斯1

以斯帖記-Esther 第 1 章

1:1	當亞哈隨魯作王的日子，(這亞哈隨魯從印度直到古實，統管一百二十七省，) Now in the days of Ahasuerus (this is the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over one hundred twenty- seven provinces)
1:2	那些日子，亞哈隨魯王在書珊京城登了國位。 In those days when King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Susa the capital,
1:3	在位第三年，他為一切首領臣仆設擺筵宴。有波斯和瑪代的權貴、貴胄、和各省的首領在他麵前； In the third year of his reign, he held a banquet for all his princes and his servants. The army of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the princes of the provinces were before him
1:4	他把他國榮耀的豐富，和他盛大威嚴的華貴，給他們看了許多日，就是一百八十日。 As he showed the glorious wealth of his kingdom and the splendor of his great majesty for many days, for one hundred eighty days.
1:5	這些日子滿了，王又為所有在書珊京城的人民，無論尊大或卑小，在王宮花園的院內設擺筵宴七日。 And when these days were completed, the king held a banquet for seven days for all the people found in Susa the capital, both great and small, in the court of the garden of the king's palace.
1:6	有白色棉織的幔子、藍色的掛帳，用細麻繩、紫色繩係在銀環和白玉石柱上，有金銀的床榻擺在斑岩、白玉石、珠母、黑玉石鋪的石地上。 There were white cotton curtains and blue hangings tied with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and marble pillars, as well as couches of gold and silver upon a pavement of porphyry, white marble, mother-of-pearl, and mosaics.
1:7	用金器皿賜酒，器皿各有不同；照著王的厚意，所賜的禦酒甚多。 And drinks were served in vessels of gold, and the vessels were different from one another; and the royal wine was abundant, according to the king's bounty.
1:8	喝酒乃照著定例，不準勉強人，因王吩咐宮裏的一切臣宰，要照各人的意願待他們。 And the drinking was, by commandment, without constraint; for so the king had ordered all the officials of his house to do as each man desired.
1:9	王後瓦實提在亞哈隨魯王的王宮中，也為婦女設擺筵宴。 Also Vashti the queen held a banquet for the women in the royal house that belonged to King Ahasuerus.
1:10	第七日，亞哈隨魯王飲酒，心中快樂，就吩咐在他麵前侍立的七個太監米戶幔、比斯他、哈波拿、比革他、亞拔他、西達、甲迦， On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,
1:11	請王後瓦實提戴著後冠到王麵前，使各民和臣宰看她的美麗，因為她容貌甚美。 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the royal crown, in order to show her beauty to the peoples and the princes; for she was beautiful in appearance.
1:12	王後瓦實提卻不肯遵王藉太監所傳的命令而來，所以王甚發怒，怒火中燒。 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command given through the king's eunuchs; and the king became very angry, and his wrath burned within him.
1:13	王就問通達時務的智慧人說，(按王的常規，辦事必先詢問一切通曉法例和公理的人； Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times (for such was the custom of the king toward all who knew law and justice;
1:14	那在王左右的是波斯和瑪代的七個首領甲示拿、示達、押瑪他、他施斯、米力、瑪西拿和米母幹，他們常見王麵，在國中坐首位，) And those next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face and sat first in the kingdom):
1:15	王後瓦實提不遵行亞哈隨魯王藉太監所傳的命令，照法例應當怎樣對待她？ According to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti because she has not performed the command of King Ahasuerus given through the eunuchs?
1:16	米母幹在王和眾首領麵前回答說，王後瓦實提不但得罪王，也得罪亞哈隨魯王各省的臣民； And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen has done wrong not only to the king but also to all the princes and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.
1:17	因為王後所行的這事必傳到眾婦人的耳中，說，亞哈隨魯王吩咐王後瓦實提到王麵前，她卻不來，這就使她們藐視自己的丈夫。 For this deed of the queen will go out to all women, causing them to view their husbands contemptibly as they say, King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought to his presence, but she did not come.
1:18	今日波斯和瑪代的眾夫人聽見王後所行的這事，必向王的眾臣照樣行；這樣就必多有藐視和忿怒的事了。 And this day the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen's deed will speak likewise to all the king's princes, and contempt and wrath will abound.
1:19	王若以為美，可以降旨，寫在波斯和瑪代人的法例中，永不廢除，不準瓦實提再到亞哈隨魯王麵前，又請王將她王後的位分賜給比她好的人。 If it please the king, let a royal order go forth from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it cannot be overruled, that Vashti come no more into the presence of King Ahasuerus and that the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she.
1:20	王所降的旨意傳遍通國，(國度本來廣大，)所有的婦人，無論丈夫尊大或卑小，都必尊敬他。 And when the king's decree which he will make is heard throughout all his kingdom, vast though it is, all women will give honor to their husbands, great and small.
1:21	王和眾首領都以米母幹的話為美，王就照這話去行， And this word pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to Memucan's word.
1:22	發詔書到王的各省，依照各省的文字達於各省，依照各族的方言達於各族，使作丈夫的在自己家中作主，各說本族的方言。 So he sent letters to all the king's provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, that every man should be master in his own house and speak in the language of his own people.

以斯帖記-Esther 第 1 章