< استر 1 >

در ایام اخشورش (این امور واقع شد). این همان اخشورش است که از هند تا حبش، بر صد و بیست و هفت ولایت سلطنت می‌کرد. ۱ 1
In the days of Artaxerxes, who reigned from India to Ethiopia over one hundred twenty-seven provinces,
در آن ایام حینی که اخشورش پادشاه، بر کرسی سلطنت خویش در دارالسلطنه شوشن نشسته بود. ۲ 2
when he sat on the throne of his kingdom, the city of Susa was the root of his kingdom.
در سال سوم از سلطنت خویش، ضیافتی برای جمیع سروران و خادمان خود برپا نمود و حشمت فارس ومادی از امرا و سروران ولایتها، به حضور او بودند. ۳ 3
And so, in the third year of his reign, he made a great feast for all the leaders and his servants, for the most powerful among the Persians and the distinguished among the Medes, and for the rulers of the provinces before him,
پس مدت مدید صد و هشتاد روز، توانگری جلال سلطنت خویش و حشمت مجد عظمت خود را جلوه می‌داد. ۴ 4
so that he might show the glorious riches of his kingdom, as well as its greatness, and so boast of his power, for a long time, namely, one hundred and eighty days.
پس بعد از انقضای آنروزها، پادشاه برای همه کسانی که دردارالسلطنه شوشن از خرد و بزرگ یافت شدند، ضیافت هفت روزه در عمارت باغ قصر پادشاه برپا نمود. ۵ 5
And when the days of the feast were nearly completed, he invited all the people, who had been found in Susa, from the greatest even to the least, and he commanded a feast to be prepared, for seven days, in the court of the garden and the arboretum, which had been planted by the care and by the hand of the king.
پرده‌ها از کتان سفید و لاجورد، با ریسمانهای سفید و ارغوان در حلقه های نقره بر ستونهای مرمر سفید آویخته وتختهای طلا و نقره بر سنگفرشی از سنگ سماق و مرمر سفید و در و مرمر سیاه بود. ۶ 6
And, in every direction, tents the color of the sky and of flax as well as hyacinth were hung up, suspended by cords of linen and even purple, which had been placed through rings of ivory and were held up with marble columns. The couches also, of gold and silver, had been arranged over a pavement of emerald-green, bearing scattered jewels, which was decorated with a wonderful variety of images.
و آشامیدن، از ظرفهای طلابود و ظرفها را اشکال مختلفه بود و شرابهای ملوکانه برحسب کرم پادشاه فراوان بود. ۷ 7
Moreover, those who had been invited drank from golden cups, and dishes of foods were brought in one after another. Likewise, choice wine was presented in abundance, as was worthy of royal magnificence.
و آشامیدن برحسب قانون بود که کسی بر کسی تکلف نمی نمود، زیرا پادشاه درباره همه بزرگان خانه‌اش چنین امر فرموده بود که هر کس موافق میل خود رفتار نماید. ۸ 8
Nor was anyone compelled to drink who was unwilling, but, just as the king had appointed, one of his nobles was set over each table, so that each one might select what he wanted.
و وشتی ملکه نیز ضیافتی برای زنان خانه خسروی اخشورش پادشاه برپا نمود. ۹ 9
Likewise, Vashti the queen made a feast for the women, in the palace where king Artaxerxes was accustomed to stay the night.
در روز هفتم، چون دل پادشاه از شراب خوش شد، هفت خواجه‌سرا یعنی مهومان و بزتا و حربونا و بغتا و ابغتا و زاتر و کرکس را که درحضور اخشورش پادشاه خدمت می‌کردند، امر فرمود ۱۰ 10
And so, on the seventh day, when the king was more cheerful, and, after excessive drinking, had become warmed with wine, he ordered Mehuman, and Biztha, and Harbona, and Bigtha, and Abagtha, and Zethar, and Charkas, seven eunuchs who served in his presence,
که وشتی ملکه را با تاج ملوکانه به حضور پادشاه بیاورندتا زیبایی او را به خلایق و سروران نشان دهد، زیرا که نیکو منظر بود. ۱۱ 11
to bring in queen Vashti before the king, with the crown set upon her head, to show her beauty to the whole people and to the leaders, for she was very beautiful.
اما وشتی ملکه نخواست که برحسب فرمانی که پادشاه به‌دست خواجه‌سرایان فرستاده بود بیاید. پس پادشاه بسیار خشمناک شده، غضبش در دلش مشتعل گردید. ۱۲ 12
She refused, and she showed contempt towards the king’s command, which he had delivered to her by the eunuchs. Whereupon the king, being angry and inflamed with a very great fury,
آنگاه پادشاه به حکیمانی که از زمانها مخبر بودند تکلم نموده، (زیرا که عادت پادشاه با همه کسانی که به شریعت و احکام عارف بودند چنین بود. ۱۳ 13
questioned the wise men, who, according to royal custom were always near him and all he did was by their counsel, who knew the laws as well as the judgments of their ancestors,
و مقربان او کرشنا و شیتار و ادماتا و ترشیش و مرس و مرسنا ومموکان، هفت رئیس فارس و مادی بودند که روی پادشاه را می‌دیدند و در مملکت به درجه اول می‌نشستند) ۱۴ 14
(but first and foremost were Carshena, and Shethar, and Admatha, and Tarshish, and Meres, and Marsena, and Memucan, seven rulers of the Persians as well as the Medes, who saw the face of the king and who were accustomed to sitting down first after him, )
گفت: «موافق شریعت، به وشتی ملکه چه باید کرد؟ چونکه به فرمانی که اخشورش پادشاه به‌دست خواجه‌سرایان فرستاده است، عمل ننموده.» ۱۵ 15
as to what sentence should fall upon Vashti the queen, who had refused to do the commandment of king Artaxerxes, which he had delivered to her by the eunuchs.
آنگاه مموکان به حضور پادشاه و سروران عرض کرد که «وشتی ملکه، نه‌تنها به پادشاه تقصیر نموده، بلکه به همه روسا و جمیع طوایفی که در تمامی ولایتهای اخشورش پادشاه می‌باشند، ۱۶ 16
And Memucan answered, in the hearing of the king as well as the rulers, “Queen Vashti has wounded not only the king, but also all the people and the leaders, who are in all the provinces of king Artaxerxes.
زیرا چون این عمل ملکه نزد تمامی زنان شایع شود، آنگاه شوهرانشان در نظر ایشان خوار خواهند شد، حینی که مخبر شوند که اخشورش پادشاه امر فرموده است که وشتی ملکه را به حضورش بیاورند و نیامده است. ۱۷ 17
For word about the queen will go out to all the women, so that they will show contempt for their husbands, and they will say, ‘King Artaxerxes ordered that queen Vashti should enter before him, and she would not.’
و در آنوقت، خانمهای فارس و مادی که این عمل ملکه را بشنوند، به جمیع روسای پادشاه چنین خواهند گفت و این مورد بسیار احتقار و غضب خواهد شد. ۱۸ 18
And so, by this example all the wives of the leaders of the Persians and the Medes will belittle the authority of their husbands; therefore, the indignation of the king is just.
پس اگر پادشاه این رامصلحت داند، فرمان ملوکانه‌ای از حضور وی صادر شود و در شرایع فارس و مادی ثبت گردد، تا تبدیل نپذیرد، که وشتی به حضور اخشورش پادشاه دیگر نیاید و پادشاه رتبه ملوکانه او را به دیگری که بهتر از او باشد بدهد. ۱۹ 19
If it pleases you, let an edict be sent out from your presence, and let it be written according to the law of the Persians and the Medes, which it is forbidden to disregard, that Vashti shall no longer enter before the king, but let another, who is better than her, receive her queenship.
وچون فرمانی که پادشاه صادر گرداند در تمامی مملکت عظیم او مسموع شود، آنگاه همه زنان شوهران خود را ازبزرگ و کوچک، احترام خواهند نمود.» ۲۰ 20
And let this be published in all the provinces of your empire, (which is very wide, ) and let all wives, the greater as much as the lesser, give honor to their husbands.”
و این سخن در نظر پادشاه و روسا پسندآمد و پادشاه موافق سخن مموکان عمل نمود. ۲۱ 21
His counsel pleased the king and the rulers, and the king acted according to the counsel of Memucan,
و مکتوبات به همه ولایتهای پادشاه به هرولایت، موافق خط آن و به هر قوم، موافق زبانش فرستاد تا هر مرد در خانه خود مسلط شود و درزبان قوم خود آن را بخواند. ۲۲ 22
and he sent letters to all the provinces of his kingdom, so that every nation was able to hear and to read, in various languages and letters, that husbands are to be the greater rulers in their own houses, and that this should be published to every people.

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