Esther 2
1599 Geneva Bible
2 2 After the Queen is put away, certain young maids are brought to the king. 17 Esther pleaseth the King, and is made Queen. 22 Mordecai discloseth unto the king those that would betray him.
1 After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus was appeased, he [a]remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed [b]against her.
2 And the King’s servants that ministered unto him, said, Let them seek for the King beautiful young virgins,
3 And let the King appoint officers through all the provinces of his Kingdom, and let them gather all the beautiful young virgins unto the palace of Shushan, into the house of the women, under the hand of Hegai the King’s eunuch, [c]keeper of the women, to give them their things [d]for purification.
4 And the maid that shall please the King, let her reign in the stead of Vashti. And this pleased the king, and he did so.
5 ¶ In the city of Shushan there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish a man of Benjamin,
6 Which had been carried away from Jerusalem (A)with the captivity that was carried away with Jeconiah King of Judah (whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel had carried away.)
7 And he nourished Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful to look on: and after the death of her father, and her mother, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.
8 And when the king’s commandment, and his decree was published, and many maids were brought together to the palace of Shushan, under the hand of Hegai, Esther was brought also unto the King’s house under the hand of Hegai the keeper of the women.
9 And the maid pleased him, and she found favor in his sight, therefore he caused her things for purification to be given her speedily, and her [e]state, and seven comely maids to be given her out of the King’s house, and he gave change to her and to her maids of the best in the house of the women.
10 But Esther showed not her people and her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not tell it.
11 And Mordecai walked [f]every day before the court of the women’s house, to know if Esther did well, and what should be done with her.
12 And when the course of every maid came, to go in to King Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months according to the manner of the women (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors and in the purifying of the women:
13 And thus went the maids unto the King) whatsoever she required, was [g]given her to go with her out of the women’s house unto the king’s house.
14 In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women under the hand of Shaashgaz the King’s eunuch, which kept the concubines: she came in to the King no more, except she pleased the King, and that she were called by name.
15 Now when the course of Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai (which had taken her as his own daughter) came, that she should go in to the king, she desired nothing, but what [h]Hege the king’s eunuch the keeper of the women [i]said: and Esther found favor in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
16 ¶ So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the [j]month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
17 And the King loved Esther above all the women, and she found grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins: so that he set the crown of the kingdom upon her head, and made her Queen instead of Vashti.
18 Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes, and his servants, which was [k]the feast of Esther, and gave rest [l]unto the provinces, and gifts, according to the [m]power of a king.
19 And when the virgins were gathered the [n]second time, then Mordecai sat in the king’s gate.
20 Esther had not yet showed her kindred nor her people, as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did after the word of Mordecai, as when she was nourished with him.
21 ¶ In those days when Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay [o]hand on the King Ahasuerus.
22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, and he told it unto Queen Esther, and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai’s name: and when inquisition was made, it was found so: therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the [p]Chronicles before the king.
Footnotes
- Esther 2:1 That is, he called the matter again into communication.
- Esther 2:1 By the seven wise men of his counsel.
- Esther 2:3 The abuse of these countries was so great, that they invented many means to serve the lusts of Princes, and therefore as they ordained wicked laws, that the king might have whose daughters he would, so they had divers houses appointed, as one for them while they were virgins, another when they were concubines and for the Queens another.
- Esther 2:3 Read what this purification was, verse 12.
- Esther 2:9 Hebrew, portions.
- Esther 2:11 For though she was taken away by a cruel law, yet he ceased not to have a fatherly care over her, and therefore did resort ofttimes to hear of her.
- Esther 2:13 What apparel she asked of the eunuch, that was he bound to give her.
- Esther 2:15 Or, Hegai.
- Esther 2:15 Wherein her modesty appeared, because she sought not apparel to commend her beauty, but stood to the Eunuch’s appointment.
- Esther 2:16 Which contained part of December and part of January.
- Esther 2:18 That is, made for her sake.
- Esther 2:18 He released their tribute.
- Esther 2:18 That is, great and magnificent.
- Esther 2:19 That is, at the marriage of Esther, which was the second marriage of the king.
- Esther 2:21 Meaning, to kill him.
- Esther 2:22 In the Chronicles of the Medes and Persians, as Esther 10:2.
以斯帖记 2
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
选立新后
2 这些事以后，亚哈随鲁王的怒气消减了，就想念瓦实提和她所行的，以及怎样降旨办她的事。 2 于是有些侍臣对王说：“要差人为王寻找一些美貌的少女。 3 王可以委派官员在国中各省，把所有美貌的少女都召到书珊城的女院那里，交在掌理女子的王家太监希该手下，可以供给她们洁身用的香品。 4 王喜悦的女子，就可以作王后，代替瓦实提。”王喜悦这话，就这样行了。
以斯帖入宫
5 在书珊城里，有一个犹大人，名叫末底改，是便雅悯人基士的曾孙、示每的孙子、睚珥的儿子。 6 末底改在巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒掳走犹大王耶哥尼雅和别的俘虏的时候，也同时从耶路撒冷被掳走。 7 末底改抚养自己叔叔的女儿哈大沙（哈大沙就是以斯帖），因为她没有父母。这女子体态美丽，容貌娟秀；她父母死了，末底改就收养她作自己的女儿。
8 王的命令和谕旨传开了，许多少女都被召到书珊城，交在希该的手下；以斯帖也被带到王宫里去，交在管理女子的希该手下。 9 希该喜悦以斯帖，就恩待她，急忙供给她洁身用的香品和她应得的食物，又给她七个美丽的侍女，都是从王宫里选出来给她的，再把她和她的侍女搬进女院上好的房子里。 10 以斯帖没有把自己的种族和身世告诉人，因为末底改吩咐她不可告诉人。 11 末底改天天都在女院的院子前面徘徊，要知道以斯帖平安不平安，她的情形怎样。
12 每个少女轮流进宫见亚哈随鲁王之前，都要照着女子的规例洁净身体十二个月，因为女子洁身的规例是这样：六个月用没药油，六个月用香品和妇女洁身用的其他物品。 13 那时，少女进去见王是这样的：从女院到王宫的时候，她所要的都要给她。 14 她晚上进去，次日早晨回到第二女院去，交给管理妃嫔的沙甲，就是王的太监；除非王喜悦她，题名召她，她就不再进去见王。 15 末底改的叔叔亚比孩的女儿以斯帖，就是末底改收养作自己女儿的，轮到她进去见王的时候，除了王的太监，掌理女子的希该所预备的以外，以斯帖别无所求；看见以斯帖的，都喜爱她。
以斯帖被立为后
16 亚哈随鲁王执政第七年十月，就是提别月，以斯帖被带进王宫去见亚哈随鲁王。 17 王爱以斯帖超过所有其他的女子；在所有的处女中，她在王的面前，最得王的恩宠与喜爱；王把王后的冠冕戴在她头上，立她为王后，代替瓦实提。 18 王为他的文武百官大摆筵席，就是以斯帖的婚筵，又向各省颁布休假一天，并且照着王的厚意，颁赐礼物。
19 第二次召集处女的时候，末底改坐在朝门那里。 20 以斯帖照着末底改吩咐她的，没有把自己的身世和种族告诉人；末底改所说的话，以斯帖都遵行，就像昔日养育她的时候一样。
末底改揭发阴谋
21 那时，末底改坐在朝门那里，王有两个守门的太监：辟探和提列，一时因为恼怒，正想下手害亚哈随鲁王。 22 这阴谋给末底改知道了，他就告诉王后以斯帖；以斯帖就以末底改的名义对王说起这事。 23 那阴谋查究起来，就发现真相；于是把二人悬挂在木架上。这事在王面前曾写于史记。
以斯帖记 2
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
以斯帖被立为王后
2 这事之后，亚哈随鲁王的怒气平息下来，就想起瓦实提和她的所作所为，并怎样降旨惩罚她的事。 2 王的侍臣说：“让人为王物色一些年轻貌美的处女吧。 3 请王在国中各省委派专使把所有年轻漂亮的处女选入书珊城的女宫，交给管理女子的太监希该，供给她们美容用品。 4 哪个女子讨王欢心，便立她为王后，代替瓦实提。”王觉得这个建议很好，就采纳了。
5 当时，书珊城中有个犹太人，名叫末底改，是便雅悯人基士的曾孙、示每的孙子、雅珥的儿子。 6 巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒曾从耶路撒冷掳走犹大王耶哥尼雅和百姓，末底改也在其中。 7 末底改收养了叔叔的女儿哈大沙，又名以斯帖，把她认作自己的女儿，因为她父母双亡。这女子体态优美，容貌动人。 8 王的谕旨一下，许多年轻的女子被召到书珊城中，交给管理女子的希该照管。以斯帖也被送到王宫中交给希该。 9 希该喜欢以斯帖，就恩待她，急忙给她需用的美容用品和膳食，又从王宫为她挑选七名宫女，让她和她的宫女搬进女宫上好的房屋。 10 以斯帖没有向人透露过自己的种族和身世，因为末底改吩咐她不要透露。 11 末底改天天在女宫的庭院前徘徊，好打听以斯帖的消息，了解她的情况。
12 每个女子依次晋见亚哈随鲁王之前，都要照规矩洁净十二个月：六个月用没药油，六个月用香料和洁身用品。 13 每个女子从女宫到王宫晋见王时，她所要求的一切都要给她。 14 她晚上进去，次日被带到另一个女宫，交给管理妃嫔的太监沙甲。除非王喜欢她，提名召见她，否则她不会再见到王。
15 以斯帖是末底改的叔叔亚比孩的女儿，后来被末底改收养。轮到她晋见王时，除了管理女子的太监希该给她的东西外，她没有别的要求。凡看见她的人都喜欢她。 16 亚哈随鲁王执政第七年十月，即提别月，以斯帖被带进宫中见王。 17 王爱以斯帖胜过爱其他所有的女子，她比其他处女更得王的恩宠。于是，王把后冠戴在她头上，立她为王后，代替瓦实提。 18 王为以斯帖大摆宴席招待文武百官，又宣布各省休假[a]，并厚赐礼物。
末底改救王的性命
19 第二次召集处女时，末底改已坐在宫门供职。 20 以斯帖依照末底改的吩咐，没有向人透露自己的身世和籍贯，因为她像幼年时一样听从末底改的话。
21 一天，末底改正在宫门供职，两个守门的太监辟探和提列恼恨亚哈随鲁王，想要下手害他。 22 末底改知道后，便通知以斯帖王后，以斯帖就以末底改的名义禀告王。 23 查明确有此事后，便把二人吊死在木架上，并将这事当着王的面写入史书。
Footnotes
- 2:18 “休假”或译“免去赋税”。
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
Chinese Contemporary Bible Copyright © 1979, 2005, 2007, 2011 by Biblica® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.