今日讀經

以斯帖再次哀求王

³以斯帖又俯伏在王腳前，流淚哀告，求他除掉亞甲族哈曼害猶大人的惡謀。And once again, Esther addressed the king. She fell at his feet weeping and begged him to revoke the evil scheme of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews.

⁴王向以斯帖伸出金杖；以斯帖就起來，站在王前，The king extended the gold scepter toward Esther, and she arose and stood before the king.

⁵說：「亞甲族哈米大他的兒子哈曼設謀傳旨，要殺滅在王各省的猶大人。現今王若願意，我若在王眼前蒙恩，王若以為美，若喜悅我，請王另下旨意，廢除哈曼所傳的那旨意。“If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if I have found favor in his sight, and the matter seems proper to the king, and I am pleasing in his sight, may an order be written to revoke the letters that the scheming Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces.

⁶我何忍見我本族的人受害？何忍見我同宗的人被滅呢？」For how could I bear to see the disaster that would befall my people? How could I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?”

王准另寫諭旨

⁷亞哈隨魯王對王后以斯帖和猶大人末底改說：「因哈曼要下手害猶大人，我已將他的家產賜給以斯帖，人也將哈曼掛在木架上。So King Xerxes said to Esther the Queen and Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given Haman’s estate to Esther, and he was hanged on the gallows because he attacked the Jews.

⁸現在你們可以隨意奉王的名寫諭旨給猶大人，用王的戒指蓋印；因為奉王名所寫、用王戒指蓋印的諭旨，人都不能廢除。」Now you may write in the king’s name as you please regarding the Jews, and seal it with the royal signet ring. For a decree that is written in the name of the king and sealed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked.”

新的諭旨傳遍各省

⁹三月，就是西彎月二十三日，將王的書記召來，按著末底改所吩咐的，用各省的文字、各族的方言，並猶大人的文字方言寫諭旨，傳給那從印度直到古實一百二十七省的猶大人和總督省長首領。At once the royal scribes were summoned, and on the twenty-third day of the third month (the month of Sivan), they recorded all of Mordecai’s orders to the Jews and to the satraps, governors, and princes of the 127 provinces from India to Cush—writing to each province in its own script, to every people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language.

¹⁰末底改奉亞哈隨魯王的名寫諭旨，用王的戒指蓋印，交給騎御馬圈快馬的驛卒，傳到各處。Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes and sealed it with the royal signet ring. He sent the documents by mounted couriers riding on swift horses bred from the royal mares.

^11–12諭旨中，王准各省各城的猶大人在一日之間，十二月，就是亞達月十三日，聚集保護性命，剪除殺戮滅絕那要攻擊猶大人的一切仇敵和他們的妻子兒女，奪取他們的財為掠物。By these letters the king permitted the Jews in each and every city the right to assemble and defend themselves, to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province hostile to them, including women and children, and to plunder their possessions. The single day appointed throughout all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar.

¹³抄錄這諭旨，頒行各省，宣告各族，使猶大人預備等候那日，在仇敵身上報仇。A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued in every province and published to all the people, so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

¹⁴於是騎快馬的驛卒被王命催促，急忙起行；諭旨也傳遍書珊城。The couriers rode out in haste on their royal horses, pressed on by the command of the king. And the edict was also issued in the citadel of Susa.

末底改穿朝服出來

¹⁵末底改穿著藍色白色的朝服，頭戴大金冠冕，又穿紫色細麻布的外袍，從王面前出來；書珊城的人民都歡呼快樂。Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal garments of blue and white, with a large gold crown and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.

¹⁶猶大人有光榮，歡喜快樂而得尊貴。For the Jews it was a time of light and gladness, of joy and honor.

¹⁷王的諭旨所到的各省各城，猶大人都歡喜快樂，設擺筵宴，以那日為吉日。那國的人民，有許多因懼怕猶大人，就入了猶大籍。In every province and every city, wherever the king’s edict and decree reached, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many of the people of the land themselves became Jews, because the fear of the Jews had fallen upon them.

猶大人反倒轄制仇敵

¹十二月，乃亞達月十三日，王的諭旨將要舉行，就是猶大人的仇敵盼望轄制他們的日子，猶大人反倒轄制恨他們的人。On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the king’s command and edict were to be executed. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but their plan was overturned and the Jews overpowered those who hated them.

²猶大人在亞哈隨魯王各省的城裡聚集，下手擊殺那要害他們的人。無人能敵擋他們，因為各族都懼怕他們。In each of the provinces of King Xerxes, the Jews assembled in their cities to attack those who sought to harm them. No man could withstand them, because the fear of them had fallen upon all peoples.

³各省的首領、總督、省長，和辦理王事的人，因懼怕末底改，就都幫助猶大人。And all the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and the king’s administrators helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai had fallen upon them.

⁴末底改在朝中為大，名聲傳遍各省，日漸昌盛。For Mordecai exercised great power in the palace, and his fame spread throughout the provinces as he became more and more powerful.

⁵猶大人用刀擊殺一切仇敵，任意殺滅恨他們的人。The Jews put all their enemies to the sword, killing and destroying them, and they did as they pleased to those who hated them.

書珊城的戰事

⁶在書珊城，猶大人殺滅了五百人；In the citadel of Susa, the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men,

⁷又殺巴珊大他、達分、亞斯帕他、including Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha,

⁸破拉他、亞大利雅、亞利大他、Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha,

⁹帕瑪斯他、亞利賽、亞利代、瓦耶撒他；Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha.

¹⁰這十人都是哈米大他的孫子、猶大人仇敵哈曼的兒子。猶大人卻沒有下手奪取財物。They killed these ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

書珊再延長一日

¹¹當日，將書珊城被殺的人數呈在王前。On that day the number of those killed in the citadel of Susa was reported to the king,

¹²王對王后以斯帖說：「猶大人在書珊城殺滅了五百人，又殺了哈曼的十個兒子，在王的各省不知如何呢？現在你要甚麼，我必賜給你；你還求甚麼，也必為你成就。」who said to Queen Esther, “In the citadel of Susa the Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men, including Haman’s ten sons. What have they done in the rest of the royal provinces? Now what is your petition? It will be given to you. And what further do you request? It will be fulfilled.”

¹³以斯帖說：「王若以為美，求你准書珊的猶大人，明日也照今日的旨意行，並將哈曼十個兒子的屍首掛在木架上。」Esther replied, “If it pleases the king, may the Jews in Susa also have tomorrow to carry out today’s edict, and may the bodies of Haman’s ten sons be hanged on the gallows.”

¹⁴王便允准如此行。旨意傳在書珊，人就把哈曼十個兒子的屍首掛起來了。So the king commanded that this be done. An edict was issued in Susa, and they hanged the ten sons of Haman.

¹⁵亞達月十四日，書珊的猶大人又聚集在書珊，殺了三百人，卻沒有下手奪取財物。On the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, the Jews in Susa came together again and put to death three hundred men there, but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

各省猶大人得享平安

¹⁶在王各省其餘的猶大人也都聚集保護性命，殺了恨他們的人七萬五千，卻沒有下手奪取財物。這樣，就脫離仇敵，得享平安。The rest of the Jews in the royal provinces also assembled to defend themselves and rid themselves of their enemies. They killed 75,000 who hated them, but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

設筵歡樂的日子

¹⁷亞達月十三日，行了這事；十四日安息，以這日為設筵歡樂的日子。This was done on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested, making it a day of feasting and joy.

¹⁸但書珊的猶大人，這十三日、十四日聚集殺戮仇敵；十五日安息，以這日為設筵歡樂的日子。The Jews in Susa, however, had assembled on the thirteenth and the fourteenth days of the month. So they rested on the fifteenth day, making it a day of feasting and joy.

¹⁹所以住無城牆鄉村的猶大人，如今都以亞達月十四日為設筵歡樂的吉日，彼此餽送禮物。This is why the rural Jews, who live in the villages, observe the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day of joy and feasting. It is a holiday for sending gifts to one another.

末底改定下普珥日

²⁰末底改記錄這事，寫信與亞哈隨魯王各省遠近所有的猶大人，Mordecai recorded these events and sent letters to all the Jews in all the provinces of King Xerxes, both near and far,

²¹囑咐他們每年守亞達月十四、十五兩日，to establish among them an annual celebration on the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar

²²以這月的兩日為猶大人脫離仇敵得平安、轉憂為喜、轉悲為樂的吉日。在這兩日設筵歡樂，彼此餽送禮物，賙濟窮人。as the days on which the Jews gained rest from their enemies and the month in which their sorrow turned to joy and their mourning into a holiday. He wrote that these were to be days of feasting and joy, of sending gifts to one another and to the poor.

²³於是，猶大人按著末底改所寫與他們的信，應承照初次所守的守為永例；So the Jews agreed to continue the custom they had started, as Mordecai had written to them.

²⁴是因猶大人的仇敵亞甲族哈米大他的兒子哈曼設謀殺害猶大人，掣普珥，就是掣籤，為要殺盡滅絕他們；For Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them and had cast the Pur (that is, the lot) to crush and destroy them.

²⁵這事報告於王，王便降旨使哈曼謀害猶大人的惡事歸到他自己的頭上，並吩咐把他和他的眾子都掛在木架上。But when it came before the king, he commanded by letter that the wicked scheme which Haman had devised against the Jews should come back upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

²⁶照著普珥的名字，猶大人就稱這兩日為「普珥日」。他們因這信上的話，又因所看見所遇見的事，Therefore these days are called Purim, from the word Pur. Because of all the instructions in this letter, and because of all they had seen and experienced,

²⁷就應承自己與後裔，並歸附他們的人，每年按時必守這兩日，永遠不廢。the Jews bound themselves to establish the custom that they and their descendants and all who join them should not fail to celebrate these two days at the appointed time each and every year, according to their regulation.

²⁸各省各城、家家戶戶、世世代代紀念遵守這兩日，使這「普珥日」在猶大人中不可廢掉，在他們後裔中也不可忘記。These days should be remembered and celebrated by every generation, family, province, and city, so that these days of Purim should not fail to be observed among the Jews, nor should the memory of them fade from their descendants.

以斯帖再寫信堅囑

²⁹亞比孩的女兒─王后以斯帖和猶大人末底改以全權寫第二封信，堅囑猶大人守這「普珥日」，So Queen Esther daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter concerning Purim.

³⁰用和平誠實話寫信給亞哈隨魯王國中一百二十七省所有的猶大人，And Mordecai sent letters with words of peace and truth to all the Jews in the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Xerxes,

³¹勸他們按時守這「普珥日」，禁食呼求，是照猶大人末底改和王后以斯帖所囑咐的，也照猶大人為自己與後裔所應承的。in order to confirm these days of Purim at their appointed time, just as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had established them and had committed themselves and their descendants to the times of fasting and lamentation.

³²以斯帖命定守「普珥日」，這事也記錄在書上。So Esther’s decree confirmed these regulations about Purim, which were written into the record.

王的強盛與末底改的尊大

¹亞哈隨魯王使旱地和海島的人民都進貢。Now King Xerxes imposed tribute throughout the land, even to its farthest shores.

²他以權柄能力所行的，並他抬舉末底改使他高升的事，豈不都寫在米底亞和波斯王的歷史上嗎？And all of Mordecai’s powerful and magnificent accomplishments, together with the full account of the greatness to which the king had raised him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia?

³猶大人末底改作亞哈隨魯王的宰相，在猶大人中為大，得他眾弟兄的喜悅，為本族的人求好處，向他們說和平的話。For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews and highly favored by his many kinsmen, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.

保羅用希伯來話對百姓說話

⁴⁰千夫長准了。保羅就站在臺階上，向百姓擺手，他們都靜默無聲，保羅便用希伯來話對他們說：Having received permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. A great hush came over the crowd, and he addressed them in Hebrew:

¹「諸位父兄請聽，我現在對你們分訴。」“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.”

²眾人聽他說的是希伯來話，就更加安靜了。When they heard him speak to them in Hebrew, they became even more quiet. Then Paul declared,

我原是熱心的猶太人

³保羅說：「我原是猶太人，生在基利家的大數，長在這城裡，在迦瑪列門下，按著我們祖宗嚴緊的律法受教，熱心事奉　神，像你們眾人今日一樣。“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.

⁴我也曾逼迫奉這道的人，直到死地，無論男女都鎖拿下監。I persecuted this Way even to the death, detaining both men and women and throwing them into prison,

⁵這是大祭司和眾長老都可以給我作見證的。我又領了他們達與弟兄的書信，往大馬士革去，要把在那裡奉這道的人鎖拿，帶到耶路撒冷受刑。」as the high priest and the whole Council can testify about me. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way to apprehend these people and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished.

大馬士革路上的大光

⁶「我將到大馬士革，正走的時候，約在晌午，忽然從天上發大光，四面照著我。About noon as I was approaching Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.

⁷我就仆倒在地，聽見有聲音對我說：『掃羅！掃羅！你為甚麼逼迫我？』I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’

⁸我回答說：『主啊，你是誰？』他說：『我就是你所逼迫的拿撒勒人耶穌。』‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied.

⁹與我同行的人看見了那光，卻沒有聽明那位對我說話的聲音。My companions saw the light, but they could not understand the voice of the One speaking to me.

¹⁰我說：『主啊，我當做甚麼？』主說：『起來，進大馬士革去，在那裡，要將所派你做的一切事告訴你。』Then I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ ‘Get up and go into Damascus,’ He told me. ‘There you will be told all that you have been appointed to do.’

¹¹我因那光的榮耀不能看見，同行的人就拉著我手進了大馬士革。Because the brilliance of the light had blinded me, my companions led me by the hand into Damascus.

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亞拿尼亞使他重見光明

¹²那裡有一個人，名叫亞拿尼亞，按著律法是虔誠人，為一切住在那裡的猶太人所稱讚。There a man named Ananias, a devout observer of the law who was highly regarded by all the Jews living there,

¹³他來見我，站在旁邊，對我說：『兄弟掃羅，你可以看見。』我當時往上一看，就看見了他。came and stood beside me. ‘Brother Saul,’ he said, ‘receive your sight.’ And at that moment I could see him.

¹⁴他又說：『我們祖宗的　神揀選了你，叫你明白他的旨意，又得見那義者，聽他口中所出的聲音。Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear His voice.

¹⁵因為你要將所看見的，所聽見的，對著萬人為他作見證。You will be His witness to everyone of what you have seen and heard.

¹⁶現在你為甚麼耽延呢？起來，求告他的名受洗，洗去你的罪。』」And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’

主差他往外邦人那裡去

¹⁷「後來，我回到耶路撒冷，在殿裡禱告的時候，魂遊象外，Later, when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance

¹⁸看見主向我說：『你趕緊地離開耶路撒冷，不可遲延；因你為我作的見證，這裡的人必不領受。』and saw the Lord saying to me, ‘Hurry! Leave Jerusalem quickly, because the people here will not accept your testimony about Me.’

¹⁹我就說：『主啊，他們知道我從前把信你的人收在監裡，又在各會堂裡鞭打他們。‘Lord,’ I answered, ‘they know very well that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in You.

²⁰並且你的見證人司提反被害流血的時候，我也站在旁邊歡喜；又看守害死他之人的衣裳。』And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’

²¹主向我說：『你去吧！我要差你遠遠地往外邦人那裡去。』」Then He said to me, ‘Go! I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

群眾喧嚷要除掉他

²²眾人聽他說到這句話，就高聲說：「這樣的人，從世上除掉他吧！他是不當活著的。」The crowd listened to Paul until he made this statement. Then they lifted up their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He is not fit to live!”

²³眾人喧嚷，摔掉衣裳，把塵土向空中揚起來。As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air,

千夫長要鞭打拷問

²⁴千夫長就吩咐將保羅帶進營樓去，叫人用鞭子拷問他，要知道他們向他這樣喧嚷是為甚麼緣故。the commander ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks. He directed that Paul be flogged and interrogated to determine the reason for this outcry against him.

保羅表明自己是羅馬人

²⁵剛用皮條捆上，保羅對旁邊站著的百夫長說：「人是羅馬人，又沒有定罪，你們就鞭打他，有這個例嗎？」But as they stretched him out to strap him down, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen without a trial?”

²⁶百夫長聽見這話，就去見千夫長，告訴他說：「你要做甚麼？這人是羅馬人。」On hearing this, the centurion went and reported it to the commander. “What are you going to do?” he said. “This man is a Roman citizen.”

²⁷千夫長就來問保羅說：「你告訴我，你是羅馬人嗎？」保羅說：「是。」The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes,” he answered.

²⁸千夫長說：「我用許多銀子才入了羅馬的民籍。」保羅說：「我生來就是。」“I paid a high price for my citizenship,” said the commander. “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.

²⁹於是那些要拷問保羅的人就離開他去了。千夫長既知道他是羅馬人，又因為捆綁了他，也害怕了。At once those who were about to interrogate Paul stepped back, and the commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put a Roman citizen in chains.