Esther 5
1 Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on [her] royal [apparel], and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.
Die autem tertio induta est Esther regalibus vestimentis, et stetit in atrio domus regiæ, quod erat interius, contra basilicam regis: at ille sedebat super solium suum in consistorio palatii contra ostium domus.
2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, [that] she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that [was] in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.
Cumque vidisset Esther reginam stantem, placuit oculis eius, et extendit contra eam virgam auream, quam tenebat manu: Quæ accedens, osculata est summitatem virgæ eius:
3 And the king said, What wilt thou, Esther? and what is thy request? [ask] even to the half of my kingdom, and it shall be thine.
Dixitque ad eam rex: Quid vis Esther regina? quæ est petitio tua? etiam si dimidiam partem regni petieris, dabitur tibi.
4 And Esther said, To-day is my great day: if then it seem good to the king, let both him and Aman come to the feast which I will prepare this day.
At illa respondit: Si regi placet, obsecro ut venias ad me hodie, et Aman tecum ad convivium, quod paravi.
5 And the king said, Hasten Aman hither, that we may perform the word of Esther. So they both come to the feast of which Esther had spoken.
Statimque rex, Vocate, inquit, cito Aman ut Esther obediat voluntati. Venerunt itaque rex et Aman ad convivium, quod eis regina paraverat.
6 And at the banquet the king said to Esther, What is [thy request], queen Esther? [speak], and thou shalt have all that thou requirest.
Dixitque ei rex, postquam vinum biberat abundanter: Quid petis ut detur tibi? et pro qua re postulas? etiam si dimidiam partem regni mei petieris, impetrabis.
7 And she said, My request and my petition [are]:
Cui respondit Esther: Petitio mea, et preces sunt istæ:
8 if I have found favour in the sight of the king, let the king and Aman come again to-morrow to the feast which I shall prepare for them, and to-morrow I will do the same.
Si inveni in conspectu regis gratiam, et si regi placet ut det mihi quod postulo, et meam impleat petitionem: veniat rex et Aman ad convivium quod paravi eis, et cras aperiam regi voluntatem meam.
9 So Aman went out from the king very glad [and] merry: but when Aman saw Mardochæus the Jew in the court, he was greatly enraged.
Egressus est itaque illo die Aman lætus et alacer. Cumque vidisset Mardochæum sedentem ante fores palatii, et non solum non assurrexisse sibi, sed nec motum quidem de loco sessionis suæ, indignatus est valde:
10 And having gone into his own house, he called his friends, and his wife Zosara.
et dissimulata ira, reversus in domum suam, convocavit ad se amicos suos, et Zares uxorem suam:
11 And he shewed them his wealth, and the glory with which the king had invested him, and how he had caused him to take precedence and bear chief rule in the kingdom.
et exposuit illis magnitudinem divitiarum suarum, filiorumque turbam, et quanta eum gloria super omnes principes et servos suos rex elevasset.
12 And Aman said, The queen has called no one to the feast with the king but me, and I am invited to-morrow.
Et post hæc ait: Regina quoque Esther nullum alium vocavit ad convivium cum rege, præter me: apud quam etiam cras cum rege pransurus sum.
13 But these things please me not, while I see Mardochæus the Jew in the court.
Et cum hæc omnia habeam, nihil me habere puto, quamdiu videro Mardochæum Iudæum sedentem ante fores regias.
14 And Zosara his wife and his friends said to him, Let there be a gallows made for thee of fifty cubits, and in the morning do thou speak to the king, and let Mardochæus be hanged on the gallows: but do thou go in to the feast with the king, and be merry. And the saying pleased Aman, and the gallows was prepared.
Responderuntque ei Zales uxor eius, et ceteri amici: Iube parari excelsam trabem, habentem altitudinis quinquaginta cubitos, et dic mane regi ut appendatur super eam Mardochæus, et sic ibis cum rege lætus ad convivium. Placuit ei consilium, et iussit excelsam parari crucem.
