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。
And in that day king Artaxerxes gave to Esther all that belonged to Aman the slanderer: and Mardochæus was called by the king; for Esther had shewn that 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。
And the king took the ring which he had taken away from Aman, and gave it to Mardochæus: and Esther appointed Mardochæus over all that had been Aman’s.
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。
And she spoke yet again to the king, and fell at his feet, and besought [him] to do away the mischief of Aman, and all that he had done 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 stretched out to Esther the golden sceptre: and Esther arose to stand near the king.
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。
And Esther said, If it seem good to thee, and I have found favour [in thy sight], let an order be sent that the letters sent by Aman may be reversed, that were written for the destruction of the Jews, who are in thy kingdom.
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 shall I be able to look upon the affliction of my people, and how shall I be able to survive the destruction of my kindred?
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。
And the king said to Esther, If I have given and freely granted thee all that was Aman’s, and hanged him on a gallows, because he laid his hands upon the Jews, what dost thou yet further seek?
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。”
Write ye also in my name, as it seems good to you, and seal [it] with my ring: for whatever [orders] are written at the command of the king, and sealed with my ring, it is not lawful to gainsay them.
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。
So the scribes were called in the first month, which is Nisan, on the three and twentieth day of the same year; and [orders] were written to the Jews, whatever [the king had] commanded to the local governors and chiefs of the satraps, from India even to Ethiopia, a hundred and twenty-seven satraps, according to the several provinces, according to their dialects.
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。
And they were written by order of the king, and sealed with his ring, and they sent the letters by the posts:
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。
wherein he charged them to use their [own] laws in every city, and to help each other, and to treat their adversaries, and those who attacked them, as they pleased,
on one day in all the kingdom of Artaxerxes, on the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month, which is 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。
And let the copies be posted in conspicuous places throughout the kingdom, and let all the Jews be ready against this day, to fight against 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。
So the horsemen went forth with haste to perform the king’s commands; and the ordinance was also published in 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。
And Mardochæus went forth robed in the royal apparel, and wearing a golden crown, and a diadem of fine purple linen: and the people in Susa saw [it] and rejoiced.
16 犹大人有光荣，欢喜快乐而得尊贵。
And the Jews had light and gladness,
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 city and province wherever the ordinance was published: wherever the proclamation took place, the Jews had joy and gladness, feasting and mirth: and many of the Gentiles were circumcised, and became Jews, for fear of the Jews.
