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 came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even to Ethiopia over a hundred and 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 king Ahasuerus 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 to all his rulers and his servants, the power of Persia and Media, the ranking men and rulers 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。
when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even a hundred and 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。
And when these days were fulfilled, the king made a feast to all the people who were present in Shushan the palace, both great and small, seven days, 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 cloth, of green, and of blue, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble. The couches were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red and white and 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。
And they gave them drink in vessels of gold (the vessels being diverse one from another), and 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。
And the drinking was according to the law, none could compel. For so the king had appointed to all the officers 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 Ahasuerus.
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 Carcas, the seven chamberlains who ministered in the presence of Ahasuerus 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 peoples and the rulers her beauty, for she was fair to look on.
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 chamberlains. Therefore the king was very angry, and his fury 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 so was the king's manner toward all 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 next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven rulers 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 queen Vashti according to law, because she has not done the bidding of king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?
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。
And Memucan answered before the king and the rulers, Vashti the queen has not done wrong only to the king, but also to all the rulers, and to all the peoples that are in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus.
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 come abroad to all women, to make their husbands contemptible in their eyes when it shall be reported, King Ahasuerus 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。
And this day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the deed of the queen will say the like to all the king's rulers. So there will arise 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 there go forth a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, that Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus, 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」。
And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will give to their husbands honor, both to 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 the saying pleased the king and the rulers, 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 the writing of it, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and should speak according to the language of his people.
