Esther 5
1AND on the third day, when she had ceased her prayer, she laid aside her lowly garb, and put on her most glorious apparel. And being splendidly clad, having called upon God, the Beholder and Protector of all things, she took along her two maids, and upon one she leaned daintily, and the other followed, lifting up her train. And she bloomed in the perfection of her beauty, with a cheerful and friendly expression, but with a heart strained by fear. And having passed through all the doors, she stood before the king, who was seated upon his royal throne robed in all his majesty, with gold and precious stones. And having raised his countenance, glowing in majesty he looked fiercely upon her; and the queen swooned and paled with faintness, and bowed herself upon the head of the maid that went before her.
1-contThen God changed the spirit of the king to gentleness, and with deep feeling he sprang from his throne and held her in his arms till she revived, and [then] comforted her with soothing words, and said unto her, What is amiss, Esther? I am thy brother, be of good cheer. Thou shalt not die, even though our decree be declared. Draw near.
2And having raised his golden sceptre, he laid it upon her neck and embraced her and said, Speak to me. And she replied to him, I saw thee, my lord, as an angel of God, and my heart was troubled for fear of thy splendour. For thou art to be wondered at, lord, and thy countenance is full of grace. And while she was speaking she fell fainting. Then the king was perturbed, and all his servants comforted her.
3And the king said, What would queen Esther? And what is thy petition? To the half of my kingdom it shall be granted thee.
4Thereupon Esther said, To-day is my set day, if therefore it seemeth good to the king, let him come with Haman to the banquet which I will this day prepare.
5And the king said, Call Haman quickly that we may do as Esther hath said. So they both went to the banquet which Esther had ordered.
6And at the banquet the king said to Esther, What would queen Esther? Whatever thou askest shall be granted.
7To which she replied,
8If I have found favour in the sight of the king, Let the king come again with Haman to-morrow to the banquet which I will prepare for them, and to-morrow I will make my request and my petition.
9Then Haman went out from the king overjoyed and gladdened, but upon seeing Mordecai the Jew in the court, he was inflamed with great indignation.
10So going home, he called his friends and his wife Zosara,
11and having displayed to them his riches and the honour which the king had conferred on him; how he had promoted him to the highest rank and made him ruler of the kingdom,
12The queen, said he, invited none to the banquet with the king, but only me: and to-morrow I am invited:
13but these things give me no pleasure, when I see Mordecai the Jew in the court.
14Thereupon Zosara his wife and his friends said to him, Let a gallows fifty cubits high be made for thee, and early in the morning speak to the king and let Mordecai be hanged thereon, then go to the banquet with the king and take thy fill of joy. And the thing pleased Haman. So the gallows was got ready.