エステル 記 3

1 これらの事の後、アハシュエロス王はアガグびとハンメダタの子ハマンを重んじ、これを昇進させて、自分と共にいるすべての大臣たちの上にその席を定めさせた。

After these things, king Assuerus advanced Aman, the son of Amadathi, who was of the race of Agag: and he set his throne above all the princes that were with him.

2 王の門の内にいる王の侍臣たちは皆ひざまずいてハマンに敬礼した。これは王が彼についてこうすることを命じたからである。しかしモルデカイはひざまずかず、また敬礼しなかった。

And all the king’s servants, that were at the doors of the palace, bent their knees, and worshipped Aman: for so the emperor had commanded them, only Mardochai did not bend his knee, nor worship him.

3 そこで王の門にいる王の侍臣たちはモルデカイにむかって、「あなたはどうして王の命令にそむくのか」と言った。

And the king’s servants that were chief at the doors of the palace, said to him: Why dost thou alone not observe the king’s commandment?

4 彼らは毎日モルデカイにこう言うけれども聞きいれなかったので、その事がゆるされるかどうかを見ようと、これをハマンに告げた。なぜならモルデカイはすでに自分のユダヤ人であることを彼らに語ったからである。

And when they were saying this often, and he would not hearken to them; they told Aman, desirous to know whether he would continue in his resolution: for he had told them that he was a Jew.

5 ハマンはモルデカイのひざまずかず、また自分に敬礼しないのを見て怒りに満たされたが、

Now when Aman had heard this, and had proved by experience that Mardochai did not bend his knee to him, nor worship him, he was exceeding angry.

6 ただモルデカイだけを殺すことを潔しとしなかった。彼らがモルデカイの属する民をハマンに知らせたので、ハマンはアハシュエロスの国のうちにいるすべてのユダヤ人、すなわちモルデカイの属する民をことごとく滅ぼそうと図った。

And he counted it nothing to lay his hands upon Mardochai alone: for he had heard that he was of the nation of the Jews, and he chose rather to destroy all the nation of the Jews that were in the kingdom of Assuerus.

7 アハシュエロス王の第十二年の正月すなわちニサンの月に、ハマンの前で、十二月すなわちアダルの月まで、一日一日のため、一月一月のために、プルすなわちくじを投げさせた。

In the first month (which is called Nisan) in the twelfth year a of the reign of Assuerus, the lot was cast into an urn, which in Hebrew is called Phur, before Aman, on what day and what month the nation of the Jews should be destroyed: and there came out the twelfth month, which is called Adar.

8 そしてハマンはアハシュエロス王に言った、「お国の各州にいる諸民のうちに、散らされて、別れ別れになっている一つの民がいます。その法律は他のすべての民のものと異なり、また彼らは王の法律を守りません。それゆえ彼らを許しておくことは王のためになりません。

And Aman said to king Assuerus: There is a people scattered through all the provinces of thy kingdom, and separated one from another, that use new laws and ceremonies, and moreover despise the king’s ordinances: and thou knowest very well that it is not expedient for thy kingdom that they should grow insolent by impunity.

9 もし王がよしとされるならば、彼らを滅ぼせと詔をお書きください。そうすればわたしは王の事をつかさどる者たちの手に銀一万タラントを量りわたして、王の金庫に入れさせましょう」。

If it please thee, decree that they may he destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents to thy treasurers.

10 そこで王は手から指輪をはずし、アガグびとハンメダタの子で、ユダヤ人の敵であるハマンにわたした。

And the king took the ring that he used, from his own hand, and gave it to Aman, the son of Amadathi of the race of Agag, the enemy of the Jews,

11 そして王はハマンに言った、「その銀はあなたに与える。その民もまたあなたに与えるから、よいと思うようにしなさい」。

And he said to him: As to the money which thou promisest, keep it for thyself: and as to the people, do with them as seemeth good to thee.

12 そこで正月の十三日に王の書記官が召し集められ、王の総督、各州の知事および諸民のつかさたちにハマンが命じたことをことごとく書きしるした。すなわち各州に送るものにはその文字を用い、諸民に送るものにはその言語を用い、おのおのアハシュエロス王の名をもってそれを書き、王の指輪をもってそれに印を押した。

And the king’s scribes were called in the first month Nisan, on the thirteenth day of the same month: and they wrote, as Aman had commanded, to all the king’s lieutenants, and to the judges of the provinces, and of divers nations, as every nation could read, and hear according to their different languages, in the name of king Assuerus: and the letters, sealed with his ring,

13 そして急使をもってその書を王の諸州に送り、十二月すなわちアダルの月の十三日に、一日のうちにすべてのユダヤ人を、若い者、老いた者、子供、女の別なく、ことごとく滅ぼし、殺し、絶やし、かつその貨財を奪い取れと命じた。

Were sent by the king’s messengers to all provinces, to kill and destroy all the Jews, both young and old, little children, and women, in one day, that is, on the thirteenth of the twelfth month, which is called Adar, and to make a spoil of their goods.

14 この文書の写しを詔として各州に伝え、すべての民に公示して、その日のために備えさせようとした。

And the contents of the letters were to this effect, that all provinces might know and be ready against that day.

15 急使は王の命令により急いで出ていった。この詔は首都スサで発布された。時に王とハマンは座して酒を飲んでいたが、スサの都はあわて惑った。

The couriers that were sent made haste to fulfill the king’s commandment. And immediately the edict was hung up in Susan, the king and Aman feasting together, and all the Jews that were in the city weeping.