[Today’s English Version E.9; Revised Standard Version 16.9]

By changing our methods is literally “using changes.” In the Greek version the king does not say what “changes” will be brought about, but many translations either specify methods like Revised Standard Version, or “policies” as Today’s English Version has done. The Greek verb for “using” may mean “be subject to [external events or conditions].” If the verb carries that meaning here, the king is stating that he will be subject to external changes, that is, he will make whatever changes are required by circumstances (so Bible en français courant and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente “I will initiate [or, make] the necessary changes”). This interpretation found in Bible en français courant and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente is probably closer to the intended meaning of the text, although the translations of Revised Standard Version and Today’s English Version are possible. Other translations speak of the “opportune [or, convenient] changes” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Nueva Biblia Española). This is in basic agreement with the sense that the changes will be made as changing external circumstances require them to be made.

Some Greek manuscripts have the word “not” before the words “using changes”; Revised English Bible is based on those manuscripts: “we shall make no changes but shall always decide such matters as come to our notice.” Neither Rahlfs nor the Göttingen edition of the Septuagint include the word “not” in the text.

The A-text of Esther contains the word “not” and the word “slanders” rather than changes. In Greek the difference is slight between “slanders” (diabolais) and changes (metabolais). Assuming that the original reading diabolais was incorrectly copied as metabolais, Anchor Bible translates “by paying no attention to slanders” rather than changing our methods. The king will then be referring to slanderous charges that Haman has made against the Jews. Though translators are encouraged to follow the B-text as printed in critical editions of the Septuagint, the A-text here may well be original. If translators decide to follow the example of Anchor Bible, a footnote should be used to indicate that most Greek manuscripts have a different reading.

Judging … with more equitable consideration is simplified to “judging fairly” in Today’s English Version. This expresses its basic meaning but omits the element of comparison that may be present in the original. The form of the adjective “fair” or “equitable” is the comparative degree in Greek. The comparative is usually translated “more fair.” But in the period when the Septuagint was written, the comparative sometimes had lost this force. It can therefore mean only “fair” and may not involve a comparison (so Revised English Bible, New American Bible). Sometimes adjectives that were comparative in form actually functioned as superlatives, that is, “the most fair.” New Jerusalem Bible seems based on this last possibility: “in the most equitable spirit.” If a comparison is intended, the idea is perhaps “we will judge in the future more fairly than we have in the past.” Most likely, however, no comparison is intended, and the example of Revised English Bible should be followed: “… but shall always decide such matters as come to our notice with firmness and equity.” Compare also Traduction œcuménique de la Bible: “with a sufficiently fair approach.”

What comes before our eyes: not all languages will translate this expression literally (see Today’s English Version). Bible en français courant renders it “the matters that are submitted to me.” Both Bible en français courant and Today’s English Version understand the pronoun our as a plural of majesty and therefore translate it as “my” (see verse 8).

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 .