Esther 4
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)Translation
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)
Chinese Union Version, punctuated (Traditional)
1Now when Mardochai had heard these things, he rent his garments, and put on sackcloth, strewing ashes on his head: and he cried with a loud voice in the street in the midst of the city, shewing the anguish of his mind.
1末底改 知道所做的這一切事，就撕裂衣服，穿麻衣，蒙灰塵，在城中行走，痛哭哀號。
2And he came lamenting in this manner even to the gate of the palace: for no one clothed with sackcloth might enter the king’s court.
2到了朝門前 停住腳步 ，因為穿麻衣的不可進朝門。
3And in all provinces, towns, and places, to which the king’s cruel edict was come, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, wailing, and weeping, many using sackcloth and ashes for their bed.
3王的諭旨所到的各省各處， 猶大 人大大悲哀，禁食哭泣哀號，穿麻衣躺在灰中的甚多。
4Then Esther’s maids and her eunuchs went in, and told her. And when she heard it she was in a consternation: and she sent a garment, to clothe him, and to take away the sackcloth: but he would not receive it.
4王后 以斯帖 的宮女和太監來把這事告訴 以斯帖 ，她甚是憂愁，就送衣服給 末底改 穿，要他脫下麻衣，他卻不受。
5And she called for Athach the eunuch, whom the king had appointed to attend upon her, and she commanded him to go to Mardochai, and learn of him why he did this.
5以斯帖 就把王所派伺候她的一個太監，名叫 哈他革 召來，吩咐他去見 末底改 ，要知道這是甚麼事，是甚麼緣故。
6And Athach going out went to Mardochai, who was standing in the street of the city, before the palace gate:
6於是 哈他革 出到朝門前的寬闊處見 末底改 。
7And Mardochai told him all that had happened, how Aman had promised to pay money into the king’s treasures, to have the Jews destroyed.
7末底改 將自己所遇的事，並 哈曼 為滅絕 猶大 人應許捐入王庫的銀數都告訴了他；
8He gave him also a copy of the edict which was hanging up in Susan, that he should shew it to the queen, and admonish her to go in to the king, and to entreat him for her people.
8又將所抄寫傳遍 書珊 城要滅絕 猶大 人的旨意交給 哈他革 ，要給 以斯帖 看，又要給她說明，並囑咐她進去見王，為本族的人在王面前懇切祈求。
9And Athach went back and told Esther all that Mardochai had said.
9哈他革 回來，將 末底改 的話告訴 以斯帖 ；
10She answered him, and bade him say to Mardochai:
10以斯帖 就吩咐 哈他革 去見 末底改 ， 說 ：
11All the king’s servants, and all the provinces that are under his dominion, know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, cometh into the king’s inner court, who is not called for, is immediately to be put to death without any delay: except the king shall hold out the golden sceptre to him, in token of clemency, that so he may live. How then can I go in to the king, who for these thirty days now have not been called unto him?
11「王的一切臣僕和各省的人民都知道有一個定例：若不蒙召，擅入內院見王的，無論男女必被治死；除非王向他伸出金杖，不得存活。現在我沒有蒙召進去見王已經三十日了。」
12And when Mardochai had heard this,
12人就把 以斯帖 這話告訴 末底改 。
13He sent word to Esther again, saying: Think not that thou mayst save thy life only, because thou art in the king a house, more than all the Jews:
13末底改 託人回覆 以斯帖 說：「你莫想在王宮裏強過一切 猶大 人，得免這禍。
14For if thou wilt now hold thy peace, the Jews shall be delivered by some other occasion: and thou, and thy father’s house shall perish. And who knoweth whether thou art not therefore come to the kingdom, that thou mightest be ready in such a time as this?
14此時你若閉口不言， 猶大 人必從別處得解脫，蒙拯救；你和你父家必致滅亡。焉知你得了王后的位分不是為現今的機會嗎？」
15And again Esther sent to Mardochai in these words:
15以斯帖 就吩咐人回報 末底改 說：
16Go, and gather together all the Jews whom thou shalt find in Susan, and pray ye for me. Neither eat nor drink for three days and three nights: and I with my handmaids will fast in like manner, and then I will go in to the king, against the law, not being called, and expose myself to death and to danger.
16「你當去招聚 書珊 城所有的 猶大 人，為我禁食三晝三夜，不吃不喝；我和我的宮女也要這樣禁食。然後我違例進去見王，我若死就死吧！」
17So Mardochai went, and did all that Esther had commanded him.
17於是 末底改 照 以斯帖 一切所吩咐的去行。
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