< 以斯帖記 4 >

1 末底改知道所做的這一切事,就撕裂衣服,穿麻衣,蒙灰塵,在城中行走,痛哭哀號。
When Mordecai had heard this, he tore his garments and put on sackcloth, strewing ashes on his head, and he cried out with a loud voice in the main street of the city, revealing the anguish of his soul.
2 到了朝門前停住腳步,因為穿麻衣的不可進朝門。
And he continued with this lamenting, even up to the gate of the palace, for no one clothed with sackcloth is permitted to enter the king’s court.
3 王的諭旨所到的各省各處,猶大人大大悲哀,禁食哭泣哀號,穿麻衣躺在灰中的甚多。
Likewise, in all provinces, towns, and places where the king’s cruel decision arrived, there was extraordinary mourning among the Jews with fasting, wailing, and weeping, with many using sackcloth and ashes for their bed.
4 王后以斯帖的宮女和太監來把這事告訴以斯帖,她甚是憂愁,就送衣服給末底改穿,要他脫下麻衣,他卻不受。
Then Esther’s maids and eunuchs went in and informed her. When she heard it, she was shocked, and she sent a garment to clothe him and to take away the sackcloth, but he would not accept it.
5 以斯帖就把王所派伺候她的一個太監,名叫哈他革召來,吩咐他去見末底改,要知道這是甚麼事,是甚麼緣故。
And she sent for Hathach the eunuch, whom the king had appointed to minister to her, and she instructed him to go to Mordecai and to discern from him why he was doing this.
6 於是哈他革出到朝門前的寬闊處見末底改。
And departing, Hathach went to Mordecai, who was standing in the street of the city, in front of the palace entrance.
7 末底改將自己所遇的事,並哈曼為滅絕猶大人應許捐入王庫的銀數都告訴了他;
He told him everything that had happened, how Haman had promised to transfer silver into the king’s treasury for the death of the Jews.
8 又將所抄寫傳遍書珊城要滅絕猶大人的旨意交給哈他革,要給以斯帖看,又要給她說明,並囑咐她進去見王,為本族的人在王面前懇切祈求。
Also, he gave him a copy of the edict that was hanging up in Susa, so that he would show it to the queen and advise her to go in to the king and beg him on behalf of her people.
9 哈他革回來,將末底改的話告訴以斯帖;
And Hathach returned and informed Esther of all that Mordecai had said.
10 以斯帖就吩咐哈他革去見末底改,說:
She answered him, and ordered him say to Mordecai:
11 「王的一切臣僕和各省的人民都知道有一個定例:若不蒙召,擅入內院見王的,無論男女必被治死;除非王向他伸出金杖,不得存活。現在我沒有蒙召進去見王已經三十日了。」
“All the servants of the king and all the provinces that are under his realm understand that anyone, whether man or woman, who enters the king’s inner court, who has not been summoned, is immediately to be put to death without any delay, unless the king should happen to extend the golden scepter to him, as a sign of clemency, so that he will be able to live. How then can I go in to the king, when, for thirty days now, I have not been called to him?”
12 人就把以斯帖這話告訴末底改。
And when Mordecai had heard this, he again sent word to Esther, saying, “Do not think that you will save so much as your own soul, just because you are in the king’s house and are above all the Jews.
13 末底改託人回覆以斯帖說:「你莫想在王宮裏強過一切猶大人,得免這禍。
And when Mordecai had heard this, he again sent word to Esther, saying, “Do not think that you will save so much as your own soul, just because you are in the king’s house and are above all the Jews.
14 此時你若閉口不言,猶大人必從別處得解脫,蒙拯救;你和你父家必致滅亡。焉知你得了王后的位分不是為現今的機會嗎?」
For, if you remain silent now, the Jews will be delivered through some other opportunity, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for this reason, so that you would be prepared for such a time as this?”
15 以斯帖就吩咐人回報末底改說:
And again Esther sent to Mordecai in these words:
16 「你當去招聚書珊城所有的猶大人,為我禁食三晝三夜,不吃不喝;我和我的宮女也要這樣禁食。然後我違例進去見王,我若死就死吧!」
“Go and gather together all the Jews whom you will find in Susa, and pray for me. Neither eat nor drink for three days and three nights, and I will fast with my handmaids similarly, and then I will go in to the king, doing what is against the law, not having been called, and so expose myself to mortal danger.”
17 於是末底改照以斯帖一切所吩咐的去行。
And so Mordecai went, and he did everything that Esther had instructed him.

< 以斯帖記 4 >