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2:1
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這些事以后，亞哈隨魯王的烈怒消熄了，就想念到瓦實提和她所行的，以及她怎樣被降旨受懲辦的事。
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After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.
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2:2
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于是一些伺候王的侍臣就對王說︰「請讓人為王尋找容貌俊美的年少處女。
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Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
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2:3
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王可以派官員在國中各省招集每一個容貌俊美的年少處女到書珊宮堡女院那里，交在掌管女子的太監希該手下，讓她們所需要的按摩手朮可給以供應。
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And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them:
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2:4
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王所認為滿意的女子便可做王后、來代替瓦實提。」王看這提議很好，就這樣行。
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And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
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2:5
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在書珊宮堡里有一個人是猶大人，名叫末底改，是便雅憫人基士的曾孫、示每的孫子、睚珥的兒子。
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Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;
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2:6
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從前有流亡的人跟猶大王耶哥尼雅（又名約雅斤）一同流亡，是巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒使他們流亡的﹔末底改也跟這些人從耶路撒冷一同流亡去。
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Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
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2:7
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末底改養育他叔叔的女兒、哈大沙、就是以斯帖，因為以斯帖父母雙亡︰這女子形體美麗、容貌俊美﹔她父母死了，末底改就收她做自己的女兒。
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And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.
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2:8
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王的命令和詔書一傳布，就有許多少女被招集到書珊宮堡，交在希該手下﹔以斯帖也被收進王宮，交在掌管女子的希該手下。
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So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
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2:9
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這少女被希該看中了，就在他面前受眷愛﹔希該趕快給她按摩的手朮、和她應得的珍饈分額，又給她七個侍女、從王宮挑出來給她的﹔就使她和她的侍女搬進女院上好的房間。
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And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.
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2:10
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以斯帖沒有將她屬哪一民族、她有哪些親屬、告訴人，因為末底改吩咐她不可告訴人。
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Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.
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2:11
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末底改天天在女院的院子前面走來走去，要知道以斯帖平安不平安，人怎樣地處理她。
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And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.
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2:12
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到了一個少女一個少女挨次進去見亞哈隨魯王的時候──那時在十二個月按照處理女人的條例處理了她之后﹔因為要完成婦女按摩的手朮是這樣的︰六個月用沒藥油，六個月用香料和婦女按摩的手朮﹔
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Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)
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2:13
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那時少女進去見王是這樣的──從女院到王宮的時候，凡她所求要的，都要給她帶進去。
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Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house.
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2:14
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她晚上進去，第二天早晨回到第二女院，去住在王的太監、掌管妃嬪者沙甲手下﹔除非王喜愛她，而她被提名召見，她就不再進去見王。
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In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.
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2:15
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末底改的叔叔亞比孩的女兒、以斯帖、就是末底改收為自己女兒的、按次序該進去見王的時候到了，除了王的太監掌管女子的希該所指示的以外，她別無所求﹔但她卻博得了見到她的人的喜愛。
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Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
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2:16
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亞哈隨魯王執掌國政第七年十月、就是提別月（即︰公歷十二月一月之間）、以斯帖被帶領進王宮、去見亞哈隨魯王。
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So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
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2:17
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王愛以斯帖過于愛眾婦女﹔她在王面前蒙寵愛、勝過眾處女﹔王把王后的冠冕戴在她頭上，立她為王后、來代替瓦實提。
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And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
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2:18
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王給她的眾官長和臣仆擺設了大筵席、就是以斯帖的筵席，又舉行安撫各省的事，并照王的大手面頒予賞賜。
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Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.
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2:19
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處女們第二次被招集的時候，末底改正坐在御門那里。
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And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.
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2:20
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以斯帖照末底改所吩咐的沒有將她所有的親屬和所屬的民族告訴人﹔因為末底改所說的話以斯帖都遵行，如同受他養育的時候一樣。
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Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.
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2:21
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當那些日子、末底改正坐在御門那里，王的太監中有兩個把守門檻的、辟探和提列、正在惱怒，想法子要下手害恨亞哈隨魯王。
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In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
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2:22
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這事給末底改知道了，他就告訴王后以斯帖﹔以斯帖便提起末底改的名對王說起這事。
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And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name.
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2:23
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這事一被追究，便查出是實﹔二人就被挂在示眾木上。這事就在王面前寫在史記上。
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And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.
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