37
And he summoned Hermon to his presence, and said, with threats, How often, O wretch, must I repeat my orders to thee about these same persons?
38
Once more, arm the elephants against the morrow for the extermination of the Jews.
39
His kinsmen, who were reclining with him, wondered at his instability, and thus expressed themselves:
40
O king, how long dost thou make trial of us, as of men bereft of reason? This is the third time that thou hast ordered their destruction. When the thing is to be done, thou changest thy mind, and recallest thy instructions.
41
For this cause the feeling of expectation causes tumult in the city: it swarms with factions; and is continually on the point of being plundered.
The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.