Esther 1

1 This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush.

1 亚哈随鲁在位期间，统治从印度到古实的一百二十七个省。

2 In those days King Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa.

2 亚哈随鲁王在书珊城登基，

3 In the third year of his reign, Xerxes held a feast for all his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia and Media were there, along with the nobles and princes of the provinces.

3 他在执政第三年大宴群臣，波斯和玛代的将领、各省的贵族和官长都在场。

4 And for a full 180 days he displayed the glorious riches of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness.

4 整整一百八十天，他展示自己帝国的财富和王权的威荣。

5 At the end of this time, in the garden court of the royal palace, the king held a seven-day feast for all the people in the citadel of Susa, from the least to the greatest.

5 之后，他又一连七天在御花园宴请书珊城里所有的居民，无论尊卑。

6 Hangings of white and blue linen were fastened with cords of fine white and purple material to silver rings on the marble pillars. Gold and silver couches were arranged on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones.

6 御花园里有白色的棉帐和蓝色的彩帐，用细麻绳和紫色绳系在大理石柱的银环上。有金银制成的床榻摆在各色斑岩、大理石、珍珠贝壳及其他贵重石头铺成的地上。

7 Beverages were served in an array of goblets of gold, each with a different design, and the royal wine flowed freely, according to the king’s bounty.

7 饮酒用的是各式各样的金器皿，御酒大量供应，足显王的慷慨。

8 By order of the king, no limit was placed on the drinking, and every official of his household was to serve each man whatever he desired.

8 喝酒有个规矩，不许勉强人，因为王吩咐过宫里所有的侍从，招待各人要随其所愿。

9 Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.

9 瓦实提王后也在亚哈随鲁王的宫里设宴招待女宾。

10 On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was merry with wine, he ordered the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas—

10 第七天，亚哈随鲁王喝得心中畅快，就吩咐在王身边服侍的米户幔、比斯他、哈波拿、比革他、亚拔他、西达和甲迦七位太监，

11 to bring Queen Vashti before him, wearing her royal crown, to display her beauty to the people and officials. For she was beautiful to behold.

11 去请瓦实提王后戴着后冠到王面前，向百姓和官员展现她的美貌，因为她非常美丽。

12 Queen Vashti, however, refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs. And the king became furious, and his anger burned within him.

12 但瓦实提王后违抗太监所传的谕旨，拒绝前来，王非常生气，怒火中烧。

13 Then the king consulted the wise men who knew the times, for it was customary for him to confer with the experts in law and justice.

13 王有事习惯征求通晓律例和法则之人的意见，于是他去问精通时务的哲士。

14 His closest advisors were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who had personal access to the king and ranked highest in the kingdom.

14 那时，靠近王的有甲示拿、示达、押玛他、他施斯、米力、玛西拿和米慕干七位波斯和玛代的大臣，他们常见王的面，在国中身居高位。

15 “According to law,” he asked, “what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey the command of King Xerxes delivered by the eunuchs?”

15 王问他们：“瓦实提王后违抗太监所传的谕旨，按律该如何处置她？”

16 And in the presence of the king and his princes, Memucan replied, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king, but all the princes and the peoples in all the provinces of King Xerxes.

16 米慕干当着王和大臣们的面说：“瓦实提王后不但冒犯了王，而且有害于王举国的臣民。

17 For the conduct of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes ordered Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she did not come.’

17 因为王后的事必传到所有妇女耳中，致使她们藐视自己的丈夫，因为她们会说，‘亚哈随鲁王命人请瓦实提王后到他面前，她却不去。’

18 This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard about the queen’s conduct will say the same thing to all the king’s officials, resulting in much contempt and wrath.

18 今天，波斯和玛代的贵妇听到王后这事，也会这样对待王的大臣，藐视和恼怒的事必层出不穷。

19 So if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree, and let it be recorded in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti shall never again enter the presence of King Xerxes, and that her royal position shall be given to a woman better than she.

19 王若愿意，就请降旨不准瓦实提再到王面前，把她王后的位分赐给比她更好的女子，并将此谕旨写入波斯和玛代的律法，永不更改。

20 The edict the king issues will be heard throughout his vast kingdom—and so all women, from the least to the greatest, will honor their husbands.”

20 王的谕旨传遍王辽阔的国境后，所有的妇女，无论丈夫贵贱，都必尊重他们。”

21 The king and his princes were pleased with this counsel; so the king did as Memucan advised.

21 王和大臣们都赞同米慕干的建议，王便依照他的建议，

22 He sent letters to all the provinces of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be master of his own household.

22 用各省的文字和各族的语言写谕旨，通告各省，丈夫要做一家之主，说话有权柄。