[Today’s English Version E.5; Revised Standard Version 16.5]

In Greek this verse consists of one complex sentence that continues into the next verse. In many languages it will be better to break this sentence into several shorter sentences and rearrange the order of the individual parts, as Today’s English Version does. In this verse the king indirectly blames Haman for the killing of the Jews that is to take place, while he excuses himself by claiming that Haman tricked him.

Those … in places of authority refers to rulers; specifically the king is alluding to himself. The translator may need to restate to say “those who are in positions of power,” “those who have power to rule over people,” or more simply “leaders” (Today’s English Version).

Shedding of innocent blood: means “killing people,” as Today’s English Version makes clear. Today’s English Version omits, however, the fact that it is innocent people, people who have not done wrong, who are killed. The leaders become in part responsible, or “partners in the shedding of blood.” Thus, in the words of New Jerusalem Bible, “they find themselves sharing with these the guilt of innocent blood.”

And have been involved in irremediable calamities: that is, the rulers along with their friends do evil things, and the damage or misfortune that their evil does cannot be made right again.

By the persuasion of friends … public affairs is an indirect allusion to Haman. The king refers sarcastically to Haman as a “friend” (see also comments on “Friends” in LXX 1.3). To indicate that the king does not really consider people like Haman to be friends, Anchor Bible places the word “friends” within quotation marks: “by the persuasiveness of ‘friends.’ ” The translation “to those he counts his friends” (Revised English Bible) suggests that these people may not in fact be the king’s true friends. To make clear that there is an element of sarcasm in the use of the word “friends,” it may be helpful to modify it on the model of Revised English Bible. “Those who are like his friends” or “those he thinks are his friends” are possible alternatives.

Administration of public affairs: this is a technical expression describing the role of a government official. Today’s English Version says “administrative responsibilities,” with the understanding that these duties are in the government. The translator should avoid expressions that are only associated with the government of a modern state. A possible translation may be “friends to whom the king had given work in ruling” or “work in the affairs of his kingdom.”

This long, complex verse may be easier to translate if the separate parts are placed in chronological order as follows:
(1) Some people (kings or other rulers) are placed in positions of authority.
(2) These rulers entrust administrative responsibilities to friends.
(3) These friends often persuade the rulers to kill innocent people with them and to become involved in evils that cannot be undone.

In addition to Today’s English Version the following translations of the entire verse may be helpful models:

• Thus it has often happened to those placed in authority that, having entrusted friends with the conduct of affairs and allowed themselves to be influenced by them, they find themselves sharing with these the guilt of innocent blood and involved in irremediable misfortunes
[New Jerusalem Bible].
• Rulers sometimes grant the administration of the government to men whom they consider friends, but these [friends] often persuade them to become accomplices in crimes against innocent people and to do irreparable evils
[Biblia Dios Habla Hoy].

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Noss, Philip A. A Handbook on the Book of Esther — Deuterocanon: The Greek Text. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .