以斯帖記 4
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
末底改求以斯帖幫忙
4 末底改得知這事，就撕裂衣服，披上麻衣，頭蒙灰塵，在城中行走，放聲痛哭， 2 一直走到宮門前才停住，因為穿麻衣的不可進宮門。 3 王的命令和諭旨傳到各省，各地的猶太人極其悲傷，他們禁食、哭泣、哀號，許多人身披麻衣躺在灰中。
4 以斯帖王后的宮女和太監把這事稟告她，她非常難過，便為末底改送去衣服，讓他換下麻衣，他卻不肯接受。 5 於是，以斯帖把王派來服侍她的一個名叫哈他革的太監召來，叫他去見末底改，查明事情的原委。 6 哈他革就到宮門前的廣場見末底改， 7 末底改便將自己的遭遇及哈曼為滅絕猶太人而捐入國庫的銀子數目都告訴了他。 8 末底改還把一份在書珊城頒佈的要消滅猶太人的諭旨抄本交給哈他革，讓他給以斯帖看，並囑咐她去見王，為自己的同胞向王求情。 9 哈他革回去把末底改的話告訴以斯帖。 10 以斯帖便吩咐哈他革回覆末底改說： 11 「王的所有臣僕和各省人民都知道有一條法令，不論男女，未蒙宣召擅入內院去見王的必被處死，除非王向他伸出金杖，他才能活命。現在我已有三十天未蒙王召見了。」
12 末底改聽到以斯帖捎來的話後， 13 便回覆她說：「你別以為在宮裡就比其他猶太人安全。 14 如果此時你閉口不語，猶太人必從別處得解脫，蒙拯救，但你和你父親一家必滅亡。誰知道你得了王后之位不是為了今日之時呢？」
15 以斯帖派人回覆末底改說： 16 「你去召集書珊城所有的猶太人為我禁食，三天三夜不吃不喝，我和我的宮女也要這樣禁食。然後，我要違例去見王，我若死就死吧。」
17 於是，末底改便去照以斯帖的一切吩咐行事。
Esther 4
New Century Version
Mordecai Asks Esther to Help
4 When Mordecai heard about all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on rough cloth and ashes, and went out into the city crying loudly and painfully. 2 But Mordecai went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one was allowed to enter that gate dressed in rough cloth. 3 As the king’s order reached every area, there was great sadness and loud crying among the Jewish people. They fasted and cried out loud, and many of them lay down on rough cloth and ashes to show how sad they were.
4 When Esther’s servant girls and eunuchs came to her and told her about Mordecai, she was very upset and afraid. She sent clothes for Mordecai to put on instead of the rough cloth, but he would not wear them. 5 Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs chosen by the king to serve her. Esther ordered him to find out what was bothering Mordecai and why.
6 So Hathach went to Mordecai, who was in the city square in front of the king’s gate. 7 Mordecai told Hathach everything that had happened to him, and he told Hathach about the amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasury for the killing of the Jewish people. 8 Mordecai also gave him a copy of the order to kill the Jewish people, which had been given in Susa. He wanted Hathach to show it to Esther and to tell her about it. And Mordecai told him to order Esther to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and to plead with him for her people.
9 Hathach went back and reported to Esther everything Mordecai had said. 10 Then Esther told Hathach to tell Mordecai, 11 “All the royal officers and people of the royal states know that no man or woman may go to the king in the inner courtyard without being called. There is only one law about this: Anyone who enters must be put to death unless the king holds out his gold scepter. Then that person may live. And I have not been called to go to the king for thirty days.”
12 Esther’s message was given to Mordecai. 13 Then Mordecai sent back word to Esther: “Just because you live in the king’s palace, don’t think that out of all the Jewish people you alone will escape. 14 If you keep quiet at this time, someone else will help and save the Jewish people, but you and your father’s family will all die. And who knows, you may have been chosen queen for just such a time as this.”
15 Then Esther sent this answer to Mordecai: 16 “Go and get all the Jewish people in Susa together. For my sake, fast; do not eat or drink for three days, night and day. I and my servant girls will also fast. Then I will go to the king, even though it is against the law, and if I die, I die.”
17 So Mordecai went away and did everything Esther had told him to do.
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
