以斯帖記

第 8 章

1. 當日亞哈隨魯王把猶大人仇敵哈曼的家產賜給王后以斯帖。末底改也來到王面前、因為以斯帖已經告訴王末底改是他的親屬。
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、就是從哈曼追回的、給了末底改．以斯帖派末底改管理哈曼的家產。
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. 以斯帖又俯伏在王腳前、流淚哀告、求他除掉亞甲族哈曼害猶大人的惡謀。
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．以斯帖就起來、站在王前、
Then the king extended the gold scepter to Esther and she arose and stood before him.
5. 說、亞甲族哈米大他的兒子哈曼、設謀傳旨、要殺滅在王各省的猶大人．現今王若願意、我若在王眼前蒙恩、王若以為美、若喜悅我、請王另下旨意廢除哈曼所傳的那旨意。
"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. 我何忍見我本族的人受害、何忍見我同宗的人被滅呢。
For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?"
7. 亞哈隨魯王對王后以斯帖和猶大人末底改說、因哈曼要下手害猶大人、我已將他的家產賜給以斯帖、人也將哈曼挂在木架上。
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. 現在你們可以隨意奉王的名寫諭旨給猶大人、用王的戒指蓋印．因為奉王名所寫用王戒指蓋印的諭旨、人都不能廢除。
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、就是西彎月、二十三日、將王的書記召來、按著末底改所吩咐的用各省的文字、各族的方言、並猶大人的文字方言寫諭旨、傳給那從印度直到古實一百二十七省的猶大人、和總督省長首領。
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. 末底改奉亞哈隨魯王的名寫諭旨、用王的戒指蓋印、交給騎御馬圈快馬的驛卒傳到各處。
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. 諭旨中王准各省各城的猶大人在一日之間、十二月、就是亞達月、十三日、聚集保護性命、剪除殺戮滅絕那要攻擊猶大人的一切仇敵、和他們的妻子兒女、奪取他們的財為掠物。
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. 見上節
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. 抄錄這諭旨、頒行各省、宣告各族、使猶大人豫備等候那日、在仇敵身上報仇。
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. 於是騎快馬的驛卒、被王命催促、急忙起行．諭旨也傳遍書珊城。
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. 末底改穿著藍色白色的朝服、頭戴大金冠冕、又穿紫色細麻布的外袍、從王面前出來．書珊城的人民、都歡呼快樂。
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. 猶大人有光榮歡喜快樂而得尊貴。
For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor.
17. 王的諭旨所到的各省各城、猶大人都歡喜快樂、設擺筵宴、以那日為吉日。那國的人民、有許多因懼怕猶大人、就入了猶大籍。
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.