11
By these the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to slay, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, with their children and women, and to plunder their goods,
12
upon one day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasu-e'rus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.
13
The following is a copy of this letter: "The Great King, Artaxerxes, to the rulers of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, one hundred and twenty-seven satrapies, and to those who are loyal to our government, greeting.
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"The more often they are honored by the too great kindness of their benefactors, the more proud do many men become.
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They not only seek to injure our subjects, but in their inability to stand prosperity they even undertake to scheme against their own benefactors.
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They not only take away thankfulness from among men, but, carried away by the boasts of those who know nothing of goodness, they suppose that they will escape the evil-hating justice of God, who always sees everything.
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And often many of those who are set in places of authority have been made in part responsible for the shedding of innocent blood, and have been involved in irremediable calamities, by the persuasion of friends who have been entrusted with the administration of public affairs,
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when these men by the false trickery of their evil natures beguile the sincere good will of their sovereigns.
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"What has been wickedly accomplished through the pestilent behavior of those who exercise authority unworthily, can be seen not so much from the more ancient records which we hand on as from investigation of matters close at hand.
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For the future we will take care to render our kingdom quiet and peaceable for all men,
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by changing our methods and always judging what comes before our eyes with more equitable consideration.