< Ester 5 >

1 Le ŋkeke etɔ̃a gbe la, Ester do eƒe fiawu, eye wòyi fiasã la ƒe xɔxɔnu emetɔ me le afi si amewo ƒoa ƒu ɖo le fiasã la me la ŋgɔ. Fia la nɔ eƒe fiazikpui dzi le afi ma hedze ŋgɔ mɔa nu.
And so, on the third day, Esther had put on her royal apparel and was standing in the atrium of the king’s house, which was inside, opposite the king’s hall, while he was sitting on his throne in the council room of the palace, opposite the entrance of the house.
2 Esi wòkpɔ Fianyɔnu Ester wòtsi tsitre ɖe afi ma la, edo dzaa nɛ, eye wòtsɔ sikafiatikplɔ si wolé ɖe asi la do ɖee. Ale Ester te ɖe eŋu, eye wòlé fiatikplɔ la tame.
And when he saw Esther the queen standing there, she pleased his eyes, and he extended toward her the golden scepter, which he held in his hand, and she approached and kissed the top of his scepter.
3 Fia la biae be, “Nu kae nye wò didi, Fianyɔnu Ester? Nu ka nàbia? Nu sia nu si nàbia la, mana wò, ne èbia nye fiaɖuƒe la ƒe afã gɔ̃ hã, matsɔe na wò!”
And the king said to her, “What do you wish, queen Esther? What is your request? Even if you ask for half of the kingdom, it will be given to you.”
4 Ester ɖo eŋu be, “Ne edze ŋuwò la, medi be wò kple Haman miava kplɔ̃ si meɖo na wò egbe la ŋu.”
But she responded, “If it pleases the king, I beg you to come with me today, and Haman with you, to the feast that I have prepared.”
5 Fia la gblɔ na eƒe subɔlawo be, “Miyi miagblɔ na Haman be wòaɖe abla ava, ale be miawɔ ɖe Ester ƒe didi dzi.” Ale fia la kple Haman woyi kplɔ̃ si Ester ɖo la ŋu.
And immediately the king said, “Call Haman quickly, so that he may obey Esther’s will. And so the king and Haman came to the feast, which the queen had prepared for them.
6 Esi wonɔ wain nom la, fia la gblɔ na Ester be, “Gblɔ nu si tututu nèhiã la nam azɔ, eye matsɔe na wò, ne èbia nye fiaɖuƒe la ƒe afã gɔ̃ hã, matsɔe na wò!”
And the king said to her, after he had drunk wine abundantly, “What are you asking for that should be given to you? And which things do you require? Even if you request half of my kingdom, you will obtain it.”
7 Ester ɖo eŋu be, “Esiae nye nye biabia kple kukuɖeɖe.
Esther answered him, “My petition and prayer is this:
8 Nenye be fia la nyo dɔ me nam, eye nenye be edze fia la ŋu be wòawɔ ɖe nye didi kple biabia dzi la, ekema fia la kple Haman negava ɖu nu le kplɔ̃ si maɖo na wò etsɔ la ŋu. Ekema maɖo fia la ƒe biabia ŋu nɛ.”
If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to give me what I ask, and to fulfill my petition, let the king and Haman come to the feast which I have prepared for them, and tomorrow I will open my mind to the king.”
9 Esi wokaka le kplɔ̃a ŋu la, Haman dzo kple dzidzɔ gã aɖe. Esi wòkpɔ Mordekai le agboa nu, eye Mordekai metsi tsitre alo dzo nyanyanya le eŋkume o la, edo dɔmedzoe ŋutɔ.
And so Haman went out that day joyful and cheerful. And when he saw that Mordecai was sitting in front of the gate of the palace, and that he alone did not get up for him, but did not so much as move from the place where he sat, he was very indignant.
10 Ke eɖu eɖokui dzi, yi aƒe me, eye wòyɔ exɔlɔ̃wo kple srɔ̃a Zeres.
But, concealing his anger and returning into his house, he gathered to him his friends and Zeresh, his wife.
11 Eƒo adegbe le eƒe gakpɔkpɔ vivivo, viŋutsuwo ƒe agbɔsɔsɔ, ale si fia la doe ɖe dzii kple ale si wòzu ame gãtɔ si kplɔ fia la ɖo le fiaɖuƒe la me la ŋu.
And he explained to them the greatness of his riches, and the influence of his sons, and how, with such glory, the king had elevated him above all his rulers and servants.
12 Eyi edzi be, “Ɛ̃, menye ema koe o; Fianyɔnu Ester kpe nye kple fia la ɖeɖe pɛ ko ɖe kplɔ̃ si wòɖo na mí la ŋu. Gawu la, egakpe mí na etsɔ hã!
And after this, he said, “Also, queen Esther has called no one else to the feast with the king, except me. And I will be dining with the king again tomorrow.
13 Ke esiawo katã maɖi ƒo nam o, zi ale si Mordekai, Yudatɔ ma nɔ anyi ɖe fia la ƒe agbo nu mele kpɔkpɔm.”
And though I have all these things, I consider that I have nothing as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting in front of the king’s gate.”
14 Zeres, Haman srɔ̃ kple Haman xɔlɔ̃wo katã gblɔ nɛ be, “Enyo; tu kadeveti aɖe wòakɔ mita blaeve-vɔ-etɔ̃. Ne ŋu ke la, nàbia fia la be wòana mɔ wò nade ka ve na Mordekai ɖe kadeveti la ŋu. Ne èwɔ esia vɔ la, ekema àte ŋu agayi kplɔ̃ la ŋu kple fia la kple dzidzɔ.” Aɖaŋu sia dze Haman ŋu ŋutɔ, eya ta wòna wotu kadeveti la.
And Zeresh his wife and his other friends answered him, “Order a great beam to be prepared, having a height of fifty cubits, and in the morning speak to the king, so that Mordecai may be hanged from it, and so you will go joyfully with the king to the feast.” This advice pleased him, and so he ordered a high cross to be prepared.

< Ester 5 >