The Worlds Greatest Books - Volume 13 | Page 7

in the city of Susa, had a dream. And the same night he overheard two eunuchs
plotting to lay hands on Artaxerxes, and he, being a servitor in the king's court, told the
king; and the eunuchs, after examination, were strangled. Aman, because of this, induced
Artaxerxes to write to all the princes and governors from India unto Ethiopia to destroy
all the Jews, with their wives and children, without pity, on the fourteenth day of the
twelfth month of Adar. Mardocheus and Queen Esther, being in the fear of death,
resorted unto the Lord, and prayed for deliverance, and for the preservation of the
children of Israel. On the third day, Queen Esther cometh unto the king's presence; and
she was ruddy through the perfection of her beauty, but her heart was in anguish for fear.
The king looketh angrily at her as she stood before his royal throne, and she fainteth.
Then God changed the spirit of the king, who leaped from his throne, took her in his arms,
saying: Be of good cheer, thou shalt not die, though our commandment be general. As he
was speaking, she fell a second time for faintness, and the king was troubled and all his
servants comforted her.
Artaxerxes then wrote a letter to all the princes wherein he taxed Aman, the Macedonian,
with having by manifold and cunning deceits sought the destruction of Mardocheus, who
had saved the king's life, and also of the blameless Esther, partaker of his kingdom, with
their whole nation. The king revoked the decree procured by Aman, who, with all his
family, was hanged at the gates of Susa. And the king commanded the day of their
deliverance to be kept holy.
THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON
Love righteousness, ye that be judges of the earth, for into a malicious soul wisdom shall
not enter. The spirit of the Lord filleth the world: therefore he that speaketh unrighteous
things cannot be hid. Seek not death in the error of your life: for God made not death, and
righteousness is immortal. The ungodly reason, but not aright: life is short and tedious,
which, being extinguished, our bodies shall be turned into ashes, and our spirit vanish as
the soft air. Come, therefore, let us enjoy the good things that are present. Their own
wickedness hath blinded them, for God created man to be immortal.
Nevertheless, through envy of the devil came death into the world. The souls of the
righteous are in the hands of God, and there shall no torments touch them. Having been a
little chastised they shall be greatly rewarded. Better to have no children and to have
virtue; for children begotten of unlawful beds are witnesses against their parents.
Honourable age is not measured by number of years. He, being made perfect in a short
time, fulfilled a long time. For his soul pleased the Lord: Therefore, hasted he to take him
away from among the wicked. This the people saw and understood it not, neither laid

they up this in their minds. That his grace and mercy are with his saints, and that he hath
respect unto his chosen. The wicked wonder at the godly, and say: What hath pride
profited us? And what good hath riches, with our vaunting, brought us? All those things
are passed away like a shadow. The hope of the ungodly is like dust that is blown away:
but the righteous live for evermore: their reward is a beautiful crown from the Lord's
hand. Wisdom is easily found of such as seek her, therefore princes must desire her; for a
wise prince is the stay of his people. He that hath Wisdom hath every good thing.
Moreover, by her means man shall obtain immortality, and leave behind him an
everlasting memorial.
THE WISDOM OF JESUS THE SON OF SIRACH; OR ECCLESIASTICUS.
There are two prologues to this book. The first is by an uncertain author, stating that the
book is the compilation of three hands and is in imitation of the Book of Solomon. The
second prologue is by Jesus, the son of Sirach and grandchild to Jesus of the same name,
who had read the law and the prophets and other books of the fathers, and had been
drawn himself to write something pertaining to wisdom and learning. Coming into Egypt
when Euergetes was king, Jesus, son of Sirach, found a book of no small learning and
bestowed diligence and travail to interpret it, and to bring it to an end. The following are
among the precepts given:
All wisdom cometh from the Lord: she is with all flesh according to his gift. The fear of
the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and driveth away sins. My son, if thou come to
serve the Lord, prepare