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 And now we haue ſinned before thee: therefore haſt thou giuen vs into the hands of our enemies,

Becauſe wee worſhipped their gods: O Lord, thou art righteous.

Neuertheles it ſatiſfieth them not, that we are in bitter captiuitie, but they haue ſtricken hands with their idols,

That they will aboliſh the thing, that thou with thy mouth haſt ordained, and deſtroy thine inheritance, and ſtop the mouth of them that praiſe thee, and quench the glory of thy houſe, and of thine Altar.

And open the mouthes of the heathen to ſet foorth the praiſes of the † Idoles, and to magnifie a fleſhly king for euer.

O Lord, giue not thy ſcepter vnto them that † be nothing, and let them not laugh at our fall, but turne their deuice vpon themſelues, and make him an example that hath begunne this againſt vs.

Remember, O Lord, make thy ſelfe knowen in time of our affliction, and giue mee boldneſſe, O King of the ‖ nations, and Lord of all power.

Giue me eloquent ſpeech in my mouth before the lyon: turne his heart to hate him that fighteth againſt vs, that there may be an end of him, and of all that are like minded to him:

But deliuer vs with thine hand, and helpe me that am deſolate, ⁊ which haue no other helper but thee.

Thou knoweſt all things, O Lord, thou knoweſt that I hate the glory of the vnrighteous, and abhore the bed of the vncircumciſed, and of † all the heathen.

Thou knoweſt my neceſſitie: for I abhore the ſigne of my † high eſtate, which is vpon mine head, in the dayes wherein I ſhewe my ſelfe, and that I abhore it as a menſtruous ragge, and that I weare it not when I am † priuate by my ſelfe.

And that thine handmaid hath not eaten at Amans table, and that I haue not greatly eſteemed the Kings feaſt, nor drunke the wine of the drinke offerings:

Neither had thine handmaid any ioy, ſince the day † that I was brought hither to this preſent, but in thee, O Lord God of Abraham.

O thou mightie God aboue all, heare the voice of the forlorne, and deliuer vs out of the handes of the miſchieuous, and deliuer me out of my feare.

Nd vpon the third day when ſhee had ended her prayer, ſhe laide away her mourning garments, and put on her glorious apparell.

And being gloriouſly adorned, after ſhe had called vpon God, who is the beholder, and Sauiour of all things, ſhe tooke two maids with her.

And vpon the one ſhee leaned as carying her ſelfe ‖ daintily.

And her other followed bearing vp her traine.

And ſhe was ‖ ruddy through the perfection of her beautie, and her countenance was cheerefull, and very ‖ amiable: but her heart was anguiſh for feare.

Then hauing paſſed through all the doores, ſhee ſtood before the King, who ſate vpon his royall throne, and was clothed with all his robes of maieſtie, all glittering with golde and precious ſtones, and he was very dreadfull.

Then lifting vp his countenance that ſhone with maieſtie, he looked very fiercely vpon her: and the Queene fell downe and was pale, and fainted, and bowed her ſelfe vpon the head of the maide that went ‖ before her.

Then God changed the ſpirit of the king into mildneſſe, who in a † feare leaped from his throne, and tooke her in his armes till ſhe came to her ſelfe againe, and comforted her with louing words, and ſayd vnto her:

Eſther, what is the matter? I am thy brother, be of good cheere.

Thou ſhalt not die, though our cõmandement be ‖ generall: come neere.

And ſo he held vp his golden ſcepter, and laid it vpon her necke.

And embraced her, ⁊ ſaid, Speake vnto me.

Then ſaid ſhee vnto him, I ſaw thee, my lord, as an Angel of God, and my heart was troubled for feare of thy maieſtie.

For wonderfull art thou, lord, and thy countenance is full of grace. And