< Esther 8 >

1 On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews’ enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.
その日アハシユエロス王ユダヤ人の敵ハマン一家を后エステルに賜ふ モダカイもまた王の前に來れり 是はエステル彼が己と何なる係りなるかを告たればなり
2 And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
王ハマンより取かへせし己の指環をはづしてモルデカイに與ふ 而してエステル、モルデカイをしてハマンの家をつかさどらしむ
3 And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.
エステルふたたび王の前に奏してその足下にひれふしアガグ人ハマンがユダヤ人を害せんと謀りしその謀計を除かんことを涙ながらに乞求めたり
4 Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,
王エステルにむかひて金圭を伸ければステル起て王の前に立ち
5 And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king’s provinces:
言けるは王もし之を善としたまひ我もし王の前に恩を得この事もし王に正と見え我もし御目にかなひたらば アガグ人ハンメダタの子ハマンが王の諸州にあるユダヤ人をほろぼさんと謀りて書おくりたる書をとりけすべき旨を書くだしたまへ
6 For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?
われ豈わが民に臨まんとずる禍害を見るに忍びんや 豈わが宗族のほろぶるを見るにしのびんや
7 Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.
アハシユエロス王后エステルとユダヤ人モルデカイにいひけるはハマン、ユダヤ人を殺さんとしたれば我すでにハマンの家をエステルに與へまたハマンを木にかけたり
8 Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring: for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may no man reverse.
なんぢらも亦おのれの好むごとく王の名をもて書をつくり王の指環をもてこれに印してユダヤ人につたへよ王の名をもて書き王の指環をもて印したる答は誰もとりけすこと能はざればなり
9 Then were the king’s scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.
ここをもてその時また王の書記官を召あつむ是三月すなはちシワンの月の二十三日なりきしかして印度よりエテオピアまでの百二十七州のユダヤ人州牧諸州の方伯牧伯等にモルデカイが命ぜんとするところを盡く書しるさしむ 即ちもろもろの州におくるものはその文字をもちひ諸の民におくるものはその言語をもちひひ書おくりユダヤ人におくるものはその文字と言語をもちふ
10 And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus’ name, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:
かれアハシユエロス王の名をもてこれをかき王の指環をもてこれに印し驛卒をして御厩にてそだてたる逸足の御用馬にのりてその書をおくりつたへしむ
11 Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,
その中に云ふ王すべての邑にあるユダヤ人に許す彼らあひ集まり立ておのれの生命を保護しおのれを襲ふ諸國諸州の一切の兵民をその妻子もろともにほろぼし殺し絶し且その所有物を奪ふべし
12 Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.
アハシユエロス王の諸州におて十二月すなはちアダルの月の十三日一日の内かくのごとくするを許さる
13 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
この詔旨を諸州につたへんがためまたユダヤ人をしてかの日のために準備してその敵に仇をかへさしめんがためにその書る物の写本を一切の民に開きて示せり
14 So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king’s commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.
驛卒逸足の御用馬にのり王の命によりて急がせられせきたてられて出ゆけりこの詔書はシユシヤンの城において出されたり
15 And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
かくてモルデカイは藍と白の朝服を着大なる金の冠を戴き紫色の細布の外衣をまとひて王の前よりいできたれり シユシヤンの邑中聲をあげて喜びぬ
16 The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.
ユダヤ人には光輝あり喜悦あり快樂あり尊榮ありき
17 And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.
いづれの州にても何の邑にても凡て王の命令と詔書のいたるところにてはユダヤ人よろこぴ樂しみ酒宴をひらきて此日を吉日となせりしかして國の民おほくユダヤ人となれり是はユダヤ人を畏るる心おこりたればなり

< Esther 8 >