Old/New Testament

1 In the days of king Ahasuerus, that reigned from India unto Ethiopia (who reigned from India to Ethiopia), upon an hundred and seven and twenty provinces,

² when he sat in the seat of his realm, the city of Susa was the beginning of his realm. (when he sat on the throne of his kingdom, in the city of Susa, the capital of his kingdom.)

³ And in the third year of his empire, he made a great feast to all his princes, and to all his children, or servants, to the strongest men of Persia, and to the noble men of Media, and to the prefects, or chief men, of (the) provinces, before himself, (And in the third year of his empire, or of his reign, he gave a great feast for all his princes, or his leaders, and for all his servants, and the strongest men of Persia and Media, and the nobles, and the prefects, or the chief men, of the provinces, who all came before him;)

⁴ to show the riches of the glory of his realm, and the greatness, and boast of his power in much time, that is, an hundred and eighty days, this feast lasted. (and he showed the riches and the glory of his kingdom, and the greatness and the boast of his power, over much time, that is, this feast lasted for a hundred and eighty days!)

⁵ And when the days of the feast were ended, the emperor called to his (next) feast all the people that was found in the city of Susa, from the most unto the least; and he commanded this feast to be made ready by seven days in the porch of an orchard and of a wood, that was set about with the king’s ornament and with his hand, (or works). (And when the days of that feast were over, the king called to his next feast all the people who were found in the capital city of Susa, from the greatest to the least; and he commanded that this feast last for seven days, in the courtyard of the garden of the king’s palace.)

⁶ And tents of the colour of the air, and of gold, and of jacinth, were held up with cords of bis, and of purple, and they hanged on each side, the which tents were set-in (with) circles of ivory, and they were underset with pillars of marble; also there were ordained seats, at the manner of beds, of gold and of silver, upon the pavement (that was) arrayed with smaragdus and with other diverse and precious stones; the which pavement painture (was) made fair by wonderful diversity. (And curtains coloured white, and gold, and blue, were held up with cords of fine linen, and of purple, and hung up all over the grounds, and these hangings were inset with ivory rings, and underset with marble pillars; and there were seats, or couches, of gold and silver, placed on the pavement that was arrayed with emeralds and other diverse and precious stones; and so the painting of the pavement was made beautiful with wonderful diversity.)

⁷ And they, that were called to meat, drank in golden cups, and meats were borne in to them with one and (an)other vessels; also plenteous wine, and full good was set forth before them, as it was worthy to the great doing, of the king. (And they, who were called to the feast, drank from gold cups, and wine was brought in to them in one and another vessels; yea, very good and plentiful wine, was set forth before them, as was worthy of, or befitting, a king.)

⁸ And there was no man that constrained them to drink that would not drink; but so the king had ordained, making sovereigns of his princes to all boards, that each man should take that, that he would. (And there was no one who compelled anyone to drink who would not drink; but the king had ordered his palace servants to be at the ready at all the tables, so that each person could have as much as he wanted.)

⁹ Also Vashti, the queen, made a feast of women in the palace, where king Ahasuerus was wont to dwell. (And Queen Vashti also made a feast for the women, in the palace of King Ahasuerus.)

¹⁰ Therefore in the seventh day, when the king was gladder than before, and when he was hot of wine after full much drinking, he commanded to Mehuman, and to Biztha, and to Harbona, and to Bigtha, and to Zethar, and to Abagtha, and to Carcas, seven honest and chaste servants, the which served in his sight, (And so on the seventh day, when the king was happier than before, and he was hot with the wine after a great deal of drinking, he commanded to Mehuman, and Biztha, Harbona, and Bigtha, Zethar, and Abagtha, and Carcas, seven geldings, or eunuchs, who served him,)

¹¹ that they should bring in before the king the queen Vashti, with a diadem set upon her head, to show her fairness to all the peoples and princes; for she was full fair. (that they should bring in Queen Vashti before him, with a crown put on her head, to show off her beauty to all the peoples and the princes, or the leaders; for she was very beautiful indeed.)

¹² And she forsook, and despised to come at the commandment of the king, which he had sent (to her) by the honest and chaste servants (But she refused to come at the king’s command, which he had sent to her by the eunuchs). Wherefore the king was angry, and kindled with full great vengeance;

¹³ and he asked the wise men, which by the king’s custom were ever with him, and he did all things by the counsel of them, that knew the law and the rights of greatest men; (and he asked his wise men about this, who by the king’s custom were always with him, and he did everything after their counsel, for they knew the law and the rights of the people;)

¹⁴ forsooth the first and the next were Carshena, and Shethar, Admatha, and Tarshish, and Meres, and Marsena, and Memucan, seven dukes of Persia and of Media, that saw the face of the king, and were wont to sit the first after him; (and the first and the second were Carshena, and Shethar, and then Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, seven princes, or leaders, from Persia and Media, who were always with the king, and were the first to sit after him;)

¹⁵ the king asked them, to what sentence the queen Vashti should be subject, that would not do the commandment of king Ahasuerus, which he had sent (to her) by the honest and chaste servants. (and the king asked them, What sentence should Queen Vashti be subject to, for she would not obey the command of King Ahasuerus, which he sent to her by the eunuchs.)

¹⁶ And Memucan answered, in audience of the king and of the princes, The queen Vashti hath not only despised the king, but all the princes and peoples, that be in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus. (And Memucan answered, before the king and the princes, or the leaders, and said, Queen Vashti hath not only despised the king, but all the princes, or the leaders, and all the peoples, who be in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.)

¹⁷ For the word of the queen shall go out to all women, that they also despise their husbands, and say, King Ahasuerus commanded, that the queen Vashti should have come to him, and she would not. (For this deed of the queen shall become known to all the women, and then they shall also despise their husbands, for they shall say, King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to come to him, but she would not come.)

¹⁸ And by this ensample all the wives of the princes of Persia and of Media shall despise the behests of their husbands; wherefore the indignation of the king is just. (And so by this example all the wives of the leaders of Persia and Media shall despise the orders of their husbands; and so the king is justified to have indignation about this.)

¹⁹ If it pleaseth to thee, a commandment go out from thy face, and be written by the law(s) of Persia and of Media, which it is unleaveful to be passed (over), that Vashti enter [in] no more to the king, but another woman, which is better than she, take her realm. (So if it please thee, let a command go out from thee, and be it written in the laws of Persia and Media, which law it shall forever be unlawful to break, that Vashti can no more come before the king, and then let another woman, who is more worthy than she, take her reign, or her crown.)

²⁰ And be this behest published into all the empire of thy provinces, which is full large, that all wives, both of greater men and of less, give honour to their husbands. (And so when this order is published in all the provinces of thy kingdom, which is very large, then all wives shall give proper respect to their husbands, both to greater and to lesser men alike.)

²¹ [And] His counsel pleased the king and the princes, (And his counsel pleased the king and the leaders), and the king did by the counsel of Memucan;

²² and he sent out letters by all the provinces of his realm, as each folk might hear and read, in diverse languages and letters, that husbands be princes and (the) greater men in their houses; and that this thing be published by all peoples. (and he sent out letters to all the provinces of his kingdom, in different languages and writing, so that each nation would hear and read, that husbands should be the masters in their own homes; and that this should be published to all the peoples in his kingdom.)

2 Therefore when these things were done, after that the indignation of king Ahasuerus was assuaged, he bethought of Vashti, and what things she had done, and what things she had suffered. (And so when these things were done, and after King Ahasuerus’ indignation had been assuaged, he thought more about Vashti, and what things she must now suffer.)

² And then the servants and the ministers of the king said to him, Fair damsels and virgins, be sought to the king; (And then the king’s servants and his ministers said to him, Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king;)

³ and be there men sent forth, which should behold by all provinces damsels (who be) fair and virgins; and bring they them to the city of Susa, and betake they them into the house of women, under the keeping of Hegai, the honest servant and chaste (the honest and chaste servant), the which is the sovereign and keeper of the king’s women; and take (to) those damsels ornament(s) of women, and other things needful to their uses. (and let men be sent forth, who shall look through all the provinces for these beautiful young virgins; and then bring they them to the capital city of Susa, and take they them to the house for the women, under the keeping of Hegai, the eunuch, who is the overseer and the keeper of the king’s women; and give he to those young women women’s ornaments, or adornments, and the other things that they need.)

⁴ And whichever damsel among all them pleaseth most the eyes of the king, reign she for Vashti. And this word pleased the king; and he commanded (it) to be done so, as they counselled. (And then whichever young woman among all of them most pleaseth the king’s eyes, let her reign in the place of Vashti. And this idea pleased the king; and he commanded that it be done, as they had so counselled.)

⁵ 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;)

⁶ 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;)

⁷ 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.)

⁸ 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.)

⁹ 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.)

¹² And when the time of all the damsels by order was come, that they should go in to the king, and when all things were fulfilled that pertained to women’s attire, the twelfth month was turned (about); so only that they were anointed with the oil of myrrh by six months, and by (an)other six months they used some pigments and sweet-smelling ointments. (And when the twelfth month had come; that is, after the young women had been anointed with the oil of myrrh for six months, and then they had used some pigments and sweet-smelling ointments, or perfume, for another six months, and all things were fulfilled that pertained to women’s attire; then the time had come, for all the young women, each in her turn, to go in to the king.)

¹³ And they entered to the king, and whatever thing pertaining to their ornament(s) (that) they asked (for), they took it with them; and they were arrayed as it pleased to them, and then they passed forth from the chamber of women to the king’s bed. (And so they went in to the king, taking with them whatever things pertaining to their adornment that they had asked for; and arrayed as it pleased them, they passed forth from the house for the women to the king’s bed.)

¹⁴ And she that had entered in the eventide, went out in the morrowtide; and from thence they were led forth into the second houses, that were under the hand of Shaashgaz, honest servant and chaste (the honest and chaste servant), that was governor of the king’s concubines; and she had not power to go again more to the king, no but the king would, and had commanded her to come by name. (And she who entered in the evening, went out in the morning; and from there they were led forth to the second house for the women, that was under the hand of the eunuch Shaashgaz, who was the overseer of the king’s concubines; and from that point on, she had no power to go again to the king, unless the king desired to see her, and had commanded her to come by name.)

¹⁵ And when the time was turned about by order, the day nighed, wherein Esther, the daughter of Abihail, the brother of Mordecai, the which Esther Mordecai had taken to him, and made her his daughter, ought to enter to the king; and she asked not (for) women’s ornament(s), but whatever things Hegai, the honest servant and chaste (the honest and chaste servant), and keeper of the virgins, would, he gave these things to Esther to her ornament; for she was full shapely, and of fairness that may not lightly be believed, and she was seen (to be) gracious and amiable to the eyes of all men. (And so the time turned about, and the day nighed, when, by turn, Esther, the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai, this Esther which Mordecai had taken unto himself, and had made her his own daughter, ought to go in to the king; and she asked not for any women’s ornaments, or adornment, but whatever things the eunuch Hegai, the keeper of the virgins, desired, he gave these things to Esther for her adornment; and certainly she was very shapely, and had a beauty that could not easily be believed, and she was seen to be gracious and amiable in the eyes of all people.)

¹⁶ Therefore she was led to the bed of king Ahasuerus, in the tenth month, which is called Tebeth, in the seventh year of his realm. (And so she was led to King Ahasuerus’ bed, in the tenth month, which is called Tebeth, or January, in the seventh year of his reign.)

¹⁷ And the king loved Esther more fervently than all women, and she had grace and mercy before him over all other women; and he setted the diadem, or crown, of the realm on her head, and made her to reign in the stead of Vashti. (And the king loved Esther more fervently than all the other women, and she received more favour and love from him than all the other women; and he put a crown of his kingdom on her head, and he made her the queen in place of Vashti.)

¹⁸ And he commanded a full worshipful feast to be made ready to all his princes and servants, for the joining together and the weddings of Esther; and he gave rest, that is, (the) releasing of tribute, to all provinces, and gave gifts, after the worshipful doing of a prince. (And he commanded that a large feast be prepared for all his princes, or his leaders, and his servants in honour of Esther, and their joining together by their wedding; and he gave rest, that is, an amnesty from taxation, to all his provinces, and also gifts worthy of a king.)

¹⁹ And when (the) virgins were sought also the second time, and were gathered together, Mordecai dwelled at the gate of the king. (And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai sat at the king’s gate./And meanwhile Mordecai was in attendance at the royal court.)

²⁰ And Esther had not yet showed her country and her people, by the behest of Mordecai; for-why whatever thing he commanded, Esther kept, and she did so then all things, as she was wont (to) in that time, in which he nourished her (as) a little child. (And Esther had not yet declared her kindred or her people, by Mordecai’s command; for whatever thing he commanded, Esther did it, as she had always done, from the time in which he nurtured her as a young child.)

²¹ Then in that time, wherein Mordecai dwelled at the gate of the king, Bigthan(a) and Teresh, two servants of the king, were wroth (against the king), that were porters, and sat in the first threshold of the palace; and they would rise (up) against the king, and slay him. (Now one day, when Mordecai was in attendance at the royal court, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who were guards, or doorkeepers, guarding the first threshold of the palace, became hostile toward the king, and plotted to kill him.)

²² Which thing was not hid from Mordecai, and anon Mordecai told this to the queen Esther, and she told it to the king, in the name of Mordecai, that had told that thing to her. (And this thing was not hid from Mordecai, who at once told this to Queen Esther, and she told it to the king, in the name of Mordecai, who had told that thing to her.)

²³ And it was sought, and it was found sooth, and either of them was hanged in a gibbet; and this was commanded to be written in [the] stories, and it was betaken to the books of [the] years, before the king. (And it was sought into, and found to be true, and both of the guards were hanged on the gallows; and all of this was commanded to be written down in The Books of the Years, that is, in The Official Annals, in the sight of the king.)

5 But a man [Forsooth some man], Ananias by name, with Sapphira, his wife, sold a field,

² and defrauded of the price of the field; and his wife was witting. And he brought a part [And he brought some part], and laid [it] before the feet of the apostles.

³ And Peter said to him, Ananias, why hath Satan tempted thine heart, that thou lie to the Holy Ghost [Forsooth Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan tempted thine heart, thee to lie to the Holy Ghost], and to defraud of the price of the field?

⁴ Whether it unsold was not thine; and when it was sold, it was in thy power? Why hast thou put this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied to men, but to God.

⁵ Ananias heard these words, and felled down, and was dead [Forsooth Ananias hearing these words, felled down and died]. And great dread was made on all that heard.

⁶ And young men rose [rised], and moved him away, and bare him out, and buried.

⁷ And there was made a space of three hours, and his wife knew not that thing that was done, and entered. [Forsooth there was made as the space of three hours, and the wife of him not knowing that thing that was done, entered in.]

⁸ And Peter answered to her, Woman, say to me, whether ye sold the field for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.

⁹ And Peter said to her, What befelled to you [What soothly came together to you, or accorded], to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Lo! the feet of them that have buried thine husband be at the door, and they shall bear thee out.

¹⁰ At once [Anon] she felled down at his feet, and died. And the young men entered, and found her dead, and they bare her out, and buried [her] to her husband.

¹¹ And great dread was made in all the church, and into all that heard these things.

¹² And by the hands of the apostles signs and many wonders were made in the people. And all were of one accord in the porch of Solomon.

¹³ But no man of others durst join himself with them, but the people magnified them.

¹⁴ And the multitude of men and of women believing in the Lord was more increased,

¹⁵ so that they brought out sick men into streets, and laid in little beds and couches, that when Peter came, namely the shadow of him should shadow each of them, and they should be delivered from their sicknesses [that Peter coming, namely the shadow of him should shadow each of them, and they were delivered from all sicknesses].

¹⁶ And the multitude of cities nigh to Jerusalem ran, bringing sick men, and that were travailed of unclean spirits, which all were healed.

¹⁷ But the prince of priests rose up, and all that were with him, that is the heresy of Sadducees, and were filled with envy;

¹⁸ and they laid hands on the apostles, and put them in the common ward [and put them in common keeping].

¹⁹ But the angel of the Lord opened by night the gates of the prison [Forsooth the angel of the Lord by night opened the gates of the prison], and led them out, and said,

²⁰ Go ye, and stand ye, and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

²¹ Whom when they had heard, they entered early into the temple, and taught. And the prince of priests came, and they that were with him, and called together the council, and all the elder men of the children of Israel; and sent to the prison, that they should be brought forth.