Ester 7
1 Ale Haman kple Fia Ahasuerus va kplɔ̃ si Ester ɖo la ŋu.
So the king and Haman went to eat the second banquet/feast that Queen Esther had prepared.
2 Fia la gabia Ester esi wonɔ wain nom la be, “Nu kae nèdi be yeabia, Fianyɔnu Ester? Nu ka nèdi? Nu sia nu si wòanye la, matsɔe na wò, ne anye nye fiaɖuƒe la ƒe afãe gɔ̃ hã la, mana wò!”
As they were drinking wine, the king asked again, “Esther, what do you want me to do [for you? Tell me, and] I will do it for you. Even if [you ask me for] half of my kingdom, I will give it to you.”
3 Fianyɔnu Ester ɖo eŋu azɔ be, “Nenye be nye nu nyo ŋuwò, O! Fia bubutɔ, ne edze ŋuwò la, ɖe nye agbe. Esiae nye nye kukuɖeɖe, eye nàve nye amewo, Yudatɔwo hã nu. Esiae nye nye biabia,
Esther replied, “O king, if you are pleased with me, and if you are willing to do [what I ask], save me, and save my people. That is what I want you to do for me.
4 elabena wotsɔ nye kple nye amewo dzra be woagbã mi, woawu mí, eye woatsrɔ̃ mi, gake ne woadzra mí míazu kluviwo kple kosiviwo ɖeɖe ko la, anye ne mazi ɖoɖoe, gake nunana si ŋugbe futɔ la do la, made nu gbogbo siwo fia la abu la nu o.”
[It is as though] I and my people [are cattle that] have been sold to be slaughtered. [It is as though] we have been sold to people who want to completely destroy us. If we had only been sold to people to become their male and female slaves, I would not say anything, because that would have been a matter too small to bother you, the king.”
5 Fia Ahasuerus bia Fiasrɔ̃ Ester be, “Ame kae? Afi ka ŋutsu si dɔ eɖokui be yeawɔ nu sia la le?”
Then King Xerxes asked her, “Who would want to do such a [terrible] thing? Where is he?”
6 Ester ɖo eŋu be, “Míaƒe futɔ kple ketɔ lae nye Haman vɔ̃ɖi sia.” Tete vɔvɔ̃ na Haman ɖi vo, eye eƒe mo da tu le fia la kple fiasrɔ̃ la ƒe ŋkume.
Esther replied, “[The man who is] our enemy is this evil man Haman!” Then Haman was terrified as he stood in front of the king and queen.
7 Fia la tsi tsitre enumake kple dziku le eƒe wain gbɔ, eye wòyi fiasã la ƒe abɔ me. Esi Haman kpɔ be fia la ɖo nugbe ɖe ye ŋu xoxo la, etsi kplɔ̃a ŋu be yeaɖe kuku na Fiasrɔ̃ Ester ɖe yeƒe agbe ta.
The king became extremely angry. He immediately left his wine and got up and went outside into the palace garden [to decide what to do]. But Haman stayed, in order to plead with Queen Esther that she would spare his life.
8 Esi fia la trɔ gbɔ tso fiasã la ƒe abɔ me hege ɖe kplɔ̃ɖoƒe la ko la, ekpɔ Haman wòmu dze Fiasrɔ̃ Ester dzi le zikpui legbe si dzi wòdze ŋe ɖo la dzi. Fia la blu be, “Aa! Ɖe wòle asi de ge fiasrɔ̃ la ŋu esi wòli kplim le nye aƒe mea?” Fia la mekpɔ wu nuƒo la nu hafi wova tsɔ nu tsyɔ mo na Haman o.
He threw himself down on the couch where Esther was reclining. But at that moment the king returned from the garden to the room where they had been eating. [He saw Haman, and assumed he was preparing to rape Esther]. He exclaimed, “Are you going to rape the queen while she is here with me in my own palace?” As soon as the king said that, some officials covered Haman’s head, [as they did to people who were about to be hanged].
9 Harbona, fia la ƒe subɔlawo dometɔ ɖeka gblɔ be, “Fia bubutɔ, Haman na wotu kadeveti aɖe si kɔ mita blaeve-vɔ-etɔ̃ la ɖe Mordekai, ame si ɖe fia la ƒe agbe la ŋu, ele Haman ƒe aƒe ƒe xɔxɔnu.” Fia la ɖe gbe be, “Mide ka ve na Haman ɖe kadeveti la ŋu!”
Then Harbona, one of the king’s personal officials, said, “[Outside, ] near Haman’s house, there is a (gallows/set of poles for hanging someone). It is 75 feet high. Haman made it for Mordecai, the man who spared your life!” The king said, “Hang him on it!”
10 Ale wode ka ve nɛ ɖe kadeveti si wòtu na Mordekai la ŋu, eye fia la ƒe dziku nu fa.
So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for hanging Mordecai! And then (the king’s anger cooled off/the king was no longer so angry).
