Ester 2
Catholic Public Domain Version
1And so, after this had been carried out, and the indignation of king Artaxerxes had subsided, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what had happened to her.
2And the servants of the king, and his ministers, said, “Let young women be sought for the king, virgins and beautiful,
3and let investigators be sent throughout all the provinces for young women, beautiful and virgins. And let them bring them to the city of Susa, and deliver them to the house of the women under the hand of Hegai the eunuch, who is the overseer and keeper of the king’s women. And let them receive feminine ornaments, and other things necessary for their use.
4And whoever among them all will please the king’s eyes, let her reign instead of Vashti.” The idea pleased the king, and so he ordered it to be done as they had suggested.
5There was a Jewish man in the city of Susa, by the name of Mordecai, son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, of the house of Benjamin,
6who had been carried away from Jerusalem at the time that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon carried away Jeconiah king of Judah,
7who had raised his brother’s daughter Hadassah, who by another name was called Esther. And she had lost both her parents. She was very beautiful, with a graceful appearance. Since her father and mother had both died, Mordecai adopted her as his own daughter.
8And when the king’s command became very well-known, in accordance with his command, many beautiful virgins were brought to Susa, and were delivered to Hegai the eunuch. Likewise, Esther, along with the other young women, was delivered to him, to be protected with the assembled women.
9She was pleasing to him, and she found favor in his sight. And he commanded a eunuch to hasten the women’s ornaments, and to deliver her share to her, along with seven of the most beautiful young women of the king’s house, so as to both adorn and honor her and her handmaids.
10She was not willing to reveal to him her people or her native land. For Mordecai had instructed her that she should keep silent about all these things.
11He went for a walk every day, in the front courtyard of the house in which the chosen virgins were kept, having concern for Esther’s welfare and wanting to know what would happen to her.
12But, when the time came for each in the line of young women to go in to the king, after everything had been completed concerning feminine grooming, the twelfth month had been reached, to the extent that for six months they were anointed with oil of myrrh, and for another six months they used certain types of makeup and perfumes.
13And when they were going in to the king, whatever they requested to adorn themselves, they received, and when each was pleased with herself, having been prepared in the chamber of the women, she passed on to the king’s chamber.
14And whoever entered at evening, departed in the morning, and then from there she was led to the second house, which was under the hand of Shaashgaz the eunuch, who presided over the king’s concubines. Nor did she have the power to return again to the king, unless the king desired it and had summoned her by name.
15But, as the order continued to progress, the day arrived when Esther, the daughter of Abihail the brother of Mordecai, whom he had adopted as his daughter, was required to go in to the king. She did not seek feminine ornaments, except that whatever Hegai the eunuch and keeper of the virgins chose, he gave her to adorn her. For she was very attractive, and her incredible beauty made her appear gracious and amiable in the eyes of all.
16And so she was led to the chamber of king Artaxerxes, in the tenth month, which is called Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
17And the king loved her more than all the women, and she had favor and mercy in his eyes above all the women, and he set the royal crown on her head, and he made her queen instead of Vashti.
18And he ordered a magnificent feast to be prepared for all the rulers, and for his servants, because of the union and wedding of Esther. And he gave a holiday to all the provinces, and he bestowed gifts befitting of princely generosity.
19And when the virgins were sought for the second time and gathered together, Mordecai remained at the king’s gate.
20Esther had not yet declared her native land and her people, according to his command. For whatever he instructed, Esther observed. And so she did all things as she had become accustomed in the time when he raised her from early childhood.
21Therefore, at that time, when Mordecai was staying at the king’s gate, Bagatha and Thara, two of the king’s eunuchs, who were gatekeepers and who presided over the first entryway of the palace, were angry, and they decided to rise up against the king and kill him.
22But Mordecai did not keep this secret, and immediately he reported it to queen Esther, and she reported it to the king in Mordecai’s name, who had brought the matter to her.
23It was inquired into and discovered, and they were both hanged on a gallows. And it was committed to the histories and the chronicles which are delivered in the sight of the king.
Reina-Valera 1909
1PASADAS estas cosas, sosegada ya la ira del rey Assuero, acordóse de Vasthi, y de lo que hizo, y de lo que fué sentenciado contra ella.
2Y dijeron los criados del rey, sus oficiales: Busquen al rey mozas vírgenes de buen parecer;
3Y ponga el rey personas en todas las provincias de su reino, que junten todas las mozas vírgenes de buen parecer en Susán residencia regia, en la casa de las mujeres, al cuidado de Hegai, eunuco del rey, guarda de las mujeres, dándoles sus atavíos;
4Y la moza que agradare á los ojos del rey, reine en lugar de Vasthi. Y la cosa plugo en ojos del rey, é hízolo así.
5Había un varón Judío en Susán residencia regia, cuyo nombre era Mardochêo, hijo de Jair, hijo de Simi, hijo de Cis, del linaje de Benjamín;
6El cual había sido trasportado de Jerusalem con los cautivos que fueron llevados con Jechônías rey de Judá, á quien hizo trasportar Nabucodonosor rey de Babilonia.
7Y había criado á Hadassa, que es Esther, hija de su tío, porque no tenía padre ni madre; y era moza de hermosa forma y de buen parecer; y como su padre y su madre murieron, Mardochêo la había tomado por hija suya.
8Sucedió pues, que como se divulgó el mandamiento del rey y su acuerdo, y siendo reunidas muchas mozas en Susán residencia regia, á cargo de Hegai, fué tomada también Esther para casa del rey, al cuidado de Hegai, guarda de las mujeres.
9Y la moza agradó en sus ojos, y halló gracia delante de él; por lo que hizo darle prestamente sus atavíos y sus raciones, dándole también siete convenientes doncellas de la casa del rey; y pasóla con sus doncellas á lo mejor de la casa de las mujeres.
10Esther no declaró su pueblo ni su nacimiento; porque Mardochêo le había mandado que no lo declarase.
11Y cada día Mardochêo se paseaba delante del patio de la casa de las mujeres, por saber cómo iba á Esther, y qué se hacía de ella.
12Y como llegaba el tiempo de cada una de las mozas para venir al rey Assuero, al cabo de haber estado ya doce meses conforme á la ley acerca de las mujeres (porque así se cumplía el tiempo de sus atavíos, esto es, seis meses con óleo de mirra, y seis meses con cosas aromáticas y afeites de mujeres),
13Entonces la moza venía así al rey: todo lo que ella decía se le daba, para venir con ello de la casa de las mujeres hasta la casa del rey.
14Ella venía á la tarde, y á la mañana se volvía á la casa segunda de las mujeres, al cargo de Saasgaz eunuco del rey, guarda de las concubinas: no venía más al rey, salvo si el rey la quería, y era llamada por nombre.
15Y llegado que fué el tiempo de Esther, hija de Abihail tío de Mardochêo, que él se había tomado por hija, para venir al rey, ninguna cosa procuró sino lo que dijo Hegai eunuco del rey, guarda de las mujeres: y ganaba Esther la gracia de todos los que la veían.
16Fué pues Esther llevada al rey Assuero á su casa real en el mes décimo, que es el mes de Tebeth, en el año séptimo de su reinado.
17Y el rey amó á Esther sobre todas las mujeres, y halló gracia y benevolencia delante de él más que todas las vírgenes; y puso la corona real en su cabeza, é hízola reina en lugar de Vasthi.
18Hizo luego el rey gran banquete á todos sus príncipes y siervos, el banquete de Esther; y alivió á las provincias, é hizo y dió mercedes conforme á la facultad real.
19Y cuando se juntaban las vírgenes la segunda vez, Mardochêo estaba puesto á la puerta del rey.
20Y Esther, según le tenía mandado Mardochêo, no había declarado su nación ni su pueblo; porque Esther hacía lo que decía Mardochêo, como cuando con él se educaba.
21En aquellos días, estando Mardochêo sentado á la puerta del rey, enojáronse Bigthán y Teres, dos eunucos del rey, de la guardia de la puerta, y procuraban poner mano en el rey Assuero.
22Mas entendido que fué esto por Mardochêo, él lo denunció á la reina Esther, y Esther lo dijo al rey en nombre de Mardochêo.
23Hízose entonces indagación de la cosa, y fué hallada cierta; por tanto, entrambos fueron colgados en una horca. Y escribióse el caso en el libro de las cosas de los tiempos delante del rey.
King James Version
1After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.
2Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
3And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king’s chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them:
4And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
5Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;
6Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
7And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.
8So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
9And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king’s house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.
10Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.
11And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.
12Now when every maid’s turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)
13Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king’s house.
14In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.
15Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
16So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
17And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
18Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther’s feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.
19And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king’s gate.
20Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.
21In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
22And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai’s name.
23And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.
World English Bible
1After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus was pacified, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.
2Then the king’s servants who served him said, “Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king.
3Let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the beautiful young virgins to the citadel of Susa, to the women’s house, to the custody of Hegai the king’s eunuch, keeper of the women. Let cosmetics be given them;
4and let the maiden who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” The thing pleased the king, and he did so.
5There was a certain Jew in the citadel of Susa whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite,
6who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
7He brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter; for she had neither father nor mother. The maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.
8So, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together to the citadel of Susa, to the custody of Hegai, Esther was taken into the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
9The maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness from him. He quickly gave her cosmetics and her portions of food, and the seven choice maidens who were to be given her out of the king’s house. He moved her and her maidens to the best place in the women’s house.
10Esther had not made known her people nor her relatives, because Mordecai had instructed her that she should not make it known.
11Mordecai walked every day in front of the court of the women’s house, to find out how Esther was doing, and what would become of her.
12Each young woman’s turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after her purification for twelve months (for so were the days of their purification accomplished, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet fragrances and with preparations for beautifying women).
13The young woman then came to the king like this: whatever she desired was given her to go with her out of the women’s house to the king’s house.
14In the evening she went, and on the next day she returned into the second women’s house, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch, who kept the concubines. She came in to the king no more, unless the king delighted in her, and she was called by name.
15Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, came to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s eunuch, the keeper of the women, advised. Esther obtained favor in the sight of all those who looked at her.
16So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus into his royal house in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
17The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
18Then the king made a great feast for all his princes and his servants, even Esther’s feast; and he proclaimed a holiday in the provinces, and gave gifts according to the king’s bounty.
19When the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting in the king’s gate.
20Esther had not yet made known her relatives nor her people, as Mordecai had commanded her; for Esther obeyed Mordecai, like she did when she was brought up by him.
21In those days, while Mordecai was sitting in the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, who were doorkeepers, were angry, and sought to lay hands on the King Ahasuerus.
22This thing became known to Mordecai, who informed Esther the queen; and Esther informed the king in Mordecai’s name.
23When this matter was investigated, and it was found to be so, they were both hanged on a gallows; and it was written in the book of the chronicles in the king’s presence.