< Esther 3 >
1 After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
这事以后,亚哈随鲁王抬举亚甲族哈米大他的儿子哈曼,使他高升,叫他的爵位超过与他同事的一切臣宰。
2 And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed down, and prostrated themselves before Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not down, nor prostrated himself before him.
在朝门的一切臣仆都跪拜哈曼,因为王如此吩咐;惟独末底改不跪不拜。
3 Then the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai: 'Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?'
在朝门的臣仆问末底改说:“你为何违背王的命令呢?”
4 Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's words would stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew.
他们天天劝他,他还是不听,他们就告诉哈曼,要看末底改的事站得住站不住,因他已经告诉他们自己是犹大人。
5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not down, nor prostrated himself before him, then was Haman full of wrath.
哈曼见末底改不跪不拜,他就怒气填胸。
6 But it seemed contemptible in his eyes to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had made known to him the people of Mordecai; wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
他们已将末底改的本族告诉哈曼;他以为下手害末底改一人是小事,就要灭绝亚哈随鲁王通国所有的犹大人,就是末底改的本族。
7 In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.
亚哈随鲁王十二年正月,就是尼散月,人在哈曼面前,按日日月月掣普珥,就是掣签,要定何月何日为吉,择定了十二月,就是亚达月。
8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus: 'There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from those of every people; neither keep they the king's laws; therefore it profiteth not the king to suffer them.
哈曼对亚哈随鲁王说:“有一种民散居在王国各省的民中;他们的律例与万民的律例不同,也不守王的律例,所以容留他们与王无益。
9 If it please the king, let it be written that they be destroyed; and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those that have the charge of the king's business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.'
王若以为美,请下旨意灭绝他们;我就捐一万他连得银子交给掌管国帑的人,纳入王的府库。”
10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
于是王从自己手上摘下戒指给犹大人的仇敌—亚甲族哈米大他的儿子哈曼。
11 And the king said unto Haman: 'The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.'
王对哈曼说:“这银子仍赐给你,这民也交给你,你可以随意待他们。”
12 Then were the king's scribes called in the first month, on the thirteenth day thereof, and there was written, according to all that Haman commanded, unto the king's satraps, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the princes of every people; to every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and it was sealed with the king's ring.
正月十三日,就召了王的书记来,照着哈曼一切所吩咐的,用各省的文字、各族的方言,奉亚哈随鲁王的名写旨意,传与总督和各省的省长,并各族的首领;又用王的戒指盖印,
13 And letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.
交给驿卒传到王的各省,吩咐将犹大人,无论老少妇女孩子,在一日之间,十二月,就是亚达月十三日,全然剪除,杀戮灭绝,并夺他们的财为掠物。
14 The copy of the writing, to be given out for a decree in every province, was to be published unto all peoples, that they should be ready against that day.
抄录这旨意,颁行各省,宣告各族,使他们预备等候那日。
15 The posts went forth in haste by the king's commandment, and the decree was given out in Shushan the castle; and the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.
驿卒奉王命急忙起行,旨意也传遍书珊城。王同哈曼坐下饮酒,书珊城的民却都慌乱。