以斯帖記 8
1 薛西斯王當王就將猶太人的敵人哈曼的家業，賜給了艾斯德爾王后；艾斯德爾同時也說明了摩爾德開與她自己的關係，摩爾德開就來覲見君王。
At that time King Ahasuerus gave the property of Haman the Jews’ enemy to Queen Esther. Mordecai was made one of the king’s personal advisers, for Esther had disclosed his relationship to her.
2 君王於是取下由哈曼那裏拿回來的指璽，給了摩爾德開，艾斯德爾以後叫摩爾德開管理哈曼的家業。
The king also drew off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman. He gave it to Mordecai, and Esther placed Mordecai in charge of Haman’s property.
3 艾斯德爾又去向君王求情，俯伏在他足下，含淚哀求他取消阿加格人哈曼所加的禍害，和他為害猶太人所設的陰謀。
Then Esther sought another audience with the king and fell at his feet and with tears begged him to avert the evil planned by Haman the Agagite and to frustrate his designs against the Jews.
4 王向艾斯德爾伸出金杖，艾斯德爾就起來，站在君王前，
The king held out to her the golden sceptre, and she arose and stood before him.
5 說「如果大王喜歡，如果我得陛下寵幸，如果大王認為合理且喜愛我，就請寫一道諭令，把大王為消滅全國各省的猶太人所頒下的文書，即阿加格人哈默大達的兒子哈曼的陰謀廢除。
‘If it seems best to the king,’ she said, ‘and if I have won his favour and he thinks it right, and if I please him, let written orders be given to revoke the dispatches devised by Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote ordering the destruction of the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces.
6 事實上，我怎能忍見我的民族遭受迫害﹖我怎能忍見我的親屬消滅﹖」
For how can I bear to look upon the evil that will come to my people? How can I bear to see their destruction?’
7 薛西斯王對艾斯德爾后和猶太人摩爾德開說：「我已將哈曼的家業賜給了艾斯德爾，而他本人已被懸在刑架上，因為他竟要對猶太人下毒手。
Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, ‘See, I have given Esther the property of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows, because he laid hands upon the Jews.
8 如今就照你們的意思，以君王的名義，為保護猶太人寫一道文書，蓋上君王的玉印。凡以君王名義所寫，且蓋有君王玉印的文書，決不得廢除。」
Now you write on behalf of the Jews, as seems best to you, in the king’s name and seal it with the king’s signet ring. For a document that is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring cannot be revoked.’
9 就在那時候，即在三月──「息汪」月二十三日，召集了眾御史，要依照摩爾德開為保護猶太人提示的一切，用各省的文字，各民族的語言，也給猶太人以他們的文字語言，寫了一道文書，公告由印度至雇士一百二十七省的猶太人、御史大臣、各省省長及首長。
On the twenty-third day of the third month (that is the month of Sivan), the king’s secretaries were summoned and as Mordecai instructed an edict was issued to the Jews, to the satraps and provincial governors and the rulers of each of the one hundred twenty-seven provinces from India to Ethiopia in their own script and their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language.
10 摩爾德開遂以薛西斯王的名義，寫了這道文書，蓋上君王的玉印，然後派遣驛使，騎著御廄裏的駿馬，傳遞文書。
Mordecai wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus. He sealed it with the king’s signet ring. Dispatches were sent by mounted couriers who rode the swift, noble steeds, bred of the royal studs.
11 文書上載著：君王恩准在各城市的猶太人，有團結自衛的權利，也准許他們破壞、殺害、消滅那些侵害他們的各族和各省的軍民，也可殺他們的婦孺，搶奪他們的財產；
In this way the king permitted the Jews who were in every city to gather together and make a stand for their life, to destroy, to kill, and annihilate all the armed forces of any people or province that might be hostile to them, including their children and women, and to take their goods as plunder
12 且應在十二月「阿達爾」十三日那一天，在薛西斯帝國各省內開始生效。
throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus on that thirteenth day of the twelfth month (which is called Adar).
13 這道文書應視為法律，公佈在各省內，通告各民族一律遵守，好使猶太人準備在這一天，可向自己的敵人復仇。
A copy of the edict was to be published as a decree in every province – publicly displayed so that the Jews might be ready for that day and avenge themselves.
14 驛使迫於君令，騎著御馬，火速出發。這諭文同時也在穌撒禁城公佈。
So the couriers who rode the swift, noble steeds went out, hastened and impelled by the king’s commands! Meantime the decree had been given out in the royal palace at Susa;
15 摩爾德開於是拜別君王出來，身穿紫白相間的御袍，戴著大金冠，披著純白和朱紅色的氅衣。此時穌撒城歡欣雀躍。
and Mordecai had gone out from the presence of the king in royal garments of violet and white and with a great crown of gold and with a robe of fine linen and purple. The people of Susa shouted and were glad.
16 猶太人終於得到了光明、喜樂、幸福和榮耀。
To the Jews there came light and gladness and joy and honour.
17 在各省各城中，凡是君令、上諭所到之處，猶太人無不歡欣雀躍，休假宴飲；各地的異民有許多人因為害怕猶太人，而入了猶太籍。
And in every province and city, wherever the king’s command and decree came, there was gladness and joy among the Jews and a holiday. Many of the peoples of the earth professed to be Jews, for fear of the Jews took possession of them.
