Esther 14

Esther 14, Catholic Public Domain Version

1. Queen Esther also, fearing the danger that was imminent, fled to the Lord.

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

2. 2

   And when she had put aside her royal apparel, she took up garments suitable for weeping and mourning, and instead of various ointments, she covered her head with ashes from burnt dung, and she humbled her body with fasting, and all the aspects of her beauty, she covered with her torn hair.

   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.

3. 3

   And she begged the Lord God of Israel, saying, “My Lord, who alone is our King, help me, a solitary woman, for there is no other helper but you.

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

4. 4

   My peril is close at hand.

   Periculum meum in manibus meis est.

5. 5

   I have heard from my father that you, Lord, chose Israel from among all nations and our fathers from among all their former ancestors, to possess them as an everlasting inheritance, and you have done for them just as you said.

   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.

6. 6

   We have sinned in your sight, and therefore you have delivered us into the hands of our enemies,

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

7. 7

   for we have worshipped their gods. You are just, O Lord.

   coluimus enim deos eorum. Justus es Domine:

8. 8

   And now they are not content to oppress us with a very difficult servitude, but attributing the strength of their hands to the power of their idols,

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

9. 9

   they want to alter your promises, and erase your inheritance, and close the mouths of those who praise you, and extinguish the glory of your temple and your altar,

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

10. 10

    so that they may open the mouths of the nations, and praise the strength of idols, and proclaim a worldly king in perpetuity.

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

11. 11

    Lord, do not hand over your scepter to that which does not exist, lest they laugh at our ruin, but turn their counsel upon themselves and destroy him who has begun to rage against us.

    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.

12. 12

    Be mindful, Lord, and show yourself to us in the time of our tribulation, and give me faith, Lord, King of gods and of every power.

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

13. 13

    Grant fitting words to my mouth in the sight of the lion, and transform his heart to hate our enemy, so that both he, and the others who conspire with him, may perish.

    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.

14. 14

    But free us by your hand, and help me, who has no other helper but you, Lord, who holds the knowledge of all things.

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

15. 15

    And you know that I hate the glory of the wicked, and I detest the bed of the uncircumcised, and of all outsiders.

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

16. 16

    You know my necessity, that I loathe the sign of my exaltation and glory, which is on my head in the days of my exhibition, and that I detest it like a menstruous rag and do not wear it in the days of my silence,

    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,

17. 17

    and that I have not eaten at Haman’s table, nor has the king’s feasts pleased me, and that I have not drunk the wine of his libations,

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

18. 18

    and that your handmaid has never rejoiced, from the time that I was carried here until this very day, except in you, Lord, God of Abraham.

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

19. 19

    O God, whose strength is above all things, heed the voice of those who have no other hope,and free us from the hand of the wicked, and rescue me from my fear.”

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

Catholic Public Domain Version (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain · Latin: Clementine Vulgate (1592)