以斯帖記

第2章

1 這些[these]事以後,亞哈隨魯王的忿怒止息,就想念瓦實提和她所行的,並怎樣降旨辦她。

2 於是王的侍臣對王說:「不如為王尋找美貌年輕[young]的處女。

3 王可以派官在國中的各省招聚美貌年輕[young]的處女到書珊[palace]的女院,交給掌管女子的大臣[chamberlain]希該,給她們當用的香品。

4 王所喜愛的女子可以立為王后,代替瓦實提。」王以這事為美,就如此行。

5 書珊[palace]有一個猶太人,名叫末底改,是便雅憫人基士的曾孫,示每的孫子,睚珥的兒子。

6 從前巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒將猶大王耶哥尼雅和百姓從耶路撒冷擄去,末底改也在其內。

7 末底改撫養他叔叔的女兒哈大沙,後名以斯帖,因為她沒有父母。這女子又容貌俊美;她父母死了,末底改就收她為自己的女兒。

8 王的諭旨傳出,就招聚許多女子到書珊[palace],交給掌管女子的希該;以斯帖也送入王宮,交付希該。

9 希該喜悅以斯帖,就恩待她,急忙給她需用的香品和她所當得的分,又派所當得的七個宮女服事她,使她和她的宮女搬入女院上好的房屋。

10 以斯帖未曾將籍貫宗族告訴人,因為末底改囑咐她不可叫人知道。

11 末底改天天在女院前邊行走,要知道以斯帖平安不平安,並後事如何。

12 眾女子照例先潔淨身體十二個月,(六個月用沒藥油,六個月用香料和潔身之物;)滿了日期,然後按次序[turn]進去見亞哈隨魯王。

13 女子進去見王是這樣,從女院到王宮的時候,凡她所要的都必給她。

14 晚上進去,次日回到女子第二院,交給掌管妃嬪的太監沙甲;除非王喜愛她,再提名召她,就不再進去見王。

15 末底改叔叔亞比孩的女兒,就是末底改收為自己女兒的以斯帖,按次序當進去見王的時候,除了掌管女子的太監希該所派定給她的,她別無所求。凡看見以斯帖的都喜悅她。

16 亞哈隨魯王第七年十月,就是提別月,以斯帖被引入宮見王。

17 王愛以斯帖過於愛眾女,她在王眼前蒙寵愛比眾處女更甚。王就把王后的冠冕戴在她頭上,立她為王后,代替瓦實提。

18 王因以斯帖的緣故給眾首領和臣僕設擺大筵席,又豁免各省的租稅,並照王的厚意大頒賞賜。

19 第二次招聚處女的時候,末底改坐在朝門。

20 以斯帖照著末底改所囑咐的,還沒有將籍貫宗族告訴人;因為以斯帖遵末底改的命,如撫養她的時候一樣。

21那些日子[those days],末底改坐在朝門,王的太監中有兩個守門的,辟探和提列,惱恨亞哈隨魯王,想要下手害他。

22 末底改知道了,就告訴王后以斯帖。以斯帖奉末底改的名,報告於王;

23 究察這事,果然是實,就把二人掛在木頭上,將這事在王面前寫於歷史上。

Esther

Chapter 2

1 After310 these428 things,1697 when the wrath2534 of king4428 Ahasuerus325 was appeased,7918 he remembered2142 853 Vashti,2060 and what834 she had done,6213 and what834 was decreed1504 against5921 her.

2 Then said559 the king's4428 servants5288 that ministered8334 unto him, Let there be fair2896 4758 young5291 virgins1330 sought1245 for the king: 4428

3 And let the king4428 appoint6485 officers6496 in all3605 the provinces4082 of his kingdom,4438 that they may gather together6908 853 all3605 the fair2896 4758 young5291 virgins1330 unto413 Shushan7800 the palace,1002 to413 the house1004 of the women,802 unto413 the custody3027 of Hege1896 the king's4428 chamberlain,5631 keeper8104 of the women;802 and let their things for purification8562 be given5414 them:

4 And let the maiden5291 which834 pleaseth3190 5869 the king4428 be queen4427 instead8478 of Vashti.2060 And the thing1697 pleased3190 5869 the king;4428 and he did6213 so.3651

5 Now in Shushan7800 the palace1002 there was1961 a certain376 Jew,3064 whose name8034 was Mordecai,4782 the son1121 of Jair,2971 the son1121 of Shimei,8096 the son1121 of Kish,7027 a Benjamite;1145

6 Who834 had been carried away1540 from Jerusalem4480 3389 with5973 the captivity1473 which834 had been carried away1540 with5973 Jeconiah3204 king4428 of Judah,3063 whom834 Nebuchadnezzar5019 the king4428 of Babylon894 had carried away.1540

7 And he brought up1961 539 853 Hadassah,1919 that1931 is, Esther,635 his uncle's1730 daughter:1323 for3588 she had neither369 father1 nor mother,517 and the maid5291 was fair3303 8389 and beautiful;2896 4758 whom Mordecai,4782 when her father1 and mother517 were dead,4194 took3947 for his own daughter.1323

8 So it came to pass,1961 when the king's4428 commandment1697 and his decree1881 was heard,8085 and when many7227 maidens5291 were gathered together6908 unto413 Shushan7800 the palace,1002 to413 the custody3027 of Hegai,1896 that Esther635 was brought3947 also unto413 the king's4428 house,1004 to413 the custody3027 of Hegai,1896 keeper8104 of the women.802

9 And the maiden5291 pleased3190 5869 him, and she obtained5375 kindness2617 of6440 him; and he speedily926 gave5414 her853 her things for purification,8562 with854 such things as belonged4490 to her, and seven7651 maidens,5291 which were meet7200 to be given5414 her, out of the king's house:4480 1004 4428 and he preferred8138 her and her maids5291 unto the best2896 place of the house1004 of the women.802

10 Esther635 had not3808 showed5046 853 her people5971 nor her kindred:4138 for3588 Mordecai4782 had charged6680 her5921 that834 she should not3808 show5046 it.

11 And Mordecai4782 walked1980 every day3605 3117 3117 before6440 the court2691 of the women's802 house,1004 to know3045 853 how Esther635 did,7965 and what4100 should become6213 of her.

12 Now when every maid's5291 5291 turn8447 was come5060 to go in935 to413 king4428 Ahasuerus,325 after that4480 7093 she had been1961 twelve8147 6240 months,2320 according to the manner1881 of the women,802 (for3588 so3651 were the days3117 of their purifications4795 accomplished,4390 to wit, six8337 months2320 with oil8081 of myrrh,4753 and six8337 months2320 with sweet odors,1314 and with other things for the purification8562 of the women;)802

13 Then thus2088 came935 every maiden5291 unto413 the king;4428 853 whatsoever3605 834 she desired559 was given5414 her to go935 with5973 her out of the house4480 1004 of the women802 unto5704 the king's4428 house.1004

14 In the evening6153 she1931 went,935 and on the morrow1242 she1931 returned7725 into413 the second8145 house1004 of the women,802 to413 the custody3027 of Shaashgaz,8190 the king's4428 chamberlain,5631 which kept8104 the concubines:6370 she came in935 unto413 the king4428 no3808 more,5750 except3588 518 the king4428 delighted2654 in her, and that she were called7121 by name.8034

15 Now when the turn8447 of Esther,635 the daughter1323 of Abihail32 the uncle1730 of Mordecai,4782 who834 had taken3947 her for his daughter,1323 was come5060 to go in935 unto413 the king,4428 she required1245 nothing3808 1697 but3588 518 853 what834 Hegai1896 the king's4428 chamberlain,5631 the keeper8104 of the women,802 appointed.559 And Esther635 obtained1961 5375 favor2580 in the sight5869 of all3605 them that looked7200 upon her.

16 So Esther635 was taken3947 unto413 king4428 Ahasuerus325 into413 his house1004 royal4438 in the tenth6224 month,2320 which1931 is the month2320 Tebeth,2887 in the seventh7651 year8141 of his reign.4438

17 And the king4428 loved157 853 Esther635 above all4480 3605 the women,802 and she obtained5375 grace2580 and favor2617 in his sight6440 more than all4480 3605 the virgins;1330 so that he set7760 the royal4438 crown3804 upon her head,7218 and made her queen4427 instead8478 of Vashti.2060

18 Then the king4428 made6213 a great1419 feast4960 unto all3605 his princes8269 and his servants,5650 even853 Esther's635 feast;4960 and he made6213 a release2010 to the provinces,4082 and gave5414 gifts,4864 according to the state3027 of the king.4428

19 And when the virgins1330 were gathered together6908 the second time,8145 then Mordecai4782 sat3427 in the king's4428 gate.8179

20 Esther635 had not369 yet showed5046 her kindred4138 nor her people;5971 as834 Mordecai4782 had charged6680 her:5921 for Esther635 did6213 the commandment3982 of Mordecai,4782 like as834 when she was1961 brought up545 with854 him.

21 In those1992 days,3117 while Mordecai4782 sat3427 in the king's4428 gate,8179 two8147 of the king's4428 chamberlains,5631 Bigthan904 and Teresh,8657 of those which kept4480 8104 the door,5592 were wroth,7107 and sought1245 to lay7971 hand3027 on the king4428 Ahasuerus.325

22 And the thing1697 was known3045 to Mordecai,4782 who told5046 it unto Esther635 the queen;4436 and Esther635 certified559 the king4428 thereof in Mordecai's4782 name.8034

23 And when inquisition was made1245 of the matter,1697 it was found out;4672 therefore they were both8147 hanged8518 on5921 a tree:6086 and it was written3789 in the book5612 of the chronicles1697 before6440 the king.4428

以斯帖記

第2章

Esther

Chapter 2

1 這些[these]事以後,亞哈隨魯王的忿怒止息,就想念瓦實提和她所行的,並怎樣降旨辦她。

1 After310 these428 things,1697 when the wrath2534 of king4428 Ahasuerus325 was appeased,7918 he remembered2142 853 Vashti,2060 and what834 she had done,6213 and what834 was decreed1504 against5921 her.

2 於是王的侍臣對王說:「不如為王尋找美貌年輕[young]的處女。

2 Then said559 the king's4428 servants5288 that ministered8334 unto him, Let there be fair2896 4758 young5291 virgins1330 sought1245 for the king: 4428

3 王可以派官在國中的各省招聚美貌年輕[young]的處女到書珊[palace]的女院,交給掌管女子的大臣[chamberlain]希該,給她們當用的香品。

3 And let the king4428 appoint6485 officers6496 in all3605 the provinces4082 of his kingdom,4438 that they may gather together6908 853 all3605 the fair2896 4758 young5291 virgins1330 unto413 Shushan7800 the palace,1002 to413 the house1004 of the women,802 unto413 the custody3027 of Hege1896 the king's4428 chamberlain,5631 keeper8104 of the women;802 and let their things for purification8562 be given5414 them:

4 王所喜愛的女子可以立為王后,代替瓦實提。」王以這事為美,就如此行。

4 And let the maiden5291 which834 pleaseth3190 5869 the king4428 be queen4427 instead8478 of Vashti.2060 And the thing1697 pleased3190 5869 the king;4428 and he did6213 so.3651

5 書珊[palace]有一個猶太人,名叫末底改,是便雅憫人基士的曾孫,示每的孫子,睚珥的兒子。

5 Now in Shushan7800 the palace1002 there was1961 a certain376 Jew,3064 whose name8034 was Mordecai,4782 the son1121 of Jair,2971 the son1121 of Shimei,8096 the son1121 of Kish,7027 a Benjamite;1145

6 從前巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒將猶大王耶哥尼雅和百姓從耶路撒冷擄去,末底改也在其內。

6 Who834 had been carried away1540 from Jerusalem4480 3389 with5973 the captivity1473 which834 had been carried away1540 with5973 Jeconiah3204 king4428 of Judah,3063 whom834 Nebuchadnezzar5019 the king4428 of Babylon894 had carried away.1540

7 末底改撫養他叔叔的女兒哈大沙,後名以斯帖,因為她沒有父母。這女子又容貌俊美;她父母死了,末底改就收她為自己的女兒。

7 And he brought up1961 539 853 Hadassah,1919 that1931 is, Esther,635 his uncle's1730 daughter:1323 for3588 she had neither369 father1 nor mother,517 and the maid5291 was fair3303 8389 and beautiful;2896 4758 whom Mordecai,4782 when her father1 and mother517 were dead,4194 took3947 for his own daughter.1323

8 王的諭旨傳出,就招聚許多女子到書珊[palace],交給掌管女子的希該;以斯帖也送入王宮,交付希該。

8 So it came to pass,1961 when the king's4428 commandment1697 and his decree1881 was heard,8085 and when many7227 maidens5291 were gathered together6908 unto413 Shushan7800 the palace,1002 to413 the custody3027 of Hegai,1896 that Esther635 was brought3947 also unto413 the king's4428 house,1004 to413 the custody3027 of Hegai,1896 keeper8104 of the women.802

9 希該喜悅以斯帖,就恩待她,急忙給她需用的香品和她所當得的分,又派所當得的七個宮女服事她,使她和她的宮女搬入女院上好的房屋。

9 And the maiden5291 pleased3190 5869 him, and she obtained5375 kindness2617 of6440 him; and he speedily926 gave5414 her853 her things for purification,8562 with854 such things as belonged4490 to her, and seven7651 maidens,5291 which were meet7200 to be given5414 her, out of the king's house:4480 1004 4428 and he preferred8138 her and her maids5291 unto the best2896 place of the house1004 of the women.802

10 以斯帖未曾將籍貫宗族告訴人,因為末底改囑咐她不可叫人知道。

10 Esther635 had not3808 showed5046 853 her people5971 nor her kindred:4138 for3588 Mordecai4782 had charged6680 her5921 that834 she should not3808 show5046 it.

11 末底改天天在女院前邊行走,要知道以斯帖平安不平安,並後事如何。

11 And Mordecai4782 walked1980 every day3605 3117 3117 before6440 the court2691 of the women's802 house,1004 to know3045 853 how Esther635 did,7965 and what4100 should become6213 of her.

12 眾女子照例先潔淨身體十二個月,(六個月用沒藥油,六個月用香料和潔身之物;)滿了日期,然後按次序[turn]進去見亞哈隨魯王。

12 Now when every maid's5291 5291 turn8447 was come5060 to go in935 to413 king4428 Ahasuerus,325 after that4480 7093 she had been1961 twelve8147 6240 months,2320 according to the manner1881 of the women,802 (for3588 so3651 were the days3117 of their purifications4795 accomplished,4390 to wit, six8337 months2320 with oil8081 of myrrh,4753 and six8337 months2320 with sweet odors,1314 and with other things for the purification8562 of the women;)802

13 女子進去見王是這樣,從女院到王宮的時候,凡她所要的都必給她。

13 Then thus2088 came935 every maiden5291 unto413 the king;4428 853 whatsoever3605 834 she desired559 was given5414 her to go935 with5973 her out of the house4480 1004 of the women802 unto5704 the king's4428 house.1004

14 晚上進去,次日回到女子第二院,交給掌管妃嬪的太監沙甲;除非王喜愛她,再提名召她,就不再進去見王。

14 In the evening6153 she1931 went,935 and on the morrow1242 she1931 returned7725 into413 the second8145 house1004 of the women,802 to413 the custody3027 of Shaashgaz,8190 the king's4428 chamberlain,5631 which kept8104 the concubines:6370 she came in935 unto413 the king4428 no3808 more,5750 except3588 518 the king4428 delighted2654 in her, and that she were called7121 by name.8034

15 末底改叔叔亞比孩的女兒,就是末底改收為自己女兒的以斯帖,按次序當進去見王的時候,除了掌管女子的太監希該所派定給她的,她別無所求。凡看見以斯帖的都喜悅她。

15 Now when the turn8447 of Esther,635 the daughter1323 of Abihail32 the uncle1730 of Mordecai,4782 who834 had taken3947 her for his daughter,1323 was come5060 to go in935 unto413 the king,4428 she required1245 nothing3808 1697 but3588 518 853 what834 Hegai1896 the king's4428 chamberlain,5631 the keeper8104 of the women,802 appointed.559 And Esther635 obtained1961 5375 favor2580 in the sight5869 of all3605 them that looked7200 upon her.

16 亞哈隨魯王第七年十月,就是提別月,以斯帖被引入宮見王。

16 So Esther635 was taken3947 unto413 king4428 Ahasuerus325 into413 his house1004 royal4438 in the tenth6224 month,2320 which1931 is the month2320 Tebeth,2887 in the seventh7651 year8141 of his reign.4438

17 王愛以斯帖過於愛眾女,她在王眼前蒙寵愛比眾處女更甚。王就把王后的冠冕戴在她頭上,立她為王后,代替瓦實提。

17 And the king4428 loved157 853 Esther635 above all4480 3605 the women,802 and she obtained5375 grace2580 and favor2617 in his sight6440 more than all4480 3605 the virgins;1330 so that he set7760 the royal4438 crown3804 upon her head,7218 and made her queen4427 instead8478 of Vashti.2060

18 王因以斯帖的緣故給眾首領和臣僕設擺大筵席,又豁免各省的租稅,並照王的厚意大頒賞賜。

18 Then the king4428 made6213 a great1419 feast4960 unto all3605 his princes8269 and his servants,5650 even853 Esther's635 feast;4960 and he made6213 a release2010 to the provinces,4082 and gave5414 gifts,4864 according to the state3027 of the king.4428

19 第二次招聚處女的時候,末底改坐在朝門。

19 And when the virgins1330 were gathered together6908 the second time,8145 then Mordecai4782 sat3427 in the king's4428 gate.8179

20 以斯帖照著末底改所囑咐的,還沒有將籍貫宗族告訴人;因為以斯帖遵末底改的命,如撫養她的時候一樣。

20 Esther635 had not369 yet showed5046 her kindred4138 nor her people;5971 as834 Mordecai4782 had charged6680 her:5921 for Esther635 did6213 the commandment3982 of Mordecai,4782 like as834 when she was1961 brought up545 with854 him.

21那些日子[those days],末底改坐在朝門,王的太監中有兩個守門的,辟探和提列,惱恨亞哈隨魯王,想要下手害他。

21 In those1992 days,3117 while Mordecai4782 sat3427 in the king's4428 gate,8179 two8147 of the king's4428 chamberlains,5631 Bigthan904 and Teresh,8657 of those which kept4480 8104 the door,5592 were wroth,7107 and sought1245 to lay7971 hand3027 on the king4428 Ahasuerus.325

22 末底改知道了,就告訴王后以斯帖。以斯帖奉末底改的名,報告於王;

22 And the thing1697 was known3045 to Mordecai,4782 who told5046 it unto Esther635 the queen;4436 and Esther635 certified559 the king4428 thereof in Mordecai's4782 name.8034

23 究察這事,果然是實,就把二人掛在木頭上,將這事在王面前寫於歷史上。

23 And when inquisition was made1245 of the matter,1697 it was found out;4672 therefore they were both8147 hanged8518 on5921 a tree:6086 and it was written3789 in the book5612 of the chronicles1697 before6440 the king.4428