Esther 9
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised
Destruction of the Enemies of the Jews
9 Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day, when the king’s command and edict were about to be executed, on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain power over them, but which had been changed to a day when the Jews would gain power over their foes, 2 the Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who had sought their ruin; and no one could withstand them, because the fear of them had fallen upon all peoples. 3 All the officials of the provinces, the satraps and the governors, and the royal officials were supporting the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai had fallen upon them. 4 For Mordecai was powerful in the king’s house, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces as the man Mordecai grew more and more powerful. 5 So the Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, slaughtering, and destroying them, and did as they pleased to those who hated them. 6 In the citadel of Susa the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred people. 7 They killed Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, 8 Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, 9 Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, Vaizatha, 10 the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews; but they did not touch the plunder.
11 That very day the number of those killed in the citadel of Susa was reported to the king. 12 The king said to Queen Esther, ‘In the citadel of Susa the Jews have killed five hundred people and also the ten sons of Haman. What have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? Now what is your petition? It shall be granted you. And what further is your request? It shall be fulfilled.’ 13 Esther said, ‘If it pleases the king, let the Jews who are in Susa be allowed tomorrow also to do according to this day’s edict, and let the ten sons of Haman be hanged on the gallows.’ 14 So the king commanded this to be done; a decree was issued in Susa, and the ten sons of Haman were hanged. 15 The Jews who were in Susa gathered also on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and they killed three hundred people in Susa; but they did not touch the plunder.
16 Now the other Jews who were in the king’s provinces also gathered to defend their lives, and gained relief from their enemies, and killed seventy-five thousand of those who hated them; but they laid no hands on the plunder. 17 This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested and made that a day of feasting and gladness.
The Feast of Purim Inaugurated
18 But the Jews who were in Susa gathered on the thirteenth day and on the fourteenth, and rested on the fifteenth day, making that a day of feasting and gladness. 19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, who live in the open towns, hold the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day for gladness and feasting, a holiday on which they send gifts of food to one another.
20 Mordecai recorded these things, and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, 21 enjoining them that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same month, year by year, 22 as the days on which the Jews gained relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and presents to the poor. 23 So the Jews adopted as a custom what they had begun to do, as Mordecai had written to them.
24 Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur—that is, ‘the lot’—to crush and destroy them; 25 but when Esther came before the king, he gave orders in writing that the wicked plot that he had devised against the Jews should come upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. 26 Therefore these days are called Purim, from the word Pur. Thus because of all that was written in this letter, and of what they had faced in this matter, and of what had happened to them, 27 the Jews established and accepted as a custom for themselves and their descendants and all who joined them, that without fail they would continue to observe these two days every year, as it was written and at the time appointed. 28 These days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, in every family, province, and city; and these days of Purim should never fall into disuse among the Jews, nor should the commemoration of these days cease among their descendants.
29 Queen Esther daughter of Abihail, along with the Jew Mordecai, gave full written authority, confirming this second letter about Purim. 30 Letters were sent wishing peace and security to all the Jews, to the one hundred and twenty-seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, 31 and giving orders that these days of Purim should be observed at their appointed seasons, as the Jew Mordecai and Queen Esther enjoined on the Jews, just as they had laid down for themselves and for their descendants regulations concerning their fasts and their lamentations. 32 The command of Queen Esther fixed these practices of Purim, and it was recorded in writing.
Esther 9
English Standard Version
The Jews Destroy Their Enemies
9 (A)Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, (B)on the thirteenth day of the same, (C)when the king's command and edict were about to be carried out, (D)on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them. 2 (E)The Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could stand against them, (F)for the fear of them had fallen on all peoples. 3 All the officials of the provinces and (G)the satraps and the governors and the royal agents also helped the Jews, for the fear of Mordecai had fallen on them. 4 For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces, for the man Mordecai grew (H)more and more powerful. 5 The Jews struck all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and did as they pleased to those who hated them. 6 In Susa the citadel itself the Jews killed and destroyed 500 men, 7 and also killed Parshandatha and Dalphon and Aspatha 8 and Poratha and Adalia and Aridatha 9 and Parmashta and Arisai and Aridai and Vaizatha, 10 (I)the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, (J)the enemy of the Jews, (K)but they laid no hand on the plunder.
11 That very day the number of those killed in Susa the citadel was reported to the king. 12 And the king said to Queen Esther, “In Susa the citadel the Jews have killed and destroyed 500 men and also the ten sons of Haman. What then have they done in the rest of the king's provinces! (L)Now what is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what further is your request? It shall be fulfilled.” 13 And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the Jews who are in Susa be allowed (M)tomorrow also to do according to this day's edict. And let the ten sons of Haman be hanged on the gallows.”[a] 14 So the king commanded this to be done. A decree was issued in Susa, and the ten sons of Haman were hanged. 15 The Jews who were in Susa gathered also on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and they killed 300 men in Susa, but they laid no hands on the plunder.
16 (N)Now the rest of the Jews who were in the king's provinces also (O)gathered to defend their lives, and got relief from their enemies and killed 75,000 of those who hated them, but they laid no hands on the plunder. 17 This was (P)on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested and made that a day of feasting and gladness. 18 But the Jews who were in Susa gathered (Q)on the thirteenth day and on the fourteenth, and rested (R)on the fifteenth day, making that a day of feasting and gladness. 19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, who live in (S)the rural towns, hold the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day for gladness and feasting, as (T)a holiday, and (U)as a day on which they send gifts of food to one another.
The Feast of Purim Inaugurated
20 And Mordecai recorded these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, 21 obliging them to keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same, year by year, 22 as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into (V)a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and gifts to the poor.
23 So the Jews accepted what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them. 24 For Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, (W)the enemy of all the Jews, (X)had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and (Y)had cast Pur (that is, cast lots), to crush and to destroy them. 25 But when it came before the king, he gave orders in writing (Z)that his evil plan that he had devised against the Jews (AA)should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. 26 Therefore they called these days Purim, after the term (AB)Pur. Therefore, because of all that was written in (AC)this letter, and of what they had faced in this matter, and of what had happened to them, 27 the Jews firmly obligated themselves and their offspring and (AD)all who joined them, that without fail they would keep (AE)these two days according to what was written and at the time appointed every year, 28 that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, in every clan, province, and city, and that these days of Purim should never fall into disuse among the Jews, nor should the commemoration of these days cease among their descendants.
29 Then Queen Esther, (AF)the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew gave full written authority, confirming (AG)this second letter about Purim. 30 Letters were sent to all the Jews, (AH)to the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, in words of peace and truth, 31 that these days of Purim should be observed at their appointed seasons, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther obligated them, and as they had obligated themselves and their offspring, with regard to (AI)their fasts and their lamenting. 32 The command of Esther confirmed these practices of (AJ)Purim, and it was recorded in writing.
Footnotes
- Esther 9:13 Or wooden beam; also verse 25 (see note on 2:23)
Estera 9
Cornilescu 1924 - Revised 2010, 2014
Răzbunarea iudeilor
9 În luna(A) a douăsprezecea, adică luna Adar, în a treisprezecea zi a lunii, ziua în care(B) avea să se aducă la îndeplinire porunca şi hotărârea împăratului, şi când vrăjmaşii iudeilor nădăjduiseră să stăpânească(C) peste ei, s-a întâmplat tocmai, dimpotrivă, că iudeii au stăpânit asupra vrăjmaşilor lor. 2 Iudeii s-au strâns(D) în cetăţile lor, în toate ţinuturile împăratului Ahaşveroş, ca să pună mâna pe cei ce căutau să-i piardă(E). Nimeni n-a putut să le stea împotrivă, căci frica(F) de ei apucase pe toate popoarele! 3 Şi toţi mai-marii ţinuturilor, căpeteniile oştirii, dregătorii, slujbaşii împăratului au sprijinit pe iudei din pricina fricii pe care le-o insufla Mardoheu. 4 Căci Mardoheu era puternic în casa împăratului şi faima lui se răspândea în toate ţinuturile, pentru că ajungea din ce în ce mai puternic(G). 5 Iudeii au ucis cu lovituri de sabie pe toţi vrăjmaşii lor, i-au omorât şi i-au prăpădit. Au făcut ce au vrut cu vrăjmaşii lor. 6 În capitala Susa, iudeii au ucis şi au prăpădit cinci sute de oameni, 7 şi au junghiat pe Parşandata, Dalfon, Aspata, 8 Porata, Adalia, Aridata, 9 Parmaşta, Arizai, Aridai şi Vaiezata, 10 cei zece(H) fii ai lui Haman, fiul lui Hamedata, vrăjmaşul iudeilor. Dar n-au pus mâna(I) pe averile lor. 11 În ziua aceea, numărul celor ce fuseseră ucişi în capitala Susa a ajuns la cunoştinţa împăratului. 12 Şi împăratul a zis împărătesei Estera: „Iudeii au ucis şi au prăpădit în capitala Susa cinci sute de oameni şi pe cei zece fii ai lui Haman. Ce vor fi făcut în celelalte ţinuturi ale împăratului? Care-ţi(J) este cererea? Ea îţi va fi împlinită. Ce mai doreşti? Vei căpăta.” 13 Estera a răspuns: „Dacă împăratul găseşte cu cale, să fie îngăduit iudeilor care sunt la Susa să facă şi mâine după(K) porunca de azi şi să spânzure(L) pe lemn pe cei zece fii ai lui Haman.” 14 Şi împăratul a poruncit să se facă aşa. Porunca a fost adusă la cunoştinţa poporului din Susa. Au spânzurat pe cei zece fii ai lui Haman. 15 Iudeii care se aflau în Susa s-au strâns(M) din nou în a paisprezecea zi a lunii Adar şi au ucis în Susa trei sute de oameni. Dar n-au pus(N) mâna pe averile lor. 16 Ceilalţi iudei din celelalte ţinuturi ale împăratului s-au strâns(O) şi şi-au apărat viaţa. Au căpătat astfel odihnă, scăpând de vrăjmaşii lor, şi au ucis şaptezeci şi cinci de mii din cei ce le erau vrăjmaşi. Dar(P) n-au pus mâna pe averile lor.
Sărbătoarea Purim
17 Aceste lucruri s-au întâmplat în a treisprezecea zi a lunii Adar. În ziua a paisprezecea, iudeii s-au odihnit şi au făcut din ea o zi de ospăţ şi de bucurie. 18 Cei ce se aflau la Susa s-au strâns în ziua a treisprezecea(Q) şi a paisprezecea, dar în ziua a cincisprezecea s-au odihnit şi au făcut din ea o zi de ospăţ şi de bucurie. 19 De aceea, iudeii de la ţară, care locuiesc în cetăţi fără ziduri, au făcut din ziua a paisprezecea a lunii Adar o zi(R) de bucurie, de ospăţ şi de(S) sărbătoare, în care îşi trimit(T) daruri unii altora. 20 Mardoheu a scris aceste lucruri şi a trimis scrisori tuturor iudeilor din toate ţinuturile împăratului Ahaşveroş, de aproape şi din depărtare. 21 Le poruncea să prăznuiască în fiecare an zilele a paisprezecea şi a cincisprezecea ale lunii Adar, 22 ca zile în care căpătaseră odihnă, scăpând de vrăjmaşii lor. Le-a poruncit să prăznuiască luna în care întristarea lor se prefăcuse(U) în bucurie şi jalea lor, în zi de sărbătoare şi să facă din aceste zile nişte zile de ospăţ şi de bucurie, când să-şi trimită(V) daruri de mâncare unii altora şi să împartă daruri celor lipsiţi. 23 Iudeii s-au îndatorat să facă ceea ce şi începuseră să facă şi ce le scrisese Mardoheu. 24 Căci Haman, fiul lui Hamedata, Agaghitul, vrăjmaşul tuturor iudeilor, făcuse planul(W) să-i piardă şi aruncase Pur, adică sorţul, ca să-i omoare şi să-i nimicească. 25 Dar Estera, venind(X) înaintea împăratului, împăratul a poruncit în scris să întoarcă(Y) asupra capului lui Haman planul cel rău pe care-l făcuse împotriva iudeilor şi să spânzure pe lemn pe el şi pe fiii lui. 26 De aceea, zilele acestea s-au numit Purim, de la numirea Pur.
Potrivit cu tot cuprinsul acestei scrisori(Z), potrivit cu cele ce văzuseră ei înşişi şi potrivit cu cele ce li se întâmplaseră, 27 iudeii au luat pentru ei, pentru sămânţa lor şi pentru toţi cei ce se vor lipi(AA) de ei hotărârea şi îndatorirea de neschimbat ca să prăznuiască în fiecare an aceste două zile, în felul rânduit şi la vremea hotărâtă. 28 Zilele acestea trebuiau să fie pomenite şi prăznuite din neam în neam, în fiecare familie, în fiecare ţinut şi în fiecare cetate. Şi zilele acestea, Purim, nu trebuiau desfiinţate niciodată din mijlocul iudeilor, nici să se şteargă aducerea aminte de ele printre urmaşii lor. 29 Împărăteasa Estera, fata lui Abihail(AB), şi iudeul Mardoheu au scris stăruitor a doua oară pentru ca să întărească scrisoarea(AC) privitoare la Purim. 30 Au trimis scrisori tuturor iudeilor în cele o sută douăzeci şi şapte(AD) de ţinuturi ale împăratului Ahaşveroş. Ele cuprindeau cuvinte de pace şi de credincioşie, 31 întărind ţinerea acestor zile Purim la vremea hotărâtă, cum le rânduiseră iudeul Mardoheu şi împărăteasa Estera pentru ei şi cum şi le rânduiseră şi pentru ei înşişi şi pentru sămânţa lor, cu prilejul postului(AE) lor şi ţipetelor lor. 32 Porunca Esterei a întărit aşezarea acestei sărbători Purim, şi lucrul acesta a fost scris în carte.
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 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.
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Copyright of the Cornilescu Bible © 1924 belongs to British and Foreign Bible Society. Copyright © 2010, 2014 of the revised edition in Romanian language belongs to the Interconfessional Bible Society of Romania, with the approval of the British and Foreign Bible Society.
