1 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. 2 Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king: 3 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: 4 And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.

5 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; 6 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. 7 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.

8 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. 9 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. 10 Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it. 11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.

12 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;) 13 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. 14 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.

15 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. 16 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. 17 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. 18 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. 19 And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king’s gate. 20 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.

21 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. 22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai’s name. 23 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.

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。