以斯帖被立为王后
这些事以后，亚哈随鲁王的愤怒平息，就想起瓦实提和她所做的，以及自己怎样降旨办她。
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于是王的侍臣对王说：“请派人为王寻找美貌的少女；Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
3请王派官员在国中各省招聚所有美貌的少女到书珊城堡的女院，交给王所派掌管女子的太监希该，给她们香膏涂抹。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王眼中看为好的女子可以立为王后，代替瓦实提。”王以这话为美，就照样做。And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
5书珊城堡中有一个犹太人名叫末底改，是便雅悯人基士的曾孙，示每的孙子，睚珥的儿子。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从前巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒把犹大王耶哥尼雅☛“耶哥尼雅”又名“约雅斤”；参王下24．6。和百姓从耶路撒冷掳来，末底改也在被掳的人当中。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末底改抚养他叔叔的女儿哈大沙，就是以斯帖，因为她没有父母。这女子容貌美丽；她父母死了，末底改收她为自己的女儿。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王的谕旨和敕令传出之后，许多女子被招聚到书珊城堡，交给掌管女子的希该；以斯帖也被送入王宫，交给希该。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希该眼中宠爱以斯帖，就恩待她，急忙给她涂抹的香膏和当得的份，又从王宫里挑选七个宫女来服事她，使她和她的宫女搬入女院上好的房屋。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以斯帖未曾将自己的籍贯宗族告诉人，因为末底改嘱咐她不可叫人知道。Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.
11末底改天天在女院前徘徊，要知道以斯帖是否平安，过得如何。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众女子照例先涂抹身体十二个月：六个月用没药油，六个月用香料和涂抹的香膏。满了日期，每个女子挨次进去朝见亚哈随鲁王。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女子进去朝见王是这样：从女院到王宫的时候，凡她所要的都必给她带进去。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晚上她进去，次日回到另一个女院，交给掌管妃嫔的太监沙甲。除非王喜爱她，再提名召她，她就不再进去见王。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末底改的叔叔亚比孩的女儿，就是末底改收为自己女儿的以斯帖，按次序要进去朝见王的时候，除了掌管女子的太监希该所分派给她的，她别无所求。凡看见以斯帖的都喜欢她。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亚哈随鲁王第七年十月，就是提别月，以斯帖被引入宫中朝见王。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王爱以斯帖过于众女子，她在王面前蒙宠爱胜过众少女。王把王后的冠冕戴在她头上，立她为王后，代替瓦实提。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王为所有的官长和臣仆摆设大宴席，称为以斯帖的宴席，又豁免各省的租税，并照王的厚意大颁赏赐。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.
末底改救王的命
19第二次招聚少女的时候，末底改坐在朝门。And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.
20以斯帖遵照末底改所嘱咐的，没有将籍贯宗族告诉人；以斯帖照末底改的吩咐去做，正如受他抚养的时候一样。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那时候，末底改坐在朝门，王有两个守门的太监，辟探和提列，恼恨亚哈随鲁王，想要下手害他。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末底改知道了这件事，就告诉以斯帖王后。以斯帖以末底改的名向王报告。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这事经过查究后发现是真的，二人就被挂在木头上。这事在王面前记录在史籍上。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.