エステル記 1
Freedom Bible (フリーダム・バイブル)Translation
Freedom Bible (フリーダム・バイブル)
JPS Tanakh (Jewish Publication Society, 1917)
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。
1NOW IT came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus — this is Ahasuerus who reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over a hundred and seven and twenty provinces —
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。
2that in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the castle,
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。
3in the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the army of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him;
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。
4when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty, many days, even a hundred and fourscore days.
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。
5And when these days were fulfilled, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the castle, both great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace;
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。
6there were hangings of white, fine cotton, and blue, bordered with cords of fine linen and purple, upon silver rods and pillars of marble; the couches were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of green, and white, and shell, and onyx marble.
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。
7And they gave them drink in vessels of gold — the vessels being diverse one from another — and royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king.
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。
8And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel; for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.
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。
9Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
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。
10On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Bizzetha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that ministered in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,
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。
11to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the peoples and the princes her beauty; for she was fair to look on.
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。
12But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by the chamberlains; therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.
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。
13Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times — for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment;
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。
14and the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and sat the first in the kingdom:
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。」
15'What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, forasmuch as she hath not done the bidding of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?'
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。
16And Memucan answered before the king and the princes: 'Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the peoples, that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
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。
17For this deed of the queen will come abroad unto all women, to make their husbands contemptible in their eyes, when it will be said: The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
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。
18And this day will the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the deed of the queen say the like unto all the king's princes. So will there arise enough contempt and wrath.
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。
19If it please the king, let there go forth a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, that Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus, and that the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.
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。」
20And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his kingdom, great though it be, all the wives will give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.'
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。
21And the word pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan;
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。
22for he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and speak according to the language of his people.
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