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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15日）
二月十五日 「不要……心懷不平。」詩篇卅七篇1節 不要冒火，抱不平。我們常見作惡者穿了紫色細麻布的長袍，終日宴樂，凡事順利。「惡人」（詩九二7）執掌大權，欺壓不幸的人們。犯罪的男女享受安逸驕奢的生活，因此好人常會冒火！抱不平。 可是經上說：「不要……心懷不平。」不要冒火！把火氣冷下去！即使你的冒火是很有理由的，但是也不是一個聰明的辦法。不平只會起摩擦、衝突；不平不能變成和平。一部火車的車軸如果發熱了，並不能幫助火車前進；它們的發熱只能產生障礙。車軸發熱的緣故，乃是為了不必要的摩擦；我們應該讓神用祂的恩膏塗在我們不平的地方，以免生出軋轢來。 心中懷了不平，就會有許多尖銳鋒利的砂粒——急躁、惱恨、嫉妒、無禮等——嵌進來，叫你失去生活中謙和的香氣。摩擦生熱，熱後就會發生最危險的破壞。所以不要懷抱不平，讓神的聖膏油使你平滑罷；否則恐怕因著冒火的緣故，你自己就會列在作惡者之中了。 ─譯自銀襯 不安的心， 要寧靜； 莫煩惱， 莫忿怒； 神有無數方法， 來顯示祂的愛與幫助， 只有信任， 深信祂， 直到你明白祂的旨意和囑咐。 不安的心， 要寧靜； 安詳表示神的歡顏， 祂的愛能消除一切的乖戾和悲哀； 只要愛主， 深愛祂， 暫且安詳的等待。 不安的心， 要勇敢； 不要悲傷惆悵， 在那刺骨的寒風中， 神送來了慈愛恩惠； 只要盼望， 要盼望， 直到你的膽大氣壯。 不安的心， 這時候該在懷裏憩息， 祂的慈愛是花， 祂的恩典是生命活力， 只管安息， 需安息； 安息在祂溫柔的懷中。 不安的心， 要寧靜； 不必自我掙扎， 神與你的生命已成一片， 不可分離， 只管祈禱， 多祈禱， 使你的信心不移。 ─李因譯自銀襯
■ 英文荒漠甘泉（02月15日）
February 15 "Fret not thyself." (Psalm 37:1.) ＤO not get into a perilous heat about things. If ever heat were justified, it was surely justified in the circumstances outlined in the Psalm. Evil-doers were moving about clothed in purple and fine linen, and faring sumptuously every day. "Workers of iniquity" were climbing into the supreme places of power, and were tyrannizing their less fortunate brethren. Sinful men and women were stalking through the land in the pride of life and basking in the light and comfort of great prosperity, and good men were becoming heated and fretful. "Fret not thyself." Do not get unduly heated! Keep cool! Even in a good cause, fretfulness is not a wise help-meet. Fretting only heats the bearings; it does not generate the steam. It is no help to a train for the axles to get hot; their heat is only a hindrance. When the axles get heated, it is because of unnesessary friction; dry surfaces are grinding together, which ought to be kept in smooth co-operation by a delicate cushion of oil. And is it not a suggestive fact that this word "fret" is closely akin to the word "friction," and is an indication of absence of the anointing oil of the grace of God? In fretfulness, a little bit of grit gets into the bearings─some slight disappointment, some ingratitude, some discourtesy─and the smooth working of the life is checked. Friction begets heat; and with the heat, most dangerous conditions are created. Do not let thy bearings get hot. Let the oil of the Lord keep thee cool, lest by reason of an unholy heat thou be reckoned among the evil-doers. ─The Silver Lining. Dear restless heart, be still; don't fret and worry so; God has a thousand ways His love and help to show; Just trust, and trust, and trust, until His will you know. Dear restless heart, be still, for peace is God's own smile, His love can every wrong and sorrow reconcile; Just love, and love, and love, and calmly wait awhile. Dear restless heart, be brave; don't moan and sorrow so, He hath a meaning kind in chilly winds that blow; Just hope, and hope, and hope, until you braver grow. Dear restless heart, repose upon His breast this hour, His grace is strength and life, his love is bloom and flower, Just rest, and rest, and rest, within his tender power. Dear restless heart, be still! Don't struggle to be free; God's life is in your life, from Him you may not flee; Just pray, and pray, and pray, till you have faith to see. ─Edith Willis Linn.
■ 永活之泉（02月15日）
二月十五日 天上半小時的寂靜 「天上寂靜約有二刻。另有一位天使來，站在祭壇旁邊；有許多香賜給他，要和眾聖徒的祈禱一同獻在寶座前的金壇上。那香的煙，和眾聖徒的祈禱一同升到神面前。」啟示錄八章1、3、4節 「天上寂靜約有二刻」——在第一位天使吹號之前，要將眾聖徒的祈禱帶到神面前。因此，有千萬神的兒女們都覺得從世上事物裡安靜半小時，在神面前獻上禱告、與祂同在，是絕對需要的。這樣，他們就能夠在每日的生活上得著堅固。 我們常聽見人說，沒有時間來禱告；也有人承認，就是有了時間，他們也不能用這時間來與神有真實的交通。這就不問而知，是甚麼攔阻屬靈生命的長進了。這秘訣只能在與神活潑的交通中找著。 我的弟兄啊！假使你順服基督，當你聽見祂說：「當你關上門，禱告你在暗中的父」的時候，就當勇敢地單獨與神親近半小時。不要想，我不知道要如何花時間。只要相信，如果你開始忠心地在安靜中俯伏在神面前，祂就要向你啟示祂自己。 若是你需要幫助的話，可以讀幾節聖經，讓神的話說到你裡面。然後在極深的謙卑裡，俯伏在神面前等候祂，祂就要在你裡面作工。讀詩篇六十一、六十二，或六十三篇，在神面前說出這些話，然後開始禱告。為你的家庭、孩子、為聚會、為教會和執事、為學校和工作來禱告。雖然好像時間很長，可是繼續下去，神要報答你，你也必定碰見神。 弟兄啊！神願意祝福你。難道這不值得你花半小時的工夫，單獨來親近神麼？為著獻上眾聖徒的禱告，在天上還需要有半小時的寂靜，何況在地上呢？如果你堅持下去，你就要看見這一天中，似乎是最難的半小時，到後來要成為你一生中最大的祝福。 我的心默然向著神。「我的心哪，你要默默無聲，專等候神，因為我的盼望是從祂而來。」（詩六十二5）
■ 中文屬天日子（02月15日）
二月十五日 我是我弟兄的守護人麼？ 「我們沒有一個人為自己活。」羅馬書十四章7節 在神之前替別人負靈性之責的思想，你曾想過麼？比如說，如果我在我的生活中有任何偏離神的行動，凡在我周圍的人都要受累。我們「同坐在天上」。「若一個肢體受苦，所有的肢體就一同受苦。」當你一許生理的自私，心理的不潔，道德的遲鈍，靈性的愚頑在你裡面活動，則凡與你有關係的人都要受累。或許你要說，「你所定的標準太高，誰能在這些標準上滿足無缺呢？」我們當以神為滿足，也只有以祂為滿足。 「你們就是我的見證。」我們中有多少人願意替耶穌基督耗費我們所有的腦力，心力，道德和靈性的精力呢？這就是神所感覺的「見證」的意義。這是需要相當的時間的，忍耐著。神讓我們存留在世上──為甚麼呢？是想我們得救，想我們成聖麼？不是，是常常為祂作見證。我肯為祂成擘開的餅和奠出的酒麼？我們不要渴想這個世界，這個生命，除了渴想去勸化男女作主耶穌基督的門徒以外，無論那一點，卻不可渴想。我們處理生活要像處理工作一樣，要把他作為感謝神大恩之用。須記取的，是我們中無論那個人都如不精純的銀子有被丟去的可能──「……恐怕我傳福音給別人，自己反被棄絕了。」
■ 中文上海嗎哪（02月15日）
二月十五日 「……你要在基督耶穌的恩典上剛強起來。」提摩太后書二章1節 我們如何才能享受今天呢？試著得到快樂永不能帶給我們真正的喜樂。但是如果我們能按著以下的條件行，那麼喜樂就會自然產生。 一、與神和好──因為神豫備喜樂，是為正直人(詩九十七11)。更因為惟有祂在我們裡面的喜樂，我們的喜樂才得滿足。 二、忘卻自我，為他人而活──因為施比受有福(徒廿35)。 三、當你受感覺、環境影響，喜樂不起來時，你當靠主喜樂(腓四４)。即使落在百般試煉中，都要以為大喜樂(雅一２)。 四、順服神，對祂有信心，那麼祂帶滿祝福的聖靈將來必會不斷地對你輕聲說：「……好，你這又良善又忠心的僕人，……可以進來享受你主人的快樂。」(太廿五21) 喜樂和痛苦， 都不是我們的終極目標， 但卻能使我們為今天而戰， 創造更美好的明天。 讓我們站起來， 無論命運如何， 不斷地努力、繼續地追求， 學習勤奮工作、耐心等候。 ——出自朗非羅生命之詩
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中英聖經朗讀◎黃哲輝牧師◎
