Esther 13

The king's decree and Mordecai's prayer

LatinLatin and EnglishEnglish onlyRead it word by word

Est 13:1Rēx maximus Artaxerxēs ab Indiā ūsque Aethiopiam, centum vīgintī septem prōvinciārum prīncipibus et ducibus quī ejus imperiō subjectī sunt, salūtem.The greatest king Artaxerxes, from India as far as Ethiopia, to the princes and leaders of the one hundred and twenty-seven provinces who are subject to his rule, greeting. Est 13:2Cum plūrimīs gentibus imperārem, et ūniversum orbem meae ditiōnī subjugāssem, voluī nēquāquam abūtī potentiae magnitūdine, sed clēmentiā et lēnitāte gubernāre subjectōs, ut absque ūllō terrōre vītam silentiō trānsigentēs, optātā cūnctīs mortālibus pāce fruerentur.When I was ruling over very many nations, and had subjugated the whole world to my dominion, I wished by no means to abuse the greatness of my power, but to govern my subjects with clemency and gentleness, so that, passing their life in quiet without any terror, they might enjoy the peace desired by all mortals. Est 13:3Quaerente autem mē ā cōnsiliāriīs meīs quōmodo posset hoc implērī, ūnus quī sapientiā et fidē cēterōs praecellēbat, et erat post rēgem secundus, Aman nōmine, indicāvit mihi in tōtō orbe terrārum populum esse dispersum, quī novīs ūterētur lēgibus, et, contrā omnium gentium cōnsuētūdinem faciēns, rēgum jussa contemneret, et ūniversārum concordiam nātiōnum suā dissēnsiōne violāret.But when I was asking my counsellors how this could be fulfilled, one who excelled the others in wisdom and faithfulness, and was second after the king, Haman by name, showed me that in the whole world there was a people scattered, which used new laws, and, acting against the custom of all nations, despised the commands of kings, and violated the concord of all nations by its dissension.

Est 13:5Quod cum didicissēmus, videntēs ūnam gentem rebellem adversus omne hominum genus perversīs ūtī lēgibus, nostrīsque jussiōnibus contrāīre, et turbāre subjectārum nōbīs prōvinciārum pācem atque concordiam, jussimus ut quōscumque Aman, quī omnibus prōvinciīs praepositus est et secundus ā rēge, et quem patris locō colimus, mōnstrāverit, cum conjugibus ac līberīs dēleantur ab inimīcīs suīs, nūllusque eōrum misereātur, Quārtādecimā diē duodecimī mēnsis Adar annī praesentis: ut nefāriī hominēs ūnō diē ad īnferōs dēscendentēs, reddant imperiō nostrō pācem, quam turbāverant.When we had learned this, seeing one nation, rebellious against the whole race of men, use perverse laws, and go against our commands, and disturb the peace and concord of the provinces subject to us, we have ordered that whomever Haman, who is set over all the provinces and is second to the king, and whom we honour in the place of a father, points out, they be destroyed with their wives and children by their enemies, and that no one have mercy on them, on the fourteenth day of the twelfth month Adar of the present year: so that wicked men, going down to the underworld on one day, may restore to our empire the peace which they had disturbed.

Est 13:7Pergēnsque Mardochaeus, fēcit omnia quae eī mandāverat Esther.And Mordecai, going, did all the things which Esther had commanded him. Est 13:8Mardochaeus autem dēprecātus est Dominum, memor omnium operum ejus, et dīxit: Domine, Domine rēx omnipotēns, in ditiōne enim tuā cūncta sunt posita, et nōn est quī possit tuae resistere voluntātī, sī dēcrēveris salvāre Isrāël.And Mordecai prayed to the Lord, mindful of all his works, and said: "Lord, Lord, almighty king, for in your power all things are placed, and there is no one who can resist your will, if you have decided to save Israel. Est 13:10Tū fēcistī caelum et terram, et quidquid caelī ambitū continētur.You made heaven and earth, and whatever is contained in the circuit of heaven. Est 13:11Dominus omnium es, nec est quī resistat mājestātī tuae.You are Lord of all, nor is there anyone who may resist your majesty. Est 13:12Cūncta nōstī, et scīs quia nōn prō superbiā et contumēliā, et aliquā glōriae cupiditāte, fēcerim hoc, ut nōn adōrārem Aman superbissimum (libenter enim prō salūte Isrāël etiam vestīgia pedum ejus dēōsculārī parātus essem), sed timuī nē honōrem Deī meī trānsferrem ad hominem, et nē quemquam adōrārem, exceptō Deō meō.You know all things, and you know that it was not out of pride and insolence, and some desire for glory, that I did this, that I did not worship the most proud Haman (for gladly, for the salvation of Israel, I would be ready even to kiss the footprints of his feet), but I feared lest I should transfer the honour of my God to a man, and lest I should worship anyone, except my God.

Est 13:15Et nunc, Domine rēx, Deus Abraham, miserēre populī tuī, quia volunt nōs inimīcī nostrī perdere, et haereditātem tuam dēlēre.And now, Lord king, God of Abraham, have mercy on your people, because our enemies wish to destroy us, and to blot out your inheritance. Est 13:16Nē dēspiciās partem tuam, quam redēmistī tibi dē Aegyptō.Do not despise your portion, which you redeemed for yourself from Egypt. Est 13:17Exaudī dēprecātiōnem meam, et propitius estō sortī et fūniculō tuō, et converte lūctum nostrum in gaudium, ut vīventēs laudēmus nōmen tuum, Domine: et nē claudās ōra tē canentium.Hear my prayer, and be favourable to your lot and your measured line, and turn our mourning into joy, so that living we may praise your name, Lord: and do not close the mouths of those who sing to you." Est 13:18Omnis quoque Isrāël parī mente et obsecrātiōne clāmāvit ad Dominum, eō quod eīs certa mors impendēret.All Israel too, with like mind and entreaty, cried to the Lord, because certain death hung over them.

Read the Latin itself: tap any word for its meaning and grammar, save words to review, and keep your place.

Read in Lectitō

Grammar in this passage: purpose clauses ×2, ablative absolute ×2

Latin vocabulary for this passage (200 words)

rēx, rēgis, m.	king
magnus, -a, -um	large, big, great, mighty; loud
ā, ab (prep. + abl.)	away from, from; by (ā only before consonants)
ūsque, adv.	all the time; ūsque ad, as far as, until; quō ūsque, see quō
centum, indecl. adj.	one hundred
vīgintī, indecl. adj.	twenty
septem	seven
prōvincia, -ae f.	province; here, the Roman Province in southern Gaul
prīnceps, -ipis	first, chief; as noun: leader
et, conj.	and; et ... et, both ... and
dux, ducis, m. and f.	leader, commander
quī, quae, quod, rel. pron.	who, which
is, ea, id, dem. pron.	this, that; he, she, it, they
imperium, -ī, n.	command; sway, rule
subiciō, -icere, -iēcī, -iectus	throw or place under
sum, esse, fuī, futūrus	be
salūs, salūtis, f.	safety, deliverance, escape
cum, conj.	when, while, after; since; although
multus, -a, -um	much, great; plur., many
gēns, gentis, f.	race, nation
imperō, -perāre, -perāvī, -perātus	command, order, enjoin
ūniversus, -a, -um	all together, whole, entire, all
orbis, -is, m.	circle; orbis terrae or terrārum, circle of the earth or lands, earth, world
meus, -a, -um	my, mine
diciō, -ōnis f.	power, rule, control
subiugō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	subdue, subjugate
volō, velle, voluī	wish
nēquāquam (adv.)	by no means, not at all
abūtor, -ūtī, -ūsus sum	use up; abuse, take advantage of (+ abl.)
potentia, -ae f.	power, influence
magnitūdō, -tūdinis, f.	greatness, size
sed, conj.	but
clēmentia, -ae, f.	mercy, kindness
lēnitās, -ātis f.	gentleness, slowness
gubernō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	steer
ut, conj.	as; when; that; ita ut, as
absque (prep. + abl.)	without, apart from; absque synagōgīs facere: put out of the synagogue
ūllus, -a, -um	any
terror, -ōris, m.	terror, fright
vīta, -ae, f.	life
silentium, -ī n.	silence; silentiō: in silence, quietly
trānsigō, -ere, -ēgī, -āctus	carry through, finish, settle
optātus, -a, -um	wished for, welcome
cūnctus, -a, -um	all, the whole
mortālis, -e	mortal
pāx, pācis f.	peace
fruor, -ī, frūctus sum (+ abl.)	enjoy
quaerō, quaerere, quaesīvī, quaesītus	seek; ask, inquire
autem, conj.	moreover; but, however; now
ego, meī, pers. pron.	I
cōnsiliārius, -ī m.	adviser, counsellor
quōmodo (adv.)	how; in what way
possum, posse, potuī	be able, have power, can
hic, haec, hoc, dem. pron.	this; ille ... hīc, that ... this, the former ... the latter
impleō, -ēre, -plēvī, -plētum	fill; fulfil, complete
ūnus, -a, -um	one; only, alone
sapientia, -ae f.	wisdom, good sense
fidēs, -eī f.	faith, trust; pledge
cēterī, -ae, -a, plur. adj.	the other, the remaining, the rest of
praecellō, -ere	excel, surpass, be pre-eminent
post, adv.	after, later; prep. with acc., after, behind
secundus, -a, -um	following, favorable
nōmen, -minis, n.	name (that by which one is known)
indicō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	point out, reveal, give information; inform against
in, prep. with acc. and abl.	with acc.: into, onto, against; with abl.: in, on
tōtus, -a, -um	all the, the whole or entire
terra, -ae, f.	land, earth
populus, -ī m.	people, nation
dispergō, -ere, -spersī, -spersum	scatter
novus, -a, -um	new; novissimus, last
ūtor, ūtī, ūsus	use
lēx, lēgis f.	law
contrā, prep, with acc.	against, contrary to
omnis, -e	all, every
cōnsuētūdō, -inis f.	custom, habit; way of life
faciō, facere, fēcī, factus	make, do; iter facere, see iter
iussum, -ī, n.	order, command
contemnō, -ere, -tempsī, -temptus	despise, scorn, think little of
concordia, -ae f.	agreement, harmony
nātiō, -ōnis f.	people, nation; birth
suus, -a, -um	his, her, its, or their own; his, her, its, their
dissēnsiō, -ōnis f.	disagreement, quarrel
violō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	harm, violate
discō, discere, didicī	learn
videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsus	see; pass., seem
rebellis, -e	rebellious, renewing war
adversus, -a, -um	facing; unfavourable, unsuccessful
homō, hominis, m.	man
genus, generis, n.	kind, nature
pervertō, -ere, -vertī, -versus	overturn; corrupt, ruin
noster, -tra, -trum	our
que, enclitic conj.	and
iussiō, -ōnis f.	command, order
contrāeō, -īre	go against, oppose
turbō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	confuse, throw into disorder, disturb, trouble
nōs	plur. of ego
atque, ac (conj.)	and; after comparisons: as, than (ac only before consonants)
iubeō, iubēre, iussī, iussus	bid, order, command
quīcumque, quaecumque, quodcumque	whoever, whatever
praepōnō, -ere, -posuī, -positum	put in command of
pater, patris, m.	father
locus, -ī, m., plur. loca, -orum, n.	place, situation
colō, colere, coluī, cultus	till, cultivate; inhabit; worship
mōnstrō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	point out, show
cum, prep, with abl.	with
coniūnx, coniugis, m. and f.	spouse, husband, wife
līberī, -ōrum, m. plur.	children
dēleō, -ēre, dēlēvī, dēlētum	destroy, wipe out
inimīcus, -a, -um	unfriendly, hostile
nūllus, -a, -um	not any, none, no
misereor, -ērī, miseritus sum	pity, have mercy on (+ gen.)
quārtusdecimus, -a, -um	fourteenth
diēs, -ēī, m. and f.	day
duodecimus, -a, -um	twelfth
mēnsis, -is m.	month
annus, -ī, m.	year
praesēns, -sentis, adj.	present, immediate, imminent
nefārius, -a, -um	wicked, criminal
ad, prep. with acc.	to, toward; at, near; for
īnferī, -ōrum, m. plur.	inhabitants of the underworld, the dead, the shades
dēscendō, -scendere, -scendī, -scēnsus	climb down, descend
reddō, -dere, -didī, -ditus	give back, return, restore; render
pergō, -ere, perrēxī, perrēctum	go on, press on
mandō, -dāre, -dāvī, -dātus	put in hand, intrust, commit; charge, command
dēprecor, -ārī, -ātus sum	beg to be spared, plead
dominus, -ī m.	master, owner
memor, -oris	mindful, remembering (+ gen.)
opus, operis, n.	work, task
dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictus	say, speak; diem dīcere, to appoint or set a day
omnipotēns, -entis	all-powerful
enim, conj.	for
tuus, -a, -um	thy, thine, your
pōnō, pōnere, posuī, positus	place, put; pōnī with in and abl., to be placed in, rest or depend on
nōn, adv.	not
resistō, -sistere, -stitī	stand back, resist
voluntās, -tātis, f.	wish, will
sī, conj.	if
dēcernō, -ere, dēcrēvī, dēcrētum	decide, decree
salvō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	save, keep safe
tū, tuī, pers. pron.	thou, you
caelum, -ī, n.	heaven, sky
quisquis, quidquid (quicquid)	whoever, whatever
ambitus, -ūs m.	canvassing for office; bribery at elections (lēgēs ambitus: the bribery laws)
contineō, -tinēre, -tinuī, -tentus	hold together, keep within, shut up in; bound
neque or nec, conj.	and not, nor; neque ... neque, neither ... nor; neque enim, for ... not
maiestās, -ātis f.	greatness, dignity, majesty
nōscō, -ere, nōvī, nōtum	get to know (perf. nōvī: know)
sciō, -īre, -īvī, -ītus	know
quia (conj.)	because
prō, prep. with abl.	before, in front of; for, in behalf of; for, as; in return for, for
superbia, -ae f.	pride, arrogance
contumēlia, -ae f.	insult, outrage
aliquī, -qua, -quod, indef. pron. adj.	some, any
glōria, -ae, f.	glory
cupiditās, -tātis, f.	desire, longing, eagerness
adōrō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	worship, bow down to; entreat
superbus, -a, -um	proud, arrogant, haughty
libenter, adv.	willingly, gladly
etiam, adv.	and now, also, too, even
vestīgium, -ī, n.	track, foot-print
pēs, pedis, m.	foot
dēōsculor, -ārī, -ātus sum	kiss warmly, kiss
parō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	make ready, prepare
timeō, -ēre, -uī	fear
nē, adv.	not; nē ... quidem, not ... even; conj., that not, lest
honor, -ōris, m.	honor
deus, -ī, m.	god
trānsferō, -ferre, -tulī, -lātus	carry across, transfer
quisquam, quicquam, indef. pron.	any one, anything
excipiō, -cipere, -cēpī, -ceptus	take out or up, receive, welcome, entertain
nunc, adv.	now
perdō, -dere, -didī, -ditus	destroy, ruin; lose, waste
hērēditās, -ātis f.	inheritance
dēspiciō, -ere, -spexī, -spectum	look down on, despise
pars, partis, f.	part, side, direction
redimō, -ere, -ēmī, -ēmptum	buy up; buy back
dē, prep, with abl.	down from, from, out of; about, concerning, of
exaudiō, -īre, -īvī, -ītum	hear (from a distance)
dēprecātiō, -ōnis f.	an attempt to avert something by pleading; an excuse, plea
propitius, -a, -um	favourable, well-disposed
sors, sortis, f.	lot
fūniculus, -ī m.	small rope, cord
convertō, -vertere, -vertī, -versus	turn round, turn, change; in fugam convertere, to put to flight
lūctus, -ūs m.	grief, mourning
gaudium, -ī, n.	gladness, joy
vīvō, vīvere, vīxī, vīctus	live
laudō, -āre, -āvī, -ātum	praise
claudō, -ere, clausī, clausum	close, shut; (agmen) bring up the rear
ōs, ōris, n.	mouth
canō, -ere, cecinī, cantus	sing; of a trumpet: sound (receptuī canere: sound the retreat)
quoque, adv.	also
pār, paris	equal
mēns, mentis f.	mind, spirit
obsecrātiō, -ōnis f.	earnest entreaty, supplication, prayer
clāmō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	shout, cry out; proclaim
eō (adv.)	to that place, thither; to that point (usque eō); (with comparatives) by so much, all the (more)
quod, conj.	that, in that, because
certus, -a, -um	determined, fixed, certain; certiōrem facere, to make more certain, inform
mors, mortīs, f.	death
impendeō, -ēre	hang over, overhang

Vulgate, Esther. Latin text: the Clementine Vulgate (1592), as transcribed by the Clementine Vulgate Project, public domain. Word analysis: drafted by our own tagger (trained on the hand-checked texts on this site), with every doubtful word checked by hand. English (a literal learner's translation) and section titles: written for this app, each checked against the Latin by a second reader.