Esther 7
Esther chapter 7 from the John Wycliffe Bible (c.1395)
1 And the scryuens of the kyng weren clepid in the firste monethe Nysan, in the threttenthe dai of the same monethe; and it was writun, as Aaman hadde comaundid, to alle prynces of the kyng, and to domesmen of prouynces and of dyuerse folkis, that ech folk myyte rede and here, for dyuersite of langagis, bi the name of kyng Assuerus. And lettris aseelid with</span> <span class="verse" data-verse="2"><sup>2</sup> the ring of the kyng weren sent bi the corouris of the kyng to alle hise prouynces, that thei schulden sle, and do awei alle Jewis, fro a child to an eld man, litle children and wymmen, in o dai, that is, in the thrittenthe dai of the tweluethe monethe, which is clepid Adar; and that thei schulden take awei the goodis of Jewis.
3 Forsothe the sentence in schort of the pistlis was this, that alle prouyncis schulden wite, and make hem redi to the forseid dai. And the coroures, that weren sent, hastiden to fille the comaundement of the kyng; and anoon the comaundement hangide in Susa, while the kyng and Aaman maden feeste, and the while that alle Jewis wepten, that weren in the citee.</span> <span class="verse" data-verse="6"><sup>6</sup> And whanne Mardochee hadde herd these thingis, he to-rente hise clothis, and he was clothid in a sak, and spreynt aische on the heed, and he criede with greet vois in the street of the myddis of the citee, and schewide the bitternesse of his soule,</span> <span class="verse" data-verse="7"><sup>7</sup> and he yede with this yellyng til to the yatis of the paleis; for it was not leueful a man clothid with a sak to entre in to the halle of the kyng.
8 Also in alle prouynces, citees, and places, to which the cruel sentence of the king was comun, was greet weilyng, fastyng, yellyng, and wepyng anentis the Jewis, and many Jewis vsiden sak and aische for bed.
9 Sotheli the dameselis and onest seruauntis and chast of Hester entriden, and telden to hir; which thing sche herde, and was astonyed; and sche sente a cloth to Mardochee, that whanne the sak was takun a wei, he schulde clothe hym therynne; which cloth he nolde take.
10 And aftir that Athac, the onest seruaunt and chast, `was clepid, whom the kyng hadde youe a mynystre to hir, sche comaundide, that he schulde go to Mardochee, and lerne of hym, whi he dide this thing.
