1After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her. 2Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king: 3And 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:2.3 unto the…: Heb. unto the hand2.3 Hege: also called, Hegai 4And 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; 6Who 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.2.6 Jeconiah: also called, Jehoiachin 7And 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.2.7 brought…: Heb. nourished2.7 fair…: Heb. fair of form, and good of countenance
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. 9And 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.2.9 such…: Heb. her portions2.9 preferred: Heb. changed 10Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it. 11And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.2.11 to know…: Heb. to know the peace
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;) 13Then 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. 14In 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. 16So 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. 17And 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.2.17 favour: or, kindness2.17 in his…: Heb. before him 18Then 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.2.18 release: Heb. rest 19And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king’s gate. 20Esther 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.2.21 Bigthan: also called, Bigthana2.21 the door: Heb. the threshold 22And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai’s name. 23And 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.
以斯帖被立為王后
1這事之後，亞哈隨魯王的怒氣平息下來，就想起瓦實提和她的所作所為，並怎樣降旨懲罰她的事。 2王的侍臣說：「讓人為王物色一些年輕貌美的處女吧。 3請王在國中各省委派專使把所有年輕漂亮的處女選入書珊城的女宮，交給管理女子的太監希該，供給她們美容用品。 4哪個女子討王歡心，便立她為王后，代替瓦實提。」王覺得這個建議很好，就採納了。
5當時，書珊城中有個猶太人，名叫末底改，是便雅憫人基士的曾孫、示每的孫子、雅珥的兒子。 6巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒曾從耶路撒冷擄走猶大王耶哥尼雅和百姓，末底改也在其中。 7末底改收養了叔叔的女兒哈大沙，又名以斯帖，把她認作自己的女兒，因為她父母雙亡。這女子體態優美，容貌動人。 8王的諭旨一下，許多年輕的女子被召到書珊城中，交給管理女子的希該照管。以斯帖也被送到王宮中交給希該。 9希該喜歡以斯帖，就恩待她，急忙給她需用的美容用品和膳食，又從王宮為她挑選七名宮女，讓她和她的宮女搬進女宮上好的房屋。 10以斯帖沒有向人透露過自己的種族和身世，因為末底改吩咐她不要透露。 11末底改天天在女宮的庭院前徘徊，好打聽以斯帖的消息，瞭解她的情況。
12每個女子依次晉見亞哈隨魯王之前，都要照規矩潔淨十二個月：六個月用沒藥油，六個月用香料和潔身用品。 13每個女子從女宮到王宮晉見王時，她所要求的一切都要給她。 14她晚上進去，次日被帶到另一個女宮，交給管理妃嬪的太監沙甲。除非王喜歡她，提名召見她，否則她不會再見到王。
15以斯帖是末底改的叔叔亞比孩的女兒，後來被末底改收養。輪到她晉見王時，除了管理女子的太監希該給她的東西外，她沒有別的要求。凡看見她的人都喜歡她。 16亞哈隨魯王執政第七年十月，即提別月，以斯帖被帶進宮中見王。 17王愛以斯帖勝過愛其他所有的女子，她比其他處女更得王的恩寵。於是，王把后冠戴在她頭上，立她為王后，代替瓦實提。 18王為以斯帖大擺宴席招待文武百官，又宣佈各省休假2·18 「休假」或譯「免去賦稅」。，並厚賜禮物。
末底改救王的性命
19第二次召集處女時，末底改已坐在宮門供職。 20以斯帖依照末底改的吩咐，沒有向人透露自己的身世和籍貫，因為她像幼年時一樣聽從末底改的話。
21一天，末底改正在宮門供職，兩個守門的太監辟探和提列惱恨亞哈隨魯王，想要下手害他。 22末底改知道後，便通知以斯帖王后，以斯帖就以末底改的名義稟告王。 23查明確有此事後，便把二人吊死在木架上，並將這事當著王的面寫入史書。
