Esther Invites the King and Haman to a Dinner
1 Three days later, Esther dressed in her royal robes and went to the inner court of the palace in front of the throne. The king was sitting there, facing the open doorway. 2 He was happy to see Esther, and he held out the gold scepter to her.
When Esther came up and touched the tip of the scepter, 3 the king said, “Esther, what brings you here? Just ask, and I will give you as much as half of my kingdom.”
4 Esther answered, “Your Majesty, please come with Haman to a dinner I will prepare for you later today.”
5 The king said to his servants, “Hurry and get Haman, so we can accept Esther's invitation.”
The king and Haman went to Esther's dinner, 6 and while they were drinking wine, the king asked her, “What can I do for you? Just ask, and I will give you as much as half of my kingdom.”
7-8 Esther replied, “Your Majesty, if you really care for me and are willing to do what I want, please come again tomorrow with Haman to the dinner I will prepare for you. At that time I will answer Your Majesty's question.”
Haman Plans To Kill Mordecai
9 Haman was feeling great as he left. But when he saw Mordecai at the palace gate, he noticed that Mordecai did not stand up or show him any respect. This made Haman really angry, 10 but he did not say a thing.
When Haman got home, he called together his friends and his wife Zeresh 11 and started bragging about his great wealth and all his sons. He told them the many ways that the king had honored him and how all the other officials and leaders had to respect him. 12 Haman added, “That's not all! Besides the king himself, I'm the only person Queen Esther invited for dinner. She has also invited the king and me to dinner tomorrow. 13 But none of this makes me happy, as long as I see that Jew Mordecai serving the king.”
14 Haman's wife and friends said to him, “Have a gallows built about 22 meters high, and tomorrow morning ask the king to hang Mordecai there. Then later, you can have dinner with the king and enjoy yourself.”
This seemed like a good idea to Haman, and he had the gallows built.
Estere rīko dzīres
1 Trešajā dienā Estere apvilka ķēniņienes tērpu un nostājās ķēniņa pils iekšpagalmā iepretī ķēniņa namam, bet ķēniņš sēdēja valsts tronī valdības namā pretī nama durvīm. 2 Kad ķēniņš redzēja Esteri stāvam pagalmā, tā guva viņa vēlību, un ķēniņš izstiepa Esterei pretī zelta zizli, un Estere tuvojās viņam un aizskāra zižļa galu.
3 Un ķēniņš viņai teica: “Kas tev, ķēniņiene Estere, ko tu vēlies? Pat pusi valsts tev došu!” 4 Un Estere teica: “Ja tas ķēniņam tīk, lai ķēniņš un Hāmāns šodien atnāk uz dzīrēm, ko es viņam esmu sarīkojusi.” 5 Un ķēniņš sacīja: “Ātri vediet Hāmānu šurp un darīsim, kā Estere liek!” Un ķēniņš un Hāmāns atnāca uz dzīrēm, ko bija sarīkojusi ķēniņiene Estere. 6 Dzerot vīnu, ķēniņš Esterei teica: “Ko tu prasi? Tas tev tiks dots! Ko tu vēlies? Pat pusi valsts tev došu!” 7 Un Estere atbildēja: “Redzi, ko es prasu un vēlos – 8 ja esmu guvusi ķēniņa vēlību un ķēniņam tīk apmierināt manas prasības un piepildīt manas vēlmes, tad lai ķēniņš un Hāmāns nāk uz dzīrēm, ko es rīkošu, tad es rīt darīšu, ko ķēniņš liks!”
Hāmāns ceļ karātavas Mordohajam
9 Todien Hāmāns aizgāja priecīgu un līksmu sirdi, bet, kad Hāmāns ieraudzīja ķēniņa galmā sēžam Mordohaju – un šis ne cēlās, ne bijās viņa –, viņš pielija dusmām pret Mordohaju. 10 Bet viņš savaldījās, aizgāja mājup un saaicināja visus savus tuvākos draugus, arī savu sievu Zerešu. 11 Un Hāmāns viņiem stāstīja par savu spožo bagātību un daudzajiem dēliem un par to, kā ķēniņš viņu cēlis godā un paaugstinājis pār visiem augstmaņiem un ķēniņa kalpiem. 12 Un Hāmāns teica: “Uz ķēniņienes Esteres rīkotajām dzīrēm viņa kopā ar ķēniņu neielūdza nevienu citu, un arī rīt viņa aicina tikai mani un ķēniņu! 13 Bet ar to visu man nav gana, kamēr es redzu jūdu Mordohaju sēžam ķēniņa galmā!” 14 Tad viņa sieva Zereša un viņa draugi teica: “Taisīsim piecdesmit elkoņus augstas karātavas, un rīt pasaki ķēniņam, lai Mordohaju tajās pakar, un ej uz dzīrēm priecīgs.” Tas Hāmānam patika, un viņš taisīja karātavas.
