1Now it took place in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces,
1亞哈隨魯作王，從印度直到古實，統管一百二十七省。
2in those days as King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne which [was] at the citadel in Susa,
2亞哈隨魯王在書珊城的宮登基；
3in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his princes and attendants, the army [officers] of Persia and Media, the nobles and the princes of his provinces being in his presence.
3在位第三年，為他一切首領臣僕設擺筵席，有波斯和瑪代的權貴，就是各省的貴冑與首領，在他面前。
4And he displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his great majesty for many days, 180 days.
4他把他榮耀之國的豐富和他美好威嚴的尊貴給他們看了許多日，就是一百八十日。
5When these days were completed, the king gave a banquet lasting seven days for all the people who were present at the citadel in Susa, from the greatest to the least, in the court of the garden of the king's palace.
5這日子滿了，又為所有住書珊城的大小人民在御園的院子裡設擺筵席七日。
6[There were hangings of] fine white and violet linen held by cords of fine purple linen on silver rings and marble columns, [and] couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and precious stones.
6有白色、綠色、藍色的帳子，用細麻繩、紫色繩從銀環內繫在白玉石柱上；有金銀的床榻擺在紅、白、黃、黑玉石鋪的石地上。
7Drinks were served in golden vessels of various kinds, and the royal wine was plentiful according to the king's bounty.
7用金器皿賜酒，器皿各有不同。御酒甚多，足顯王的厚意。
8The drinking was [done] according to the law, there was no compulsion, for so the king had given orders to each official of his household that he should do according to the desires of each person.
8喝酒有例，不准勉強人，因王吩咐宮裡的一切臣宰，讓人各隨己意。
9Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the palace which belonged to King Ahasuerus.
9王后瓦實提在亞哈隨魯王的宮內也為婦女設擺筵席。
10On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus,
10第七日，亞哈隨魯王飲酒，心中快樂，就吩咐在他面前侍立的七個太監米戶幔、比斯他、哈波拿、比革他、亞拔他、西達、甲迦，
11to bring Queen Vashti before the king with [her] royal crown in order to display her beauty to the people and the princes, for she was beautiful.
11請王后瓦實提頭戴王后的冠冕到王面前，使各等臣民看他的美貌，因為他容貌甚美。
12But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command delivered by the eunuchs. Then the king became very angry and his wrath burned within him.
12王后瓦實提卻不肯遵太監所傳的王命而來，所以王甚發怒，心如火燒。
13Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times-- for it was the custom of the king so [to speak] before all who knew law and justice
13那時，在王左右常見王面、國中坐高位的，有波斯和瑪代的七個大臣，就是甲示拿、示達、押瑪他、他施斯、米力、瑪西拿、米母干，都是達時務的明哲人。按王的常規，辦事必先詢問知例明法的人。王問他們說：
14and were close to him: Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who had access to the king's presence and sat in the first place in the kingdom--
14a
15'According to law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus [delivered] by the eunuchs?'
15「王后瓦實提不遵太監所傳的王命，照例應當怎樣辦理呢？」
16In the presence of the king and the princes, Memucan said, 'Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but [also] all the princes and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.
16米母干在王和眾首領面前回答說：王后瓦實提這事，不但得罪王，並且有害於王各省的臣民；
17'For the queen's conduct will become known to all the women causing them to look with contempt on their husbands by saying, 'King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in to his presence, but she did not come.'
17因為王后這事必傳到眾婦人的耳中，說：『亞哈隨魯王吩咐王后瓦實提到王面前，他卻不來』，他們就藐視自己的丈夫。
18'This day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen's conduct will speak in [the same way] to all the king's princes, and there will be plenty of contempt and anger.
18今日波斯和瑪代的眾夫人聽見王后這事，必向王的大臣照樣行；從此必大開藐視和忿怒之端。
19'If it pleases the king, let a royal edict be issued by him and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti may no longer come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to another who is more worthy than she.
19王若以為美，就降旨寫在波斯和瑪代人的例中，永不更改，不准瓦實提再到王面前，將他王后的位分賜給比他還好的人。
20'When the king's edict which he will make is heard throughout all his kingdom, great as it is, then all women will give honor to their husbands, great and small.'
20所降的旨意傳遍通國（國度本來廣大），所有的婦人，無論丈夫貴賤都必尊敬他。」
21[This] word pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan proposed.
21王和眾首領都以米母干的話為美，王就照這話去行，
22So he sent letters to all the king's provinces, to each province according to its script and to every people according to their language, that every man should be the master in his own house and the one who speaks in the language of his own people.
22發詔書，用各省的文字、各族的方言通知各省，使為丈夫的在家中作主，各說本地的方言。