以斯帖記 4
1 末底改知道所作的這一切事、就撕裂衣服、穿麻衣、蒙灰塵、在城中行走、痛哭哀號.
When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly.
2 到了朝門前停住腳步.因為穿麻衣的不可進朝門。
But he went only as far as the king's gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it.
3 王的諭旨所到的各省各處、猶大人大大悲哀、禁食哭泣哀號.穿麻衣躺在灰中的甚多。
In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
4 王后以斯帖的宮女和太監來把這事告訴以斯帖、他甚是憂愁.就送衣服給末底改穿、要他脫下麻衣、他卻不受。
When Esther's maids and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them.
5 以斯帖就把王所派伺候他的一個太監、名叫哈他革召來、吩咐他去見末底改、要知道這是甚麼事、是甚麼緣故.
Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.
6 於是哈他革出到朝門前的寬闊處見末底改.
So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king's gate.
7 末底改將自己所遇的事、並哈曼為滅絕猶大人應許捐入王庫的銀數、都告訴了他.
Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews.
8 又將所抄寫傳遍書珊城要滅絕猶大人的旨意交給哈他革、要給以斯帖看、又要給他說明、並囑咐他進去見王、為本族的人、在王面前懇切祈求。
He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to urge her to go into the king's presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.
9 哈他革回來、將末底改的話告訴以斯帖.
Hathach went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said.
10 以斯帖就吩咐哈他革去見末底改說、
Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai,
11 王的一切臣僕、和各省的人民、都知道有一個定例、若不蒙召、擅入內院見王的、無論男女必被治死.除非王向他伸出金杖、不得存活.現在我沒有蒙召進去見王已經三十日了。
"All the king's officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king."
12 人就把以斯帖這話告訴末底改。
When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai,
13 末底改託人回覆以斯帖說、你莫想在王宮裡強過一切猶大人、得免這禍.
he sent back this answer: "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape.
14 此時你若閉口不言、猶大人必從別處得解脫、蒙拯救、你和你父家、必致滅亡.焉知你得了王后的位分、不是為現今的機會麼。
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"
15 以斯帖就吩咐人回報末底改說、
Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:
16 你當去招聚書珊城所有的猶大人、為我禁食三晝三夜、不喫不喝.我和我的宮女、也要這樣禁食.然後我違例進去見王.我若死就死罷。
"Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."
17 於是末底改照以斯帖一切所吩咐的去行。
So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther's instructions.