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1:1 亞哈隨魯作王，從印度直到古實，統管一百二十七省。 This is what happened during the time of Xerxes, 1:1 Hebrew ((Ahasuerus,)) a variant of Xerxes' Persian name; here and throughout Esther the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush: 1:1 That is, the upper Nile region
1:2 亞哈隨魯王在書珊城的宮登基； At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, 1:3 在位第三年，為他一切首領臣僕設擺筵席，有波斯和米底亞的權貴，就是各省的貴冑與首領，在他面前。 and in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. The military leaders of Persia and Media, the princes, and the nobles of the provinces were present. 1:4 他把他榮耀之國的豐富和他美好威嚴的尊貴給他們看了許多日，就是一百八十日。 For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty. 1:5 這日子滿了，又為所有住書珊城的大小人民在御園的院子裏設擺筵席七日。 When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, in the enclosed garden of the king's palace, for all the people from the least to the greatest, who were in the citadel of Susa. 1:6 有白色、綠色、藍色的帳子，用細麻繩、紫色繩從銀環內繫在白玉石柱上；有金銀的榻擺在紅、白、黃、黑玉石鋪的石地上。 The garden had hangings of white and blue linen, fastened with cords of white linen and purple material to silver rings on marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stones. 1:7 用金器皿賜酒，器皿各有不同。御酒甚多，足顯王的厚意。 Wine was served in goblets of gold, each one different from the other, and the royal wine was abundant, in keeping with the king's liberality. 1:8 喝酒有例，不准勉強人，因王吩咐宮裏的一切臣宰，讓人各隨己意。 By the king's command each guest was allowed to drink in his own way, for the king instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man what he wished. 1:9 王后瓦實提在亞哈隨魯王的宮內也為婦女設擺筵席。 Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes. 1:10 第七日，亞哈隨魯王飲酒，心中快樂，就吩咐在他面前侍立的七個太監米戶幔、比斯他、哈波拿、比革他、亞拔他、西達、甲迦， On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him--Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Carcas-- 1:11 請王后瓦實提頭戴王后的冠冕到王面前，使各等臣民看她的美貌，因為她容貌甚美。 to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at. 1:12 王后瓦實提卻不肯遵太監所傳的王命而來，所以王甚發怒，心如火燒。 But when the attendants delivered the king's command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger. 1:13 那時，在王左右常見王面、國中坐高位的，有波斯和米底亞的七個大臣，就是甲示拿、示達、押瑪他、他施斯、米力、瑪西拿、米母干，都是達時務的明哲人。按王的常規，辦事必先詢問知例明法的人。王問他們說： Since it was customary for the king to consult experts in matters of law and justice, he spoke with the wise men who understood the times 1:14 那時，在王左右常見王面、國中坐高位的，有波斯和米底亞的七個大臣，就是甲示拿、示達、押瑪他、他施斯、米力、瑪西拿、米母干，都是達時務的明哲人。按王的常規，辦事必先詢問知例明法的人。王問他們說： and were closest to the king--Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memucan, the seven nobles of Persia and Media who had special access to the king and were highest in the kingdom. 1:15 「王后瓦實提不遵太監所傳的王命，照例應當怎樣辦理呢？」 <<According to law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?>> he asked. <<She has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes that the eunuchs have taken to her.>> 1:16 米母干在王和眾首領面前回答說：「王后瓦實提這事，不但得罪王，並且有害於王各省的臣民； Then Memucan replied in the presence of the king and the nobles, <<Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the peoples of all the provinces of King Xerxes. 1:17 因為王后這事必傳到眾婦人的耳中，說：『亞哈隨魯王吩咐王后瓦實提到王面前，她卻不來』，她們就藐視自己的丈夫。 For the queen's conduct will become known to all the women, and so they will despise their husbands and say, <King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.> 1:18 今日波斯和米底亞的眾夫人聽見王后這事，必向王的大臣照樣行；從此必大開藐視和忿怒之端。 This very day the Persian and Median women of the nobility who have heard about the queen's conduct will respond to all the king's nobles in the same way. There will be no end of disrespect and discord. 1:19 王若以為美，就降旨寫在波斯和米底亞人的例中，永不更改，不准瓦實提再到王面前，將她王后的位分賜給比她還好的人。 <<Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she. 1:20 所降的旨意傳遍通國（國度本來廣大），所有的婦人，無論丈夫貴賤都必尊敬他。」 Then when the king's edict is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest.>> 1:21 王和眾首領都以米母干的話為美，王就照這話去行， The king and his nobles were pleased with this advice, so the king did as Memucan proposed. 1:22 發詔書，用各省的文字、各族的方言通知各省，使為丈夫的在家中作主，各說本地的方言。 He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, proclaiming in each people's tongue that every man should be ruler over his own household. This is Alex Markley's PHPScripture v1.2.0, displaying a copy of Chinese Union Version Bible in XOOPS. 本模組中文化由長島基督福音教會的Jack起始, 聖經文字部分由CCIM(網路基督使團)網站下載. 如欲修改經文請洽聖經公會. 荒漠甘泉五合一■ 中文荒漠甘泉（02月16日）
二月十六日 「我雖然使你受苦，卻不再使你受苦。」那鴻書一章12節 受苦是有限度的。神能使你受苦，也能免去你受苦。讀者啊，你豈不是在嘆息說：「要受苦到幾時方纔停止呢？哦!讓我們耐心等候，直到神的旨意成功。當父用杖的目的完成以後，我們的父自然會把杖挪去的。 神使我們受苦，若是目的為要試驗我們，要我們在受苦中靠恩典榮耀祂，那麼，必須等到我們在人前有了明顯的見證之後，苦難纔會停止。 我們不該盼望苦難早些離去，除非神已經從我們得到了我們該給祂的一切榮耀和尊貴。 也許今天就會有平安，誰知道波浪翻騰的海，頃刻之間就會變成平靜如鏡的玻璃海呢？ 農夫經歷了許多艱難之後，犁和鐮可以藏起來了，禾可以紮成捆收在倉裏了。那時我們都要歡喜快樂了。 在神不難將黑夜變成白晝。祂能將黑雲密佈天空，祂也能很容易地使天氣清朗。所以讓我們放心罷。苦難終究是要過去的。讓我們預先唱哈利路亞罷！ ─司布真 農夫不會一直打穀，神也不會一直用杖。試煉不過是暫時。目前雖然有暴雨，不久卻要停止；一宿雖然有哭泣，早晨便必歡呼。因為祂的怒氣不過是轉眼之間，祂的恩典乃是一生之久。 我們這至輕的苦楚，乃是至暫的。並且這至暫的苦楚也是有目的的——為要完成我們永遠的榮耀。 信徒受試煉，就是證明我們在主面前的寶貴；不然主不會花這許多時間、力氣和心機在我們身上的。主絕不會來試煉我們，除非祂發現我們有頂寶貴的信心的礦苗，混在我們肉體的沙石中，祂要把我們純粹的信心提出來，就必須放我們在試煉的爐火中。 哦，受苦的信徒們啊，耐著罷！將來我們所得的酬報，將遠超過現在所出的代價。在萬王之王的面前得稱讚；在千萬聖天使面前受尊敬；在基督裏得榮耀；在國度和永世裏戴冠冕，操鐵杖，坐寶座——作王，直到永遠。啊，這是何等的賞賜呢！ ─譯自火的試煉 時鳴鐘上的鐘錘，是使時鳴鐘走得準確的必需品；照樣，患難也是屬靈生命的必需品。香料越壓得緊，香氣越是濃郁；最美麗的花卉，是生長在荒僻的雪地裏的；最精美的寶石，受匠人琢磨的時間最長；最貴重的彫刻，受鑿子的擊打最多。這是一個自然定律。任何事物的完成，都要經過遠見高大而無微不至的磨練。 ─日誠報
■ 英文荒漠甘泉（02月16日）
February 16 "Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more." (Nah. 1:12.) ＴHERE is a limit to affliction. God sends it, and removes it. Do you sigh and say, "When will the end be?" Let us quietly wait and patiently endure the will of the Lord till He cometh. Our Father takes away the rod when His design in using it is fully served. If the affliction is sent for testing us, that our graces may glorify God, it will end when the Lord has made us bear witness to his praise. We would not wish the affliction to depart until God has gotten out of us all the honor which we can possibly yield Him. There may be today "a great calm." Who knows how soon those raging billows will give place to a sea of glass, and the sea birds sit on the gentle waves? After long tribulation, the flail is hung up, and the wheat rests in the garner. We may, before many hours are past, be just as happy as now we are sorrowful. It is not hard for the Lord to turn night into day. He that sends the clouds can as easily clear the skies. Let us be of good cheer. It is better farther on. Let us sing Hallelujah by anticipation. ─C. H. Spurgeon. The great Husbandman is not always threshing. Trial is only for a season. The showers soon pass. Weeping may tarry only for the few hours of the short summer night; it must be gone at daybreak. Our light affliction is but for a moment. Trial is for a purpose, "If needs be." The very fact of trial proves that there is something in us very precious to our Lord; else He would not spend so much pains and time on us. Christ would not test us if He did not see the precious ore of faith mingled in the rocky matrix of our nature; and it is to bring this out into purity and beauty that He forces us through the fiery ordeal. Be patient, O sufferer! The result will more than compansate for all our trials, when we see how they wrought out the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. To have one word of God's commendation; to be honored before the holy angels; to be glorified in Christ, so as to be better able to flash His glory on Himself─ah! that will more than repay for all. ─Tried by Fire. As the weights of the clock, or the ballast in the vessel, are necessary for their right ordering, so is trouble in the soul-life. The sweetest scents are only obtained by tremendous pressure; the fairest flowers grow amid Alpine snow-solitudes; the fairest gems have suffered longest from the lapidary's wheel; the noblest statues have borne most blows of the chisel. All, however, are under law. Nothing happens that has not been appointed with consummate care and foresight. ─Daily Devotional Commentary.
■ 永活之泉（02月16日）
二月十六日 神的偉大 「因您為大，且行奇妙的事，惟獨您是神。」詩篇八十六篇10節 一個人開始作一件重要工作的時候，他就要擺上時間，思想那件工作的偉大。研究科學的人，在研究自然界的時候。例如天文學，需要花許多年的精力研究太陽，以及各種天體的大小重要性等。 那麼，難道我們榮耀的神，竟不值得我們花時間去尋求、去敬拜祂的榮耀麼？但是，我們對神之偉大的認識，是何等地膚淺呢？我們沒有花時間，俯伏在祂面前，在祂無可比擬的威嚴和尊榮之下接受感動。 用下面的話來默想，直到你充足的感覺，神是如何偉大的神。「耶和華本為大，該受大讚美，其大無法測度。」「我也要傳揚您的大德。」「他們記念您的大恩，就要傳出來。」（詩一四五3、6、7）不要想很容易把握著這些話的意思。要花時間讓這些話印在你心裡，直到你俯伏無聲地在神面前敬拜。 「耶和華啊！在您沒有難成的事，……您……是至大全能的神，謀事有大略，行事有大能。」（耶卅二17、19） 讓我們聽神的答應：「我是耶和華，是凡有血氣者的神，我豈有難成的事麼？」（耶卅二27） 要對神的偉大，有準確的認識，是需要花時間的。但是，如果我們將神所該得的尊榮歸給祂，並且我們的信心增長，認識我們的神，和祂的能力是何等偉大，我們就要被吸引停留在內室裡，在這位偉大全能的神面前，謙卑地俯伏敬拜。在祂豐盛的憐憫裡；藉著聖靈，祂要教導我們：「耶和華為大神，來啊！」 「我們要屈身敬拜，在造我們的耶和華面前跪下。」（詩九十五6） 「耶和華為大神，為大王，超乎萬神之上。」（詩九十五3）
■ 中文屬天日子（02月16日）
二月十六日 靈性自動的靈感 「從死裡復活。」以弗所書五章14節 一切的自動，不都是靈感。某人也許對你說：「振作精神，強制你不願意的思想，把它拋棄，努力奮鬥。」那是人類平常的自動。但是神之靈臨近的時候，說，「振作精神」，我們就感覺那種自動是靈感。 我們大家在青年時代都有一些夢幻和理想，但是遲早我們會覺得沒有力量去實現它們。我們不能做我們所想做的事，而我們很容易把我們的夢幻和理想看成死的，但是神要來說：「從死裡復活。」當神的靈感到來的時候，那叫我們從死裡復活，行不可能的事的能力也相偕而來了。那關於靈性自動的事，是要我們的精神發動以後，那種生命才能來到。神不賜與我們得勝的生命；祂在我們用力得勝的時候才給我們的生命。當神的靈感來到，祂說「從死裡復活」的時候，我們要站起來；神並不把我們扶起來。我們的主對枯乾手的人說：「伸出你的手來，」那人馬上一伸，他的手就好了，可見那人也履行了他自動的部份。如果我們修為得勝之業，我們就覺得有神的靈感；因為祂立刻給以生命。
■ 中文上海嗎哪（02月16日）
二月十六日 「但我們要專心以祈禱……為事。」使徒行傳六章4節 聖靈對聖潔的基督徒而言，主要是禱告的靈。如果我們將自己全然交託祂，我們的思維也完全受祂的影響，那麼祂將時刻與我們有美好的交通。 當我們面臨每件事時，我們應該帶到祂面前。在我們付出任何行動之前，應該先在靈裡祈求。然後，我們會發現重擔會減輕。儘管我們經常不能理解自己無言的禱告是什麼意思，但是這樣的禱告，不過是讓祂在我們裡面的心思旨意表明出來。當祂的旨意明顯之後，祂總是豐富地供給我們的需要。 對祂輕聲的忠告沒有信心，或是不順服，往往會使我們得不到祂所為我們預備的祝福。如果我們經常不順服，過一陣子，我們可能聽不到那微小的聲音，忽視祂的旨意。這非但使祂不再信任我們，更會讓我們在黑暗中絆倒，而失去祂最高旨意的引導。 主啊！請教導我們在靈裡禱告，不斷地禱告，使我們能完全照您的旨意行事。
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中英聖經朗讀◎黃哲輝牧師◎
