Esther 4
1 And whanne Mardochee hadde herd these thingis, he to-rente hise clothis, and he was clothid in a sak, and spreynt aische on the heed, and he criede with greet vois in the street of the myddis of the citee, and schewide the bitternesse of his soule,
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 and he yede with this yellyng `til to the yatis of the paleis; for it was not leueful a man clothid with a sak to entre in to the halle of the kyng.
一直走到御門前，因為身披苦衣的，不准進入御門。
3 Also in alle prouynces, citees, and places, to which the cruel sentence of the king was comun, was greet weilyng, fastyng, yellyng, and wepyng anentis the Jewis, and many Jewis vsiden sak and aische for bed.
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 Sotheli the dameselis and onest seruauntis and chast of Hester entriden, and telden to hir; which thing sche herde, and was astonyed; and sche sente a cloth to Mardochee, that whanne the sak was takun a wei, he schulde clothe hym therynne; which cloth he nolde take.
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 And aftir that Athac, the onest seruaunt and chast, `was clepid, whom the kyng hadde youe a mynystre to hir, sche comaundide, that he schulde go to Mardochee, and lerne of hym, whi he dide this thing.
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 And Athac yede out, and yede to Mardochee stondynge in the street of the citee, bifor the dore of the paleis;
哈塔客遂走到御門前的廣場，去見摩爾德開。
7 which schewide to Athac alle thingis that bifelden, hou Aaman hadde bihiyt to bryng siluer in to tresours of the kyng for the deeth of Jewis.
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 Also he yaf to Athac the copie of the comaundement, that hangide in Susa, to schewe to the queen, and to moneste hir for to entre to the kyng, and to biseche hym for hir puple.
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 And Athac yede ayen, and telde to Hester alle thingis, whiche Mardochee hadde seid.
哈塔客回來，將摩爾德開的話回報給艾斯德爾。
10 And sche answeryde to hym, and seide, that he schulde seie to Mardochee, Alle the seruauntis of the kyng,
艾斯德爾吩咐哈塔客去回覆摩爾德開說：「
11 and alle prouyncis that ben vndur his lordschip, knowen, that whether a man ether a womman not clepid entrith in to the ynnere halle of the kyng, he schal be slayn anoon with outen ony tariyng, no but in hap the kyng holdith forth the goldun yerde `to hym for `the signe of merci, and he mai lyue so; therfor hou mai Y entre to the kyng, which am not clepid to hym now bi thritti daies?
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 And whanne Mardochee hadde herd `this thing, he sente efte to Hester,
哈塔客將艾斯德爾的話轉告給摩爾德開。
13 and seide, Gesse thou not, that thou schalt delyuer oonli thi lijf, for thou art in the hows of the kyng, bifor alle Jewis;
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 thou art stille now, Jewis schulen be delyuered bi another occasioun, and thou and the hows of thi fadir schulen perische; and who knowith, whether herfor thou camist to the rewme, that thou schuldist be maad redi in sich a tyme?
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 And eft Hester sente these wordis to Mardochee,
艾斯德爾令人轉告摩爾德開說：「
16 Go thou, and gadere togidere alle Jewis, whiche thou fyndist in Susa, and preie ye for me; ete ye not, nether drynke ye in thre daies and thre nyytis, and Y with myn handmaydis schal fast in lijk maner; and thanne Y not clepid schal entre to the kyng, and Y schal do ayens the lawe, and Y schal bitake me to deth and to perel.
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 Therfor Mardochee yede, and dide alle thingis, whiche Hester hadde comaundid to hym.
於是摩爾德開走了，進行艾斯德爾所吩咐他的一切事。
