Esther
Chapter 8
1 That day King Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman, enemy of the Jews, to Queen Esther; and Mordecai was admitted to the king's presence, for Esther had revealed his relationship to her.
薛西斯王当日就将犹太人的敌人哈曼的家业，赐给了艾斯德尔王后；艾斯德尔同时也说明了摩尔德开与她自己的关系，摩尔德开就来觐见君王。
2 The king removed his signet ring from Haman, and transferred it into the keeping of Mordecai; and Esther put Mordecai in charge of the house of Haman.
君王于是取下由哈曼那里拿回来的指玺，给了摩尔德开，艾斯德尔以后叫摩尔德开管理哈曼的家业。
3 In another audience with the king, Esther fell at his feet and tearfully implored him to revoke the harm done by Haman the Agagite, and the plan he had devised against the Jews.
艾斯德尔又去向君王求情，俯伏在他足下，含泪哀求他取消阿加格人哈曼所加的祸害，和他为害犹太人所设立的阴谋。
4 The king stretched forth the golden scepter to Esther. So she rose and, standing in his presence,
王向艾斯德尔伸出金杖，艾斯德尔就起来，站在君王前，
5 said:＂If it pleases your majesty and seems proper to you, and if I have found favor with you and you love me, let a document be issued to revoke the letters which that schemer Haman, son of Hammedatha the Agagite, wrote for the destruction of the Jews in all the royal provinces.
说：＂如果大王喜欢，如果我得陛下宠宰，如果大王认为合理且喜爱我，就请写一道逾令，把大王为消灭全国各省的犹太人所颁下的文书，即阿加格人哈默大达的儿子哈曼的阴谋废除。
6 For how can I witness the evil that is to befall my people, and how can I behold the destruction of my race?＂
事实上，我怎能忍见我的民族遭受迫害？我怎能忍见我的亲属消灭？＂
7 King Ahasuerus then said to Queen Esther and to the Jew Mordecai:＂Now that I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gibbet because he attacked the Jews,
薛西斯王对艾斯德尔后和犹太人摩尔德开说：＂我已将哈曼的家业赐给了艾斯德尔，而他本人已被悬在刑架上，因为他竟要对犹太人下毒手。
8 1 you in turn may write in the king's name what you see fit concerning the Jews and seal the letter with the royal signet ring.＂ For whatever is written in the name of the king and sealed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked.
如今就照你们的意思，以君王的名义，为保护犹太人写一道文书，盖上君王的玉印。凡以君王名义所写，且盖有君王玉印的文书决不得废除。＂
9 At that time, on the twenty-third day of the third month, Sivan, the royal scribes were summoned. Exactly as Mordecai dictated, they wrote to the Jews and to the satraps, governors, and officials of the hundred and twenty-seven provinces from India to Ethiopia: to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language.
就在那时候，即在三月——＂息汪＂月二十三日，召集了众御史，要依照摩尔德开为保护犹太人提示的一切，用各省的文字，各民族的语言，也给犹太人以他们的文字语言，写了一道文书，公告由印度至雇士一百二十七省的犹太人、御史大臣、各省省长及首长。
10 These letters, which he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the royal signet ring, he sent by mounted couriers riding thoroughbred royal steeds.
摩尔德开遂以薛西斯王的名义，写了这道文书，盖上君王的玉印，然后派遣驿使，骑着御厩里的骏马，传递文书。
11 In these letters the king authorized the Jews in each and every city to group together and defend their lives, and to kill, destroy, wipe out, along with their wives and children, every armed group of any nation or province which should attack them, and to seize their goods as spoil
文书上载着：君王恩准在各城市的犹太人，有团结自卫的权利，也准许他们破坏、杀害、消灭那些侵害他们的各族和各省的军民，也可杀他们的妇孺，抢夺他们的财产；
12 throughout the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on a single day, the thirteenth of the twelfth month, Adar.
且应在十二月＂阿达尔＂月十三日那一天，在薛西斯帝国各省内开始生效。
13 2 A copy of the letter to be promulgated as law in each and every province was published among all the peoples, so that the Jews might be prepared on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
这道文书应视为法律，公布在各省内，通告各民族一律遵守，好使犹太人准备在这一天，可向自己的敌人复仇。
14 Couriers mounted on royal steeds sped forth in haste at the king's order, and the decree was promulgated in the stronghold of Susa.
驿使迫于君令，骑着御马，火速出发。这渝文同时亦在稣撤禁城公布。
15 Mordecai left the king's presence clothed in a royal robe of violet and of white cotton, with a large crown of gold and a cloak of crimson byssus. The city of Susa shouted with joy,
摩尔德开于是拜别君王出来，身穿紫白相间的御袍，戴着大金冠，披着纯白和朱红色的氅衣。此时稣撒城欢欣雀跃。
16 and there was splendor and merriment for the Jews, exultation and triumph.
犹太人终于得到了光明、喜乐、幸福和荣耀。
17 In each and every province and in each and every city, wherever the king's order arrived, there was merriment and exultation, banqueting and feasting for the Jews. And many of the peoples of the land embraced Judaism, for they were seized with a fear of the Jews.
在各省各城中，凡是君令、上谕所到之处，犹太人无不欢欣雀跃，休假宴饮；各地的异民有许多人因为害怕犹太人，而加入了犹太籍。
Esther Chapter E补录戊
1 The following is a copy of the letter:
谕文如下：
＂King Ahasuerus the Great to the governors of the provinces in the hundred and twenty-seven satrapies from India to Ethiopia, and to those responsible for our interests: Greetings!
＂薛西斯大王致候由印度至厄提约丕雅一百二十七省省长，并忠于朕之官员：
2 ＂Many have become the more ambitious the more they were showered with honors through the bountiful generosity of their patrons.
查有多人，恩主愈加之高官厚禄，其人反而愈妄自尊大，
3 Not only do they seek to do harm to our subjects; incapable of bearing such greatness, they even begin plotting against their own benefactors.
不仅企图危害朕之所属为满足，进而图谋推倒其恩主。
4 Not only do they drive out gratitude from among men; with the arrogant boastfulness of those to whom goodness has no meaning, they suppose they will escape the vindictive judgment of the all-seeing God.
彼等不惟将知恩报爱之义由人间抹杀， 且更与无知之辈，骄矜自大，对常鉴临万物，嫉恶如仇至公义之天主，自以为可以逃避。
5 ＂Often, too, the fair speech of friends entrusted with the administration of affairs has induced many placed in authority to become accomplices in the shedding of innocent blood, and has involved them in irreparable calamities
彼等多居显位，屡受公卿友朋妄言之煽惑，而共谋倾流无辜者之血，因而陷于不可挽救之祸殃：
6 by deceiving with malicious slander the sincere good will of rulers.
彼等利用乖戾欺诈之计谋，迷惑忠贞纯良之公卿。
7 This can be verified in the ancient stories that have been handed down to us, but more fully when one considers the wicked deeds perpetrated in your midst by the pestilential influence of those undeserving of authority.
此处无须引证留传于我侪其之古籍，尔辈考察此辈恶劣掌权者所做败德恶行，即可知晓。
8 We must provide for the future, so as to render the kingdom undisturbed and peaceful for all men,
是以为防息于未然，使帝国兔于祸乱，人人得享安乐，
9 taking advantage of changing conditions and deciding always with equitable treatment matters coming to our attention.
朕不复妄听谗言，务以正义裁判，处断呈递于朕之案件。
10 1 ＂For instance, Haman, son of Hammedatha, a Macedonian, certainly not of Persian blood, and very different from us in generosity, was hospitably received by us.
今哈默大达之子，马其顿人哈曼，实非波斯血统，本不堪朕之宽仁，然朕仍收为客卿，
11 He so far enjoyed the good will which we have toward all peoples that he was proclaimed ＂father of the king,' before whom everyone was to bow down; he attained the rank second to the royal throne.
亲历朕对各族所有之优惠，竟被尊称为父，受万民敬礼，位居帝座之次。
12 But, unequal to this dignity, he strove to deprive us of kingdom and of life;
今高官厚禄，而心犹不足，竟欲夺朕位，害朕命，
13 and by weaving intricate webs of deceit, he demanded the destruction of Mordecai, our savior and constant benefactor, and of Esther, our blameless royal consort, together with their whole race.
更千方百计，企图将朕之救命恩主摩尔德开，并朕之无辜后妃艾斯德尔，与其全族上下，予以消灭。
14 For by such measures he hoped to catch us defenseless and to transfer the rule of the Persians to the Macedonians.
如此，欲乘朕之孤立，交波斯帝国于马其顿人。
15 But we find that the Jews, who were doomed to extinction by this archcriminal, are not evildoers, but rather are governed by very just laws
然据朕察知，此败类欲消灭之犹太人，原非作恶歹徒，实乃奉公守法之民，
16 and are the children of the Most High, the living God of majesty, who has maintained the kingdom in a flourishing condition for us and for our forebears.
实乃赐朕与朕祖国昌盛之至高至大，永生天主之子民。
17 ＂You will do well, then, to ignore the letter sent by Haman, son of Hammedatha,
是以尔辈不宜履行哈默大达之子哈曼颁发之文书，
18 for he who composed it has been hanged, together with his entire household, before the gates of Susa. Thus swiftly has God, who governs all, brought just punishment upon him.
因其撰者与全家已悬首于稣撒门前，主宰万物者天主立即使其得此报应。
19 ＂You shall exhibit a copy of this letter publicly in every place, to certify that the Jews may follow their own laws,
因此，是项文告，尔辈应四处公布，准犹太人遵守其固有之法律，且
20 and that you may help them on the day set for their ruin, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, Adar, to defend themselves against those who attack them.
应在择定迫害彼等之日，即阿达尔十二月十三日协助彼等敌抗杀害彼等之人。
21 For God, the ruler of all, has turned that day for them from one of destruction of the chosen race into one of joy.
盖主宰万物者天主，已将此消灭选民之日化为喜乐之日。
22 Therefore, you too must celebrate this memorable day among your designated feasts with all rejoicing,
是以于尔辈之庆节中，也应隆重庆祝此纪念日，
23 so that both now and in the future it may be, for us and for loyal Persians, a celebration of victory, and for those who plot against us a reminder of destruction.
使现今与未来皆庆祝朕与亲善波斯者之胜利，但为图谋害朕之辈，乃灭亡之纪念日。
24 ＂Every city and province, without exception, that does not observe this decree shall be ruthlessly destroyed with fire and sword, so that it will be left not merely untrodden by men, but even shunned by wild beasts and birds forever.＂
凡不履行此命令之城市或区域，应毫不留情，一律火焚诛灭，使之不但人迹不至，即鸟兽亦视为畏途，直达永远。＂
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Footnotes（注解）
1 [8] Whatever is written . . . cannot be revoked: the king cannot directly grant Esther's request (Esther 8:5) to revoke the previous decree against the Jews because of the irrevocable character of the laws of the Medes and Persians (Esther 1:19; Daniel 6:9); but he empowers Esther to issue a new decree in his name which renders the earlier decree without effect; cf Esther 3:12f.
2 [13] Avenge themselves on their enemies: partly in self-defense (Esther E:20), and partly to express the fact that the extreme cruelty designed against the Jews by their enemies now recoiled upon the latter as a punishment. Cf Esther 9:1f.