The Catholic Apocrypha

Additions to Esther 4

[25]And now, O Lord, O king, O God of Abraham, have mercy on thy people, be- cause our enemies resolve to destroy us, and extinguish thy inheritance.

[26]Despise not thy portion, which thou hast redeemed for thyself out of Egypt.

[27]Hear my supplication, and be merciful to thy lot and inheritance, and turn our mourning into joy, that we may live and praise thy name, 0 Lord, and shut not the mouths of them that sing to thee.

[28]And all Israel with like mind and supplication cried to the Lord, because they saw certain death hanging over their heads.

[29]Queen Esther also, fearing the danger that was at hand, had recourse to the Lord.

[30]And when she had laid away her royal apparel, she put on garments suitable for weeping and mourning: instead of divers precious ointments, she covered her head with ashes and dung, and she humbled her body with fasts: and all the places in which before she was accustomed to rejoice, she filled with her torn hair.

[31]And she prayed to the Lord the God of Israel, saying: O my Lord, who alone art our king, help me a desolate woman, and who have no other helper but thee.

[32]My danger is in my hands.

[33]I have heard of my father that thou, O Lord, didst take Israel from among all nations, and our fathers from all their predecessors, to possess them as an everlasting inheritance, and thou hast done to them as thou hast promised.

[34]We have sinned in thy sight, and therefore thou hast delivered us into the hands of our enemies:

[35]For we have worshipped their gods. Thou art just, O Lord.

[36]And now they are not content to oppress us with most hard bondage, but attributing the strength of their hands to the power of their idols,

[37]They design to change thy promises, and destroy thy inheritance, and shut the mouths of them that praise thee, and extinguish the glory of thy temple and altar,

[38]That they may open the mouths of Gentiles, and praise the strength of idols, and magnify for ever a carnal king.

[39]Give not, O Lord, thy sceptre to them that are not, lest they laugh at our ruin: but turn their counsel upon themselves, and destroy him that hath begun to rage against us.

[40]Remember, O Lord, and shew thyself to us in the time of our tribulation, and give me boldness, O Lord, king of gods, and of all power:

[41]Give me a well ordered speech in my mouth in the presence of the lion, and turn his heart to the hatred of our enemy, that both he himself may perish, and the rest that consent to him.

[42]But deliver us by thy hand, and help me, who have no other helper, but thee, O Lord, who hast the knowledge of all things.

[43]And thou knowest that I hate the glory of the wicked, and abhor the bed of the uncircumcised, and of every stranger.

[44]Thou knowest my necessity, that I abominate the sign of my pride and glory, which is upon my head in the days of my public appearance, and detest it as a menstruous rag, and wear it not in the days of my silence,

[45]And that I have not eaten at Aman's table, nor hath the king's banquet pleased me, and that I have not drunk the wine of the drink offerings:

[46]And that thy handmaid hath never rejoiced, since I was brought hither unto this day, but in thee, O Lord, the God of Abraham.

[47]O God, who art mighty above all, hear the voice of them, that have no other hope, and deliver us from the hand of the wicked, and deliver me from my fear.

[48]And he commanded her (no doubt but he was Mardochai) to go to the king, and petition for her people, and for her country.

[49]Remember, (said he,) the days of thy low estate, how thou wast brought up by my hand, because Aman the second after the king hath spoken against us unto death.

[50]And do thou call upon the Lord, and speak to the king for us, and deliver us from death.

[51]And on the third day she laid away the garments she wore, and put on her glorious apparel.

[52]And glittering in royal robes, after she had called upon God the ruler and Saviour of all, she took two maids with her,

[53]And upon one of them she leaned, as if for delicateness and overmuch tenderness she were not able to bear up her own body.

[54]And the other maid followed her lady, bearing up her train flowing on the ground.

[55]But she with a rosy colour in her face, and with gracious and bright eyes, hid a mind full of anguish, and exceeding great fear.

[56]So going in she passed through all the doors in order, and stood before the king, where he sat upon his royal throne, clothed with his royal robes, and glittering with gold, and precious stones, and he was terrible to behold.

[57]And when he had lifted up his countenance, and with burning eyes had shewn the wrath of his heart, the queen sunk down, and her colour turned pale, and she rested her weary head upon her handmaid.

[58]And God changed the king's spirit into mildness, and all in haste and in fear he leaped from his throne, and holding her up in his arms, till she came to herself, caressed her with these words:

[59]What is the matter, Esther? I am thy brother, fear not.

[60]Thou shalt not die: for this law is not made for thee, but for all others.

[61]Come near then, and touch the sceptre.

[62]And as she held her peace, he took the golden sceptre, and laid it upon her neck, and kissed her, and said: Why dost thou not speak to me?

[63]She answered: I saw thee, my lord, as an angel of God, and my heart was troubled for fear of thy majesty.

[64]For thou, my lord, art very admirable, and thy. face is full of graces.

[65]And while she was speaking, she fell down again, and was almost in a swoon.

[66]But the king was troubled, and all his servants comforted her.