1 这些事以后， 亚哈随鲁王的怒气消减了， 就想念瓦实提和她所行的， 以及怎样降旨办她的事。 2 于是有些侍臣对王说： "要差人为王寻找一些美貌的少女。 3 王可以委派官员在国中各省， 把所有美貌的少女都召到书珊城的女院那里， 交在掌理女子的王家太监希该手下， 可以供给她们洁身用的香品。 4 王喜悦的女子， 就可以作王后， 代替瓦实提。"王喜悦这话， 就这样行了。 5 在书珊城里， 有一个犹大人， 名叫末底改， 是便雅悯人基士的曾孙、示每的孙子、睚珥的儿子。 6 末底改在巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒掳走犹大王耶哥尼雅和别的俘虏的时候， 也同时被掳走。 7 末底改抚养自己叔叔的女儿哈大沙（哈大沙就是以斯帖）， 因为她没有父母。这女子体态美丽， 容貌娟秀； 她父母死了， 末底改就收养她作自己的女儿。 8 王的命令和谕旨传开了， 许多少女都被召到书珊城， 交在希该的手下； 以斯帖也被带到王宫里去， 交在管理女子的希该手下。 9 希该喜悦以斯帖， 就恩待她， 急忙供给她洁身用的香品和她应得的食物， 又给她七个美丽的侍女， 都是从王宫里选出来给她的， 再把她和她的侍女搬进女院上好的房子里。 10 以斯帖没有把自己的种族和身世告诉人， 因为末底改吩咐她不可告诉人。 11 末底改天天都在女院的院子前面徘徊， 要知道以斯帖平安不平安， 她的情形怎样。 12 每个少女轮流进宫见亚哈随鲁王之前， 都要照着女子的规例洁净身体十二个月， 因为女子洁身的规例是这样： 六个月用没药油， 六个月用香品和妇女洁身用的其他物品。 13 那时， 少女进去见王是这样的： 从女院到王宫的时候， 她所要的都要给她。 14 她晚上进去， 次日早晨回到第二女院去， 交给管理妃嫔的沙甲， 就是王的太监； 除非王喜悦她， 题名召她， 她就不再进去见王。 15 末底改的叔叔亚比孩的女儿以斯帖， 就是末底改收养作自己女儿的， 轮到她进去见王的时候， 除了王的太监， 掌理女子的希该所预备的以外， 以斯帖别无所求； 看见以斯帖的， 都喜爱她。 16 亚哈随鲁王执政第七年十月， 就是提别月， 以斯帖被带进王宫去见亚哈随鲁王。 17 王爱以斯帖超过所有其他的女子； 在所有的处女中， 她在王的面前， 最得王的恩宠与喜爱； 王把王后的冠冕戴在她头上， 立她为王后， 代替瓦实提。 18 王为他的文武百官大摆筵席， 就是以斯帖的婚筵， 又向各省颁布休假一天， 并且照着王的厚意， 颁赐礼物。 19 第二次召集处女的时候， 末底改坐在朝门那里。 20 以斯帖照着末底改吩咐她的， 没有把自己的身世和种族告诉人； 末底改所说的话， 以斯帖都遵行， 就像昔日养育她的时候一样。 21 那时， 末底改坐在朝门那里， 王有两个守门的太监： 辟探和提列， 一时因为恼怒， 正想下手害亚哈随鲁王。 22 这阴谋给末底改知道了， 他就告诉王后以斯帖； 以斯帖就以末底改的名义对王说起这事。 23 那阴谋查究起来， 就发现真相； 于是把二人悬挂在木架上。这事在王面前曾写于史记。

1 After these things, at the ceasing of the fury of the king Ahasuerus, he hath remembered Vashti, and that which she did, and that which hath been decreed concerning her;2 and servants of the king, his ministers, say, `Let them seek for the king young women, virgins, of good appearance,3 and the king doth appoint inspectors in all provinces of his kingdom, and they gather every young woman -- virgin, of good appearance -- unto Shushan the palace, unto the house of the women, unto the hand of Hege eunuch of the king, keeper of the women, and to give their purifications,4 and the young woman who is good in the eyes of the king doth reign instead of Vashti;` and the thing is good in the eyes of the king, and he doth so.5 A man, a Jew, there hath been in Shushan the palace, and his name [is] Mordecai son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjamite --6 who had been removed from Jerusalem with the removal that was removed with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon removed --7 and he is supporting Hadassah -- she [is] Esther -- daughter of his uncle, for she hath neither father nor mother, and the young woman [is] of fair form, and of good appearance, and at the death of her father and her mother hath Mordecai taken her to him for a daughter.8 And it cometh to pass, in the word of the king, even his law, being heard, and in many young women being gathered unto Shushan the palace, unto the hand of Hegai, that Esther is taken unto the house of the king, unto the hand of Hegai, keeper of the women,9 and the young woman is good in his eyes, and she receiveth kindness before him, and he hasteneth her purifications and her portions -- to give to her, and the seven young women who are provided -- to give to her, from the house of the king, and he changeth her and her young women to a good [place in] the house of the women.10 Esther hath not declared her people, and her kindred, for Mordecai hath laid a charge on her that she doth not declare [it];11 and during every day Mordecai is walking up and down before the court of the house of the women to know the welfare of Esther, and what is done with her.12 And in the drawing nigh of the turn of each young woman to come in unto the king Ahasuerus, at the end of there being to her -- according to the law of the women -- twelve months, for so they fulfil the days of their purifications; six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with spices, and with the purifications of women,13 and with this the young woman hath come in unto the king, all that she saith is given to her, to go in with her, out of the house of the women, unto the house of the king;14 in the evening she hath gone in, and in the morning she hath turned back unto the second house of the women, unto the hand of Shaashgaz eunuch of the king, keeper of the concubines; she cometh not in any more unto the king except the king hath delighted in her, and she hath been called by name.15 And in the drawing nigh of the turn of Esther -- daughter of Abihail, uncle of Mordecai, whom he had taken to him for a daughter -- to come in unto the king, she hath not sought a thing except that which Hegai eunuch of the king, keeper of the women, saith, and Esther is receiving grace in the eyes of all seeing her.16 And Esther is taken unto the king Ahasuerus, unto his royal house, in the tenth month -- it [is] the month of Tebeth -- in the seventh year of his reign,17 and the king loveth Esther above all the women, and she receiveth grace and kindness before him above all the virgins, and he setteth a royal crown on her head, and causeth her to reign instead of Vashti,18 and the king maketh a great banquet to all his heads and his servants -- the banquet of Esther -- and a release to the provinces hath made, and giveth gifts as a memorial of the king.19 And in the virgins being gathered a second time, then Mordecai is sitting in the gate of the king;20 Esther is not declaring her kindred and her people, as Mordecai hath laid a charge upon her, and the saying of Mordecai Esther is doing as when she was truly with him.21 In those days, when Mordecai is sitting in the gate of the king, hath Bigthan been wroth, and Teresh, (two of the eunuchs of the king, the keepers of the threshold,) and they seek to put forth a hand on king Ahasuerus,22 and the thing is known to Mordecai, and he declareth [it] to Esther the queen, and Esther speaketh to the king in the name of Mordecai,23 and the thing is sought out, and found, and they are hanged both of them on a tree, and it is written in the book of the Chronicles before the king.