以斯帖记 8
1
当日,亚哈随鲁王把犹大人仇敌哈曼的家产,赐给王后以斯帖。末底改也来到王面前,因为以斯帖已经告诉王,末底改是她的亲属。

That same day King Xerxes gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came into the presence of the king, for Esther had told how he was related to her.

2
王摘下自己的戒指,就是从哈曼追回的,给了末底改。以斯帖派末底改管理哈曼的家产。

The king took off his signet ring, which he had reclaimed from Haman, and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed him over Haman's estate.

3
以斯帖又俯伏在王脚前,流泪哀告,求他除掉亚甲族哈曼害犹大人的恶谋。

Esther again pleaded with the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews.

4
王向以斯帖伸出金杖,以斯帖就起来,站在王前。

Then the king extended the gold scepter to Esther and she arose and stood before him.

5
说,亚甲族哈米大他的儿子哈曼设谋传旨,要杀灭在王各省的犹大人。现今王若愿意,我若在王眼前蒙恩,王若以为美,若喜悦我,请王另下旨意,废除哈曼所传的那旨意。

"If it pleases the king," she said, "and if he regards me with favor and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king's provinces.

6
我何忍见我本族的人受害?何忍见我同宗的人被灭呢?

For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?"

7
亚哈随鲁王对王后以斯帖,和犹大人末底改说,因哈曼要下手害犹大人,我已将他的家产赐给以斯帖,人也将哈曼挂在木架上。

King Xerxes replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, "Because Haman attacked the Jews, I have given his estate to Esther, and they have hanged him on the gallows.

8
现在你们可以随意,奉王的名写谕旨给犹大人,用王的戒指盖印。因为奉王名所写,用王戒指盖印的谕旨,人都不能废除。

Now write another decree in the king's name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king's signet ring--for no document written in the king's name and sealed with his ring can be revoked."

9
三月,就是西弯月二十三日,将王的书记召来。按着末底改所吩咐的,用各省的文字,各族的方言,并犹大人的文字方言写谕旨。传给那从印度直到古实一百二十七省的犹大人和总督省长首领。

At once the royal secretaries were summoned--on the twenty-third day of the third month, the month of Sivan. They wrote out all Mordecai's orders to the Jews, and to the satraps, governors and nobles of the 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush. These orders were written in the script of each province and the language of each people and also to the Jews in their own script and language.

10
末底改奉亚哈随鲁王的名写谕旨,用王的戒指盖印,交给骑御马圈快马的驿卒,传到各处。

Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes, sealed the dispatches with the king's signet ring, and sent them by mounted couriers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king.

11
谕旨中,王准各省各城的犹大人在一日之间,十二月,就是亚达月十三日,聚集保护性命,剪除杀戮灭绝那要攻击犹大人的一切仇敌,和他们的妻子儿女,夺取他们的财为掠物。

The king's edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill and annihilate any armed force of any nationality or province that might attack them and their women and children; and to plunder the property of their enemies.

12

The day appointed for the Jews to do this in all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar.

13
抄录这谕旨,颁行各省,宣告各族,使犹大人预备等候那日,在仇敌身上报仇。

A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

14
于是骑快马的驿卒被王命催促,急忙起行。谕旨也传遍书珊城。

The couriers, riding the royal horses, raced out, spurred on by the king's command. And the edict was also issued in the citadel of Susa.

15
末底改穿着蓝色白色的朝服,头戴大金冠冕,又穿紫色细麻布的外袍,从王面前出来。书珊城的人民都欢呼快乐。

Mordecai left the king's presence wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration.

16
犹大人有光荣,欢喜快乐而得尊贵。

For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor.

17
王的谕旨所到的各省各城,犹大人都欢喜快乐,设摆筵宴,以那日为吉日。那国的人民,有许多因惧怕犹大人,就入了犹大籍。

In every province and in every city, wherever the edict of the king went, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them.