He was bringingup Hadassah,that is Esther,his uncle'sdaughter,for she hadnofatherormother.Now the youngladywas beautifulof formand face,and when her fatherand her motherdied,Mordecaitookher as his own daughter.
"Nowyour twosons,who were bornto you in the landof EgyptbeforeI cameto you in Egypt,are mine; Ephraimand Manassehshall be mine, as Reubenand Simeonare.
to bringQueenVashtibeforethe kingwith [her] royalcrownin order to displayher beautyto the peopleand the princes,for she was beautiful.
Now when the turnof Esther,the daughterof Abihailthe uncleof Mordecaiwhohad takenher as his daughter,cameto goin to the king,she did not requestanythingexceptwhatHegai,the king'seunuchwho was in chargeof the women,advised.And Estherfoundfavorin the eyesof allwho sawher.
Estherhad not yet made knownher kindredor her people,evenas Mordecaihad commandedher; for EstherdidwhatMordecaitoldher as she had donewhenunder his care.
On that dayKingAhasuerusgavethe houseof Haman,the enemyof the Jews,to QueenEsther;and Mordecaicamebeforethe king,for Estherhad disclosedwhathe was to her.
Or have eatenmy morselalone,And the orphanhas not sharedit
(But from my youthhe grewup with me as with a father,And from infancyI guidedher),
"And I will be a fatherto you, And you shall be sonsand daughtersto Me," Saysthe LordAlmighty.
Fathers,do not provokeyour childrento anger,but bringthem up in the disciplineand instructionof the Lord.
Seehow greata lovethe Fatherhas bestowedon us, that we would be calledchildrenof God;and [such] we are. For thisreasonthe worlddoes not knowus, becauseit did not knowHim.
