1 وفي اليوم الثالث لبست استير ثيابا ملكية ووقفت في دار بيت الملك الداخلية مقابل بيت الملك والملك جالس على كرسي ملكه في بيت الملك مقابل مدخل البيت2 فلما رأى الملك استير الملكة واقفة في الدار نالت نعمة في عينيه فمدّ الملك لاستير قضيب الذهب الذي بيده فدنت استير ولمست راس القضيب.3 فقال لها الملك ما لك يا استير الملكة وما هي طلبتك. الى نصف المملكة تعطى لك.4 فقالت استير ان حسن عند الملك فليأت الملك وهامان اليوم الى الوليمة التي عملتها له.5 فقال الملك اسرعوا بهامان ليفعل كلام استير. فأتى الملك وهامان الى الوليمة التي عملتها استير.6 فقال الملك لاستير عند شرب الخمر ما هو سؤلك فيعطى لك وما هي طلبتك. الى نصف المملكة تقضى.7 فاجابت استير وقالت ان سؤلي وطلبتي8 ان وجدت نعمة في عيني الملك واذا حسن عند الملك ان يعطى سؤلي وتقضى طلبتي ان يأتي الملك وهامان الى الوليمة التي اعملها لهما وغدا افعل حسب امر الملك9 فخرج هامان في ذلك اليوم فرحا وطيب القلب. ولكن لما رأى هامان مردخاي في باب الملك ولم يقم ولا تحرك له امتلأ هامان غيظا على مردخاي.10 وتجلد هامان ودخل بيته وارسل فاستحضر احباءه وزرش زوجته11 وعدد لهم هامان عظمة غناه وكثرة بنيه وكل ما عظّمه الملك به ورقّاه على الرؤساء وعبيد الملك.12 وقال هامان حتى ان استير الملكة لم تدخل مع الملك الى الوليمة التي عملتها الا اياي وانا غدا ايضا مدعو اليها مع الملك.13 وكل هذا لا يساوي عندي شيئا كلما ارى مردخاي اليهودي جالسا في باب الملك.14 فقالت له زرش زوجته وكل احبائه فليعملوا خشبة ارتفاعها خمسون ذراعا وفي الصباح قل للملك ان يصلبوا مردخاي عليها ثم ادخل مع الملك الى الوليمة فرحا. فحسن الكلام عند هامان وعمل الخشبة

1 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' house, over against the king' house: and the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the scepter.3 Then said the king to her, What will you, queen Esther? and what is your request? it shall be even given you to the half of the kingdom.4 And Esther answered, If it seem good to the king, let the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him.5 Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther has said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.6 And the king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, What is your petition? and it shall be granted you: and what is your request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.7 Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is;8 If I have found favor 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 has said.9 Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king' gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.10 Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.11 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 said moreover, Yes, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited to her also with the king.13 Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king' gate.14 Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends to him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak you to the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go you in merrily with the king to the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.