Esta 5
1 Siku ya tatu, Esta alivaa mavazi yake ya kimalkia, naye akasimama katika ua wa ndani wa jumba la mfalme, mbele ya ukumbi wa mfalme. Naye mfalme alikuwa akiketi katika kiti chake cha kifalme katika ukumbi, akielekea langoni.
And on the third day Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s hall: now he sat upon his throne in the hall of the palace, over against the door of the house.
2 Alipomwona Malkia Esta amesimama uani alipendezwa naye, akamnyooshea fimbo ya utawala ya dhahabu ile iliyokuwa mkononi mwake. Kwa hiyo Esta alikaribia na kuigusa ncha ya fimbo ya mfalme.
And when he saw Esther the queen standing, she pleased his eyes, and he held out toward her the golden sceptre, which he held in his hand: and she drew near, and kissed the top of his sceptre.
3 Kisha mfalme aliuliza, “Malkia Esta, ni nini? Ombi lako ni nini? Hata kama ni nusu ya ufalme, utapewa.”
And the king said to her: What wilt then, queen Esther? what is thy request? if thou shouldst even ask one half of the kingdom, it shall be given to thee.
4 Esta akajibu, “Kama itampendeza mfalme, mfalme pamoja na Hamani waje leo katika karamu ambayo nimeiandaa kwa ajili yake.”
But she answered: If it please the king. I beseech thee to come to me this day, and Aman with thee to the banquet which I have prepared.
5 Mfalme akasema, “Mleteni Hamani mara moja, ili tupate kufanya lile Esta analoomba.” Kwa hiyo mfalme na Hamani walihudhuria karamu aliyoiandaa Esta.
And the king said forthwith: Call ye Aman quickly, that he may obey Esther’s will. So the king and Aman came to the banquet which the queen had prepared for them.
6 Walipokuwa wakinywa mvinyo mfalme akamuuliza Esta tena, “Sasa haja yako ni nini? Utapewa. Ombi lako ni nini? Hata nusu ya ufalme, utapewa.”
And the king said to her, after he had drunk wine plentifully: What dost thou desire should be given thee? and for what thing askest thou? although thou shouldst ask the half of my kingdom, thou shalt have it.
7 Esta akajibu, “Haja yangu na ombi langu ni hili:
And Esther answered: My petition and request is this:
8 Kama mfalme ameona vyema, nami nimepata kibali kwake na kama ikimpendeza mfalme kunipa ombi langu na kunitimizia haja yangu, mfalme na Hamani waje kwangu kesho katika karamu nitakayowaandalia. Kisha nitajibu swali la mfalme.”
If I have found favour in the king’s sight, and if it please the king to give me what I ask, and to fulfill my petition: let the king and Aman come to the banquet which I have prepared them, and tomorrow I will open my mind to the king.
9 Hamani alitoka siku hiyo kwa furaha na moyo mchangamfu. Lakini alipomwona Mordekai langoni mwa mfalme na kuona kwamba hakusimama wala hakuonyesha hofu mbele yake, alijawa na ghadhabu dhidi ya Mordekai.
So Aman went out that day joyful and merry. And when he saw Mardochai sitting before the gate of the palace, and that he not only did not rise up to honour him, but did not so much as move from the place where he sat, he was exceedingly angry:
10 Hata hivyo, Hamani alijizuia akaenda zake nyumbani. Akawaita pamoja rafiki zake na Zereshi, mkewe.
But dissembling his anger, and returning into his house, he called together to him his friends, and Zares his wife:
11 Hamani akajisifia kwao juu ya utajiri wake mwingi, wanawe wengi na kwa njia zote ambazo mfalme amemheshimu kwazo na jinsi alivyomweka juu ya wakuu na maafisa wengine.
And he declared to them the greatness of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and with how great glory the king had advanced him above all his princes and servants.
12 Hamani akaongeza, “Si hayo tu. Mimi ndiye mtu pekee ambaye Malkia Esta amemwalika kumsindikiza mfalme kwenye karamu aliyomwandalia. Naye amenialika pamoja na mfalme kesho.
And after this he said: Queen Esther also hath invited no other to the banquet with the king, but me: and with her I am also to dine tomorrow with the king:
13 Lakini haya yote hayanipi kuridhika iwapo ninaendelea kumwona yule Myahudi Mordekai akiketi kwenye lango la mfalme.”
And whereas I have all these things, I think I have nothing, so long as I see Mardochai the Jew sitting before the king’s gate.
14 Zereshi mkewe na rafiki zake wote wakamwambia, “Tengeneza mahali pa kuangika watu kimo chake dhiraa hamsini, kisha kesho asubuhi mwombe mfalme Mordekai aangikwe juu yake. Ndipo uende na mfalme kwenye karamu kwa furaha.” Shauri hili lilimpendeza Hamani, naye akajenga mahali pa kuangika watu.
Then Zares his wife, and the rest of his friends answered him: Order a great beam to be prepared, fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak to the king, that Mardochai may be hanged upon it, and so thou shalt go full of joy with the king to the banquet. The counsel pleased him, and he commanded a high gibbet to be prepared.
