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 Die autem tertio induta est Esther regalibus vestimentis, et stetit in atrio domus regi, quod erat interius, contra basilicam regis : at ille sedebat super solium suum in consistorio palatii contra ostium domus. 2 Cumque vidisset Esther reginam stantem, placuit oculis ejus, et extendit contra eam virgam auream, quam tenebat manu : qu accedens, osculata est summitatem virg ejus. 3 Dixitque ad eam rex : Quid vis, Esther regina ? qu est petitio tua ? etiam si dimidiam partem regni petieris, dabitur tibi. 4 At illa respondit : Si regi placet, obsecro ut venias ad me hodie, et Aman tecum, ad convivium quod paravi. 5 Statimque rex : Vocate, inquit, cito Aman ut Esther obediat voluntati. Venerunt itaque rex et Aman ad convivium, quod eis regina paraverat. 6 Dixitque ei rex, postquam vinum biberat abundanter : Quid petis ut detur tibi ? et pro qua re postulas ? etiam si dimidiam partem regni mei petieris, impetrabis. 7 Cui respondit Esther : Petitio mea, et preces sunt ist : 8 si inveni in conspectu regis gratiam, et si regi placet ut det mihi quod postulo, et meam impleat petitionem : veniat rex et Aman ad convivium quod paravi eis, et cras aperiam regi voluntatem meam.9 Egressus est itaque illo die Aman ltus et alacer. Cumque vidisset Mardochum sedentem ante fores palatii, et non solum non assurrexisse sibi, sed nec motum quidem de loco sessionis su, indignatus est valde : 10 et dissimulata ira reversus in domum suam, convocavit ad se amicos suos, et Zares uxorem suam, 11 et exposuit illis magnitudinem divitiarum suarum, filiorumque turbam, et quanta eum gloria super omnes principes et servos suos rex elevasset. 12 Et post hc ait : Regina quoque Esther nullum alium vocavit ad convivium cum rege prter me : apud quam etiam cras cum rege pransurus sum. 13 Et cum hc omnia habeam, nihil me habere puto, quamdiu videro Mardochum Judum sedentem ante fores regias. 14 Responderuntque ei Zares uxor ejus, et ceteri amici : Jube parari excelsam trabem, habentem altitudinis quinquaginta cubitos, et dic mane regi ut appendatur super eam Mardochus, et sic ibis cum rege ltus ad convivium. Placuit ei consilium, et jussit excelsam parari crucem.