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 great king Artaxerxes unto the princes and governors of an hundred and seven and twenty provinces from India unto Ethiopia, and unto all our faithful subjects, greeting.
14
Many, the more often they are honoured with the great bounty of their gracious princes, the more proud they are waxen,
15
And endeavour to hurt not our subjects only, but not being able to bear abundance, do take in hand to practise also against those that do them good:
16
And take not only thankfulness away from among men, but also lifted up with the glorious words of lewd persons, that were never good, they think to escape the justice of God, that seeth all things and hateth evil.
17
Oftentimes also fair speech of those, that are put in trust to manage their friends' affairs, hath caused many that are in authority to be partakers of innocent blood, and hath enwrapped them in remediless calamities:
18
Beguiling with the falsehood and deceit of their lewd disposition the innocency and goodness of princes.
19
Now ye may see this, as we have declared, not so much by ancient histories, as ye may, if ye search what hath been wickedly done of late through the pestilent behaviour of them that are unworthily placed in authority.
20
And we must take care for the time to come, that our kingdom may be quiet and peaceable for all men,
21
Both by changing our purposes, and always judging things that are evident with more equal proceeding.
22
For Aman, a Macedonian, the son of Amadatha, being indeed a stranger from the Persian blood, and far distant from our goodness, and as a stranger received of us,