1 Três dias mais tarde Ester vestiu-se com roupa real e entrou no pátio interior mesmo defronte da sala onde se encontrava o monarca no seu trono. Quando ele viu a rainha Ester em pé ali no pátio interior, deu-lhe as boas vindas, estendendo para ela o ceptro de ouro. Ester aproximou-se e tocou nele.3 Perguntou-lhe o rei: Que pretendes, rainha Ester? Que queres pedir? Dar-te-ei mesmo que seja metade do reino!4 Respondeu Ester: Se o rei achasse bem, gostaria que viesse hoje, juntamente com Hamã, ao banquete que preparei para vos oferecer.5 O monarca voltou-se para os seus colaboradores: Digam a Hamã que se despache!, e assim vieram os dois ao banquete da rainha.6 Na altura de servirem os vinhos disse o rei a Ester: Diz-me então o que pretendes realmente e dar-to-ei, mesmo que seja metade do reino!7 O meu pedido, o meu grande desejo é que, se o rei me ama e quer na verdade ser-me favorável, que venha de novo amanhã com Hamã, ao banquete que preparei. E amanhã explicarei tudo.9 Hamã era um homem feliz, quando deixou o banquete! Mas quando viu Mardoqueu ali à entrada do palácio, sem se levantar nem tremer na sua presença, ficou furioso. Conteve-se contudo, e foi para casa, juntou os amigos, mais Zerés sua mulher, e começou a gabar-se sobre a riqueza que tinha, os muitos filhos que eram os seus, as honras que o rei lhe tinha concedido e como se tornara a pessoa de maior importância no reino, logo a seguir ao soberano.12 E não pôde deixar de acrescentar triunfalmente: Sim, a própria Ester, a rainha, me convidou a mim e ao rei, só os dois, para um banquete que nos foi oferecido. Amanhã estamos de novo convidados!13 No entanto há uma coisa que me incomoda tremendamente: é ver esse judeu Mardoqueu sentado ali mesmo defronte dos portões do palácio e que nem se levanta sequer quando eu passo!14 Então, sugeriu-lhe a mulher Zerés, apoiada por todos os amigos, manda levantar uma forca de vinte e cinco metros de altura, e logo de manhã pede ao rei para enforcarem o Mardoqueu. Assim já poderás ir outra vez ao banquete satisfeito. Hamã concordou com aquilo e mandou fazer a forca.

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's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon 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 wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.4 And Esther answered, If it shall 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 hath 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 thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy 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 shall 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 hath said.9 Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's 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 in which 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 let no man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to-morrow I am invited to her also with the king.13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.14 Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends to him, Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and to-morrow speak thou to the king that Mordecai may be hanged upon it: then go thou in merrily with the king to the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.