ଏଷ୍ଟର ବିବରଣ 8
1 ସହେିଦିନ ଅକ୍ଷଶ୍ବରେଶ ରାଜା ଏଷ୍ଟର ରାଣୀକୁ ୟିହୁଦୀଯ ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କର ଶତୃ ହାମନର ଗୃହ ଆଦି ଦଲୋ। ଆଉ ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯ ରାଜାଙ୍କ ସାକ୍ଷାତ ରେ ଉପସ୍ଥିତ ହେଲା କାରଣ ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯ ସହିତ କି ସମ୍ପର୍କ ତାହା ଜଣାଇ ଦଇେଥିଲା।
2 ଏଥି ରେ ରାଜା ହାମନଠାରୁ ଯେଉଁ ଅଙ୍ଗୁରୀଯ ନଇେଥିଲା, ତାହା କାଢି ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯକୁ ଦଲୋ। ଏବଂ ଏଷ୍ଟର ହାମନର ଗୃହ ଉପରେ ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯକୁ ନିୟୁକ୍ତି କଲା।
3 ଏଷ୍ଟର ରାଜା ନିକଟରେ ପୁନର୍ବାର ନିବଦନେ କଲା, ପୁଣି ୟିହୁଦୀଯମାନଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତିକୂଳ ରେ ଅଗାଗୀଯ ହାମନର କୃତ ଅମଙ୍ଗଳ ଓ ତାର କଳ୍ପିତ କଳ୍ପନା ନିବାରାଣାର୍ଥେ ତାହାର ଚରଣ ରେ ପଡି ରୋଦନ କରି ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା କଲା।
4 ତହିଁରେ ରାଜା ଏଷ୍ଟର ଆଡେ ସୁବର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଦଣ୍ତ ବିସ୍ତାର କରନ୍ତେ ଏଷ୍ଟର ଉଠି ରାଜାଙ୍କ ଛାମୁ ରେ ଠିଆ ହେଲା।
5 ଏବଂ କହିଲା, ଯବେେ ମହାରାଜ ସନ୍ତୁଷ୍ଟ ହୁଅନ୍ତି ଯବେେ ରାଜାଙ୍କ ଦୁଷ୍ଟି ରେ ମୁଁ ଅନୁଗ୍ରହ ପାଇଅଛି, ଦୟାକରି ମାେ ପାଇଁ ଏହା କରନ୍ତୁ। ଆଉ ଯଦି ଏହା ରାଜାଙ୍କୁ ସନ୍ତୁଷ୍ଟ କରେ, ତବେେ ମହାରାଜାଙ୍କର ସମୁଦାଯ ପ୍ରଦେଶସ୍ଥ ୟିହୁଦୀଯମାନଙ୍କୁ ବିନାଶ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ଅଗାଗୀଯ ହମ୍ମାଦାଥାର ପୁତ୍ର ହାମନ ଯେ ସକଳ ପତ୍ର ଲେଖିବାକୁ ପରାମର୍ଶ ଦଇେଥିଲା, ତାହା ପ୍ରତ୍ଯାହୃତ କରାଯାଉ।
6 ଯେ ହତେୁ ମାେ ଲୋକଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ଯେଉଁ ଅମଙ୍ଗଳ ଘଟିବ ତାହା ଦେଖି ମୁଁ କିପରି ସହିପାରିବି? ପୁଣି ଆପଣା କୁଟୁମ୍ବମାନଙ୍କ ବିନାଶ ଦେଖି କିପରି ସହିପାରିବି?
7 ଏଥି ରେ ଅକ୍ଷଶ୍ବରେଶ ରାଜା ଏଷ୍ଟର ରାଣୀକୁ ଓ ୟିହୁଦୀଯ ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯକୁ କହିଲା, ଦେଖ, ମୁଁ ଏଷ୍ଟରକୁ ହାମନର ଗୃହ ଦଲେି, ଲୋକମାନେ ହାମନ୍କୁ ଫାଶିକାଠ ରେ ଫାଶି ଦଇେଛନ୍ତି। କାରଣ ସେ ୟିହୁଦୀଯମାନଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ହସ୍ତକ୍ଷପେ କରିଥିଲା।
8 ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ୟିହୁଦୀଯମାନଙ୍କ ସମନ୍ଧ ରେ ନିଜ ନିଜ ଇଛାନୁସା ରେ ରାଜାଙ୍କ ନାମ ରେ ରାଜାଜ୍ଞା ଲେଖ ଓ ତାହା ରାଜାଙ୍କ ଅଙ୍ଗୁରୀଯ ରେ ମାହେରାଙ୍କିତ କର। କାରଣ ରାଜାଙ୍କର ନାମ ରେ ଲିଖିତ ଓ ରାଜାଙ୍କର ଅଙ୍ଗୁରୀଯ ରେ ମାହେରାଙ୍କିତ ପତ୍ର କହେି ଅନ୍ୟଥା କରିପାରିବେ ନାହିଁ।
9 ତେଣୁ ତୃତୀୟ ମାସର ଅର୍ଥାତ୍ ସୀବନ ମାସର ତଇେଶ ଦିନ ରେ ରାଜାର ଲେଖକମାନେ ଆହୁତ ହୁଅନ୍ତେ ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯର ଆଜ୍ଞା ଅନୁସାରେ ସମସ୍ତ ୟିହୁଦୀଯମାନଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ଓ ହିନ୍ଦୁସ୍ଥାନଠାରୁ କୁଶଦେଶ ପର୍ୟ୍ଯନ୍ତ 127 ପ୍ରଦେଶର ଅନ୍ତର୍ଗତ ପ୍ରେତ୍ୟକକ ପ୍ରଦେଶର ଅକ୍ଷାରାନୁସା ରେ କ୍ଷତିପାଳ ଓ ଶାସନକର୍ତ୍ତା ଓ ପ୍ରଦଶାଧେିପତିମାନଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ। ପୁଣି ପ୍ରେତ୍ୟକକ ଗୋଷ୍ଠୀକି ସମାନଙ୍କେ ଭାଷାନୁସା ରେ, ଆଉ ୟିହୁଦୀଯ ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ସମାନଙ୍କେ ଅକ୍ଷର ଓ ଭାଷାନୁସା ରେ ପତ୍ର ଲଖାଗେଲା।
10 ସେ ରାଜା ଅକ୍ଷଶ୍ବରେଶ ନାମ ରେ ଲେଖି ଓ ରାଜାଙ୍କ ଅଙ୍ଗୁରୀଯ ରେ ମାହେରାଙ୍କିତ କରି ଅଶ୍ବାଶାଳା-ଜାତ ରାଜକୀଯ ଅଶ୍ବବାହାରୂଢ ଦ୍ରୁତଗାମୀ ଦୂତଗଣ ହସ୍ତ ରେ ପତ୍ର ପଠାଇଲା।
11 ରାଜାଙ୍କର ଚିଠି ରେ ଲିଖିତ ବିଷଯ ବସ୍ତୁ ଏହି:
12 ସଦେିନ ଥିଲା ଅକ୍ଷଶ୍ବରେଶ ରାଜାଙ୍କର ତ୍ରଯୋଦଶ ଦିନ ଦ୍ବାଦଶ ମାସର ଅଦାର ମାସ ରେ। ୟିହୁଦୀଯମାନଙ୍କୁ ସବୁ ପ୍ରଦେଶ ରେ ପ୍ରଗ୍ଭର କରିବା ପାଇଁ, ରାଜା ଅନୁମତି ଦଇେଥିଲେ।
13 ସହେି ଚିଠିର ଏକ ନକଲ ରାଜାଙ୍କର ଏକ ଆଜ୍ଞାପତ୍ର ଗ୍ଭରି ଆଡକୁ ପଠା ୟାଇଥିଲା। ଏହା ଏକ ବ୍ଯବସ୍ଥା ଥିଲା, ଏହି ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶ ସବୁ ପ୍ରଦେଶ ରେ ନିଯମ ରେ ପରିଣତ କରାଗଲା। ସହେି ରାଜ୍ଯ ରେ ବାସ କରୁଥିବା ସବୁଜାତୀଯ ଲୋକଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ତାହା ପ୍ରଗ୍ଭରିତ ହେଲା। ସେ ଏପରି କରିଥିଲେ କାରଣ ୟିହୁଦୀଯମାନେ ସହେି ଦିନପାଇଁ ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତ ହାଇେଥିଲେ। ୟିହୁଦୀଯମାନଙ୍କୁ ସୁଯୋଗ ଦିଆ ୟାଇଥିଲା ସମାନଙ୍କେର ଶତୃମାନଙ୍କଠାରୁ ପ୍ରତି ଶାଧେ ନବୋପାଇଁ।
14 ତହିଁରେ ଦ୍ରୁତଗାମୀ ରାଜକୀଯ ଅଶ୍ବାରୁଢ ଦୂତମାନେ ରାଜାଙ୍କ ଆଜ୍ଞା ରେ ଶିଘ୍ର ଗ୍ଭଲିଗଲେ, ଏବଂ ଏହା ଶ୍ବଶନ ରାଜଧାନୀ ରେ ସହେି ଆଜ୍ଞା ପ୍ରକାଶିତ ହେଲା।
15 ଏହାପରେ ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯ ନୀଳ ଓ ଶୁକ୍ଲବର୍ଣ୍ଣ ରାଜକୀଯ ବସ୍ତ୍ର ପିନ୍ଧି ମସ୍ତକରେ ସୁବର୍ଣ୍ଣମଯ ବୃହତ ମୁକୁଟ ଦଇେ ସରୁ ଓ ଏକ ସୁକ୍ଷ୍ମ ନାଇଲନ୍ ଓଢଣୀ ଓ ବାଇଗଣୀ ରଂଗର ବସ୍ତ୍ର ପିନ୍ଧି ରାଜାଙ୍କ ଛାମୁରୁ ବାହାରି ଗଲା ତହିଁରେ ଶୂଶନ ରାଜଧାନୀ ଆନନ୍ଦ ଓ ହର୍ଷନାଦ ରେ ପରିପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ହେଲା।
16 ଆଉ ୟିହୁଦୀଯମାନଙ୍କର ଦୀପ୍ତି, ଆନନ୍ଦ, ହର୍ଷ ଓ ସମ୍ଭ୍ରମର ଉଦଯ ହେଲା।
17 ଏବଂ ପ୍ରତି ପ୍ରଦେଶ ରେ ଓ ପ୍ରତି ନଗର ରେ, ଯେ କୌଣସି ସ୍ଥାନ ରେ ରାଜାଜ୍ଞା ଓ ନିଯମ ପତ୍ର ଉପସ୍ଥିତ ହେଲା, ସହେି ସ୍ଥାନ ରେ ୟିହୁଦୀଯମାନଙ୍କର ଆନନ୍ଦ ଓ ଆମାଦେ, ଭୋଜି ଓ ମଙ୍ଗଳର ଦିନ ହେଲା। ପୁଣି ଦେଶର ଅନକେ ଲୋକ ୟିହୁଦୀଯ ମତାଲମ୍ବୀ ହେଲେ, ଯେ ହତେୁ ସମାନେେ ୟିହୁଦୀଯମାନଙ୍କ ସକାେଶ ଭୟ କଲେ।
1 On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews’ enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.
2 And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
3 And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.
4 Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,
5 And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king’s provinces:
6 For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?
7 Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.
8 Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring: for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may no man reverse.
9 Then were the king’s scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.
10 And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus’ name, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:
11 Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,
12 Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.
13 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
14 So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king’s commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.
15 And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
16 The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.
17 And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.
1 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the Lord;
3 Thus saith the Lord God; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
4 O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.
5 Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord.
6 They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The Lord saith: and the Lord hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.
7 Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The Lord saith it; albeit I have not spoken?
8 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord God.
9 And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord God.
10 Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter:
11 Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it.
12 Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it?
13 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it.
14 So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered morter, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.
15 Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered morter, and will say unto you, The wall is no more, neither they that daubed it;
16 To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord God.
17 Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them,
18 And say, Thus saith the Lord God; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you?
19 And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?
20 Wherefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly.
21 Your kerchiefs also will I tear, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.
22 Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:
23 Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.