Esther 8

1 That same day King Xerxes awarded Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai entered the king’s presence because Esther had revealed his relation to her.

1 当天，亚哈随鲁王把犹太人的仇敌哈曼的家产赐给以斯帖王后。末底改也来到王面前，因为以斯帖陈明了他们的亲属关系。

2 The king removed the signet ring he had recovered from Haman and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed Mordecai over the estate of Haman.

2 王摘下自己的戒指，就是从哈曼手中取回的，赐给末底改。以斯帖派末底改管理哈曼的家产。

3 And once again, Esther addressed the king. She fell at his feet weeping and begged him to revoke the evil scheme of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews.

3 以斯帖又俯伏在王的脚前，流泪哀求王废掉亚甲人哈曼加害犹太人的阴谋。

4 The king extended the gold scepter toward Esther, and she arose and stood before the king.

4 王向以斯帖伸出金杖，以斯帖就起来站在王面前，

5 “If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if I have found favor in his sight, and the matter seems proper to the king, and I am pleasing in his sight, may an order be written to revoke the letters that the scheming Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces.

5 说：“王若愿意，我若得到王的恩宠，王若认为好，并且喜悦我，就请王降旨，废除亚甲人哈米大他的儿子哈曼阴谋灭绝各省犹太人的谕旨。

6 For how could I bear to see the disaster that would befall my people? How could I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?”

6 我怎能忍心看我本族的人受害？我怎能忍心看我的亲族被杀？”

7 So King Xerxes said to Esther the Queen and Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given Haman’s estate to Esther, and he was hanged on the gallows because he attacked the Jews.

7 亚哈随鲁王对以斯帖王后和犹太人末底改说：“我已把哈曼的家产赐给以斯帖，并把他吊在木架上了，因为他想害犹太人。

8 Now you may write in the king’s name as you please regarding the Jews, and seal it with the royal signet ring. For a decree that is written in the name of the king and sealed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked.”

8 现在，你们尽可奉王的名写谕旨给犹太人，用王的戒指盖印，因为奉王的名所写、用王的戒指盖印的谕旨是不可废除的。”

9 At once the royal scribes were summoned, and on the twenty-third day of the third month (the month of Sivan), they recorded all of Mordecai’s orders to the Jews and to the satraps, governors, and princes of the 127 provinces from India to Cush—writing to each province in its own script, to every people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language.

9 三月，即西弯月二十三日，王的书记被召来，按照末底改的一切吩咐用各省的文字和各族的语言，包括犹太人的文字和语言写谕旨，传给从印度到古实的一百二十七省的犹太人、总督、省长和官员。

10 Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes and sealed it with the royal signet ring. He sent the documents by mounted couriers riding on swift horses bred from the royal mares.

10 末底改奉亚哈随鲁王的名写谕旨，用王的戒指盖印，让信差骑王室快马送往各地。

11 By these letters the king permitted the Jews in each and every city the right to assemble and defend themselves, to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province hostile to them, including women and children, and to plunder their possessions.

11–12 谕旨上说，王准许各城的犹太人在十二月，即亚达月十三日，聚集起来自卫，铲除、杀光、灭尽各族各省攻击他们的军队及其儿女、妻子，夺取仇敌的财物。

12 The single day appointed throughout all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar.

13 A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued in every province and published to all the people, so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

13 谕旨的抄本颁布到各省，昭告各族，使犹太人在那天预备好向仇敌报仇。

14 The couriers rode out in haste on their royal horses, pressed on by the command of the king. And the edict was also issued in the citadel of Susa.

14 信差接到王的命令，急忙骑上王室快马上路。在书珊城也颁布了谕旨。

15 Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal garments of blue and white, with a large gold crown and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.

15 末底改身穿蓝色和白色朝服，头戴大金冠，披着紫色细麻布外袍，从王那里出来，书珊城的人都欢呼雀跃。

16 For the Jews it was a time of light and gladness, of joy and honor.

16 犹太人高兴欢喜，感到快乐光荣。

17 In every province and every city, wherever the king’s edict and decree reached, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many of the people of the land themselves became Jews, because the fear of the Jews had fallen upon them.

17 各省各城，凡谕旨所到之处，犹太人都欢喜快乐，设宴庆祝。许多当地人因惧怕犹太人而入了犹太籍。