Ester, 5

1.

1. On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, opposite the king's hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne inside the palace opposite the entrance to the palace;

2. Y tomando el rey el cetro de oro, lo puso sobre el cuello de Ester, y la besó, diciendo: «Háblame.»

2. and when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she found favor in his sight and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the top of the scepter.

3. El rey le preguntó: «¿Qué sucede, reina Ester? ¿Qué deseas? Incluso la mitad del reino te será dada.»

3. And the king said to her, "What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom."

4. Respondió Ester: «Si al rey le place, venga hoy el rey, con Amán, al banquete que le tengo preparado.»

4. And Esther said, "If it please the king, let the king and Haman come this day to a dinner that I have prepared for the king."

5. Respondió el rey: «Avisad inmediatamente a Amán para que se cumpla el deseo de Ester.» El rey y Amán fueron al banquete preparado por Ester,

5. Then said the king, "Bring Haman quickly, that we may do as Esther desires." So the king and Haman came to the dinner that Esther had prepared.

6. y durante el banquete, dijo el rey a Ester: «¿Qué quieres pedir?, pues se te dará. ¿Qué deseas? Hasta la mitad del reino te será concedida.»

6. And as they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, "What is your petition? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled."

7. Ester respondió: «¿Mi petición y mi deseo?

7. But Esther said, "My petition and my request is:

8. Si he hallado gracia a los ojos del rey, y si al rey le place escuchar mi petición y cumplir mi deseo, que vengan mañana el rey y Amán al banquete que he preparado para ellos. Y haré entonces lo que el rey me pide.»

8. If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition and fulfil my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the dinner which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said."

9. Salió aquel día Amán contento y con alegre corazón; pero al ver a Mardoqueo en la Puerta Real, que no se levantaba, ni siquiera se movía ante él, se llenó Amán de ira contra Mardoqueo,

9. And Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mor'decai in the king's gate, that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mor'decai.

10. pero se dominó, y yéndose a su casa, mandó venir a sus amigos y a su mujer Zeres,

10. Nevertheless Haman restrained himself, and went home; and he sent and fetched his friends and his wife Zeresh.

11. y les habló de su gloria y sus riquezas, de sus muchos hijos y de cómo el rey le había encumbrado, elevándole por encima de los jefes y servidores del rey.

11. And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and the servants of the king.

12. Y añadió: «Más aún; la reina Ester me ha invitado a mí sólo, junto con el rey, a un banquete que ha preparado; también para mañana estoy invitado por ella, junto con el rey.

12. And Haman added, "Even Queen Esther let no one come with the king to the banquet she prepared but myself. And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king.

13. Pero todo esto nada significa para mí, mientras vea que el judío Mardoqueo, sigue sentado a la Puerta Real.»

13. Yet all this does me no good, so long as I see Mor'decai the Jew sitting at the king's gate."

14. Su mujer Zeres y todos sus amigos le respondieron: «Manda preparar una horca de cincuenta codos de altura y mañana por la mañana pides al rey que cuelguen de ella a Mardoqueo; así podrás ir satisfecho al banquete con el rey.» Agradó el consejo a Amán y mandó preparar la horca.

14. Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, "Let a gallows fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mor'decai hanged upon it; then go merrily with the king to the dinner." This counsel pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.