The. holie. Bible. conteynyng the olde Testament and the newe.

The .xiij. Chapter.

1 The copie of the letters of Artaxerxes agaynst the Iewes. 9 The prayer of Mardocheus.

[unspec A] 1 THe great kyng Artax∣erxes, whiche raig∣neth from India vn∣to Ethiopia ouer an hundred and twentie and seuen landes, sen∣deth his frendly salu∣tation vnto all the princes and deputies of the countrey, whiche be subiect vnto his dominion.

2 When I was made lorde ouer many people, and had subdued the whole earth vnto my dominion, my minde was not with crueltie and wrong to ex∣alt my selfe by the reason of my power: but purposed with equitie alway and gentlenes to gouerne those that be vn∣der my iurisdiction, and wholly to set them in a peaceable lyfe, and thereby to bryng my kyngdome vnto tranquilitie, that men might safely go thorowe on euery side, and to renue peace agayne, whiche all men desire.

3 Nowe when I asked my counsel∣lours howe these thinges myght be brought to a good ende, there was one by vs excellent in wisdome, whose good wyll, trueth, and faythfulnesse hath oft ben shewed and proued (whiche was also the principall and next vnto the kyng) Aman by name,

4 Whiche certified vs, howe that in all landes there was scattered abrode a re∣bellious folke, that made statutes and lawes against all other people, & haue alway despised the proclaymed com∣maundementes of kynges, and howe that for this cause it were not to be suf∣fred, that suche rule should continue by you, and not to be put downe.

5 Seeing nowe we perceaue the same, that this people alone are contrary vn∣to euery man, vsing straunge and other maner of lawes, and withstande our statutes and doynges, and go about to stablyshe shrewde matters, that our kyngdome shoulde neuer come to good estate [and stedfastnesse:]

6 Therefore haue we commaunded, that all they that are appointed in wry∣tyng and shewed vnto you by Aman, whiche is ordayned and set ouer all our landes, and the most principall next vn∣to the kyng, and in maner as a father: shall with their wiues and chyldren be destroyed & rooted out with the sworde of their enemies and aduersaries, and that there shalbe no mercy shewed, and no man spared: And this shalbe done the fourteenth day of the moneth cal¦led Adad of this yere.

7 That they whiche of olde and nowe

[unspec B] also, haue euer ben rebellious, may in one day with violence be thrust downe into the hell, to the intent that after this maner our empire may haue peace and tranquilitie.

8 But Mardocheus thought vpon all the workes & noble actes of the Lorde, and made his prayer vnto him,

9 Saying: O Lorde, Lorde, thou vali∣aunt and almightie king, for all thinges are in thy power: and if thou wilt helpe and deliuer Israel, there is no man that can withstande nor let thee.

10 For thou hast made heauen and earth, and what wonderous thing soeuer is vnder the heauen.

11 Thou art Lorde of all thinges, and there is no man that can resist thy ma∣iestie O Lorde.

12 Thou knowest all thinges, thou wo∣test Lorde that it was neither of ma∣lice nor presumption, nor for any desire of glory, that I would not bow downe my selfe nor worship yonder proude pre∣sumptious Aman:

13 For I woulde haue ben content, and that with good wyll, if it might haue done Israel any good, to haue kist euen his footesteppes.

14 But that I did it because I woulde not set the honour of a man in the steede [unspec C] of the glory of God, & because I would worship none but only thee my Lorde: and this haue I done in no pryde nor presumption.

15 And therfore O Lord, thou God and kyng, haue mercy vpon thy people, for they imagine howe they may bring vs to naught, yea their minde and desire is to destroy and to ouerthrowe thy peo∣ple that hath euer ben thyne inheri∣taunce of olde.

16 O despise not thy portion which thou hast deliuered & brought out of Egypt for thyne owne selfe.

17 Heare my prayer, and be mercifull vn∣to thy people whom thou hast chosen for an heritage vnto thy selfe: Turne our complaynt and sorow into ioy, that we may liue O Lorde and prayse thy name: O Lord suffer not the mouthes of them that praise thee, to be destroyed.

18 All the people of Israel in like maner cryed as earnestly as they coulde vnto the Lorde, for their death and destructi∣on stoode before their eyes.