12. Upon one day in all the prouinces of king Ahasuerus, namely vpon the thirteenth day of the twelfth moneth, which is the moneth Adar. (16:1) The great kyng Artaxerxes, whiche raigneth from India vnto Ethiopia ouer an hundreth and twentie and seuen landes, sendeth vnto the princes and rulers of the same landes, suche as loue him, his frendly salutation. (16:2) There be many that for the sundry frendshippes and benefites whiche are diuersly done vnto them for their worship, be euer the more proude and hye minded: (16:3) And vndertake not only to hurt our subiectes (for plenteous benefites may they not suffer, and begin to imagine some thing against those that do them good, (16:4) And take not only all vnthankfulnes away from men) but in pride and presumption, as they that be vnmindfull and vnthankfull for the good deedes, they go about to escape the iudgement of God that seeth all thinges, whiche iudgement hateth and punisheth all wickednesse. (16:5) It happeneth oft also, that they which be set in office by the higher power, and vnto whom the businesse and causes of the subiectes are committed to be handled, waxe proude, and defile them selues with shedding of innocent blood, which bringeth them to intollerable hurt. (16:6) Whiche also with false and deceiptfull wordes and with lying tales, deceaue and betray the innocent goodnesse of princes. (16:7) Nowe is it profitable and good that we take heede, make searche therafter, and consider not onlye what hath happened vnto vs of olde, but the shamefull, vnhonest, and noysome thinges, that the deputies haue nowe taken in hande before our eyes: (16:8) And thereby to beware in tyme to come, that we make the kyngdome quiet and peaceable for all men, and that we might sometime drawe it to a chaunge. (16:9) And as for the thing that nowe is present before our eyes, to withstande it, and to put it downe after the most frendly maner. (16:10) What tyme nowe as Aman the sonne of Amadathu the Macedonian, a strauger veryly of the Persians blood, and farre from our goodnes, was come in among vs as an aliaunt, (16:11) And had obtayned the frendship that we beare towarde all people, so that he was called our father, and had in hye honour of euery man, as the next and principall vnto the kyng: (16:12) He coulde not forbeare him selfe from his pryde, hath vndertaken not only to rob vs of the kyngdome, but of our life: (16:13) With manyfolde deceipt also hath he desired to destroy Mardocheus our helper and preseruer, whiche hath done vs good in all thinges, and innocent Hester the like partaker of our kyngdome, with all her people. (16:14) For his minde was (when he had taken them out of the way, and robbed vs of them) by this meanes to translate the kyngdome of the Persians vnto them of Macedonia. (16:15) But we finde that the Iewes (which were accused of the wicked that they might be destroyed) are no euyll doers, but vse reasonable and right lawes: (16:16) And that they be the chyldren of the most high liuing God, by whom the kyngdome of vs and of our progenitours hath ben well ordered hytherto. (16:17) Wherefore, as for the letters and commaundementes that were put foorth by Aman the sonne of Amadathu, ye shall do well if ye holde them of none effect: (16:18) For he that set them vp and inuented them, hangeth at Susis before the port, with all his kinred: and God whiche hath all thinges in his power, hath rewarded hym after his deseruing. (16:19) And vpon this ye shall publishe and set vp the copie of this letter in all places, that the Iewes may freely and without hinderaunce holde them selues after their owne statutes: (16:20) And that they may be helped, and that vpon the thirteenth day of the twelfth moneth Adar, they may be auenged of them whiche in the tyme of their anguishe and trouble would haue oppressed them. (16:21) For the God that gouerneth all thinges, hath turned to ioy the day wherein the chosen people shoulde haue perished. (16:22) Moreouer, among the hye solempne dayes that ye haue, ye shall holde this day also with all gladnesse: (16:23) That nowe and in tyme to come this day may be a remembraunce of good for all such as loue the prosperitie of the Persians: but a remembraunce of destruction to those that be seditious vnto vs. (16:24) All cities and landes that do not this, shall horribly perishe and be destroyed with the sworde and fire, and shall not only be no more inhabited of men, but be abhorred also of the wylde beastes and foules.