in the city of Susa, Mordecai by name, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, of the generation of Benjamin; (And there was a man in the capital city of Susa, a Jew named Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin;)

that was translated from Jerusalem in that time, in which Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had translated Jeconiah, king of Judah; (who had been taken away from Jerusalem into captivity, at that time when Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had taken away Jeconiah, the king of Judah;)

the which Mordecai was the nourisher of Hadassah, the daughter of his brother, which daughter was called Esther by another name, and she had lost both (her) father and mother; and she was full fair, and seemly of face; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her to him, and he made her his daughter. (and this Mordecai was the foster-father of Hadassah, his uncle’s daughter, who was called Esther by another name, and who had lost both her father and her mother; and she was very beautiful, and comely of face; and after the death of her father and her mother, Mordecai took her unto himself, and made her his daughter.)

And when the commandment of the king was oft published, and by his behest many fair virgins were brought to Susa, and were betaken to Hegai, the honest servant and chaste (the honest and chaste servant), also Esther among other damsels was betaken to him, that she should be kept in the number of those women. (And after the king’s command was widely published, and by his order many beautiful virgins were brought to Susa, and taken to Hegai, the eunuch, also Esther, among other young women, was brought to him, to be kept in his care along with those other women.)

And she pleased him, and found grace in his sight, so that he hasted to take to her the ornament(s) of women, and he betook to Esther her parts of all (the) things needful to her, and (also) seven (of) the fairest damsels of the king’s house; and Hegai adorned and arrayed both her and those damsels following her feet. (And Esther pleased, or impressed, Hegai, and she found favour before him, so that he hastened to give to her women’s ornaments, or adornments, and anything else that she needed, as well as seven of the most beautiful young women of the king’s house; and so Hegai adorned and arrayed both her, and those young women who followed her feet, that is, who served her.)

10 And Esther would not show to Hegai her people, neither her country; for Mordecai had commanded her, that in all manner she should be still of this thing. (And Esther did not tell Hegai about her people, or her kindred; for Mordecai had commanded her, that she should not say anything about these matters/for Mordecai had commanded her, that she should hold her peace.)

11 And Mordecai walked each day before the porch of the door, in which the chosen virgins were kept, and he did the care of the health of Esther, and would know, what befelled to her. (And each day Mordecai walked before the courtyard of the house, in which the chosen virgins were kept, for he was concerned about her, and wanted to know what would happen to her.)

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