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Esther 1 When the day arrived on which the order decreed by the king was to be carried out, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, Adar, on which the enemies of the Jews had expected to become masters of them, the situation was reversed: the Jews became masters of their enemies. 十二月，＂阿达尔＂月十三日是该执行君令和上谕的那一天，也是犹太人的敌人原想歼灭犹太人的日期，却变成了犹太人制服敌人的日子。 2 The Jews mustered in their cities throughout the provinces of King Ahasuerus to attack those who sought to do them harm, and no one could withstand them, but all peoples were seized with a fear of them. 住在薛西斯王各省各城的犹太人，都聚集起来，动手攻打那些想谋害他们的人，但没有一个人能敌挡他们，因为所有人民都害怕他们。 3 Moreover, all the officials of the provinces, the satraps, governors, and royal procurators supported the Jews from fear of Mordecai; 各省的首长，御史大臣和省长，以及为君王服务的人都拥护犹太人，因为害怕摩尔德开。 4 for Mordecai was powerful in the royal palace, and the report was spreading through all the provinces that he was continually growing in power. 的确，摩尔德开在王宫里已掌大权，声誉传遍各省，而摩尔德开的权力越来越大。 5 The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them; they did to their enemies as they pleased. 这样犹太人就用刀屠杀消灭了一切敌人，任意对待了仇恨他们的人； 6 In the stronghold of 只在稣撒禁城，犹太人就杀死了五百人， 7 They also killed Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, 也杀了帕商大达、达耳丰、阿斯帕达、 颇辣达、阿达里雅、阿黎大达、 9 Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha, 帕玛市达、阿黎赛、阿黎待与耶匝达， 10 1 the ten sons of Haman, son of Hammedatha, the foe of the Jews. However, they did not engage in plundering. 11 On the same day, when the number of those killed in the stronghold of 12 he said to Queen Esther: ＂In the stronghold of 王对艾斯德尔后说：＂在稣撒禁城内，犹太人已杀死了五百人和哈曼的十个儿子，在帝国其他各省内，他们更将做出何事？如今你还请求什么，我必赐给你；你还要求什么，我都必履行。＂ 13 So Esther said, ＂If it pleases your majesty, let the Jews in Susa be permitted again tomorrow to act according to today's decree, and let the ten sons of Haman be hanged on gibbets.＂ 艾斯德尔答说：＂如蒙大王赐恩，请恩准住在酥撤的犹太人，明天也照今天的法律行事，把哈曼的十个儿子悬在刑架上。＂ 14 The king then gave an order to this effect, and the decree was published in 王就下令照办。于是在稣撒发出了一道谕旨，要把哈曼的十个儿子悬在刑架上。 15 2 and the Jews in 16 3 The other Jews, who dwelt in the royal provinces, also mustered and defended themselves, and obtained rest from their enemies. They killed seventy-five thousand of their foes, without engaging in plunder, 住在君王各省的其他犹太人，也聚集起来保卫自己，摆脱敌人的侵害，把他们的七万五千仇人杀死，但没有下手抢夺财物。 17 on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. On the fourteenth of the month they rested, and made it a day of feasting and rejoicing. 这是＂阿达尔＂月十三日的事；十四日那天，他们安息，举行庆功的欢宴。 18 (The Jews in 住在稣撒的犹太人，因为在十三十四日聚集复仇，便于十五日安息，举行庆功的欢宴。 19 That is why the rural Jews, who dwell in villages, celebrate the fourteenth of the month of Adar as a day of rejoicing and feasting, a holiday on which they send gifts of food to one another. 从此以后，那些住在村庄的犹太乡民，奉＂阿达尔＂月十四日为庆日，欢宴庆祝，互送礼物；但居住在城市的犹太人却以＂阿达尔＂月十五日为庆日，互送礼物。 20 Mordecai recorded these events and sent letters to all the Jews, both near and far, in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 摩尔德开于是将这些事记录下来，并向薛西斯王各省远近的犹太人颁发文书， 21 He ordered them to celebrate every year both the fourteenth and the fifteenth of the month of Adar 通告他们应每年庆祝＂阿达尔＂月十四十五两天， 22 as the days on which the Jews obtained rest from their enemies and as the month which was turned for them from sorrow into joy, from mourning into festivity. They were to observe these days with feasting and gladness, sending food to one another and gifts to the poor. 因为这两天是犹太人彻底摆脱仇敌的日子，而这一月为他们是化忧为喜，化凶为吉的一月，因此该以欢宴庆祝这两天，互赠礼物，救济穷困。 23 The Jews took upon themselves for the future this observance which they instituted at the written direction of Mordecai. 犹太人便把已开始举行的和摩尔德开给他们规定的事，奉为永远当守的盛典。 24 Haman, son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the foe of all the Jews, had planned to destroy them and had cast the pur, or lot, for the time of their defeat and destruction. 原来阿加格人哈默大达的儿子哈曼，那全犹太人的仇人曾蓄意加害犹太人，要将他们灭绝，就抽出＂普尔＂即签，来择定铲除歼灭他们的日子。 25 Yet, when Esther entered the royal presence, the king ordered in writing that the wicked plan Haman had devised against the Jews should instead be turned against Haman and that he and his sons should be hanged on gibbets. 但是君王一洞悉此事，便下谕令说：＂哈曼加害犹太人想出来的阴谋，应加在他自己头上！＂就判处他和他的儿子们悬在刑架上。 26 And so these days have been named Purim after the word pur. Thus, because of all that was contained in this letter, and because of what they had witnessed and experienced in this affair, 从此，人就援用＂普尔＂一名，称这两天为＂普陵节。＂依照这文书记载的，和他们有关此事亲身看见及经历的一切， 27 the Jews established and took upon themselves, their descendants, and all who should join them, the inviolable obligation of celebrating these two days every year in the manner prescribed by this letter, and at the time appointed. 犹太人便给自己，给自己的子孙，给一切加人他们集合的人，规定了每年该照规定依时庆祝这两天为不可更改的法律； 28 These days were to be commemorated and kept in every generation, by every clan, in every province, and in every city. These days of Purim were never to fall into disuse among the Jews, nor into oblivion among their descendants. 世世代代，家家户户，各省各城，应纪念和庆祝这两天；犹太人决不可废除这两天的＂普陵节＂，他们的子孙也决不可忘掉这庆节。 29 4 Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail and of Mordecai the Jew, wrote to confirm with full authority this second letter about Purim, 阿彼海耳的女儿艾斯德尔后与犹太人摩尔德开，又以全权再度写了一道核准普陵节的文书。 30 when Mordecai sent documents concerning peace and security to all the Jews in the hundred and twenty-seven provinces of Ahasuerus' kingdom. 然后把此文书分发给所有住在薛西斯帝国一百二十七省内的犹太人，以平和诚恳的言词， 31 5 Thus were established, for their appointed time, these days of Purim which Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had designated for the Jews, just as they , had previously enjoined upon themselves and upon their race the duty of fasting and supplication. 劝他们遵照犹太人摩尔德开对这＂普陵节＂所规定的，依时举行。至于禁食和哀歌的吟咏等礼，则可依照他们自己及自己的后代所规定的去行。 32 The command of Esther confirmed these prescriptions for Purim and was recorded in the book. 从此艾斯德尔的命令，便成了＂普陵节＂的规定，且著录于史册。 Footnotes（注解） 1 [10] They did not engage in plundering: in contrast to the Israelites who fought Agag (1 Sam 15:9); cf also Esther 9:15f. 2 [15] This second slaughter explains the two dates (13th and 14th) of the Purim celebration by Jews in 3 [16] Seventy-five thousand: according to the Greek text this number was fifteen thousand. 4 [29] Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail and of Mordecai: the natural offspring of Abihail and adopted daughter of Mordecai; cf Esther 2:15. This second letter: for the burden of this letter see Esther 9:20ff. It was endorsed by Queen Esther. The first letter, written in the king's name, is referred to in Esther 8:9. 5 [31] Fasting and supplication: as the Jews had previously undertaken the duty of fasting and supplication to prevent the impending disaster, they now observe days of festival to commemorate their deliverance-in both cases (cf Esther 4:3, 15f) at the request of Mordecai and Esther. |
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