Esther

亞哈隨魯王廢瓦實提王后

1亞哈隨魯作王，從印度直到古實，統管一百二十七省。

2亞哈隨魯王在書珊城的宮登基；

3在位第三年，為他一切首領臣僕設擺筵席，有波斯和米底亞的權貴，就是各省的貴冑與首領，在他面前。

4他把他榮耀之國的豐富和他美好威嚴的尊貴給他們看了許多日，就是一百八十日。

5這日子滿了，又為所有住書珊城的大小人民在御園的院子裏設擺筵席七日。

6有白色、綠色、藍色的帳子，用細麻繩、紫色繩從銀環內繫在白玉石柱上；有金銀的床榻擺在紅、白、黃、黑玉石的鋪石地上。

7用金器皿賜酒，器皿各有不同。御酒甚多，足顯王的厚意。

8喝酒有例，不准勉強人，因王吩咐宮裏的一切臣宰，讓人各隨己意。

9王后瓦實提在亞哈隨魯王的宮內也為婦女設擺筵席。

10第七日，亞哈隨魯王飲酒，心中快樂，就吩咐在他面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，

11請王后瓦實提頭戴王后的冠冕到王面前，使各等臣民看她的美貌，因為她容貌甚美。

12王后瓦實提卻不肯遵太監所傳的王命而來，所以王甚發怒，心如火燒。

13那時，在王左右常見王面、國中坐高位的，有波斯和米底亞的七個大臣，就是甲示拿、示達、押瑪他、他施斯、米力、瑪西拿、米母干，都是達時務的明哲人。按王的常規，辦事必先詢問知例明法的人。王問他們說：

14Questa traduzione non include questo passaggio.

15「王后瓦實提不遵太監所傳的王命，照例應當怎樣辦理呢？」

16米母干在王和眾首領面前回答說：「王后瓦實提這事，不但得罪王，並且有害於王各省的臣民；

17因為王后這事必傳到眾婦人的耳中，說：『亞哈隨魯王吩咐王后瓦實提到王面前，她卻不來』，她們就藐視自己的丈夫。

18今日波斯和米底亞的眾夫人聽見王后這事，必向王的大臣照樣行；從此必大開藐視和忿怒之端。

19王若以為美，就降旨寫在波斯和米底亞人的例中，永不更改，不准瓦實提再到王面前，將她王后的位分賜給比她還好的人。

20所降的旨意傳遍通國（國度本來廣大），所有的婦人，無論丈夫貴賤都必尊敬他。」

21王和眾首領都以米母干的話為美，王就照這話去行，

22發詔書，用各省的文字、各族的方言通知各省，使為丈夫的在家中作主，各說本地的方言。

1Now in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty-seven provinces),

2in those days, when the King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Susa the palace,

3in the third year of his reign, he made a feast for all his princes and his servants; the army of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces being before him.

4He displayed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even one hundred eighty days.

5When these days were fulfilled, the king made a seven day feast for all the people who were present in Susa the palace, both great and small, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.

6There were hangings of white and blue material, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and marble pillars. The couches were of gold and silver, on a pavement of red, white, yellow, and black marble.

7They gave them drinks in golden vessels of various kinds, including royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king.

8In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had instructed all the officials of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.

9Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to King Ahasuerus.

10On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcass, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,

11to bring Vashti the queen before the king wearing the royal crown, to show the people and the princes her beauty; for she was beautiful.

12But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by the eunuchs. Therefore the king was very angry, and his anger burned in him.

13Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times (for it was the king’s custom to consult those who knew law and judgment;

14and 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),

15“What shall we do to Queen Vashti according to law, because she has not done the bidding of the King Ahasuerus by the eunuchs?”

16Memucan answered before the king and the princes, “Vashti the queen has not done wrong to just the king, but also to all the princes, and to all the people who are in all the provinces of the King Ahasuerus.

17For this deed of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to show contempt for their husbands when it is reported, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she didn’t come.’

18Today, the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s deed will tell all the king’s princes. This will cause much contempt and wrath.

19“If it pleases the king, let a royal commandment go from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it cannot be altered, that Vashti may never again come before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she.

20When the king’s decree which he shall make is published throughout all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will give their husbands honor, both great and small.”

21This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan:

22for he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, into every province according to its writing, and to every people in their language, that every man should rule his own house, speaking in the language of his own people.