Esther 4

1 When Mordecai learned of all that had happened, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, wailing loudly and bitterly.

1 末底改得知这事，就撕裂衣服，披上麻衣，头蒙灰尘，在城中行走，放声痛哭，

2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because the law prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering that gate.

2 一直走到宫门前才停住，因为穿麻衣的不可进宫门。

3 In every province to which the king’s command and edict came, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and lamented, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

3 王的命令和谕旨传到各省各地，犹太人极其悲伤，他们禁食、哭泣、哀号，许多人身披麻衣躺在灰中。

4 When Esther’s maidens and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, the queen was overcome with distress. She sent clothes for Mordecai to wear instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them.

4 以斯帖王后的宫女和太监把这事禀告她，她非常难过，便为末底改送去衣服，让他换下麻衣，他却不肯接受。

5 Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs appointed to her, and she dispatched him to Mordecai to learn what was troubling him and why.

5 于是，以斯帖把王派来服侍她的一个名叫哈他革的太监召来，叫他去见末底改，查明事情的原委。

6 So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square in front of the king’s gate,

6 哈他革就到宫门前的广场见末底改，

7 and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money that Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury in order to destroy the Jews.

7 末底改便将自己的遭遇，以及哈曼为灭绝犹太人而许诺捐入国库的银子数目都告诉了他。

8 Mordecai also gave Hathach a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for the destruction of the Jews, to show and explain to Esther, urging her to approach the king, implore his favor, and plead before him for her people.

8 末底改还把一份在书珊城颁布的要消灭犹太人的谕旨抄本交给哈他革，让他给以斯帖看并说明原委，嘱咐她去见王，为自己的同胞向王求情。

9 So Hathach went back and relayed Mordecai’s response to Esther.

9 哈他革回去把末底改的话告诉以斯帖。

10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and instructed him to tell Mordecai,

10 以斯帖便吩咐哈他革回复末底改说：

11 “All the royal officials and the people of the king’s provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned—that he be put to death. Only if the king extends the gold scepter may that person live. But I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the past thirty days.”

11 “王的所有臣仆和各省人民都知道有一条法令，不论男女，未蒙宣召擅入内院去见王的必被处死，除非王向他伸出金杖，他才能活命。现在我已有三十天未蒙王召见了。”

12 When Esther’s words were relayed to Mordecai,

12 末底改听到以斯帖捎来的话后，

13 he sent back to her this reply: “Do not imagine that because you are in the king’s palace you alone will escape the fate of all the Jews.

13 便回复她说：“你别以为在宫里就比其他犹太人安全。

14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

14 如果你此时沉默不语，犹太人必从别处得解脱，蒙拯救，但你和你父亲一家必灭亡。谁知道你得了王后之位不是为了今日之时呢？”

15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:

15 以斯帖派人回复末底改说：

16 “Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!”

16 “你去召集书珊城所有的犹太人为我禁食，三天三夜不吃不喝，我和我的宫女也要这样禁食。然后，我要违例去见王，我若死就死吧！”

17 So Mordecai went and did all that Esther had instructed him.

17 于是，末底改便去照以斯帖的一切吩咐行事。