Esther 2
1 ଏହିସହୁ ଘଟଣା ପରେ ଅକ୍ଷଶ୍ବରେଶ ରାଜାର କୋର୍ଧ ଶାନ୍ତ ହୁଅନ୍ତେ ସେ ବଷ୍ଟୀକି ଓ ତାହାର କାର୍ୟ୍ଯ ଓ ତାହା ପ୍ରତିକୂଳ ରେ ପ୍ରଦତ୍ତ ଆଜ୍ଞା ସ୍ମରଣ କଲା।
2 ତେଣୁ ରାଜାର ସବୋକାରୀ ଭୃତ୍ଯମାନେ ତାହାକୁ କହିଲେ, ମହାରାଜାଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ସୁନ୍ଦରୀ ୟୁବତୀ କନ୍ଯାଗଣର ଅନ୍ବଷେଣ କରାଯାଉ।
3 ଆଉ ମହାରାଜା ଆପଣା ରାଜ୍ଯର ସମସ୍ତ ପ୍ରଦେଶ ରେ କର୍ମଗ୍ଭରୀଗଣ ନିୟୁକ୍ତି କରନ୍ତୁ। ସମାନେେ ସହେି ସବୁ ସୁନ୍ଦରୀ କନ୍ଯାଗଣକୁ ଶୂଶନ ରାଜଧାନୀ ରେ ଏକତ୍ର କରି ଅନ୍ତଃପୁର ରେ ସ୍ତ୍ରୀମାନଙ୍କ ରକ୍ଷକ ରାଜନଫୁସକ ହଗଯରେ ହସ୍ତ ରେ ସମର୍ପଣ କରନ୍ତୁ। ପୁଣି ସମାନଙ୍କେ ଅଙ୍ଗରାଗାର୍ଥକ ଦ୍ରବ୍ଯ ସମାନଙ୍କେୁ ଦତ୍ତ ହେଉ।
4 ଏହାପରେ ଯେଉଁ କନ୍ଯା ମହାରାଜାଙ୍କର ତୁଷ୍ଟୀକାରୀଣୀ ହବେ, ସେ ବଷ୍ଟୀ ବଦଳେ ରାଣୀ ହବେ। ଏହି କଥା ରେ ରାଜା ସନ୍ତାଷେ ହବୋରୁ ସେ ଏପରି କଲା।
5 ସହେି ସମୟରେ ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯ ନାମ ରେ ଜଣେ ୟିହୁଦୀଯ ଲୋକ ଶୂଶନ୍ ରାଜଧାନୀ ରେ ଥିଲା, ସେ ବିନ୍ଯାମୀନ ବଂଶୀଯ ୟାଯୀରର ପୁତ୍ର, ଶିମିଯିର ପୌତ୍ର, କୀଶର ପ୍ରପୌତ୍ର।
6 ଯେଉଁ ଲୋକମାନେ ଯିହୁଦାର ରାଜା ୟିକନିଯ ସହିତ ବାବିଲର ରାଜା ନବୁଖଦ୍ନିତ୍ସର ଦ୍ବାରା ନିର୍ବାସିତ ହାଇେଥିଲା। ସମାନଙ୍କେ ସହିତ କୀଶ ୟିରୁଶାଲମଠାରୁ ନିର୍ବାସିତ ହାଇେଥିଲା।
7 ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯ ଆପଣା ମାମୁଁ କନ୍ଯା ହଦସାକୁ ଅର୍ଥାତ୍ ଏଷ୍ଟରକୁ ପ୍ରତିପାଳନ କଲା କାରଣ ତାହାର ପିତା କି ମାତା ନ ଥିଲେ। ସେ ପରମସୁନ୍ଦରୀ ଓ ସ୍ନହମେଯୀ ଥିଲା। ତାହାର ପିତାମାତା ମଲାପରେ ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯ ତାହାକୁ ନିଜର କନ୍ଯାରୂପେ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରିଥିଲା।
8 ଯେତବେେଳେ ରାଜାର ସହେି ବାକ୍ଯ ଓ ଆଜ୍ଞା ପ୍ରଗ୍ଭରିତ ହେଲା ଶୂଶନ୍ ରାଜଧାନୀ ରେ ହଗଯେ ନିକଟରେ ଅନକେ କନ୍ଯା ସଂଗୃହିତ ହବୋ ବେଳେ ଏଷ୍ଟରକୁ ରାଜପୁରିକି ସ୍ତ୍ରୀ ରକ୍ଷକ ହଗଯେ ନିକଟକୁ ନିଆଗଲା।
9 ଏଥି ରେ ଏହି ୟୁବତୀ ହଗଯରେ ତୁଷ୍ଟିଜନକ ହାଇେ ତାହାଠାରୁ ଅନୁଗ୍ରହ ପାଇଲା। ଏଣୁ ସେ ଶୀଘ୍ର ତାକୁ ରାଜଗୃହରୁ ମନୋନୀତ ସାତଜଣ ଦାସୀଙ୍କ ସହିତ ସମସ୍ତ ଅଂଶ ପ୍ରସାଧନ ଏବଂ ତା'ର ଭାଗ ଖାଦ୍ୟ ଦିଆଗଲା। ଆଉ ସେ ତାକୁ ତାହାର ଦାସୀଗଣ ସହିତ ଅନ୍ତଃପୁରର ସର୍ବୋତ୍ତମ ସ୍ଥାନ ରେ ବାସ କରାଇଲା।
10 ମାତ୍ର ଏଷ୍ଟର ଆପଣା ବଂଶ କି କୁଟୁମ୍ବର ପରିଚଯ କାହାକୁ ଦଲୋନାହିଁ କାରଣ ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯ ତାହା ନ ଜଣାଇବାକୁ ଆଜ୍ଞା କରିଥିଲା।
11 ଏହାପରେ, ଏଷ୍ଟର କିପରି ଅଛି ଓ ସେ କଣ କରୁଛି, ଏହା ଜାଣିବା ପାଇଁ ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯ ପ୍ରତିଦିନ ନ୍ଯାଯାଳଯ ରେ ପ୍ରାଙ୍ଗଣ ସମ୍ମୁଖ ରେ ୟାତାଯତ କଲା।
12 ଦ୍ବାଦଶ ମାସ ଶଷେ ରେ, ରାଜା ଅକ୍ଷଶ୍ବରଶ ନିକଟକୁ ଏକ କୁଆଁରୀ କନ୍ଯାର ଉପସ୍ଥିତ ହବୋର ସମୟ ଆସିଲା। କାରଣ ସମାନଙ୍କେର ସୌନ୍ଦର୍ୟ୍ଯ ବୃଦ୍ଧି ପାଇଁ ଛଅ ମାସ ଗନ୍ଧରସର ତୈଳ ଓ ଛଅ ମାସ ସୁଗନ୍ଧି ଓ ସ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଲୋକଙ୍କ ଅଙ୍ଗରାଗାର୍ଥକ ଦ୍ରବ୍ଯ ସବେନ କରିବାକୁ ହେଲା।
13 ପୁଣି ରାଜାଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ୟିବାକୁ ହେଲେ, ପ୍ରେତ୍ୟକକ ୟୁବତୀ ନିମନ୍ତେ ଏହିପରି ନିଯମ ଥିଲା। ସେ ଯେ କୌଣସି ଦ୍ରବ୍ଯ ମାଗିଲେ, ଅନ୍ତଃପୁରରୁ ରାଜଗୃହକୁ ୟିବା ସମୟରେ ସାଙ୍ଗ ରେ ନବୋ ନିମନ୍ତେ ତାହାକୁ ଦିଆଗଲା।
14 ରାଜାଙ୍କର ନଫୁସକ ଶାଶ୍ଗସର ତତ୍ତ୍ବାବଧାନ ରେ ଜଣେ କନ୍ଯା ସନ୍ଧ୍ଯା ସମୟରେ ଦ୍ବିତୀୟ ହ ରମଙ୍କେ ନିକଟକୁ ୟିବ ଓ ସକାଳ ରେ ଫରେି ଆସିବ। ଶାଶ୍ଗସ ରାଜାଙ୍କର ତତ୍ତ୍ବାବଧାରକ ଥିଲା।
15 ଏହାପରେ, ରାଜାଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ୟିବାପାଇଁ ଏଷ୍ଟରର ପାଳି ପଡିଲା। ଏଷ୍ଟର ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯଙ୍କ ପାଳିତ କନ୍ଯା ଥିଲା। ସେ ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯର କକା ଅବିହଯିଲର କନ୍ଯା ଥିଲା। ହଗଯେ ରାଜାଙ୍କର ନଫୁସକ ଓ ସ୍ତ୍ରୀଲୋକମାନଙ୍କର ତତ୍ତ୍ବାବଧାରକ, ଯାହା କହିଥିଲେ, ତାହା ଛଡା ଏଷ୍ଟର ଆଉ କିଛି ମାଗିଲା ନାହିଁ। ସମସ୍ତେ ଯେଉଁମାନେ ହଗଯକେୁ ଦେଖିଲେ, ତା ପ୍ରତି ଅନୁକମ୍ପା କଲେ।
16 ରାଜାର ଅଧିକାରର ସପ୍ତମ ବର୍ଷର ଦଶମ ମାସ ରେ ଅର୍ଥାତ୍ ଟବେେତ୍ ସାମ ରେ, ଏଷ୍ଟରକୁ ରାଜଗୃହ ରେ ଅକ୍ଷଶ୍ବରେଶ ରାଜା ନିକଟକୁ ନିଆଗଲା।
17 ତହିଁରେ ରାଜା ଅନ୍ୟସକଳ ସ୍ତ୍ରୀଠାରୁ ଏଷ୍ଟରକୁ ଅଧିକ ପ୍ ରମେ କଲା ଏବଂ ଅନ୍ୟ ସମସ୍ତ ୟୁବତୀଠାରୁ ସେ ରାଜାର ଦୃଷ୍ଟି ରେ ଅନୁଗ୍ରହ ଓ ଦୟା ପାଇଲା। ଏଣୁ ସେ ତାହାର ମସ୍ତକରେ ରାଜ ମୁକୁଟ ଦଇେ ବଷ୍ଟୀ ବଦଳ ରେ ତାହାକୁ ରାଣୀ କଲା।
18 ଏହାପରେ ରାଜା ଓ ଆପଣା ସମସ୍ତ ଅଧିପତି ଓ ଦାସମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଏଷ୍ଟର ଭୋଜି ବୋଲି ମହା ଭୋଜି ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତ କଲା ଓ ସବୁ ପ୍ରଦେଶର ଛୁଟି କଲା ଓ ରାଜାର ବଦାନ୍ଯତାନୁସା ରେ ଦାନ କଲା।
19 କନ୍ଯାମାନେ ଦ୍ବିତୀୟଥର ସଂଗୃହିତା ହବୋ ସମୟରେ ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯ ରାଜ ଦ୍ବାର ରେ ବସିଲା।
20 ଏଷ୍ଟର ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯର ଆଜ୍ଞାନୁସା ରେ ଆପଣା ବଂଶ ଓ କୁଟୁମ୍ବର ପରିଚଯ କାହାକୁ ହିଁ ଦଲୋ ନାହିଁ। କାରଣ ଏଷ୍ଟର ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯ ନିକଟରେ ପ୍ରତିପାଳିତା ହବୋ ସମୟରେ ଯେପରି କରୁଥିଲା ସେତବେେଳେ ହିଁ ସପରେି ତାହାର ଆଜ୍ଞା ପାଳନ କଲା।
21 ସହେି ସମୟରେ, ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯ ରାଜଦ୍ବାର ରେ ବସିବା ବେଳେ ଦ୍ବାରପାଳମାନଙ୍କ ମଧିଅରେ ବିଗ୍ଥନ୍ ଓ ତରେଶ୍ ନାମକ ରାଜାଙ୍କର ଦୁଇ ଜଣ ନଫୁସକ କୋର୍ଧିତ ହାଇେ ଅକ୍ଷଶ୍ବରେଶ ରାଜାକୁ ବଧ କରିବାକୁ ଷଡୟନ୍ତ୍ର କଲେ।
22 ମାତ୍ର ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯ ଏହା ଜାଣି ଏଷ୍ଟର ରାଣୀକୁ ଜଣାଇଲା। ପୁଣି ଏଷ୍ଟର ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯ ନାମ ଦଇେ ରାଜାକୁ ତାହା ଜଣାଇଲା।
23 ତହିଁରେ ଅନୁସନ୍ଧାନ ଦ୍ବାରା ସହେି କଥା ପ୍ରମାଣ ହବୋରୁ ସହେି ଦୁଇଜଣ ବୃକ୍ଷ ରେ ଫାଶି ପାଇଲେ। ଆଉ ସହେି କଥା ରାଜାର ସାକ୍ଷାତ ରେ କଚରେୀର ନକଲ ଖାତା ରେ ଲଖାଗେଲା।
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 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land of your habitations, which I give unto you,
3 And will make an offering by fire unto the Lord, a burnt offering, or a sacrifice in performing a vow, or in a freewill offering, or in your solemn feasts, to make a sweet savour unto the Lord, of the herd, or of the flock:
4 Then shall he that offereth his offering unto the Lord bring a meat offering of a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of oil.
5 And the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering shalt thou prepare with the burnt offering or sacrifice, for one lamb.
6 Or for a ram, thou shalt prepare for a meat offering two tenth deals of flour mingled with the third part of an hin of oil.
7 And for a drink offering thou shalt offer the third part of an hin of wine, for a sweet savour unto the Lord.
8 And when thou preparest a bullock for a burnt offering, or for a sacrifice in performing a vow, or peace offerings unto the Lord:
9 Then shall he bring with a bullock a meat offering of three tenth deals of flour mingled with half an hin of oil.
10 And thou shalt bring for a drink offering half an hin of wine, for an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord.
11 Thus shall it be done for one bullock, or for one ram, or for a lamb, or a kid.
12 According to the number that ye shall prepare, so shall ye do to every one according to their number.
13 All that are born of the country shall do these things after this manner, in offering an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord.
14 And if a stranger sojourn with you, or whosoever be among you in your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord; as ye do, so he shall do.
15 One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance for ever in your generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the Lord.
16 One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you.
17 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
18 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land whither I bring you,
19 Then it shall be, that, when ye eat of the bread of the land, ye shall offer up an heave offering unto the Lord.
20 Ye shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough for an heave offering: as ye do the heave offering of the threshingfloor, so shall ye heave it.
21 Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto the Lord an heave offering in your generations.
22 And if ye have erred, and not observed all these commandments, which the Lord hath spoken unto Moses,
23 Even all that the Lord hath commanded you by the hand of Moses, from the day that the Lord commanded Moses, and henceforward among your generations;
24 Then it shall be, if ought be committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt offering, for a sweet savour unto the Lord, with his meat offering, and his drink offering, according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering.
25 And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them; for it is ignorance: and they shall bring their offering, a sacrifice made by fire unto the Lord, and their sin offering before the Lord, for their ignorance:
26 And it shall be forgiven all the congregation of the children of Israel, and the stranger that sojourneth among them; seeing all the people were in ignorance.
27 And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering.
28 And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the Lord, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.
29 Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.
30 But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
31 Because he hath despised the word of the Lord, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.
32 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.
33 And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.
34 And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.
35 And the Lord said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.
36 And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the Lord commanded Moses.
37 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
38 Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue:
39 And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:
40 That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.
41 I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord your God.