| | 1 | 第三日、以斯帖穿上朝服、進王宮的內院、對殿站立．王在殿裡坐在寶座上、對著殿門．
On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king's hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance.
| |
| | 2 | 王見王后以斯帖站在院內、就施恩於他、向他伸出手中的金杖．以斯帖便向前摸杖頭。
When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
| |
| | 3 | 王對他說、王后以斯帖阿、你要甚麼、你求甚麼．就是國的一半、也必賜給你。
Then the king asked, "What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you."
| |
| | 4 | 以斯帖說、王若以為美、就請王帶著哈曼今日赴我所豫備的筵席。
"If it pleases the king," replied Esther, "let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him."
| |
| | 5 | 王說、叫哈曼速速照以斯帖的話去行．於是王帶著哈曼赴以斯帖所豫備的筵席．
"Bring Haman at once," the king said, "so that we may do what Esther asks." So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared.
| |
| | 6 | 在酒席筵前、王又問以斯帖說、你要甚麼、我必賜給你、你求甚麼、就是國的一半、也必為你成就。
As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, "Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted."
| |
| | 7 | 以斯帖回答說、我有所要、我有所求、
Esther replied, "My petition and my request is this:
| |
| | 8 | 我若在王眼前蒙恩、王若願意賜我所要的、准我所求的、就請王帶著哈曼再赴我所要豫備的筵席．明日我必照王所問的說明。
If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king's question."
| |
| | 9 | 那日哈曼心中快樂、歡歡喜喜地出來．但見末底改在朝門不站起來、連身也不動、就滿心惱怒末底改．
Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king's gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai.
| |
| | 10 | 哈曼暫且忍耐回家、叫人請他朋友和他妻子細利斯來。
Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife,
| |
| | 11 | 哈曼將他富厚的榮耀、眾多的兒女、和王抬舉他使他超乎首領臣僕之上、都述說給他們聽。
Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials.
| |
| | 12 | 哈曼又說、王后以斯帖豫備筵席、除了我之外不許別人隨王赴席．明日王后又請我隨王赴席．
"And that's not all," Haman added. "I'm the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow.
| |
| | 13 | 只是我見猶大人末底改坐在朝門、雖有這一切榮耀、也與我無益。
But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king's gate."
| |
| | 14 | 他的妻細利斯和他一切的朋友對他說、不如立一個五丈高的木架、明早求王將末底改挂在其上、然後你可以歡歡喜喜地隨王赴席．哈曼以這話為美、就叫人作了木架。
His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, "Have a gallows built, seventy-five feet high, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go with the king to the dinner and be happy." This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the gallows built.
| |
