< エステル 記 3 >

1 これらの事の後アハシユエロス王アガグ人ハンメダタの子ハマンを貴びこれを高くして己とともにある一切の牧伯の上にその席を定めしむ
After these things, king Assuerus advanced Aman, the son of Amadathi, who was of the race of Agag: and he set his throne above all the princes that were with him.
2 王の門にある主の諸臣みな跪づきてハマンを拝せり 是は王斯かれになすことを命じたれぱなり 然れどもモルデカイは跪づかず又これを拝せざりき
And all the king’s servants, that were at the doors of the palace, bent their knees, and worshipped Aman: for so the emperor had commanded them, only Mardochai did not bend his knee, nor worship him.
3 ここをもて王の門にある王の諧臣モデカイにむかひて言ふ 汝いかなれば王の命に背くやと
And the king’s servants that were chief at the doors of the palace, said to him: Why dost thou alone not observe the king’s commandment?
4 かれらモデカイに日々かく言ふといへども聴ざりければその事の爲をふさるべきか否を見んとてハマンにこれを告たり 其はモルデカイおのれのユダヤ人なることを語りたればなり
And when they were saying this often, and he would not hearken to them; they told Aman, desirous to know whether he would continue in his resolution: for he had told them that he was a Jew.
5 ハマン、モルデカイの跪づかずまた己を拝せざるを見たれば ハマン忿怒にたへざりしが
Now when Aman had heard this, and had proved by experience that Mardochai did not bend his knee to him, nor worship him, he was exceeding angry.
6 ただモルデカイ一人を殺すは事小さしと思へり彼らモルデカイの属する民をハマンに顕はしければハマンはアハシユエロスの國の中にある一切のユダヤ人すなはちモルデカイの属する民をことごとく殺さんと謀れり
And he counted it nothing to lay his hands upon Mardochai alone: for he had heard that he was of the nation of the Jews, and he chose rather to destroy all the nation of the Jews that were in the kingdom of Assuerus.
7 アハシユエロス王の十二年正月即ちニサンの月にハマンの前にて十二月すなはちアダルの月まで一日一日のため一月一月のためにプルを投しむプルは即ち籤なり
In the first month (which is called Nisan) in the twelfth year a of the reign of Assuerus, the lot was cast into an urn, which in Hebrew is called Phur, before Aman, on what day and what month the nation of the Jews should be destroyed: and there came out the twelfth month, which is called Adar.
8 ハマンかくてアハシユエロス王に言けるは御國の各州にある諸民の中に散されて別れ別れになりをる一の民ありその律法は一切の民と異り また王の法律を守らずこの故にこれを容しおくは王の益にあらず
And Aman said to king Assuerus: There is a people scattered through all the provinces of thy kingdom, and separated one from another, that use new laws and ceremonies, and moreover despise the king’s ordinances: and thou knowest very well that it is not expedient for thy kingdom that they should grow insolent by impunity.
9 王もしこれを善としたまはば願くは彼らを滅ぼせと書くだしたまへ さらば我王の事をつかさどる者等の手に銀一萬タラントを秤り交して王の府庫に人しめん
If it please thee, decree that they may he destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents to thy treasurers.
10 王すなはち指環をその手より取はづしアガグ人ハンメダタの子ハマンすなはちユダヤ人の敵たる者に交し
And the king took the ring that he used, from his own hand, and gave it to Aman, the son of Amadathi of the race of Agag, the enemy of the Jews,
11 しかしてハマンに言けるはその銀はなんぢに與ふ その民もまた汝にあたふれば汝に善と見ゆるごとく爲よ
And he said to him: As to the money which thou promisest, keep it for thyself: and as to the people, do with them as seemeth good to thee.
12 ここにおいて正月の十三日に王の書記官を召あつめ王に属する州牧各州の方伯およびもろもろの民の牧伯にハマンが命ぜんとする所をことごとく書しるさしむ 即ちもろもろの州におくるものは其文字をもちひ もろもろの民におくるものはその言語をもちひ おのおのアハシユエロス王の名をもてこれを書き王の指環をもてこれに印したり
And the king’s scribes were called in the first month Nisan, on the thirteenth day of the same month: and they wrote, as Aman had commanded, to all the king’s lieutenants, and to the judges of the provinces, and of divers nations, as every nation could read, and hear according to their different languages, in the name of king Assuerus: and the letters, sealed with his ring,
13 しかして驛卒をもて書を王の諸州におくり十二月すなはちアダルの月の十三日において一日の内に一切のユダヤ人を若き者老たる者小児婦人の差別なくことごとく滅ぼし殺し絶しかつその所有物を奪ふべしと諭しぬ
Were sent by the king’s messengers to all provinces, to kill and destroy all the Jews, both young and old, little children, and women, in one day, that is, on the thirteenth of the twelfth month, which is called Adar, and to make a spoil of their goods.
14 この詔旨を諸州に傅へてかの日のために準備をなさしめんとてその書る物の寫本を一切の民に開きて示せり
And the contents of the letters were to this effect, that all provinces might know and be ready against that day.
15 驛卒王の命によりて急ぎて出ゆきぬ この詔書はシユシヤンの城に於て出されたり かくて王とハマンは坐して酒飮ゐたりしがシユシヤンの邑は惑ひわづらへり
The couriers that were sent made haste to fulfill the king’s commandment. And immediately the edict was hung up in Susan, the king and Aman feasting together, and all the Jews that were in the city weeping.

< エステル 記 3 >