以斯帖記 5

¹第三日，以斯帖穿上朝服，進王宮的內院，對殿站立。王在殿裡坐在寶座上，對著殿門。On the third day, Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace across from the king’s quarters. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal courtroom, facing the entrance.

²王見王后以斯帖站在院內，就施恩於她，向她伸出手中的金杖；以斯帖便向前摸杖頭。As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she found favor in his sight. The king extended the gold scepter in his hand toward Esther, and she approached and touched the tip of the scepter.

³王對她說：「王后以斯帖啊，你要甚麼？你求甚麼，就是國的一半也必賜給你。」“What is it, Queen Esther?” the king inquired. “What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given to you.”

⁴以斯帖說：「王若以為美，就請王帶著哈曼今日赴我所預備的筵席。」“If it pleases the king,” Esther replied, “may the king and Haman come today to the banquet I have prepared for the king.”

⁵王說：「叫哈曼速速照以斯帖的話去行」。於是王帶著哈曼赴以斯帖所預備的筵席。“Hurry,” commanded the king, “and bring Haman, so we can do as Esther has requested.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

⁶在酒席筵前，王又問以斯帖說：「你要甚麼，我必賜給你；你求甚麼，就是國的一半也必為你成就。」And as they drank their wine, the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.”

⁷以斯帖回答說：「我有所要，我有所求。Esther replied, “This is my petition and my request:

⁸我若在王眼前蒙恩，王若願意賜我所要的，准我所求的，就請王帶著哈曼再赴我所要預備的筵席。明日我必照王所問的說明。」If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, may the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”

⁹那日哈曼心中快樂，歡歡喜喜地出來；但見末底改在朝門不站起來，連身也不動，就滿心惱怒末底改。That day Haman went out full of joy and glad of heart. At the king’s gate, however, he saw Mordecai, who did not rise or tremble in fear at his presence. And Haman was filled with rage toward Mordecai.

¹⁰哈曼暫且忍耐回家，叫人請他朋友和他妻子細利斯來。Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. And calling for his friends and his wife Zeresh,

¹¹哈曼將他富厚的榮耀、眾多的兒女，和王抬舉他使他超乎首領臣僕之上，都述說給他們聽。Haman recounted to them his glorious wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored and promoted him over the other officials and servants.

¹²哈曼又說：「王后以斯帖預備筵席，除了我之外不許別人隨王赴席。明日王后又請我隨王赴席；“What is more,” Haman added, “Queen Esther invited no one but me to join the king at the banquet she prepared, and I am invited back tomorrow along with the king.

¹³只是我見猶大人末底改坐在朝門，雖有這一切榮耀，也與我無益。」Yet none of this satisfies me as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”

¹⁴他的妻細利斯和他一切的朋友對他說：「不如立一個五丈高的木架，明早求王將末底改掛在其上，然後你可以歡歡喜喜地隨王赴席。」哈曼以這話為美，就叫人做了木架。His wife Zeresh and all his friends told him, “Have them build a gallows fifty cubits high, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and enjoy yourself.” The advice pleased Haman, and he had the gallows constructed.