Introduction
The book of Esther in the Greek Septuagint contains 5 additions that the
traditional Hebrew text doesn’t have.
These additions are recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Roman
Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Russian
Orthodox Churches. Those additions are
enclosed in [square brackets]. Because the
additions by themselves make little sense
without the broader context of the book,
we present here a translation of the whole
book of Esther from the Greek.
We have chosen not to distract the
reader with confusing out-of-order chapter numbers that would result from using the KJV versification, but rather merge
these 5 additions as extensions at the beginning of 1:1 and after 3:13, 4:17, 8:12,
and 10:3. This makes some verses (1:1, 5:1,
and 8:12) really long, but it also makes the
verses line up with the same verse numbers in Esther as translated from the traditional Hebrew text. Some of the proper
names in this book have been changed to
the more familiar Hebrew form instead of
the direct transliteration from the Greek.

1 [In the second year of the reign of Ahasuerus
the great king, on the first day of
Nisan, Mordecai the son of Jair, the son
of Shimei, the son of Kish, of the tribe of
Benjamin, a Jew dwelling in the city Susa,
a great man, serving in the king’s palace,
saw a vision. Now he was one of the captives
whom Nebuchadnezzar king ofBabylon had carried captive from Jerusalem
with Jeconiah the king of Judea. This was
his dream: Behold, voices and a noise,
thunders andearthquake,tumultuponthe
earth. And, behold, two great serpents
came out, both ready for conflict. A great
voice came from them. Every nation was
prepared for battle by their voice, even to
fight against the nation of the just. Behold,
a day of darkness and blackness, suffering
and anguish, affection and tumult upon
the earth. And all the righteous nation
was troubled,fearing their own afflictions.
They prepared to die, and cried to God.
Something like a great river from a little
spring with much water, came from their
cry. Light and the sun arose, and the lowly
were exalted, and devoured the honorable.
Mordecai, who had seen this vision and
what Goddesiredtodo, having arisen, kept
it in his heart, and desired by all means to
interpret it, even until night.
Mordecai rested quietly in the palace
with Gabatha and Tharrha the king’s two
chamberlains, eunuchs who guarded the
palace. He heard their conversation and
searched out their plans. He learned that
they were preparing to lay hands on King
Ahasuerus; and he informed the king concerning them.
The king examined the two chamberlains. They confessed, and
were led away and executed. The king wrote these things
for a record. Mordecai also wrote concerning these matters.
The king commanded Mordecai to serve in
the palace, and gave gifts for this service.
But Haman the son of Hammedatha the
Bougean was honored in the sight of the
king, and he endeavored to harm Mordecai and his people, because of the king’s
two chamberlains.]† And it came to pass after these things‡
in the days of Ahasuerus, —(this Ahasuerus ruled over one hundred
twentyseven provinces from India)

2 in those days, when King Ahasuerus
was on the throne in the city of Susa,

3 in the third year of his reign, he made
a feast for his friends, for people from the
rest of the nations, for the nobles of the
Persians and Medes, and for the chief of
the local governors.

4 After this—afterhehad shownthemthe
wealth of his kingdom and the abundant
glory of his wealth during one hundred
eighty days—

5 when the days of the wedding feast
were completed, the king made a banquet
lasting six days for the people of the
nations who were present in the city, in the
court of the king’s house,