以斯帖記 9
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
猶太人的反擊
9 十二月，即亞達月十三日，是執行王諭旨的日子。那天，猶太人的仇敵原本想轄制他們，卻反而被他們轄制。 2 猶太人在亞哈隨魯王的各省各城聚集起來，攻擊那些要害他們的人，無人能抵擋他們，因為各族都懼怕他們。 3 各省的官員、總督、省長和為王辦事的人因懼怕末底改，就都幫助猶太人。 4 因為末底改已是王宮要員，他的名聲傳遍各省，權勢日盛。 5 猶太人用刀擊殺所有敵人，任意消滅恨他們的人。 6 猶太人單在書珊城就殺了五百人。 7 他們還殺了巴珊大他、達分、亞斯帕他、 8 坡拉他、亞大利雅、亞利大他、 9 帕瑪斯他、亞利賽、亞利代和瓦耶撒他。 10 這十人是猶太人的仇敵哈曼的兒子、哈米大他的孫子。但猶太人沒有動他們的財物。
11 當天，王獲悉在書珊城被殺的人數， 12 便對以斯帖王后說：「猶太人在書珊城殺了五百人，還殺了哈曼的十個兒子，在其餘各省就更不知怎樣了！現在你要什麼？必賜給你。你還有何要求？必為你成就。」 13 以斯帖回答說：「王若願意，就請恩准書珊城的猶太人明天仍執行今天的諭旨，並把哈曼十個兒子的屍體吊在木架上。」 14 王允准了，便在書珊城頒佈諭旨，哈曼十個兒子的屍體便被吊了起來。 15 亞達月十四日，書珊城的猶太人再次聚集起來，在城中殺了三百人，但沒有動他們的財物。
16 王其他各省的猶太人也都聚集起來自衛，得以脫離仇敵。他們殺了七萬五千個仇敵，但沒有動他們的財物。 17 這事發生在亞達月十三日。十四日，猶太人休息，並以此日為設宴歡慶的日子。 18 但書珊城的猶太人在十三、十四日聚集殺敵，十五日才休息，並以此日為設宴歡慶的日子。 19 因此，住在鄉村的猶太人都以亞達月十四日為設宴歡慶的節日，並互贈禮物。
普珥節
20 末底改把這些事記錄下來，寫信給亞哈隨魯王國內遠近各省的猶太人， 21 吩咐他們每年在亞達月十四、十五日守節期， 22 設宴歡慶，互贈禮物，賙濟窮人，以紀念猶太人在此月此日得以脫離仇敵，化憂為樂，轉悲為喜。
23 猶太人接受了末底改寫給他們的信，同意每年慶祝這個節日。 24 因為猶太人的仇敵亞甲人哈米大他的兒子哈曼曾經陰謀毀滅猶太人，曾經抽普珥，即抽籤，要殺戮、滅絕他們。 25 但王知道這陰謀後，便降旨使哈曼謀害猶太人的惡計落到他自己頭上，將他及其眾子吊在木架上。 26 他們借用普珥這個詞，稱這兩天為普珥節。猶太人因這信上的一切話，又因所看見、所經歷的事， 27 就為自己、自己的後代和歸屬他們的人定下規矩：每年必按時守這兩天為節日，永不廢棄。 28 各省各城、家家戶戶、世世代代都要紀念、遵守這節日，使猶太人永不中斷過普珥節，他們的後代也不可忘記。
29 亞比孩的女兒以斯帖王后和猶太人末底改以全權寫第二封信，囑咐猶太人守這普珥節， 30 用和善、真誠的話寫信給亞哈隨魯王國一百二十七省的所有猶太人， 31 囑咐他們照猶太人末底改和以斯帖王后的指示，按他們為自己及其後代所規定的，按時守普珥節，禁食哀哭。 32 以斯帖的命令確定了普珥節，這命令被記載下來。
Esther 9
Complete Jewish Bible
9 The time approached for the king’s order and decree to be carried out, the day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to overpower them. But, as it turned out, the opposite took place — the Jews overpowered those who hated them. Thus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, 2 the Jews assembled in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Achashverosh to attack anyone who tried to do them harm; and no one was able to withstand them; because all the peoples were afraid of them. 3 All the officials of the provinces, the army commanders, the governors and those occupied with the king’s affairs helped the Jews; because they were afraid of Mordekhai. 4 For Mordekhai had become a powerful person in the king’s palace, and his fame had spread through all the provinces; Mordekhai continued to grow increasingly powerful.
5 The Jews put all their enemies to the sword; there was great slaughter and destruction, as they did whatever they wanted to those who hated them; 6 in Shushan the capital, the Jews slaughtered 500 men. 7-10 They put to death the ten sons of Haman the son of Hamdata, the enemy of the Jews — Parshandata, Dalfon, Aspata, Porata, Adalya, Aridata, Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai and Vaizata. But they did not touch the spoil.
11 The same day, after the king had been told the number of those killed in Shushan the capital, 12 he said to Ester the queen, “If the Jews have slaughtered 500 men in Shushan the capital and the ten sons of Haman, what have they done in the rest of the royal provinces! Now, whatever your request, you will be granted it; whatever more you want, it will be done.” 13 Ester replied, “If it pleases the king, let the Jews in Shushan act again tomorrow in accordance with today’s decree; also have Haman’s ten sons hanged on the gallows.” 14 The king ordered these things done — a decree was issued in Shushan, and they hanged Haman’s ten sons. 15 So the Jews in Shushan assembled also on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and killed 300 men in Shushan, but they did not touch the spoil.
16 The other Jews, those in the royal provinces, had assembled, defended their lives and won rest from their enemies, killing 75,000 of those who hated them, but without touching the spoil, 17 on the thirteenth day of the month Adar. So on the fourteenth day of Adar they rested and made it a holiday for celebrating and rejoicing. 18 However, the Jews of Shushan assembled on both the thirteenth and fourteenth days of Adar, so it was on the fifteenth that they rested and made it a holiday for celebrating and rejoicing. 19 This is why the Jews of the villages, those who live in unwalled towns, make the fourteenth day of the month of Adar a day for celebrating and rejoicing, a holiday and a time for sending each other portions [of food].
20 Mordekhai recorded these events and sent letters to all the Jews in all the provinces of King Achashverosh, both near and far, 21 instructing them to observe the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and the fifteenth day, every year, 22 [to commemorate] the days on which the Jews obtained rest from their enemies and the month which for them was turned from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; they were to make them days of celebrating and rejoicing, sending portions [of food] to each other and giving gifts to the poor.
23 So the Jews took it upon themselves to continue what they had already begun to do, and as Mordekhai had written to them; 24 because Haman the son of Hamdata the Agagi, the enemy of the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them and had thrown pur (that is, “cast lots”) to crush and destroy them; 25 but when Ester came before the king, he ordered by letters that [Haman’s] wicked scheme, which he had plotted against the Jews, should recoil on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. 26 This is why these days have been called Purim, after the word pur. Thus, because of everything written in this letter, and what they had seen concerning this matter, and what had come upon them, 27 the Jews resolved and took upon themselves, their descendants and all who might join them that without fail they would observe these two days in accordance with what was written in [this letter] and at the appointed time, every year; 28 and that these days would be remembered and observed throughout every generation, every family, every province and every city; and that these days of Purim would never cease among the Jews or their memory be lost by their descendants.
29 Then Ester the queen, the daughter of Avichayil, and Mordekhai the Jew, gave full written authority to confirm a second letter about Purim. 30 He sent copies of it to all the Jews, to the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Achashverosh, ensuring their peace and security 31 and requiring the observance of these days of Purim at their designated times, as Mordekhai the Jew and Ester the queen had enjoined them, and as they had established for themselves and their descendants concerning the matters of fasting and lamenting. 32 At Ester’s order these matters of Purim were confirmed and put in writing in the book.
Esther 9
King James Version
9 Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;)
2 The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.
3 And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.
4 For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.
5 Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them.
6 And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men.
7 And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha,
8 And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,
9 And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha,
10 The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand.
11 On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king.
12 And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king's provinces? now what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done.
13 Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do to morrow also according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.
14 And the king commanded it so to be done: and the decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons.
15 For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand.
16 But the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,
17 On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
18 But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.
20 And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far,
21 To stablish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,
22 As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.
23 And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;
24 Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;
25 But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.
26 Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them,
27 The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year;
28 And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed.
29 Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim.
30 And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,
31 To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.
32 And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.