Liber Esther

Esther quoque regina confugit ad Dominum, pavens periculum quod imminebat.

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

Esthro etiam regina confuge ad Domino, pave periculo quod immine.

Cumque deposuisset vestes regias, fletibus et luctui apta indumenta suscepit, et pro unguentis variis, cinere et stercore implevit caput, et corpus suum humiliavit jejuniis: omniaque loca, in quibus antea lætari consueverat, crinium laceratione complevit.

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.

Cumque depone vestes regia, fletus et de luctu apta indumentos suscipe, et pro unguentos varia, cinere et stercore imple capite, et corpore suo humilia ieiunios: et omni locos, in que antea laetor consuesce, de crinios laceratione comple.

Et deprecabatur Dominum Deum Israël, dicens: Domine mi, qui rex noster es solus, adjuva me solitariam, et cujus præter te nullus est auxiliator alius.

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.

Et depreca Domino Deo Israële, dicente: domino meo, qui rege nostro es solo, adiuva me solitario, et de que praeter te nullo es auxiliatore alio.

Periculum meum in manibus meis est.

My danger is in my hands.

Periculo meo in manus meo es.

Audivi a patre meo quod tu, Domine, tulisses Israël de cunctis gentibus, et patres nostros ex omnibus retro majoribus suis, ut possideres hæreditatem sempiternam, fecistique eis sicut locutus es.

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.

Audi ab patre meo quod te, Domino, fer Israële de cuncta gentes, et patres nostro ex omni retro magna suo, ut posside haereditate sempiterno, et fac ad illos sicut locuto es.

Peccavimus in conspectu tuo, et idcirco tradidisti nos in manus inimicorum nostrorum:

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

Peccavimo in conspectu tuo, et ergo trade nos in manus de inimicos nostro:

coluimus enim deos eorum. Justus es Domine:

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

Cole nam deos de illos. Iusto es Domino:

et nunc non eis sufficit, quod durissima nos opprimunt servitute, sed robur manuum suarum, idolorum potentiæ deputantes,

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,

Et nunc non ad illos suffice, quod duro opprime nos servitute, sed robore de manus suo, de idolos de potentia deputa,

volunt tua mutare promissa, et delere hæreditatem tuam, et claudere ora laudantium te, atque extinguere gloriam templi et altaris tui,

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,

Tuo vol muta promissum, et dele haereditate tuo, et claude ores lauda te, et extingue gloria de templo et de altari tuo,

ut aperiant ora gentium, et laudent idolorum fortitudinem, et prædicent carnalem regem in sempiternum.

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

Ut aperi ores de gentes, et lauda de idolos fortitudine, et praedica carnali rege in sempiterno.

Ne tradas, Domine, sceptrum tuum his, qui non sunt, ne rideant ad ruinam nostram: sed converte consilium eorum super eos, et eum qui in nos cœpit sævire, disperde.

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.

Ne trade, Domino, sceptro tuo ad hoc, qui non es, ne ride ad ruina nostro: sed converte consilio de illos super illos, et illo qui in nos incipe saevi, disperde.

Memento, Domine, et ostende te nobis in tempore tribulationis nostræ, et da mihi fiduciam, Domine rex deorum, et universæ potestatis:

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:

Mene, Domino, et ostende te ad nos in tempore de tribulatione nostro, et da ad me fiducia, Domino rege de deos, et universa de potestate:

tribue sermonem compositum in ore meo in conspectu leonis, et transfer cor illius in odium hostis nostri, ut et ipse pereat, et ceteri qui ei consentiunt.

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.

Tere sermone compone in ore meo in conspectu de leone, et transfer corde de illo in odio de hoste nostro, ut et ipso peri, et cetero qui ad illo consentie.

Nos autem libera manu tua, et adjuva me, nullum aliud auxilium habentem nisi te, Domine, qui habes omnium scientiam,

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.

Nos autem libro manu tuo, et adiuva me, nullo alio auxilio habe nisi te, Domino, qui habe de omni scientia,

et nosti quia oderim gloriam iniquorum, et detester cubile incircumcisorum, et omnis alienigenæ.

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

Et nosce quia ode gloria iniquo, et detestor cubili incircumcida, et omni alienigena.

Tu scis necessitatem meam, quod abominer signum superbiæ et gloriæ meæ, quod est super caput meum in diebus ostentationis meæ, et detester illud quasi pannum menstruatæ, et non portem in diebus silentii mei,

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,

Te sci necessitate meo, quod abomine signo de superbia et de gloria meo, quod es super capite meo in dies de ostentatione meo, et detestor illo quasi panno menstrua, et non porta in dies de silentio meo,

et quod non comederim in mensa Aman, nec mihi placuerit convivium regis, et non biberim vinum libaminum:

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:

Et quod non comede in mensa Amane, nec ad me place convivio de rege, et non bibe vino libamino:

et numquam lætata sit ancilla tua, ex quo huc translata sum usque in præsentem diem, nisi in te, Domine Deus Abraham.

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

Et nunquam laetor es ancilla tuo, ex quo huc transfer es usque in praesenti die, nisi in te, Domino Deo Abrahame.

Deus fortis super omnes, exaudi vocem eorum qui nullam aliam spem habent, et libera nos de manu iniquorum, et erue me a timore meo.

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.

Deo forti super omni, exaudi voce de illos qui habe nullo alio spe, et libro nos de manu iniquo, et erue me ab timore meo.