Esther 5
1 Die autem tertio induta est Esther regalibus vestimentis, et stetit in atrio domus regiae, quod erat interius, contra basilicam regis: at ille sedebat super solium suum in consistorio palatii contra ostium domus.
Three days later Esther put on her royal robes and went and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, opposite the king's hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the king's hall, facing the entrance.
2 Cumque vidisset Esther reginam stantem, placuit oculis eius, et extendit contra eam virgam auream, quam tenebat manu: Quae accedens, osculata est summitatem virgae eius:
When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the inner court she won his approval so he acted favorably by holding out his scepter to her. So Esther went over and touched the end of the scepter.
3 Dixitque ad eam rex: Quid vis Esther regina? quae est petitio tua? etiam si dimidiam partem regni petieris, dabitur tibi.
The king asked her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What do you want? I'll give it to you, as much as half my empire!”
4 At illa respondit: Si regi placet, obsecro ut venias ad me hodie, et Aman tecum ad convivium, quod paravi.
Esther replied, “If it please Your Majesty, may the king and Haman come today to a dinner I have prepared for him.”
5 Statimque Rex, Vocate, inquit, cito Aman ut Esther obediat voluntati. Venerunt itaque rex et Aman ad convivium, quod eis regina paraverat.
“Bring Haman here at once so we can do what Esther has requested,” the king ordered. The king and Haman went to the dinner that Esther had prepared.
6 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.
As they drank their wine, the king asked Esther, “What are you really asking for? It will be given to you. What do you want? You shall have it, as much as half my empire!”
7 Cui respondit Esther: Petitio mea, et preces sunt istae:
Esther answered, “This is what I'm asking for, and this is what I want.
8 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.
If the king looks on me favorably, and if it please Your Majesty to grant my request and do as I ask, may the king and Haman come to a dinner I will prepare for them. Tomorrow I will answer Your Majesty's question.”
9 Egressus est itaque illo die Aman laetus et alacer. Cumque vidisset Mardochaeum sedentem ante fores palatii, et non solum non assurrexisse sibi, sed nec motum quidem de loco sessionis suae, indignatus est valde:
When Haman left that day he was very happy and pleased with himself. But when he saw Mordecai at the palace gate and that he didn't stand up or tremble with fear before him, Haman was furious with Mordecai.
10 et dissimulata ira, reversus in domum suam, convocavit ad se amicos suos, et Zares uxorem suam:
However, Haman controlled himself and he went home. There he invited his friends over. Once they and his wife Zeresh had gathered,
11 et exposuit illis magnitudinem divitiarum suarum, filiorumque turbam, et quanta eum gloria super omnes principes et servos suos rex elevasset.
Haman went into great detail about how much money and possessions he had, and how many children, and how the king had made him so important by promoting him above all the other nobles and officials.
12 Et post haec ait: Regina quoque Esther nullum alium vocavit ad convivium cum rege, praeter me: apud quam etiam cras cum rege pransurus sum.
“Added to all that,” Haman went on, “I was the only other person Queen Esther invited to come to a dinner she had prepared for the king. I'm also invited by her to eat together with the king tomorrow.”
13 Et cum haec omnia habeam, nihil me habere puto, quamdiu videro Mardochaeum Iudaeum sedentem ante fores regias.
Then he said, “But all of this is worthless to me while I keep on seeing Mordecai the Jew sitting at the palace gate.”
14 Responderuntque ei Zares uxor eius, et ceteri amici: Iube parari excelsam trabem, habentem altitudinis quinquaginta cubitos, et dic mane regi ut appendatur super eam Mardochaeus, et sic ibis cum rege laetus ad convivium. Placuit ei consilium, et iussit excelsam parari crucem.
His wife Zeresh and his friends told him, “Arrange for a pole to be set up, fifty cubits high. Then, in the morning, go and ask the king to have Mordecai impaled on it. Afterwards, you'll be happy as you go with the king to the dinner.” Haman thought this was good advice, so he had the pole set up.
