Ɛster 5

1 Nnansa akyi no, Ɛster hyɛɛ nʼahemmea atade kɔɔ ahemfi no adiwo hɔ a ɛbɛn ɔhene no asa so. Na ɔhene no te nʼahengua so a nʼani kyerɛ abɔnten kwan ano.

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.

2 Bere a ohuu Ɔhemmea Ɛster sɛ ogyina adiwo hɔ no, ogyee no fɛw so. Ɔde sikakɔkɔɔ ahempema no kyerɛɛ ne so. Enti Ɛster bɛn kosoo pema no ti.

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.

3 Na ɔhene no bisaa no se, “Ɔhemmea Ɛster, dɛn na wohwehwɛ? Wʼabisade ne dɛn? Sɛ ɛyɛ ahemman no fa koraa a, mede bɛma wo!”

Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.

4 Na Ɛster buae se, “Sɛ ɛyɛ wo pɛ a, Ɔhempɔn, wo ne Haman mmra aponto a masiesie ama wo nnɛ no ase.”

And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.

5 Ɔhene no dan ne ho, ka kyerɛɛ nʼasomfo no se, “Monka nkyerɛ Haman se, ɔmmra aponto no ase mprempren ara, sɛnea Ɛster asrɛ no.” Enti ɔhene ne Haman kɔɔ Ɛster aponto no ase.

Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

6 Na bere a wogu so renom nsa no, ɔhene no ka kyerɛɛ Ɛster se, “Afei, ka nea wohwehwɛ pa ara no kyerɛ me. Wʼadesrɛde yɛ dɛn? Sɛ wubisa mʼaheman mu fa koraa a, mede bɛma wo.”

And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.

7 Ɛster buae se, “Mʼadesrɛ a me koma da ho pa ara ni:

Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is;

8 Sɛ ɔhempɔn ani sɔ me, na ɔpɛ sɛ ɔyɛ mʼadesrɛ ma me a, anka ɔkyena wo ne Haman mmra ɔpon a mɛto wo no ase. Na ɔkyena, mɛkyerɛ wo eyi nyinaa ase.”

If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said.

9 Haman fii aponto no ase no, na nʼani agye mmoroso! Nanso ohuu Mordekai a ɔte pon no ano a wansɔre na ne ho ampopo wɔ nʼanim no, ne bo fuwii.

Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.

10 Nanso Haman hyɛɛ ne ho so kɔɔ fie. Afei, ɔboaboaa ne nnamfonom a ne yere Seres ka ho no ano,

Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.

11 de ahonya ne mma dodow a ɔwɔ hoahoaa ne ho wɔ wɔn anim. Ɔde abasobɔde ahorow a ɔhene ama no no nso ne sɛnea wɔasi no panyin wɔ mpanyimfo nkae no so no nso tuu ne ho.

And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.

12 Haman ka kaa ho se, “Ɛnyɛ ɛno nko! Ɔhemmea Ɛster too nsa frɛɛ me ne ɔhene no ankasa kɔɔ nʼaponto ase. Na wato nsa afrɛ me sɛ, ɔpɛ sɛ me ne no ne ɔhene no didi bio ɔkyena.

Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king.

13 Nanso sɛ mihu Yudani Mordekai sɛ ɔda so te ahemfi pon ano a, me bo nnwo koraa.”

Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.

14 Haman yere Seres ne ne nnamfonom no maa no adwene se, “Yɛ dua a wɔsɛn nnipa wɔ so a ne sorokɔ yɛ anammɔn aduɔson anum na anɔpa ka kyerɛ ɔhene no se, ɔnsɛn Mordekai wɔ so. Sɛ wɔyɛ no saa a, wode anigye ne ɔhene no bɛkɔ aponto no.” Saa adwenkyerɛ yi sɔɔ Haman ani yiye ma ɔhyɛɛ sɛ wonsi dua a wɔsɛn nnipa wɔ so no.

Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.