[PLACED IN THE GREEK AFTER CH. III. 13 OF THE HEBREW].

XIII. 1 The copy of the letters was this: aThe great king Artaxerxes writeth these things to the princes and governors that are under him bfrom India unto Ethiopia, in an hundred and seven and twenty provinces. 2 After that I became lord over many nations, and had dominion over the whole cworld, not lifted up with presumption of my authority, but carrying myself alway with equity and mildness, I purposed to settle ccmy subjects continually in a quiet life, and making my kingdom * peaceable, and open for passage to the utmost coasts, to renew peace, which is desired of all men. 3 Now when I asked my counsellers how this might be brought to pass, Aman, that excelled in wisdom among us, and was dapproved for his constant good will and stedfast fidelity, and ehad the honour of the second place in the kingdom, 4 fdeclared unto us, that in all nations throughout cthe world there was scattered a certain malicious people, that had laws contrary to all nations, and continually despised the commandments of kings, so as the uniting of our kingdoms, honourably gintended by us, cannot * go forward. 5 Seeing then we understand that this people alone is continually in opposition unto all men, differing in the strange manner of their laws, and evil affected to our state, working all the mischief they can, that our kingdom may not be firmly established: 6 therefore have we commanded, that all they that are signified in writing unto you by Aman, who is ordained over the affairs, and is * next unto us, shall all, with their wives and children, be utterly destroyed by the sword of their enemies, without all mercy and pity, the hfourteenth day of the twelfth month Adar of this present year: 7 that they, who of old and now also are malicious, may in one day with violence go into the grave, and so ever hereafter cause our affairs to be well settled, and without trouble.

[PLACED IN THE GREEK AFTER CH. IV. 17 OF THE HEBREW].

8 Then Mardocheus thought upon all the works of the Lord, and made his prayer unto him, 9 Saying, O Lord, Lord, the King iAlmighty: for the whole world is in thy power, and if thou hast appointed to save Israel, there is no man that can gainsay thee: 10 jfor thou hast made heaven and earth, and all the wondrous things under the heaven. 11 Thou art Lord of all things, and there is no man that can resist thee, which art the Lord. 12 kThou knowest all things, and thou knowest, Lord, that it was neither in contempt nor pride, nor for any desire of glory, that lI did not bow down to proud Aman. 13 For mI could have been content with good will for the salvation of Israel to kiss the soles of his feet. 14 But I did this, that I might not prefer the glory of man above the glory of God: nneither will I worship any but thee, O God, neither will I do it in pride. 15 And now, O Lord God and King, ospare thy people: for their eyes are upon us to bring us to nought; yea, they desire to destroy the inheritance, that hath been thine from the beginning. 16 Despise not the portion, pwhich thou hast delivered out of Egypt for thine own self. 17 Hear my prayer, and be merciful unto thine inheritance: qturn our sorrow into joy, that we may live, O Lord, and praise thy name: and * rdestroy not the mouths of them that praise thee, O Lord.

18 All Israel in like manner cried * most earnestly unto the Lord, because their death was before their eyes.