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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07日）
三月七日 「我們……周圍遭患難。」哥林多後書七章5節 為甚麼神這樣帶領我們，應許患難一直臨到我們？第一，神彀用的恩典和能力可以彰顯得更完全，遠勝在安逸中。「我們有這寶貝放在瓦器裏，要顯明這莫大的能力，是出於神，不是出於我們。」（林後四7） 第二，患難使我們更依靠神。神一直在教導我們依靠祂，讓祂把我們緊緊握在手中，把所有的難處交給祂，由祂照顧。 第三，主自己曾站過那「四圍遭患難」之地，今天祂也要我們去站；並不用自己的力，乃是一直用手拉住祂，不敢獨自跨前一步，用以訓練我們的信心。 第四，除了在患難中，沒有別的地方可以學習信心的功課。四週遭患難之地是神所設立的信心學校，在那裏我們受到信心的訓練。 信心的祕訣一次學會，就永遠會了，並且是一個永遠的幸福；有信，貧窮變為富足；沒有信，富足也是貧窮。 ─譯自屬天的日子 別人歡唱， 我為何悲哭？ 「為了探測苦海的深度。」 別人休息， 我為何工作？ 「為了出力完成神的吩咐。」 別人獲得， 我為何損失？ 「為了體驗失敗的慘痛。」 美好的幸福為你所有， 為何厄運偏糾纏我， 自朝至暮？ 「因為神知道如此的安排， 將使我在永恆中獲得無上豐富。」
■ 英文荒漠甘泉（03月07日）
March 7 "We are troubled on every side." (2 Cor. 7:5.) ＷHY should God have to lead us thus, and allow the pressure to be so hard and constant? Well, in the first place, it shows His all-sufficient strength and grace much better than if we were exempt from pressure and trial. "The treasure is in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." It makes us more conscious of our dependence upon Him. God is constantly trying to teach us our dependence, and to hold us absolutely in His hand and hanging upon His care. This was the place where Jesus Himself stood and where He wants us to stand, not with self-constituted strength, but with a hand ever leaning upon His, and a trust that dare not take one step alone. It teaches us trust. There is no way of learning faith except by trial. It is God's school of faith, and it is far better for us to learn to trust God than to enjoy life. The lesson of faith once learned, is an everlasting acquisition and an eternal fortune made; and without trust even riches will leave us poor. ─Days of Heaven upon Earth. "Why must I weep when others sing? `To test the deeps of suffering.' Why must I workd while others rest? `To spend my strength at God's request.' Why must I lose while others gain? `To understand defeat's sharp pain.' Why must this lot of life be mine When that which fairer seems is thine? `Because God knows what plans for me Shall blossom in eternity.'"
■ 永活之泉（03月07日）
三月七日 神所尋找的代禱者 「耶路撒冷啊，我在你城上設立守望的，他們晝夜必不靜默。呼籲耶和華的，你們不要歇息，也不要使他歇息。」以賽亞書六十二章6—7節 守望者通常是設立在城牆上，隨時可將要臨到的危險通知官長。神設立的守望者不僅是他們警戒世人——通常人都不願聽——並且要他們有需要或敵人威脅時，呼喊神來幫助他們。代禱者最大的特點乃是晝夜不靜默、不歇息，也不使神歇息，直到神的拯救來臨。他們心中確知神必垂聽他們的禱告。 就是為著這件事，主耶穌說：「神的選民晝夜呼籲祂，祂豈不終久給他們伸冤嗎？」我們到處聽到神的教會受到世界及其世俗觀念的影響，已逐漸失去對信徒的影響力。罪人悔改及神子民聖潔的見證已不多見。大多數的基督徒全然忽略了基督要他們有份於祂國度之擴充的呼召。聖靈的能力經歷得非常有限。 在有關於如何使青年人、老人對神的話發生興趣，如何喚起他們對神事務服事的愛心等的談論中，聽不到多少不可或缺之聖靈的能力，在教會的服事及弟兄姊妹中間。由於禱告之缺乏，因而看不到甚麼信心及悔改的標記：聖靈的工作顯得非常微弱。唯有同心迫切地禱告才能導致轉變。如果神的選民向神晝夜呼籲，則時間該是現在。親愛的讀者，你不願意將自己獻給神有份於此蒙福的代禱工作嗎？你不樂意學習將代禱視為一生中最高的特權，使你得以成為一條途徑，使神的祝福能藉著你的代禱而被帶到地上來嗎？ 禱告： 永遠可稱頌的神啊，求您垂聽我們的祈求，求您親自興起您所喜悅的代禱者。求您賜給我們專以您的事為念的人，從不歇息地向您祈求，直等到您再一次使您的教會在地上成為可讚美的器皿。可稱頌的父啊，您的靈教導我們如何禱告。阿們。
■ 中文屬天日子（03月07日）
三月七日 大膽的發光 「然而靠著愛我們的主，在這一切的事上，已經得勝有餘了。」羅馬書八章37節 保羅是說到那些似乎將聖徒和神的愛分開的事。但奇妙的，是沒有甚麼能將神的愛和聖徒截成兩段。這些事能夠來到聖徒的心靈和神之間，使個人生命與神脫離關係，但是沒有甚麼事能使神的愛與聖徒的靈截成兩段。我們基督徒信仰的基石，是神在十字架上所表現的愛，這種愛是我們從不配，也永不配得的。保羅說，這就是我們在這一切的事上得勝有餘──萬能的得勝者──的原因，而這樣的快樂是因著那些像要壓倒我們的事得到的。 浮浪的海潮，固使平常游泳者感覺困難，而在善於游泳者，以浮浪的海潮為無上的樂事。把這應用到我們的情景上來，這些事──患難、困苦、逼迫都使我們有無上的快樂；是不應當拒絕的。我們靠著主，在這一切的事上，已經得勝有餘了，不是忍受這些事，卻是要在這些事當中得勝。聖徒從不輕視患難，卻因患難而知道主的快樂。保羅說：「就是在患難中，也是歡歡喜喜的。」（羅五3） 大膽的發光不是建在任何暫時的事情上，卻是建在不能更改的神的愛上。生活的經驗，無論是恐怖或是乏味，是不能觸及我們的主耶穌基督裡所表現的神的愛。
■ 中文上海嗎哪（03月07日）
三月七日 「……施比受更為有福。」使徒行傳二十章35節 我們如何知道肉體的和屬天的愛差別何在？屬肉體的愛以自我為中心，而且只追求滿足自我。屬天的愛則以愛神、愛人為中心，以榮耀、讚美祂為喜樂。真愛是不自私的，所以若不是不自私的愛，就不是從神來的。 讓我們想想，我們給別人的有多少，為自己求的有多少？我們生命的中心是我們自己，還是主、或是祂的子民和事工呢？ 求神更加幫助我們瞭解這個施比受更為有福的偉大真理。「因為凡要救自己生命的，必喪掉生命；凡為我和福音喪掉生命的，必救了生命。」(可八35) 你若曾找到一些珍貴的寶藏， 就該與人分享。 你若曾享受到屬靈的喜樂， 就該與人分享。 給掉一半，擁有的卻加倍， 而愛更能使一切祝福都增加。 所以讓我們更勤勞地事奉， 學習與人分享。
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中英聖經朗讀◎黃哲輝牧師◎
