1 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king's hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance.2 When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.3 Then the king asked, "What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you."4 "If it pleases the king," replied Esther, "let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him."5 "Bring Haman at once," the king said, "so that we may do what Esther asks." So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared.6 As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, "Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted."7 Esther replied, "My petition and my request is this:8 If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king's question."9 Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king's gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai.10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife,11 Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials.12 "And that's not all," Haman added. "I'm the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow.13 But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king's gate."14 His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, "Have a pole set up, reaching to a height of fifty cubits, "and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai impaled on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself." This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up.

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