今日读经

哈曼高升，末底改不跪拜

¹这事以后，亚哈随鲁王抬举亚甲族哈米大他的儿子哈曼，使他高升，叫他的爵位超过与他同事的一切臣宰。After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him to a position above all the princes who were with him.

²在朝门的一切臣仆都跪拜哈曼，因为王如此吩咐；惟独末底改不跪不拜。All the royal servants at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, because the king had commanded that this be done for him. But Mordecai would not bow down or pay homage.

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³在朝门的臣仆问末底改说：“你为何违背王的命令呢？”Then the royal servants at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the command of the king?”

⁴他们天天劝他，他还是不听，他们就告诉哈曼，要看末底改的事站得住站不住，因他已经告诉他们自己是犹大人。Day after day they warned him, but he would not comply. So they reported it to Haman to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, since he had told them he was a Jew.

⁵哈曼见末底改不跪不拜，他就怒气填胸。When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or pay him homage, he was filled with rage.

⁶他们已将末底改的本族告诉哈曼；他以为下手害末底改一人是小事，就要灭绝亚哈随鲁王通国所有的犹大人，就是末底改的本族。And when he learned the identity of Mordecai’s people, he scorned the notion of laying hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he sought to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the kingdom of Xerxes.

掣普珥定日子

⁷亚哈随鲁王十二年正月，就是尼散月，人在哈曼面前，按日日月月掣普珥，就是掣签，要定何月何日为吉，择定了十二月，就是亚达月。In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the Pur (that is, the lot) was cast before Haman to determine a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.

哈曼求王灭绝犹大人

⁸哈曼对亚哈随鲁王说：“有一种民散居在王国各省的民中；他们的律例与万民的律例不同，也不守王的律例，所以容留他们与王无益。Then Haman informed King Xerxes, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples of every province of your kingdom. Their laws are different from everyone else’s, and they do not obey the king’s laws. So it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them.

⁹王若以为美，请下旨意灭绝他们；我就捐一万他连得银子交给掌管国帑的人，纳入王的府库。”If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will deposit ten thousand talents of silver into the royal treasury to pay those who carry it out.”

¹⁰于是王从自己手上摘下戒指给犹大人的仇敌—亚甲族哈米大他的儿子哈曼。So the king removed the signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.

¹¹王对哈曼说：“这银子仍赐给你，这民也交给你，你可以随意待他们。”“Keep your money,” said the king to Haman. “These people are given to you to do with them as you please.”

灭族的旨意传遍各省

¹²正月十三日，就召了王的书记来，照着哈曼一切所吩咐的，用各省的文字、各族的方言，奉亚哈随鲁王的名写旨意，传与总督和各省的省长，并各族的首领；又用王的戒指盖印，On the thirteenth day of the first month, the royal scribes were summoned and the order was written exactly as Haman commanded the royal satraps, the governors of each province, and the officials of each people, in the script of each province and the language of every people. It was written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with the royal signet ring.

¹³交给驿卒传到王的各省，吩咐将犹大人，无论老少妇女孩子，在一日之间，十二月，就是亚达月十三日，全然剪除，杀戮灭绝，并夺他们的财为掠物。And the letters were sent by couriers to each of the royal provinces with the order to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—and to plunder their possessions on a single day, the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month.

¹⁴抄录这旨意，颁行各省，宣告各族，使他们预备等候那日。A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued in every province and published to all the people, so that they would be ready on that day.

¹⁵驿卒奉王命急忙起行，旨意也传遍书珊城。王同哈曼坐下饮酒，书珊城的民却都慌乱。The couriers left, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. Then the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was in confusion.

末底改和犹大人悲哀禁食

¹末底改知道所做的这一切事，就撕裂衣服，穿麻衣，蒙灰尘，在城中行走，痛哭哀号。When Mordecai learned of all that had happened, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, wailing loudly and bitterly.

²到了朝门前停住脚步，因为穿麻衣的不可进朝门。But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because the law prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering that gate.

³王的谕旨所到的各省各处，犹大人大大悲哀，禁食哭泣哀号，穿麻衣躺在灰中的甚多。In every province to which the king’s command and edict came, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and lamented, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

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末底改请以斯帖求王

⁴王后以斯帖的宫女和太监来把这事告诉以斯帖，她甚是忧愁，就送衣服给末底改穿，要他脱下麻衣，他却不受。When Esther’s maidens and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, the queen was overcome with distress. She sent clothes for Mordecai to wear instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them.

⁵以斯帖就把王所派伺候她的一个太监，名叫哈他革召来，吩咐他去见末底改，要知道这是什么事，是什么缘故。Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs appointed to her, and she dispatched him to Mordecai to learn what was troubling him and why.

⁶于是哈他革出到朝门前的宽阔处见末底改。So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square in front of the king’s gate,

⁷末底改将自己所遇的事，并哈曼为灭绝犹大人应许捐入王库的银数都告诉了他；and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money that Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury in order to destroy the Jews.

⁸又将所抄写传遍书珊城要灭绝犹大人的旨意交给哈他革，要给以斯帖看，又要给她说明，并嘱咐她进去见王，为本族的人在王面前恳切祈求。Mordecai also gave Hathach a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for the destruction of the Jews, to show and explain to Esther, urging her to approach the king, implore his favor, and plead before him for her people.

⁹哈他革回来，将末底改的话告诉以斯帖；So Hathach went back and relayed Mordecai’s response to Esther.

¹⁰以斯帖就吩咐哈他革去见末底改，说：Then Esther spoke to Hathach and instructed him to tell Mordecai,

¹¹“王的一切臣仆和各省的人民都知道有一个定例：若不蒙召，擅入内院见王的，无论男女必被治死；除非王向他伸出金杖，不得存活。现在我没有蒙召进去见王已经三十日了。”“All the royal officials and the people of the king’s provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned—that he be put to death. Only if the king extends the gold scepter may that person live. But I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the past thirty days.”

¹²人就把以斯帖这话告诉末底改。When Esther’s words were relayed to Mordecai,

¹³末底改托人回复以斯帖说：“你莫想在王宫里强过一切犹大人，得免这祸。he sent back to her this reply: “Do not imagine that because you are in the king’s palace you alone will escape the fate of all the Jews.

¹⁴此时你若闭口不言，犹大人必从别处得解脱，蒙拯救；你和你父家必致灭亡。焉知你得了王后的位分不是为现今的机会吗？”For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

以斯帖决定冒死见王

¹⁵以斯帖就吩咐人回报末底改说：Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:

¹⁶“你当去招聚书珊城所有的犹大人，为我禁食三昼三夜，不吃不喝；我和我的宫女也要这样禁食。然后我违例进去见王，我若死就死吧！”“Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!”

¹⁷于是末底改照以斯帖一切所吩咐的去行。So Mordecai went and did all that Esther had instructed him.

以斯帖进见王、设筵席

¹第三日，以斯帖穿上朝服，进王宫的内院，对殿站立。王在殿里坐在宝座上，对着殿门。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王见王后以斯帖站在院内，就施恩于她，向她伸出手中的金杖；以斯帖便向前摸杖头。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王对她说：“王后以斯帖啊，你要什么？你求什么，就是国的一半也必赐给你。”“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以斯帖说：“王若以为美，就请王带着哈曼今日赴我所预备的筵席。”“If it pleases the king,” Esther replied, “may the king and Haman come today to the banquet I have prepared for the king.”

⁵王说：“叫哈曼速速照以斯帖的话去行”。于是王带着哈曼赴以斯帖所预备的筵席。“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，王又问以斯帖说：“你要什么，我必赐给你；你求什么，就是国的一半也必为你成就。”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以斯帖回答说：“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，王若愿意赐我所要的，准我所求的，就请王带着哈曼再赴我所要预备的筵席。明日我必照王所问的说明。”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.”

哈曼为末底改立木架

⁹那日哈曼心中快乐，欢欢喜喜地出来；但见末底改在朝门不站起来，连身也不动，就满心恼怒末底改。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哈曼暂且忍耐回家，叫人请他朋友和他妻子细利斯来。Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. And calling for his friends and his wife Zeresh,

¹¹哈曼将他富厚的荣耀、众多的儿女，和王抬举他使他超乎首领臣仆之上，都述说给他们听。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哈曼又说：“王后以斯帖预备筵席，除了我之外不许别人随王赴席。明日王后又请我随王赴席；“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只是我见犹大人末底改坐在朝门，虽有这一切荣耀，也与我无益。”Yet none of this satisfies me as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”

¹⁴他的妻细利斯和他一切的朋友对他说：“不如立一个五丈高的木架，明早求王将末底改挂在其上，然后你可以欢欢喜喜地随王赴席。”哈曼以这话为美，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.

王夜里睡不着

¹那夜王睡不着觉，就吩咐人取历史来，念给他听。That night sleep escaped the king; so he ordered the Book of Records, the Chronicles, to be brought in and read to him.

²正遇见书上写着说：王的太监中有两个守门的，辟探和提列，想要下手害亚哈随鲁王，末底改将这事告诉王后。And there it was found recorded that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the eunuchs who guarded the king’s entrance, when they had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.

³王说：“末底改行了这事，赐他什么尊荣爵位没有？”伺候王的臣仆回答说：“没有赐他什么。”The king inquired, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this act?” “Nothing has been done for him,” replied the king’s attendants.

⁴王说：“谁在院子里？”（那时哈曼正进王宫的外院，要求王将末底改挂在他所预备的木架上。）“Who is in the court?” the king asked. Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to ask the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows he had prepared for him.

⁵臣仆说：“哈曼站在院内。”王说：“叫他进来。”So the king’s attendants answered him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” “Bring him in,” ordered the king.

哈曼亲自尊荣末底改

⁶哈曼就进去。王问他说：“王所喜悦尊荣的人，当如何待他呢？”哈曼心里说：“王所喜悦尊荣的，不是我是谁呢？”Haman entered, and the king asked him, “What should be done for the man whom the king is delighted to honor?” Now Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king be delighted to honor more than me?”

⁷哈曼就回答说：“王所喜悦尊荣的，And Haman told the king, “For the man whom the king is delighted to honor,

⁸当将王常穿的朝服和戴冠的御马，have them bring a royal robe that the king himself has worn and a horse on which the king himself has ridden—one with a royal crest placed on its head.

⁹都交给王极尊贵的一个大臣，命他将衣服给王所喜悦尊荣的人穿上，使他骑上马，走遍城里的街市，在他面前宣告说：王所喜悦尊荣的人，就如此待他。”Let the robe and the horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them array the man the king wants to honor and parade him on the horse through the city square, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man whom the king is delighted to honor!’”

¹⁰王对哈曼说：“你速速将这衣服和马，照你所说的，向坐在朝门的犹大人末底改去行。凡你所说的，一样不可缺。”“Hurry,” said the king to Haman, “and do just as you proposed. Take the robe and the horse to Mordecai the Jew, who is sitting at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything that you have suggested.”

¹¹于是哈曼将朝服给末底改穿上，使他骑上马，走遍城里的街市，在他面前宣告说：“王所喜悦尊荣的人，就如此待他。”So Haman took the robe and the horse, arrayed Mordecai, and paraded him through the city square, crying out before him, “This is what is done for the man whom the king is delighted to honor!”

¹²末底改仍回到朝门，哈曼却忧忧闷闷地蒙着头，急忙回家去了，Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief.

¹³将所遇的一切事详细说给他的妻细利斯和他的众朋友听。他的智慧人和他的妻细利斯对他说：“你在末底改面前始而败落，他如果是犹大人，你必不能胜他，终必在他面前败落。”Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened. His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has begun, is Jewish, you will not prevail against him—for surely you will fall before him.”

¹⁴他们还与哈曼说话的时候，王的太监来催哈曼快去赴以斯帖所预备的筵席。While they were still speaking with Haman, the king’s eunuchs arrived and rushed him to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

以斯帖揭穿哈曼

¹王带着哈曼来赴王后以斯帖的筵席。So the king and Haman went to dine with Esther the queen,

²这第二次在酒席筵前，王又问以斯帖说：“王后以斯帖啊，你要什么，我必赐给你；你求什么，就是国的一半也必为你成就。”and as they drank their wine on that second day, the king asked once more, “Queen 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.”

³王后以斯帖回答说：“我若在王眼前蒙恩，王若以为美，我所愿的，是愿王将我的性命赐给我；我所求的，是求王将我的本族赐给我。Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, grant me my life as my petition, and the lives of my people as my request.

⁴因我和我的本族被卖了，要剪除杀戮灭绝我们。我们若被卖为奴为婢，我也闭口不言；但王的损失，敌人万不能补足。”For my people and I have been sold out to destruction, death, and annihilation. If we had merely been sold as menservants and maidservants, I would have remained silent, because no such distress would justify burdening the king.”

⁵亚哈随鲁王问王后以斯帖说：“擅敢起意如此行的是谁？这人在哪里呢？”Then King Xerxes spoke up and asked Queen Esther, “Who is this, and where is the one who would devise such a scheme?”

⁶以斯帖说：“仇人敌人就是这恶人哈曼！”哈曼在王和王后面前就甚惊惶。Esther replied, “The adversary and enemy is this wicked man—Haman!” And Haman stood in terror before the king and queen.

哈曼被挂在自己的木架上

⁷王便大怒，起来离开酒席往御园去了。哈曼见王定意要加罪与他，就起来，求王后以斯帖救命。In his fury, the king arose from drinking his wine and went to the palace garden, while Haman stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life, for he realized that the king was planning a terrible fate for him.

⁸王从御园回到酒席之处，见哈曼伏在以斯帖所靠的榻上；王说：“他竟敢在宫内、在我面前凌辱王后吗？”这话一出王口，人就蒙了哈曼的脸。Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, “Would he actually assault the queen while I am in the palace?” As soon as the words had left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.

⁹伺候王的一个太监名叫哈波拿，说：“哈曼为那救王有功的末底改做了五丈高的木架，现今立在哈曼家里。”王说：“把哈曼挂在其上。”Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said: “There is a gallows fifty cubits high at Haman’s house. He had it built for Mordecai, who gave the report that saved the king.” “Hang him on it!” declared the king.

¹⁰于是人将哈曼挂在他为末底改所预备的木架上。王的忿怒这才止息。So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the fury of the king subsided.

末底改得了王的戒指

¹当日，亚哈随鲁王把犹大人仇敌哈曼的家产赐给王后以斯帖。末底改也来到王面前，因为以斯帖已经告诉王，末底改是她的亲属。That same day King Xerxes awarded Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai entered the king’s presence because Esther had revealed his relation to her.

²王摘下自己的戒指，就是从哈曼追回的，给了末底改。以斯帖派末底改管理哈曼的家产。The king removed the signet ring he had recovered from Haman and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed Mordecai over the estate of Haman.

保罗向雅各和长老报告

¹⁸第二天，保罗同我们去见雅各；长老们也都在那里。The next day Paul went in with us to see James, and all the elders were present.

¹⁹保罗问了他们安，便将　神用他传教，在外邦人中间所行之事，一一地述说了。Paul greeted them and recounted one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

长老担心犹太信徒的误会

²⁰他们听见，就归荣耀与　神，对保罗说：“兄台，你看犹太人中信主的有多少万，并且都为律法热心。When they heard this, they glorified God. Then they said to Paul, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law.

²¹他们听见人说，你教训一切在外邦的犹太人离弃摩西，对他们说，不要给孩子行割礼，也不要遵行条规。But they are under the impression that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or observe our customs.

²²众人必听见你来了，这可怎么办呢？What then should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come.

²³你就照着我们的话行吧！我们这里有四个人，都有愿在身。Therefore do what we advise you. There are four men with us who have taken a vow.

²⁴你带他们去，与他们一同行洁净的礼，替他们拿出规费，叫他们得以剃头。这样，众人就可知道，先前所听见你的事都是虚的；并可知道，你自己为人，循规蹈矩，遵行律法。Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that there is no truth to these rumors about you, but that you also live in obedience to the law.

²⁵至于信主的外邦人，我们已经写信拟定，叫他们谨忌那祭偶像之物，和血，并勒死的牲畜，与奸淫。”As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.”

保罗行洁净的礼

²⁶于是保罗带着那四个人，第二天与他们一同行了洁净的礼，进了殿，报明洁净的日期满足，只等祭司为他们各人献祭。So the next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he entered the temple to give notice of the date when their purification would be complete and the offering would be made for each of them.

殿里的暴动

²⁷那七日将完，从亚细亚来的犹太人看见保罗在殿里，就耸动了众人，下手拿他，When the seven days were almost over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him,

²⁸喊叫说：“以色列人来帮助，这就是在各处教训众人糟践我们百姓和律法，并这地方的。他又带着希腊人进殿，污秽了这圣地。”crying out, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and against our law and against this place. Furthermore, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.”

²⁹（这话是因他们曾看见以弗所人特罗非摩同保罗在城里，以为保罗带他进了殿。）For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.

³⁰合城都震动，百姓一齐跑来，拿住保罗，拉他出殿，殿门立刻都关了。The whole city was stirred up, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut.

千夫长把保罗救出

³¹他们正想要杀他，有人报信给营里的千夫长说：“耶路撒冷合城都乱了。”While they were trying to kill him, the commander of the Roman regiment received a report that all Jerusalem was in turmoil.

³²千夫长立时带着兵丁和几个百夫长，跑下去到他们那里。他们见了千夫长和兵丁，就止住不打保罗。Immediately he took some soldiers and centurions and ran down to the crowd. When the people saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

³³于是千夫长上前拿住他，吩咐用两条铁链捆锁；又问他是什么人，做的是什么事。The commander came up and arrested Paul, ordering that he be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done.

³⁴众人有喊叫这个的，有喊叫那个的；千夫长因为这样乱嚷，得不着实情，就吩咐人将保罗带进营楼去。Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, and some another. And since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks.

³⁵到了台阶上，众人挤得凶猛，兵丁只得将保罗抬起来。When Paul reached the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob.

³⁶众人跟在后面，喊着说：“除掉他！”For the crowd that followed him kept shouting, “Away with him!”

保罗请求向百姓说话

³⁷将要带他进营楼，保罗对千夫长说：“我对你说句话可以不可以？”他说：“你懂得希腊话吗？As they were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” “Do you speak Greek?” he replied.

³⁸你莫非是从前作乱、带领四千凶徒往旷野去的那埃及人吗？”“Aren’t you the Egyptian who incited a rebellion some time ago and led four thousand members of the Assassins into the wilderness?”

³⁹保罗说：“我本是犹太人，生在基利家的大数，并不是无名小城的人。求你准我对百姓说话。”But Paul answered, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Now I beg you to allow me to speak to the people.”