エステル 記 1
1 アハシュエロスすなわちインドからエチオピヤまで百二十七州を治めたアハシュエロスの世、
Now it happened in the days of Achashyerosh (this is Achashyerosh who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty-seven provinces),
2 アハシュエロス王が首都スサで、その国の位に座していたころ、
that in those days, when the King Achashyerosh sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
3 その治世の第三年に、彼はその大臣および侍臣たちのために酒宴を設けた。ペルシャとメデアの将軍および貴族ならびに諸州の大臣たちがその前にいた。
in the third year of his reign, he made a feast for all his officials and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him.
4 その時、王はその盛んな国の富と、その王威の輝きと、はなやかさを示して多くの日を重ね、百八十日に及んだ。
He displayed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even one hundred eighty days.
5 これらの日が終った時、王は王の宮殿の園の庭で、首都スサにいる大小のすべての民のために七日の間、酒宴を設けた。
When these days were fulfilled, the king made a seven day feast for all the people who were present in Shushan the palace, both great and small, in the court of the garden of the king's palace.
6 そこには白綿布の垂幕と青色のとばりとがあって、紫色の細布のひもで銀の輪および大理石の柱につながれていた。また長いすは金銀で作られ、石膏と大理石と真珠貝および宝石の切りはめ細工の床の上に置かれていた。
There were hangings of white, green, and blue material, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and marble pillars. The couches were of gold and silver, on a pavement of red, white, yellow, and black marble.
7 酒は金の杯で賜わり、その杯はそれぞれ違ったもので、王の大きな度量にふさわしく、王の用いる酒を惜しみなく賜わった。
They gave them drinks in golden vessels of various kinds, including royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king.
8 その飲むことは法にかない、だれもしいられることはなかった。これは王が人々におのおの自分の好むようにさせよと宮廷のすべての役人に命じておいたからである。
In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had instructed all the officials of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.
9 王妃ワシテもまたアハシュエロス王に属する王宮の内で女たちのために酒宴を設けた。
Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to King Achashyerosh.
10 七日目にアハシュエロス王は酒のために心が楽しくなり、王の前に仕える七人の侍従メホマン、ビズタ、ハルボナ、ビグタ、アバグタ、ゼタルおよびカルカスに命じて、
On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcass, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of Achashyerosh the king,
11 王妃ワシテに王妃の冠をかぶらせて王の前にこさせよと言った。これは彼女が美しかったので、その美しさを民らと大臣たちに見せるためであった。
to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the royal crown, to show the people and the officials her beauty; for she was beautiful.
12 ところが、王妃ワシテは侍従が伝えた王の命令に従って来ることを拒んだので、王は大いに憤り、その怒りが彼の内に燃えた。
But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by the eunuchs. Therefore the king was very angry, and his anger burned in him.
13 そこで王は時を知っている知者に言った、王はすべて法律と審判に通じている者に相談するのを常とした。
Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for it was the king's custom to consult those who knew law and judgment;
14 時に王の次にいた人々はペルシャおよびメデアの七人の大臣カルシナ、セタル、アデマタ、タルシシ、メレス、マルセナ、メムカンであった。彼らは皆王の顔を見る者で、国の首位に座する人々であった
and the next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven officials of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and sat first in the kingdom),
15 「王妃ワシテは、アハシュエロス王が侍従をもって伝えた命令を行わないゆえ、法律に従って彼女にどうしたらよかろうか」。
"What shall we do to the queen Vashti according to law, because she has not done the bidding of the King Achashyerosh by the eunuchs?"
16 メムカンは王と大臣たちの前で言った、「王妃ワシテはただ王にむかって悪い事をしたばかりでなく、すべての大臣およびアハシュエロス王の各州のすべての民にむかってもしたのです。
Memucan answered before the king and the officials, "Vashti the queen has not done wrong to just the king, but also to all the officials and to all the people who are in all the provinces of the King Achashyerosh.
17 王妃のこの行いはあまねくすべての女たちに聞えて、彼らはついにその目に夫を卑しめ、『アハシュエロス王は王妃ワシテに、彼の前に来るように命じたがこなかった』と言うでしょう。
For this deed of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to show contempt for their husbands, when it is reported, 'King Achashyerosh commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she did not come.'
18 王妃のこの行いを聞いたペルシャとメデアの大臣の夫人たちもまた、今日、王のすべての大臣たちにこのように言うでしょう。そうすれば必ず卑しめと怒りが多く起ります。
Today, the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen's deed will tell all the king's officials. This will cause much contempt and wrath.
19 もし王がよしとされるならば、ワシテはこの後、再びアハシュエロス王の前にきてはならないという王の命令を下し、これをペルシャとメデアの法律の中に書きいれて変ることのないようにし、そして王妃の位を彼女にまさる他の者に与えなさい。
If it please the king, let a royal commandment go from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it cannot be altered, that Vashti may never again come before King Achashyerosh; and let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she.
20 王の下される詔がこの大きな国にあまねく告げ示されるとき、妻たる者はことごとく、その夫を高下の別なく共に敬うようになるでしょう」。
When the king's decree which he shall make is published throughout all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will give their husbands honor, both great and small."
21 王と大臣たちはこの言葉をよしとしたので、王はメムカンの言葉のとおりに行った。
And this advice pleased the king and the officials, and the king did according to the word of Memucan:
22 王は王の諸州にあまねく書を送り、各州にはその文字にしたがい、各民族にはその言語にしたがって書き送り、すべて男子たる者はその家の主となるべきこと、また自分の民の言語を用いて語るべきことをさとした。
for he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to its writing, and to every people in their language, that every man should rule his own house, speaking in the language of his own people.
