Esther 5
International Standard Version
Esther Goes before the King
5 On the third day, Esther put on her royal attire and stood in the inner courtyard of the palace in front of the king’s quarters.[a] The king was sitting on his royal throne in the throne room, opposite the entrance to the building. 2 When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard, she won his favor, and the king extended to Esther the gold scepter that he was holding. Esther approached and touched the top of the scepter. 3 The king asked her, “What do you want, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even if it’s half of the kingdom, it will be given to you.”
4 Esther replied, “If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet I’ve prepared for him.”
5 The king responded, “Bring Haman quickly so we may do what Esther has requested.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6 While they were drinking wine,[b] the king asked Esther, “What’s your petition? It will be given to you. What’s your request? Up to half of the kingdom, and it will be done.”
7 Esther answered, “This is my petition and my request: 8 If I’ve found favor with the king and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and to honor my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I’ll prepare for them tomorrow, and then I’ll do what the king has said.”
Haman’s Plan to Kill Mordecai
9 Haman went out that day pleased and happy, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, and that he did not stand up and tremble in his presence, Haman was furious with Mordecai. 10 Haman restrained himself, went to his house, and sent for[c] his friends and his wife Zeresh. 11 Then Haman told them about his splendid wealth, the number[d] of his sons, all the ways the king had honored[e] him, and that he had promoted him above all the other officials and ministers[f] of the king.
12 Then Haman said, “Even Queen Esther brought no one except me with the king to the banquet that she held. Furthermore, I (along with the king) have also been invited by her tomorrow. 13 But all this does not satisfy me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
14 Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said, “Have a pole made 50 cubits[g] high, and then in the morning speak to the king and have Mordecai hanged[h] on it. Then go with the king to the banquet happy.” This advice pleased Haman, and he had the pole made.
Footnotes
- Esther 5:1 Or house
- Esther 5:6 Lit. at the banquet of wine
- Esther 5:10 Lit. sent and brought
- Esther 5:11 Lit. multitude
- Esther 5:11 Or promoted
- Esther 5:11 Or servants
- Esther 5:14 I.e. about 75 feet; a cubit was about eighteen inches
- Esther 5:14 Or impaled
以斯帖記 5
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
以斯帖為王和哈曼設宴
5 第三天，以斯帖身穿朝服進入王宮內院，面對大殿站立，王在殿裡正面朝宮門坐在寶座上。 2 王見以斯帖王后站在院內，就施恩給她，向她伸出手中的金杖，以斯帖便上前摸杖頭。 3 王問道：「以斯帖王后啊，你有什麼事？你有何要求？就是半壁江山，也必賜給你！」 4 以斯帖回答說：「王若願意，就請王今天帶哈曼來赴我預備的宴席。」 5 王說：「快召哈曼來，我們好照以斯帖的話做。」於是王帶著哈曼赴以斯帖預備的宴席。 6 席間，王對以斯帖說：「你要什麼？我必賜給你。你有何要求？就是半壁江山，也必為你成就。」 7 以斯帖回答說：「王啊，我所要、我所求的就是， 8 我若得到王的恩寵，王若願意賜我所要所求的，就請王明天帶哈曼再來赴我預備的宴席，到時我一定向王稟明。」
哈曼圖謀殺末底改
9 那天哈曼出來，心中歡喜快樂。但他看見末底改在宮門前既不起身，也不對他表示畏懼，心中十分惱火。 10 哈曼忍怒回到家中，把朋友和妻子細利斯叫來， 11 向他們誇耀自己的榮華富貴和兒孫滿堂，以及王怎樣擢升他，使他位極人臣。 12 哈曼又說：「還有，以斯帖王后只請了我隨王赴她預備的宴席。她還請我明天隨王赴宴。 13 但只要我看見猶太人末底改坐在宮門口，這一切對我都毫無意義。」 14 他妻子細利斯和他所有的朋友對他說：「你可以叫人做一個二十三米高的木架，明天早上求王將末底改吊在上面，然後你可以快樂地隨王去赴宴。」哈曼喜歡這個提議，就叫人做了木架。
Esther 5
The Voice
5 When the third day arrived, Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace across from the king’s rooms. The king was sitting on his throne facing the palace entrance. 2 He was pleased when he noticed Queen Esther waiting in the court. He extended his gold scepter with his hand, inviting her in. Esther walked toward him, and when she was close enough, she reached out and touched the king’s scepter.
King Ahasuerus: 3 What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? I’ll give you anything—even half of my kingdom—all you need to do is ask.
Queen Esther: 4 If it would please you, my king, I’d like for you and Haman to come today to a banquet I have made in your honor.
King Ahasuerus (looking at his servants): 5 Go and find Haman this instant, so we can do as Esther desires.
So the king and Haman came to Esther’s banquet. 6 As Haman, the king, and Esther were enjoying the wine at the end of her banquet, the king pressed the question.
King Ahasuerus: Now, my queen, what is your request? I promise that half of my kingdom is not too much to ask! Don’t be afraid to ask for whatever you want.
Queen Esther: 7 I do want something. My request is: 8 If I have found favor before you, and if you truly desire to grant my request, would you and Haman join me again tomorrow for another banquet I will prepare? Then I will answer your question.
9 Haman left dinner in high spirits, almost gleeful, but his joy was short lived. As he walked through the king’s gate, he passed by Mordecai. It angered Haman to see the Jew unwilling to stand and, worse still, seemingly unafraid. 10 But he resisted showing his anger right then and there. Instead, he went home and spent time with friends and Zeresh, his wife. 11 Haman spent the evening bragging to them about being rich and having lots of sons in his family. He even boasted about his relationship with the king, talking to his guests about his promotion above all of his fellow nobles and the officials of the king.
Haman: 12 And that’s not all! Queen Esther invited me today to dine with her and the king. Just the three of us! And guess what? She’s invited me again tomorrow. What do you think about that? 13 But I must be honest; seeing that Jew, Mordecai, as I pass through the gate makes it difficult to celebrate any of my good fortune.
14 Then his wife Zeresh and all of his friends came up with an idea.
Zeresh and His Friends: You should make a wood pole 75 feet high! Tomorrow morning, have the king sentence Mordecai to be executed on it. Then you’ll be able to have a good time at the banquet with the king.
Haman thought the idea was brilliant. So he had the pole made.
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