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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（03月01日）
三月一日 「你要察看神的作為，因神使為曲的，誰能變為直呢？」傳道書七章13節 神似乎常把他的兒女放在極困難的處境中，使他們無法逃避，也無法解決。 這種處境絕非人類的判斷所能解決的，但這種陰暗際遇，自有其目的，也許你正在陷入這種際遇之中。 似乎你的遭遇是頂煩惱，頂嚴重，你也不懂得為甚麼神要如此待你，但是神的處理決沒有錯誤。不久你就會看見祂的美意。你所處的地位是一個戲臺，你正在戲臺上表演神的榮耀、恩典和權能。 祂不只要施行拯救；祂也要藉此使你學習一個不能遺忘的功課，叫你在事情經過之後，還能常常唱出新的讚美來發出足彀的感謝來。 ─選 「我們知道， 一切都在主的統馭之中， 所以我們必需靜待祂的解釋」 我雖模糊， 主，您卻完全知道， 總有一天， 您會解釋其中奧秘， 那時我才會明白是您最好的安排， 這些曲折， 正是教訓我對您的順服。 給我圍上了藩籬， 使我途徑成為曲折， 我的目光雖遊移不定， 但您卻成了目標； 糾正了我的不耐與高傲， 轉移了我的心， 只聽您的呼召。 我感謝您與讚美您曲折的安排， 我雖不知道， 還是一心信靠， 您把我作了試煉， 何等忭幸， 我要緊緊依靠著您的指導。
■ 英文荒漠甘泉（03月01日）
March 1 "Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked.(Eccles. 7:13.) ＯFTEN God seems to place His children in positions of profound difficulty, leading them into a wedge from which there is no escape; contriving a situation which no human judgment would have permitted, had it been previously consulted. The very cloud conducts them thither. You may be thus involved at this very hour. It does seem perplexing and very serious to the last degree, but it is perfectly right. The issue will more than justify Him who has brought you hither. It is a platform for the display of His almighty grace and power. He will not only deliver you; but in doing so, He will give you a lesson that you will never forget, and to which, in many a psalm and song, in after days, you will revert. You will never be able to thank God enough for having done just as He has. ─Selected. "We may wait till He explains, Because we know that Jesus reigns." It puzzles me; but, Lord, Thou understandest, And wilt one day explain this crooked thing. Meanwhile, I know that it has worked out thy best─ Its very crookedness taught me to cling. Thou hast fenced up my ways, made my paths crooked, To keep my wand'ring eyes fixed on Thee; To make me what I was not, humble, patient; To draw my heart from earthly love to Thee. So I will thank and praise Thee for this puzzle, And trust where I cannot understand. Rejoicing Thou dost hold me worth such testing, I cling the closer to Thy guiding hand. ─F.E.M.I.
■ 永活之泉（03月01日）
三月一日 代禱 「互相代求。」雅各書五章16節 禱告中藏著何等榮耀的奧秘！一方面我們看見神在祂聖潔、慈愛、權能中等待著，渴望著要祝福人；而另一方面，一個猶如塵土中小蟲般微不足道的罪人，竟可藉著禱告帶下天上的生命及愛，住在人的裡面。 然而，代禱的榮耀更是何等大！當一個人大膽地對神說出他對別人之期望時，他尋求神，而神卻賜下祂的永遠生命之無窮大能及一切福氣，不止臨到某一個人，更可能是臨到千萬的人。 代禱！誰能說這不是作神兒女的膽量之最神聖的操練，以及與神交通的最高特權與享受？——也是神所使用的能力，作為工具，為了祂偉大的工作，就是使人成為祂的居所並彰顯祂的榮耀、誰能不認為代禱是教會該用以作為恩典的一個主要憑藉，並該盡一切的力量來培植神的兒女，成為這將毀世界不住禱告的能力。 誰不期望信徒們既已相當進入了這個秘訣將感覺到合一的力量是何等大，同時更確信神將為著祂所揀選的人，在祂面前晝夜的呼籲伸冤？只有當基督徒停止尋求外面合一的幫助，而專一地向寶座，並且對耶穌基督不住的奉獻，不停歇的祈求聖靈的能力，才會使教會穿上彩色的外衣和能力，以勝過世界。 禱告： 我們慈愛的父神，垂聽我們的禱告，並且教導您的教會教導我們每一個人，使我們知道代禱的榮耀、祝福，也是戰勝一切的力量。我們求您使我們看見代禱之於您，乃是您實現您那可稱頌主旨意的路——正如代禱之於我們，乃是我們君尊祭司權柄的運用。對於您的教會及將滅亡的人而言，乃是藉著代禱帶下滿有能力的聖靈——奉主耶穌的名。阿們。
■ 中文屬天日子（03月01日）
三月一日 經常的問語 「你愛我麼？」約翰福音廿一章17節 彼得現在不敢回答甚麼（參太廿六33─35）。未改變的人固然要表白；而彼得的愛，因耶穌基督問語的刺激才能表白。彼得之愛耶穌，正如常人愛好人一樣。那是天性的愛；這也許進入人的深處，但不能觸到一個人的中心。真愛絕不講大語。耶穌說：「凡在人面前承認我的，」（太十32）那就是說，承認祂的愛，不但是用言語，卻也用行為。 若我們不棄掉一切自抬身價的事，神的道就無法與我們發生關係。罪惡能把感覺弄鈍，但是神的道刺激我們，比罪之刺激還要厲害。主的問語，叫情感緊張，直到被耶穌所刺，刺到妙極不能以言語形容的所在。這不是一種平常的刺激，卻是個人密切關係上的刺激。主的道把我們心靈刺成片碎，毫無迷惑存留。切不能把主的問語看為感傷的情調。當主直接向你說話的時候，你不可回答好聽的話，因為它是一種很重的刺激。當主的道刺激到祂兒女的時候，那刺激從不會錯誤的。同時應該知道刺激的焦點就是啟示的最高點。
■ 中文上海嗎哪（03月01日）
三月一日 「要等候耶和華……」詩篇廿七章14節 在聖經中，雖然等候耶和華出現了很多次，但是瞭解的人並不多。有位老神父稱等候耶和華為「操練與神同在」；我則認為等候神是有禱告的習慣，是時時與主交通，不僅求且接受主的話語。有時有些人會要我們為他們禱告，而我們得說：「為什麼？神已回答了我們為你作的祈禱，神的答案正等著你了，但你必須在主前等候才能得到。」 當我們等候主時，就必須重新得力，直到我們「如鷹展翅上騰，奔跑卻不睏倦，行走卻不疲乏。」由於我們的心極有限，無法一口氣就全然接受祂豐富的一切，我們必須處在與祂同在的環境下，直到我們能完全得著祂的生命。這並且是屬靈深度，得享安息，充滿能力、愛和禱告，盼望和事奉的秘訣。所以我說，要等候神。 在神聖潔施恩座前， 我等候享受與主交通， 我在享受、甜美地享受我的主。 在祂腳前，我安靜地坐著， 深深地汲取祂的豐富生命， 傾聽祂輕聲的話語。
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中英聖經朗讀◎黃哲輝牧師◎
