Esther 1
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)Translation
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)
Freedom Bible (フリーダム・バイブル)
1In the days of Assuerus, who reigned from India to Ethiopia over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces:
1アハシュエロスの時代のことである。これは、インドからエチオピアに至る百二十七州を治めた、あのアハシュエロスである。
2When he sat on the throne of his kingdom, the city Susan was the capital of his kingdom.
2そのころ、アハシュエロス王はスサの宮殿にある王座に着いていた。
3Now in the third year of his reign he made a great feast for all the princes, and for his servants, for the most mighty of the Persians, and the nobles of the Medes, and the governors of the provinces in his sight,
3治世の第三年、王はすべての高官と家臣のために祝宴を催した。ペルシアとメディアの軍人、貴族、諸州の長たちも王の前に列席した。
4That he might shew the riches of the glory of his kingdom, and the greatness, and boasting of his power, for a long time, to wit, for a hundred and fourscore days.
4王は百八十日にわたり、その栄光ある王国の富と、比類ない威光の輝きを誇示した。
5And when the days of the feast were expired, he invited all the people that were found in Susan, from the greatest to the least: and commanded a feast to be made seven days in the court of the garden, and of the wood, which was planted by the care and the hand of the king.
5その期間が終わると、王はスサの宮殿にいた者すべて、身分の高い者にも低い者にも、王宮の園の中庭で七日間の祝宴を催した。
6And there were hung up on every side sky coloured, and green, and violet hangings, fastened with cords of silk, and of purple, which were put into rings of ivory, and were held up with marble pillars. The beds also were of gold and silver, placed in order upon a floor paved with porphyry and white marble: which was embellished with painting of wonderful variety.
6白と青の幕が、上等の亜麻布と紫のひもで銀の輪と大理石の柱に結び付けられていた。赤、白、黄、黒の大理石を敷き詰めた床には、金と銀の寝椅子が置かれていた。
7And they that were invited, drank in golden cups, and the meats were brought in divers vessels one after another. Wine also in abundance and of the best was presented, as was worthy of a king’s magnificence.
7飲み物はさまざまな形の金の器で振る舞われ、王の気前のよさにふさわしく、王室のぶどう酒が惜しみなく供された。
8Neither was there any one to compel them to drink that were not willing, but as the king had appointed, who set over every table one of his nobles, that every man might take what he would.
8飲酒は法令によって強制されなかった。王が宮廷のすべての役人に、各人の望むままにさせるよう命じていたからである。
9Also Vasthi the queen made a feast for the women in the palace, where king Assuerus was used to dwell.
9王妃ワシュティも、アハシュエロス王の王宮で女たちのために祝宴を催した。
10Now on the seventh day, when the king was merry, and after very much drinking was well warmed with wine, he commanded Mauman, and Bazatha, and Harbona, and Bagatha, and Abgatha, and Zethar, and Charcas, the seven eunuchs that served in his presence,
10七日目、ぶどう酒で王の心が陽気になると、王は御前に仕える七人の宦官、メフマン、ビズタ、ハルボナ、ビグタ、アバグタ、ゼタル、カルカスに命じた。
11To bring in queen Vasthi before the king, with the crown set upon her head, to shew her beauty to all the people and the princes: for she was exceeding beautiful.
11王冠をかぶった王妃ワシュティを御前に連れて来て、民と高官たちにその美しさを見せるためであった。彼女はたいそう美しかった。
12But she refused, and would not come at the king’s commandment, which he had signified to her by the eunuchs. Whereupon the king, being angry, and inflamed with a very great fury,
12しかし王妃ワシュティは、宦官たちが伝えた王の命令に従って来ることを拒んだ。王は激しく怒り、憤りが内に燃え上がった。
13Baked the wise men, who according to the custom of the kings, were always near his person, and all he did was by their counsel, who knew the laws, and judgments of their forefathers:
13そこで王は、時勢に通じた知者たちに諮った。法と裁判に通じた者に相談するのが、王の慣例だったからである。
14(Now the chief and nearest him were, Charsena, and Sethar, and Admatha, and Tharsis, and Mares, and Marsana, and Mamuchan, seven princes of the Persians, and of the Medes, who saw the face of the king, and were used to sit first after him:)
14王の側近には、王に直接まみえることを許され、王国で最高の地位に着いていたペルシアとメディアの七人の高官、カルシェナ、シェタル、アドマタ、タルシシュ、メレス、マルセナ、メムカンがいた。
15What sentence ought to pass upon Vasthi the queen, who had refused to obey the commandment of king Assuerus, which he had sent to her by the eunuchs?
15王は尋ねた。「王妃ワシュティは、宦官たちを通して伝えたアハシュエロス王の命令に従わなかった。法に照らして、彼女をどう処すべきか。」
16And Mamuchan answered, in the hearing of the king and the princes: Queen Vasthi hath not only injured the king, but also all the people and princes that are in all the provinces of king Assuerus.
16メムカンは王と高官たちの前で答えた。「王妃ワシュティが背いたのは、王だけではありません。アハシュエロス王の全州にいる、すべての高官とすべての民にも背いたのです。
17For this deed of the queen will go abroad to all women, so that they will despise their husbands, and will say: King Assuerus commanded that queen Vasthi should come in to him, and she would not.
17王妃の行いはすべての女に知れ渡るでしょう。『アハシュエロス王は王妃ワシュティを御前に連れて来るよう命じたのに、彼女は来なかった』と聞けば、女たちは夫を侮るようになります。
18And by this example all the wives of the princes of the Persians and the Medes will slight the commandments of their husbands: wherefore the king’s indignation is just.
18今日にも、王妃の行いを聞いたペルシアとメディアの貴婦人たちは、王の高官たちに同じことを言い立てるでしょう。そうなれば、侮りと怒りが絶えません。
19If it please thee, let an edict go out from thy presence, and let it be written according to the law of the Persians and of the Medes, which must not be altered, that Vasthi come in no more to the king, but another, that is better than her, be made queen in her place.
19王がよしとされるなら、王命を発し、変更できないペルシアとメディアの法令として記してください。ワシュティは二度とアハシュエロス王の前に出てはならず、王はその王妃の位を、彼女よりふさわしい女にお与えください。
20And let this be published through all the provinces of thy empire, (which is very wide,) and let all wives, as well of the greater as of the lesser, give honour to their husbands.
20王の勅令が、この広大な王国の全土に布告されれば、身分の高い者から低い者まで、すべての妻が夫を敬うようになるでしょう。」
21His counsel pleased the king, and the princes: and the king did according to the counsel of Mamuchan.
21この助言は王と高官たちの心にかない、王はメムカンの言葉どおりにした。
22And he sent letters to all the provinces of his kingdom, as every nation could hear and read, in divers languages and characters, that the husbands should be rulers and masters in their houses: and that this should be published to every people.
22王は全州に、それぞれの州の文字、それぞれの民の言語で書状を送り、すべての男が自分の家を治め、自分の民族の言語を用いるよう命じた。
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