Esther 7
1 So the king and Haman went to eat the second banquet/feast that Queen Esther had prepared.
王とハマンは王妃エステルの酒宴に臨んだ。
2 As they were drinking wine, the king asked again, “Esther, what do you want me to do [for you? Tell me, and] I will do it for you. Even if [you ask me for] half of my kingdom, I will give it to you.”
このふつか目の酒宴に王はまたエステルに言った、「王妃エステルよ、あなたの求めることは何か。必ず聞かれる。あなたの願いは何か。国の半ばでも聞きとどけられる」。
3 Esther replied, “O king, if you are pleased with me, and if you are willing to do [what I ask], save me, and save my people. That is what I want you to do for me.
王妃エステルは答えて言った、「王よ、もしわたしが王の目の前に恵みを得、また王がもしよしとされるならば、わたしの求めにしたがってわたしの命をわたしに与え、またわたしの願いにしたがってわたしの民をわたしに与えてください。
4 [It is as though] I and my people [are cattle that] have been sold to be slaughtered. [It is as though] we have been sold to people who want to completely destroy us. If we had only been sold to people to become their male and female slaves, I would not say anything, because that would have been a matter too small to bother you, the king.”
わたしとわたしの民は売られて滅ぼされ、殺され、絶やされようとしています。もしわたしたちが男女の奴隷として売られただけなら、わたしは黙っていたでしょう。わたしたちの難儀は王の損失とは比較にならないからです」。
5 Then King Xerxes asked her, “Who would want to do such a [terrible] thing? Where is he?”
アハシュエロス王は王妃エステルに言った、「そんな事をしようと心にたくらんでいる者はだれか。またどこにいるのか」。
6 Esther replied, “[The man who is] our enemy is this evil man Haman!” Then Haman was terrified as he stood in front of the king and queen.
エステルは言った、「そのあだ、その敵はこの悪いハマンです」。そこでハマンは王と王妃の前に恐れおののいた。
7 The king became extremely angry. He immediately left his wine and got up and went outside into the palace garden [to decide what to do]. But Haman stayed, in order to plead with Queen Esther that she would spare his life.
王は怒って酒宴の席を立ち、宮殿の園へ行ったが、ハマンは残って王妃エステルに命ごいをした。彼は王が自分に害を加えようと定めたのを見たからである。
8 He threw himself down on the couch where Esther was reclining. But at that moment the king returned from the garden to the room where they had been eating. [He saw Haman, and assumed he was preparing to rape Esther]. He exclaimed, “Are you going to rape the queen while she is here with me in my own palace?” As soon as the king said that, some officials covered Haman’s head, [as they did to people who were about to be hanged].
王が宮殿の園から酒宴の場所に帰ってみると、エステルのいた長いすの上にハマンが伏していたので、王は言った、「彼はまたわたしの家で、しかもわたしの前で王妃をはずかしめようとするのか」。この言葉が王の口から出たとき、人々は、ハマンの顔をおおった。
9 Then Harbona, one of the king’s personal officials, said, “[Outside, ] near Haman’s house, there is a (gallows/set of poles for hanging someone). It is 75 feet high. Haman made it for Mordecai, the man who spared your life!” The king said, “Hang him on it!”
その時、王に付き添っていたひとりの侍従ハルボナが「王のためによい事を告げたあのモルデカイのためにハマンが用意した高さ五十キュビトの木がハマンの家に立っています」と言ったので、王は「彼をそれに掛けよ」と言った。
10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for hanging Mordecai! And then (the king’s anger cooled off/the king was no longer so angry).
そこで人々はハマンをモルデカイのために備えてあったその木に掛けた。こうして王の怒りは和らいだ。
