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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13日）
三月十三日 「眾聖之王阿，您的方法義哉、誠哉。」啟示錄十五章3節 在患難中經歷頂深的司布真師母說：有一天陰沈的晚上，我獨自坐在椅子上休息；雖然室中很光亮，但是我心靈中有一層黑暗罩著，使我不能看見甚麼。我也不覺得主的手纔住我，我好似滑跌在傷痛中。我憂憂愁愁地自問說： 「為甚麼我的神如此待祂的孩子呢？為甚麼祂一直把銳利的痛苦加給我呢？為甚麼祂應許纏綿的軟弱來攔阻我去事奉祂呢？」 這些煩惱的問題立即得到了答覆；頂希奇，答覆我的是一個特異的聲音；用不著翻譯的人，神在我心中輕輕地替我解釋。 室內寂靜了好久，我忽然聽見一聲清幽悅耳的樂音，很像窗下知更雀的歌聲。 這是甚麼聲音？絕不會是知更雀在那裏唱歌，因為這是寒冷的晚上。 又是一聲。這次我纔發現：原來壁爐中一根橡樹枝，正被猛烈的火焰焚燒著，從裂口中發出那個好聽的音樂來！ 此時，我發生了一些感想：當這些樹枝嫩綠青翠的時候，許多歌鳥遊歇其上，唱出美麗的調兒來，牠就把那些歌聲收集起來，含蓄在裏面。後來牠漸漸老了，樹枝漸漸硬了；那聲音便永久被封住在裏面了，直到猛烈的火焰燒燬了牠的堅硬，久囚的音樂纔被釋放。啊，照樣，神用痛苦的火焰燃燒我們，原是要從我們久寂的心中抽出讚美的歌聲來，叫我們的神得著榮耀！就在此時，我得了安慰。 恐怕我們中間有幾個很像這根橡樹枝—─老、冷、硬、麻木；我們不會發出讚美的聲音來，如果沒有火的催逼。 「在火煉中歌唱，是的，神幫助我們。」如果苦難的火焰會叫無情的冷心得到溫暖，願爐中的火焰較前加旺「七倍！」 ─選
■ 英文荒漠甘泉（03月13日）
March 13 "Just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints."(Rev. 15:3.) ＴHE following incident is related by Mrs. Charles Spurgeon, who was a great sufferer for more than a quarter of a century: "At the close of a dark and gloomy day, I lay resting on my couch as the deeper night drew on; and though all was bright within my cozy room, some of the external darkness seemed to have entered into my soul and obscured its spiritual vision. Vainly I tried to see the Hand which I knew held mine, and guided my fogenveloped feet along a steep and slippery path of suffering. In sorrow of heart I asked, "`Why does my Lord thus deal with His child? Why does He so often send sharp and bitter pain to visit me? Why does He permit lingering weakness to hinder the sweet service I long to render to His poor servants?' "These fretful questions were quickly answered, and through a strange language; no interpreter was needed save the conscious whisper of my heart. "For a while silence reigned in the little room, broken only by the crackling of the oak log burning in the fireplace. Suddenly I heard a sweet, soft sound, a little, clear, musical note, like the tender trill of a robin beneath my window. "`What can it be? surely no bird can be singing out there at this time of the year and night.' "Again came the faint, plaintive notes, so sweet, so melodious, yet mysterious enough to provoke our wonder. My friend exclaimed, "Perchance he had garnered up this song in the days when all was well with him, when birds twittered merrily on his branches, and the soft sunlight flecked his tender leaves with gold. But he had grown old since then, and hardened; ring after ring of knotty growth had sealed up the long-forgotten melody, until the fierce tongues of the flames came to consume his callousness, and the vehement heart of the fire wrung from him at once a song and a sacrifice. `Ah,' thought I, `when the fire of affliction draws songs of praise from us, then indeed we are purified, and our God is glorified!' "Perhaps some of us are like this old oak log, cold, hard, insensible; we should give forth no melodious sounds, were it not for the fire which kindles around us, and releases notes of trust in Him, and cheerful compliance with his will. "Singing in the fire! Yes, God helping us, if that is the only way to get harmony out of these hard apathetic hearts, let the furnace be heated seven times hotter than before."
■ 永活之泉（03月13日）
三月十三日 代禱生活的祝福 「呼籲耶和華的，你們不要歇息，也不要使祂歇息，直等祂建立耶路撒冷，使耶路撒冷在地上成為可讚美的。」以賽亞書六十二章6—7節 我們能有權為著別人的需要代禱，是一種非人口所能述說的祝福。何等的福氣，我們能與基督緊緊聯合，在代禱上與祂同工，並與祂的禱告結合為一。何等榮耀能與神同在天上，超過萬人之上，並為他們代求，使他們所得到的遠超過所知所想的。 何等的特權像我們！身為神恩典的管家竟能將教會或個人的光景、神話語的執事，或神在外邦人中使者的光景，帶到神的面前為他們呼籲，直到神答應了我們。 何等的福氣使我們得以與神所有兒女聯合，在禱告中同心協力，直至勝過地上一切的艱難，並那空中掌權者的黑暗權勢。若能認識神要使用我這個人成為一個代禱者，且在地上承受並分賜祂屬天的祝福並祂聖靈的大能，那我的生活定規是非常有價值的。 這實在是屬天生命的實際顯出，也就是主耶穌祂自己的生命，在祂捨己的愛裡將我們得著，並因著祂愛的催促，使我們甘心獻出自己，在祂面前肩負著人的需要，而呼籲神使他們得以存活。 我們一直以為禱告不過是求神供應生活及服事上的需要。求神幫助我們看見代禱的地位在神的旨意及祂國度的工作上是何其重要。但願我們的心真地感覺到，地上根本沒有一種祝福能與我們由神所得的，非口能述的特權相比，此權柄使我們能等候神從天上賜福，更開出一條路使祂所樂意賜的福能在地上。 禱告： 父啊，求您將您的生命傾下，充滿在您兒女的心中，正如主耶穌在祂不止息的代禱中傾下祂的愛一般；讓我們在地上也能活出一個傾倒愛及永不止息的代禱生活。阿們。
■ 中文屬天日子（03月13日）
三月十三日 神的捨棄 「神愛世人，甚至將祂的獨生子賜給他們。」約翰福音三章16節 救贖不僅是脫離罪孽，也不僅是個人成聖的經驗；救贖是要人不為自己打算而為神打算。我的救贖經驗，只有走向脫離罪惡和個人成聖的路線；但是救贖的意義，是神的靈使我與神的本性接觸，令我驚奇我以外的無限偉大；完全與神合而為一。 如果說我們蒙召是宣傳聖潔或成聖，那便走入了歧途。我們蒙召是宣傳耶穌基督。祂救我們脫離罪，使我們成聖，是神捨棄的效果的一部份。 撇棄從不會使我們感覺吃力，因為整個生命已與我們所歸向的一位打成了一片。當心談論撇棄，如果你不知的話，非到你明白了約翰三書16節所說神絕對捨棄自己，你是不會知道的。我們不為神憂慮，撇棄是要像神不憂慮的把自己交給我們一樣。因為我們的生命與祂打成一片，就不會想到撇棄的效果了。
■ 中文上海嗎哪（03月13日）
三月十三日 「保守自己常在神的愛中……」猶大書21節 不久以前，我得空享受了一次美麗的夕陽景象，我看到西邊的天彷彿像一大群金色的海島，那遙遠成群的海島又宛如從群山中上升的光輪。當我從西往東看過去，天空的色彩燦爛無比，似乎整個大地都染上了它的顏色。不僅整個大地五光十色，田野更是變得出奇的鮮紅，全地似乎披上了屬天的露水。 就像當神的愛照耀整個天空時，祂的愛能摭蓋地上的一切，一切的生命都發出光彩。困難的事變得容易，辛酸的事變得甜美。負擔不再是重擔，悲哀也會轉為希望和喜樂。 要生活在神的愛中只有兩個秘訣：一是繼續的信靠神，二是全然順服。而神的話語充滿了這兩個信息。「你們若遵守我的命令，就常在我的愛裡，正如我遵守了我父的命令，常在祂的愛裡。」(約十五10)
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中英聖經朗讀◎黃哲輝牧師◎
