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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04日）
二月四日 「耶和華要使你乘駕地的高處。」以賽亞書五八章14節 熟習航空的人告訴我們：他們初習的時候，常是逆風駕駛。逆風會把飛機抬得高些。這個祕訣，他們是從甚麼地方學來的呢？他們從鳥類那裏學來的。如果一隻鳥兒正飛著玩，牠就隨風而飛。如果遇見了危險，牠就立刻轉過身來，面向風飛；這樣，牠可以飛得高些。 人生的逆境，是神給你的逆風，它們能抬你到最高級的一屬天的生活去。這就是「耶和華要使你乘駕地的高處」的方法。讓我們作一個帶響弦的風箏，在神的風中越飄越高，同時發出最好聽的音樂——讚美——來以悅神耳。 你有沒有經歷過：夏日空氣熱悶的時候，有時竟連氣也會透不過來。但在西方的天邊，出現了一朵雲，接踵而至。暴風雨掩蓋了這世界給這世界帶來了無窮的舒適，空氣也澄清了，氣象為之一新，世界是改觀了。 人生也完全一樣的道理。當暴風雨來臨的時候，環境可能起了惡劣的變化，但它能發生澄清的作用，充滿了新的氣象，好像天堂的一角也被帶到地上來了。 ─選 障礙應該使我們歡唱。風之能發生曼妙的聲響，並不在海洋上暢行無阻的時候，而是在艱難地吹過層層枝葉交織的松樹林間，或是吹到「愛奧良」琴的弦上，起了阻抗作用的時候。在上面這些場合，風才發出有力和美麗的音韻。釋放你的靈魂，讓它橫掃生命的障礙，穿過痛苦的可佈森林，小至微細的磨折和煩惱，那麼你的靈魂，也會唱出它的歌聲了。 ─選 像一隻停飛的小鳥， 棲息在細細的樹梢， 歌唱時抖抖下垂， 我有翅膀，不必煩惱。
■ 英文荒漠甘泉（02月04日）
February 4 "I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth." (Isa. 58:14.) ＴHOSE who fly through the air in airships tell us that one of the first rules they learn is to turn their ship toward the wind, and fly against it. The wind lifts the ship up to higher heights. Where did they learn that? They learned it from the birds. If a bird is flying for pleasure, it goes with the wind. But if the bird meets danger, it turns right around and faces the wind, in order that it may rise higher; and it flies away towards the very sun. Sufferings are God's winds, His contrary winds, sometimes His strong winds. They are God's hurricanes, but, they take human life and lift it to higher levels and toward God's heavens. You have seen in the summer time a day when the atmosphere was so oppressive that you could hardly breathe? But a cloud appeared on the western horizon and that cloud grew larger and threw out rich blessing for the world. The storm rose, lightning flashed and thunder pealed. The storm covered the world, and the atmosphere was cleansed; new life was in the air, and the world was changed. Human life is worked out according to exactly the same principle. When the storm breaks the atmosphere is changed, clarified, filled with new life; and a part of heaven is brought down to earth. ─Selected. Obstacles ought to set us singing. The wind finds voice, not when rushing across the open sea, but when hindered by the outstretched arms of the pine trees, or broken by the fine strings of an Aeolian harp. Then it has songs of power and beauty. Set your freed soul sweeping across the obstacles of life, through grim forests of pain, against even the tiny hindrances and frets that love uses, and it, too, will find its singing voice. ─Selected. "Be like a bird that, halting in its flight, Rests on a bough too slight. And feeling it give way beneath him sings, Knowing he hath wings."
■ 永活之泉（02月04日）
二月四日 愛慕神 「夜間，我心中羨慕您。」以賽亞書廿六章9節 甚麼人是人在地上所能看見、能尋得、最重要、最偉大、最榮耀的東西呢？只有神自己。甚麼是人每天所需要而能作到的，又最重要、最美好、最榮耀的事呢？除了尋求、認識、愛慕，並讚美這位榮耀的神之外，再也沒有別的了。神是那麼的榮耀，但那些將自己獻給神、為神而活、讓祂的榮耀在心裡工作，而成為他的生命的人，也是極其榮耀的。 弟兄們！你有沒有學習每天去作那第一的、最偉大的事呢？沒有一件事比尋求這位神，並學習碰見祂、敬拜祂，為祂和祂的榮耀而活著，是更偉大的。每一個基督徒，真的看見了這一個，當藉著交通降服跟從神，並且以神為他生活的主要目的，在那時候，也就是他在基督徒生命的道路上更長進了。 請花時間來尋求這究竟是不是一個真理，是不是一個最高的智慧，是基督徒應該為著神而活的。─在生活中對神有正確的認識並用全心來愛祂。相信這不僅是非常的實在，而且神自己也極盼望，你能這樣與祂同活，祂願意答應你的禱告，使你能經歷這一個。 請自今天起從聖經中拿出一些話，用安靜的心，來對神說：「神阿，您是我的神，我要切切地尋求您，我渴想您；我的心切慕您。我要緊緊跟隨您。」（詩六十三1）「我一心尋您。」（詩一一2） 以極深的崇敬和像小孩一樣的盼望，重複這些話，直到這些話的精意和能力，進入你的心；並且等候神，直到你嘗著了與祂這樣相交的福份。當你這樣保持下去的時候，你就要學習存敬畏的心活在神面前，並盼望整天都繼續在這種情形裡。 「我曾耐性等候耶和華，他垂聽我的呼求。」（詩四十1）
■ 中文屬天日子（02月04日）
二月四日 人格支配力量的尊嚴 「原來基督的愛激勵我們。」哥林多後書五章14節 保羅說，他被基督的愛操縱著，箝制著，好像被箝在老虎箝裡一般。我們中沒有多的人知道被神的愛握住；都是被我們的經驗握住了。有一件事握住了保羅，直到他的眼界見不著別的東西，那就是神的愛。「基督的愛激勵我們」──當你聽見某男某女心中有這樣的音調，你絕不能錯認的，你準知道神的靈在那人裡面是進行裕如，毫無阻窒的。 當我們重生於神的靈，神就在我們裡面作見證，那見證的音調，理當是這樣。但是聖靈的洗禮，卻能永遠把這忘卻了，而我們會開始覺得耶穌說「你們可以給我作見證。」這句話的意思，不是見證耶穌所作的──那是一種初步的見證──卻是「給我作見證。」我們給祂作見證，就是把一切發生在我們身上的事情，當作發生在祂的身上。無論是稱讚或譴責，是逼迫，或欽仰，沒有人像這樣替耶穌基督忍受這些事，除非他受過耶穌基督人格的激勵。這是該當留意的，也是基督徒工人最難明白的。保羅說他被基督的愛握住；那是因為他行其所行的緣故。無論人批評他放蕩或拘謹，他卻不介意；他只為一件事活著，那就是勸人注意神的審判和基督的愛。像這樣徜徉於基督的愛中是生活成功的祕訣，將永留神的權能和聖潔的印象，不計自身的聖潔與否。
■ 中文上海嗎哪（02月04日）
二月四日 「我就常與你們同在，直到世界的末了。」馬太福音廿八章20節 主基督不是仍然釘在十字架上的主，祂乃是我們又真又活的神。 有一天，在派斯頓潘靠近愛丁堡的地方，我舉目往這曾為戰場的地方看了很久。有一回當戰事正危險之即，一方的首領因受傷而倒了下來。當他的部下看到他不支倒地，他們幾乎立刻夾腿逃離戰場。他們握著手榴彈的手雖然強壯，但卻不停地抖，突然之間，他們竟寸步難行。還好這個年老的首領強打精神，用他的手肘把自己撐起來說：「我沒死，我的孩子們，我在觀看我的同胞盡他們的責任。」 同樣情況，我們的救主在復活之後，也這麼對我們說。儘管我們無法看到祂，但是祂曾說：「我就常與你們同在，直到世界的末了。」注意，祂用「常」這個字來強調祂的同在，是不斷且恆常的。祂沒有用「將會與你們同在」，卻保證我們與祂的同在是繼續、永恆的。 不多時，我們將勝過一切衝突； 不多時，我們將贏得所有戰鬥； 然後，我們要揮舞我們勝利的雙手， 高唱不朽的詩歌， 我們歡樂之歌的歌詞將是── 靠著您，我已戰勝了一切。
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中英聖經朗讀◎黃哲輝牧師◎
