The Rest of Esther 13

How to read these pages: the text itself comes first, verse by verse, in the volume's own translation. Beneath each verse stands its Meaning — a rendering of what the passage's terms name in the inner life, drawn from the correspondences the text itself uses. The text is never altered; the meaning is offered, not imposed.

King James Version

1The copy of the letters was this: The great king Artexerxes writeth these things to the princes and governors that are under him from India unto Ethiopia in an hundred and seven and twenty provinces.

The copy of the letters was this: The great king Artexerxes writeth these things to the princes and governors that are under him — the subordinate ruling states — from India unto Ethiopia, in an hundred and seven and twenty provinces, the regions his rule governs.

2After that I became lord over many nations and had dominion over the whole world, not lifted up with presumption of my authority, but carrying myself always with equity and mildness, I purposed to settle my subjects continually in a quiet life, and making my kingdom peaceable, and open for passage to the utmost coasts, to renew peace, which is desired of all men.

After I became lord over many nations and had dominion over the whole world, not lifted up with presumption of my authority, but carrying myself always with equity and mildness, I purposed to settle my subjects continually in a quiet life, and making my kingdom — the realm the ruling state governs — peaceable, and open for passage to the utmost coasts, to renew peace, rest within the order, which is desired of all men.

3Now when I asked my counsellors how this might be brought to pass, Aman, that excelled in wisdom among us, and was approved for his constant good will and steadfast fidelity, and had the honour of the second place in the kingdom,

Now when I asked my counsellors how this might be brought to pass, Aman, that excelled in wisdom among us, and was approved for his constant good will and steadfast fidelity, and had the honour of the second place in the kingdom,

4Declared unto us, that in all nations throughout the world there was scattered a certain malicious people, that had laws contrary to all nations, and continually despised the commandments of kings, so as the uniting of our kingdoms, honourably intended by us cannot go forward.

declared unto us that in all nations throughout the world there was scattered a certain malicious people, that had laws contrary to all nations, and continually despised the commandments of kings — the articulations of the ruling order — so that the uniting of our kingdoms, honourably intended by us, cannot go forward.

5Seeing then we understand that this people alone is continually in opposition unto all men, differing in the strange manner of their laws, and evil affected to our state, working all the mischief they can that our kingdom may not be firmly established:

Seeing then we understand that this people alone is continually in opposition unto all men, differing in the strange manner of their laws, and evil affected to our state, working all the mischief they can, that our kingdom may not be firmly established:

6Therefore have we commanded, that all they that are signified in writing unto you by Aman, who is ordained over the affairs, and is next unto us, shall all, with their wives and children, be utterly destroyed by the sword of their enemies, without all mercy and pity, the fourteenth day of the twelfth month Adar of this present year:

therefore have we commanded that all they that are signified in writing unto you by Aman, who is ordained over the affairs and is next unto us, shall all, with their wives and children, be utterly destroyed by the sword of their enemies — the cutting force turned against them — without all mercy and pity, the fourteenth day of the twelfth month Adar of this present year:

7That they, who of old and now also are malicious, may in one day with violence go into the grave, and so ever hereafter cause our affairs to be well settled, and without trouble.

that they, who of old and now also are malicious, may in one day with violence go into the grave, and so ever hereafter cause our affairs to be well settled and without trouble.

8Then Mardocheus thought upon all the works of the Lord, and made his prayer unto him,

Then Mardocheus thought upon all the works of the indwelling LORD, and made his prayer unto Him,

9Saying, O Lord, Lord, the King Almighty: for the whole world is in thy power, and if thou hast appointed to save Israel, there is no man that can gainsay thee:

saying: O indwelling LORD, LORD, the King Almighty — the true ruling state over all — for the whole world is in Thy power, and if Thou hast appointed to save Israel, there is no man that can gainsay Thee:

10For thou hast made heaven and earth, and all the wondrous things under the heaven.

for Thou hast made heaven and earth — the inner realm and the outer world — and all the wondrous things under the heaven.

11Thou art Lord of all things, and there is no man that can resist thee, which art the Lord.

Thou art Lord of all things, and there is no man that can resist Thee, who art the indwelling LORD.

12Thou knowest all things, and thou knowest, Lord, that it was neither in contempt nor pride, nor for any desire of glory, that I did not bow down to proud Aman.

Thou knowest all things, and Thou knowest, O indwelling LORD, that it was neither in contempt nor pride, nor for any desire of glory, that I did not bow down to proud Aman.

13For I could have been content with good will for the salvation of Israel to kiss the soles of his feet.

For I could have been content with good will, for the salvation of Israel, to kiss the soles of his feet.

14But I did this, that I might not prefer the glory of man above the glory of God: neither will I worship any but thee, O God, neither will I do it in pride.

But I did this, that I might not prefer the glory of man — the manifested weight of a human state — above the glory of the Source; neither will I worship any but Thee, O Divine Mind, neither will I do it in pride.

15And now, O Lord God and King, spare thy people: for their eyes are upon us to bring us to nought; yea, they desire to destroy the inheritance, that hath been thine from the beginning.

And now, O indwelling LORD, God and King, spare Thy people: for their eyes are upon us to bring us to nought; yea, they desire to destroy the inheritance that hath been Thine from the beginning, from the first principle.

16Despise not the portion, which thou hast delivered out of Egypt for thine own self.

Despise not the portion which Thou hast delivered out of Egypt — the material sense-realm, the narrow straits — for Thine own self.

17Hear my prayer, and be merciful unto thine inheritance: turn our sorrow into joy, that we may live, O Lord, and praise thy name: and destroy not the mouths of them that praise thee, O Lord.

Hear my prayer, and be merciful unto Thine inheritance: turn our sorrow into joy, that we may live, O indwelling LORD, and praise Thy name; and destroy not the mouths of them that praise Thee, O indwelling LORD.

18All Israel in like manner cried most earnestly unto the Lord, because their death was before their eyes.

All Israel in like manner cried most earnestly unto the indwelling LORD, because their death was before their eyes.

Companion volume to The Why Bible — the King James Apocrypha, rendered in its spiritual meanings. First final edition, October 2026.