16
They not only take away thankfulness from others, but, carried away by the boasts of those who know nothing of goodness, they even assume that they will escape the evil-hating justice of God, who always sees everything.
17
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,
18
when these persons by the false trickery of their evil natures beguile the sincere goodwill of their sovereigns.
19
"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 that we hand on, as from investigation of matters close at hand.
20
In the future we will take care to render our kingdom quiet and peaceable for all,
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by changing our methods and always judging what comes before our eyes with more equitable consideration.
22
For Haman son of Hammedatha, a Macedonian (really an alien to the Persian blood, and quite devoid of our kindliness), having become our guest,
23
enjoyed so fully the goodwill that we have for every nation that he was called our father and was continually bowed down to by all as the person second to the royal throne.
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But, unable to restrain his arrogance, he undertook to deprive us of our kingdom and our life,
25
and with intricate craft and deceit asked for the destruction of Mordecai, our savior and perpetual benefactor, and of Esther, the blameless partner of our kingdom, together with their whole nation.
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He thought that by these methods he would catch us undefended and would transfer the kingdom of the Persians to the Macedonians.