< Esther 6 >

1 That night the king could not sleep. He commanded servants to bring the records of the events of his reign, and they were being read aloud to the king.
那一夜,君王因失眠,便命人取大事錄,即年鑑來,在他面前誦讀。
2 It was found recorded there that Mordecai had told about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's officials who guarded the entrance, who had tried to harm King Ahasuerus.
書上這樣記載:摩爾德開如何告發了君王的兩個守門太監彼革堂和特勒士,企圖殺害薛西斯王的事。
3 The king asked, “What was done to give honor or recognition to Mordecai for doing this?” Then the king's young men who served him said, “Nothing was done for him.”
王問說:「摩爾德開為這事得到什尊榮和地位﹖」服侍他的僕答說:「他什麼也沒有得到。」
4 The king said, “Who is in the courtyard?” Now Haman had entered the outer courtyard of the king's house to speak to him about hanging Mordecai on the gallows he set up for him.
正當君王探聽摩爾德開的賢德時,恰巧哈曼在庭院裏,於是王問說:「是誰在庭院裏﹖」原來哈曼正走到了王宮的外庭,要請求君王把摩爾德開懸在他豎起的刑架上。
5 The king's servants said to him, “Haman is standing in the courtyard.” The king said, “Let him come in.”
王的僕役答應說:「是哈曼站在庭院裏。」王說:「叫他進來! 」
6 When Haman entered, the king said to him, “What should be done for the man whom the king takes pleasure in honoring?” Now Haman said in his heart, “Whom would the king take pleasure in honoring more than me?”
哈曼進來,王對他說:「假如君王要顯耀一個人,應該怎樣對待他﹖」哈曼心想:除我以外,君王還能顯耀誰呢﹖
7 Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king takes pleasure in honoring,
於是哈曼對君王說:「大王對願顯耀的人,
8 let royal robes be brought, robes that the king has worn, and a horse that the king has ridden and on whose head is the royal crest.
應拿出大王穿的龍袍和大王騎的頭戴「御馬冠」的駿馬;
9 Then let the robes and the horse be given to one of the king's most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king takes pleasure in honoring, and let them lead him on the horse through the city streets. Let them proclaim before him, 'This is what is done to the one whom the king takes pleasure in honoring!'”
將龍袍和駿馬交給大王的一個大臣,叫他給大王所要顯耀的人穿上,領他騎著御馬在城中的廣場遊行,還要有人走在他前面喊道:看,凡皇上願意顯耀的人,就是這樣的待他。」
10 Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry, take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do this for Mordecai the Jew who sits at the king's gate. Do not fail in a single matter of what you have said.”
王對哈曼說:「趕快拿龍袍和駿馬來,就照你所說的,去對待坐在御門旁的那猶太人摩爾德開罷! 凡你所說的,一點也不可忽略! 」
11 Then Haman took the robe and the horse. He dressed Mordecai and led him on the horse through the city streets. He proclaimed before him, “This is what is done for a man whom the king takes pleasure in honoring!”
哈曼就拿了龍袍和駿馬來,先給摩爾德開穿上龍袍,然後扶他騎上駿馬,領他在市內的廣場遊行,還走在他前面喊道:「凡皇上願意顯耀的人,就是這樣的待他。」
12 Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning, with his head covered.
事後,摩爾德開回到御門,哈曼卻趕快回了家,蒙著頭飲泣。
13 Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that happened to him. Then his men who were known for their wisdom, and Zeresh his wife, said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is Jewish, you will not overcome him, but you will certainly fall before him.”
哈曼將所遭遇的,都給他的愛妻則勒士和朋友述說了。他的謀士和愛妻則勒士對他說:「在摩爾德開前,你既開始失敗,如果他真是猶太人,你決不能得勝他,終必敗於他前。」
14 While they were talking with him, the king's officials arrived. They hurried to bring Haman to the feast that Esther had prepared.
他們正同他談論時,王的太監來催哈曼赴艾斯德爾設的盛宴。

< Esther 6 >