2：3王可以派官在国中的各省，招聚美貌的处女到书珊城（或作宫）的女院，交给掌管女子的太监希该，给她们当用的香品。
And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom； that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace； to the house of the women； unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain； keeper of the women； and let their things for purification be given them：
2：4王所喜爱的女子可以立为王后，代替瓦实提。王以这事为美，就如此行。
And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti。 And the thing pleased the king； and he did so。
2：5书珊城有一个犹大人，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。
Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew； whose name was Mordecai； the son of Jair； the son of Shimei； the son of Kish； a Benjamite；
2：6从前巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒，将犹大王耶哥尼雅（又名约雅斤）和百姓从耶路撒冷掳去，末底改也在其内。
Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah； whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away。
2：7末底改抚养他叔叔的女儿哈大沙（后名以斯帖），因为她没有父母。这女子又容貌俊美，她父母死了，末底改就收她为自己的女儿。
And he brought up Hadassah； that is； Esther； his uncle's daughter： for she had neither father nor mother； and the maid was fair and beautiful； whom Mordecai； when her father and mother were dead； took for his own daughter。
2：8王的谕旨传出，就招聚许多女子到书珊城，交给掌管女子的希该。以斯帖也送入王宫，交付希该。
So it came to pass； when the king's mandment and his decree was heard； and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace； to the custody of Hegai； that Esther was brought also unto the king's house； to the custody of Hegai； keeper of the women。
2：9希该喜悦以斯帖，就恩待她。急忙给她需用的香品和她所当得的分，又派所当得的七个宫女服事她，使她和她的宫女搬入女院上好的房屋。
And the maiden pleased him； and she obtained kindness of him； and he speedily gave her her things for purification； with such things as belonged to her； and seven maidens； which were meet to be given her； out of the king's house： and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women。
2：10以斯帖未曾将籍贯宗族告诉人，因为末底改嘱咐她不可叫人知道。
Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred： for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it。
2：11末底改天天在女院前边行走，要知道以斯帖平安不平安，并后事如何。
And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house； to know how Esther did； and what should bee of her。
2：12众女子照例先洁净身体十二个月。六个月用没药油，六个月用香料和洁身之物。满了日期，然后挨次进去见亚哈随鲁王。
Now when every maid's turn was e 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 acplished； to wit； six months with oil of myrrh； and six months with sweet odours； and with other things for the purifying of the women；）
2：13女子进去见王是这样。从女院到王宫的时候，凡她所要的都必给她。
Then thus came every maiden unto the king； whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house。
2：14晚上进去，次日回到女子第二院，交给掌管妃嫔的太监沙甲。除非王喜爱她，再提名召她，就不再进去见王。
In the evening she went； and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women； to the custody of Shaashgaz； the king's chamberlain； which kept the concubines： she came in unto the king no more； except the king delighted in her； and that she were called by name。
2：15末底改叔叔亚比孩的女儿，就是末底改收为自己女儿的以斯帖，按次序当进去见王的时候，除了掌管女子的太监希该所派定给她的，她别无所求。凡看见以斯帖的都喜悦她。
Now when the turn of Esther； the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai； who had taken her for his daughter； was e to go in unto the king； she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain； the keeper of the women； appointed。 And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her。
2：16亚哈随鲁王第七年十月，就是提别月，以斯帖被引入宫见王。
So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month； which is the month Tebeth； in the seventh year of his reign。
2：17王爱以斯帖过于爱众女，她在王眼前蒙宠爱比众处女更甚。王就把王后的冠冕戴在她头上，立她为王后，代替瓦实提。
And the king loved Esther above all the women； and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins； so that he set the royal crown upon her head； and made her queen instead of Vashti。
2：18王因以斯帖的缘故给众首领和臣仆设摆大筵席，又豁免各省的租税，并照王的厚意大颁赏赐。
Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants； even Esther's feast； and he made a release to the provinces； and gave gifts； according to the state of the king。
2：19第二次招聚处女的时候，末底改坐在朝门。
And when the virgins were gathered together the second time； then Mordecai sat in the king's gate。
2：20以斯帖照着末底改所嘱咐的，还没有将籍贯宗族告诉人。因为以斯帖遵末底改的命，如抚养她的时候一样。
Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people； as Mordecai had charged her： for Esther did the mandment of Mordecai； like as when she was brought up with him。
2：21当那时候，末底改坐在朝门，王的太监中有两个守门的，辟探和提列，恼恨亚哈随鲁王，想要下手害他。
In those days； while Mordecai sat in the king's gate； two of the king's chamberlains； Bigthan and Teresh； of those which kept the door； were wroth； and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus。
2：22末底改知道了，就告诉王后以斯帖。以斯帖奉末底改的名，报告于王。
And the thing was known to Mordecai； who told it unto Esther the queen； and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name。
2：23究察这事，果然是实，就把二人挂在木头上，将这事在王面前写于历史上。
And when inquisition was made of the matter； it was found out； therefore they were both hanged on a tree： and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king。
旧约 以斯帖记（Esther） 第 3 章 （ 本篇共有 10 章 ） 7上一章 下一章8 目录
3：1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 things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite； and advanced him； and set his seat above all the princes that were with him。
3：2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。
And all the king's servants； that were in the king's gate； bowed； and reverenced Haman： for the king had so manded concerning him。 But Mordecai bowed not； nor did him reverence。
3：3在朝门的臣仆问末底改说，你为何违背王的命令呢。
Then the king's servants； which were in the king's gate； said unto Mordecai； Why transgressest thou the king's mandment？
3：4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。
Now it came to pass； when they spake daily unto him； and he hearkened not unto them； that they told Haman； to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand： for he had told them that he was a Jew。
3：5哈曼见末底改不跪不拜，他就怒气填胸。
And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not； nor did him reverence； then was Haman full of wrath。
3：6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 he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone； for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai： wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus； even the people of Mordecai。
3：7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 first month； that is； the month Nisan； in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus； they cast Pur； that is； the lot； before Haman from day to day； and from month to month； to the twelfth month； that is； the month Adar。
3：8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。
And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus； There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom； and their laws are diverse from all people； neither keep they the king's laws： therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them。
3：9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 please the king； let it be written that they may be destroyed： and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business； to bring it into the king's treasuries。
3：10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。
And the king took his ring from his hand； and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite； the Jews' enemy。
3：11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。
And the king said unto Haman； The silver is given to thee； the people also； to do with them as it seemeth good to thee。
3：12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。
Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month； and there was written according to all that Haman had manded unto the king's lieutenants； and to the governors that were over every province； and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof； and to every people after their language； in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written； and sealed with the king's ring。
3：13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 posts into all the king's provinces； to destroy； to kill； and to cause to perish； all Jews； both young and old； little children and women； in one day； even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month； which is the month Adar； and to take the spoil of them for a prey。
3：14抄录这旨意，颁行各省，宣告各族，使他们预备等候那日。
The copy of the writing for a mandment to be given in every province was published unto all people； that they should be ready against that day。
3：15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�