|
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23日）
二月廿三日 「有時來了獅子。」撒母耳記上十七章34節 讀到年輕的大衛怎樣信靠神，真能使我們得到鼓勵和力量。藉著信心，他勝過獅子和熊，後來勝過大力的歌利亞。當獅子來攫奪羊羔的時候，他看為一個非常的機會。若是他失敗，或者驚恐，逃跑了，他就失去了神所給他的機會，恐怕以後也會失去作神所揀選的以色列王的資格。 「有時來了獅子」。人從來不想獅子是從神那裏來的一個特別的祝福；人總是把牠看為一件不幸的受驚嚇的事情。豈知這是神化裝的祝福。每一次臨到我們的苦難和試煉，若是我們用正當的方法去接受，都是神給我們的機會和祝福。 當獅子來的時候，不管牠外表如何可怕，你該認作這是神給你的機會。神的會幕，外面是用公羊皮和海狗皮作頂蓋的；人從來不想那裏有神的榮耀。豈知耶和華的榮耀就在其中。但願神開啟我們的眼睛，叫我們無論在患難中，試煉中，危險中，不幸中，都能彀看見神。 ─C.H.P.
■ 英文荒漠甘泉（02月23日）
February 23 "And there came a lion." (1 Sam. 17:34.) ＩT is a source of inspiration and strength to come in touch with the youthful David, trusting God. Through faith in God he conquered a lion and a bear, and afterwards overthrew the mighty Goliath. When that lion came to despoil that flock, it came as a wondrous opportunity to David. If he hand failed or faltered he would have missed God's opportunity for him and probably would never have come to be God's chosen king of Israel. "And there came a lion." One would not think that a lion was a special blessing from God; one would think that only an occasion of alarm. The lion was God's opportunity in disquise. Every difficulty that presents itself to us, if we receive it in the right way, is God's opportunity. Every tempatation that comes is God's opportunity. When the "lion" comes, recognize it as God's opportunity no matter how rough the exterior. The very tabernacle of God was covered with badgers' skins and goats' hair; one would not think there would be any glory there. The Shekinah of God was manifest under that kind of covering. May God open our eyes to see Him, whether in temptations, trials, dangers, or misfortunes. ─C. H. P.
■ 永活之泉（02月23日）
二月廿三日 罪 「罪魁」「並且我主的恩是格外豐盛，使我在基督耶穌裡有信心和愛心。」提摩太前書一章14、15節 「罪」使神的聖潔成為可怕；然而「罪」使神的聖潔顯出榮耀。因為祂說：「你們要自潔成聖，因為我是耶和華——你們的神，……我是叫你們成聖的耶和華。」（利廿7、8） 「罪」顯明神奇妙的愛，不吝嗇祂獨生的兒子。「罪」將耶穌釘在十字架上，因此顯出祂的愛是何等的深、何等的強。在永世的榮耀裡，就是我們這些蒙救贖的罪人，要發出我們的讚美。 千萬別忘記，就是因為罪，才使你和基督耶穌中間發生了一個重大的關係。神所以要你每天與祂相交，目的就是要拯救、保守你，並脫離罪的權勢；且帶領你進入祂的形像，並進入祂無限的慈愛裡。 就是因為想到罪，才使你低聲俯伏在祂腳前，深深地降服敬拜祂。就是因為想到罪常常圍繞你，常來試探你，因此你的禱告就能懇切；你的信心，就是隱藏在基督裡的信心，才能堅強。 就是因為想到罪，才使基督顯得不可言喻的寶貴，使你每時每刻依靠祂的恩典，並且叫你靠著那愛我們的主，作得勝有餘的人。就是因為想到罪，才使我們存破碎痛悔的心來感謝神；這破碎痛悔的心，神必不輕看，祂要在我們裡面作工，並喜悅住在痛悔謙卑的靈裡。 惟有在內室親近父的時候，我們便能勝過罪，基督的聖潔才賜給我們，聖潔的靈也充滿我們的生命。只有在內室裡，我們才能學習認識，並完全經歷這寶貴話語的應許有何等神聖的能力。 「祂兒子耶穌的血也洗淨我們一切的罪。」「住在祂裡面的，就不犯罪。」（約壹一7，三6）
■ 中文屬天日子（02月23日）
二月廿三日 決志服役 「人子來，不是要受人的服事，乃是要服事人。」馬太福音廿章28節 保羅服役的觀念是與我們主服役的觀念相同：「我在你們中間如同服事人的；」「並且自己因耶穌作你們的僕人。」我們以為蒙召作傳道的人，是蒙召去作與旁人不同的人物。據耶穌基督看來，人蒙召是召去作別人的「門墊蓆」；作他們靈性的領袖，絕不是作他們的支配者。保羅說：「我知道怎樣處卑賤。」保羅服役的觀念是「我連自己的性命也願意給你們；無論是譽是毀，我都不介意。只要有人不認識耶穌基督，我對於他的服務，好像是欠債一樣，直到他認識耶穌基督為止。」保羅服務的動機，不是出於愛人，卻是出於愛耶穌基督。如果我們因人類的緣故而獻身服務人，我們就要失望，就要心傷，因為有時人比狗還要忘恩負義些；但是若是我們的動機是愛神，則忘恩負義的事情，不能阻止我們不服事我們的同胞。 保羅認知耶穌基督怎樣待他，也就把它當為服事別人的祕訣：「我從前是一個妄證者，是一個褻瀆者，是一個害人者」──無論人怎樣待我，不必關心，他們絕不至於把我對耶穌基督的仇視和憎惡拿來待我。當我們感覺耶穌基督曾於我們卑污之極，自私之極，犯罪之極服事我們，我們因祂之故，服事別人的時候，就不致灰心失望了。
■ 中文上海嗎哪（02月23日）
二月廿三日 「因我活著就是基督，我死了就有益處。」腓立比書一章21節 有健康身體的秘訣在於有個健康的心。聖靈為我們的禱告是：「我願你凡事興盛，身體健壯，正如你的靈魂興盛一樣。」(約參2) 我們發現保羅在給腓立比眾信徒的書信中，對死既有崇高又有漠不關心的聖潔感覺。事實上，他處在一個兩難之間的情況，因為他雖情願離世與基督同在，卻又覺得在肉身活著，為腓立比聖徒更是要緊(腓一23—24)。 儘管他比較喜歡與基督同在，但活著卻能快樂地事奉。他願意活著的惟一目的，乃是要成為別人的祝福。 他有這樣的心境時，便快快地站立起來，求神給他能得著完全的能力和健康的信心。因為他若在肉身活著，對那些人更有益處，他說：「我既然這樣深信，就知道仍要住在世間，且與你們眾人同住，使你們在所信的道上，又長進又喜樂。」(腓一25) 主啊！求您使我今天「不以性命為念，……只要行完我的路程，成就我主耶穌所領受的職事。」(徒廿24)
|
中英聖經朗讀◎黃哲輝牧師◎
