Esther 4
1 When Mordecai learned of all that had happened, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, wailing loudly and bitterly.
摩爾德開一知道所發生的事，就撕裂了自己的衣服，披上苦衣，撒上灰土，走到京城中心，大聲哀號，
2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because the law prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering that gate.
一直走到御門前，因為身披苦衣的，不准進入御門。
3 In every province to which the king’s command and edict came, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and lamented, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
此時在各省裏，凡是諭文與敕令傳到的地方，猶太人都哀號、禁食、哭泣、悲痛；許多人且身穿苦衣，躺在灰土中。
4 When Esther’s maidens and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, the queen was overcome with distress. She sent clothes for Mordecai to wear instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them.
艾斯德爾的宮女和太監跑來報告給她，王后得悉，萬分悲傷，立即送衣服去，叫摩爾德開穿上，脫下苦衣；但是他沒有接受。
5 Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs appointed to her, and she dispatched him to Mordecai to learn what was troubling him and why.
艾斯德爾就叫王派來侍候她的太監哈塔客來，吩咐他去見摩爾德開，探聽一下發生了何事，為何如此。
6 So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square in front of the king’s gate,
哈塔客遂走到御門前的廣場，去見摩爾德開。
7 and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money that Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury in order to destroy the Jews.
摩爾德開便將所遭遇的事，也將哈曼為消滅猶太人給王庫捐獻的銀錢，都詳細告訴了他，
8 Mordecai also gave Hathach a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for the destruction of the Jews, to show and explain to Esther, urging her to approach the king, implore his favor, and plead before him for her people.
並且把在穌撒已公佈的滅絕猶太人的一分諭文交給他，轉呈艾斯德爾披閱，並請她快去懇求君王為自己的民族求情，且叫他向艾斯德爾說：「請你回憶你孤苦零丁的時候，怎樣在我手下長大成人。如今一人之下的哈曼已求准要處死我們。請你呼求上主，並為我們向君王求情，救我們不死! 」
9 So Hathach went back and relayed Mordecai’s response to Esther.
哈塔客回來，將摩爾德開的話回報給艾斯德爾。
10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and instructed him to tell Mordecai,
艾斯德爾吩咐哈塔客去回覆摩爾德開說：「
11 “All the royal officials and the people of the king’s provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned—that he be put to death. Only if the king extends the gold scepter may that person live. But I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the past thirty days.”
王所有的公卿與各省的百姓都知道，任何人不論男女，未奉召見，而擅入內庭往謁君王的，除非君王向他伸出金杖賜他生存，一律應依法處死。況且我已三十天未蒙召親近君王了。」
12 When Esther’s words were relayed to Mordecai,
哈塔客將艾斯德爾的話轉告給摩爾德開。
13 he sent back to her this reply: “Do not imagine that because you are in the king’s palace you alone will escape the fate of all the Jews.
摩爾德開叫他回覆艾斯德爾說：「不要心想，一個猶太人在王宮裏就可保全性命!
14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
決不會。在這生死關頭，你若緘默不言，猶太人也必會從別處得到救援和援助。但是，在這光景下，你和你的家族必遭滅亡。誰知你之所以得涉足朝廷，不正是為了挽救現在的危機呢! 」
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:
艾斯德爾令人轉告摩爾德開說：「
16 “Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!”
去召集一切住在穌撒的猶太人，為我禁食，三天三夜不吃不喝。同時，我與我的宮女，也同樣禁食；此後，我就越規去見君王，即便我死，死也情願! 」
17 So Mordecai went and did all that Esther had instructed him.
於是摩爾德開走了，進行艾斯德爾所吩咐他的一切事。
