BibleInTonguesWEB
Esther 5
On the third day Esther risks her life: she puts on her royal robes and stands in the inner court uninvited. The king extends the golden scepter, and offers her up to half the kingdom. But instead of pleading for her people on the spot, she invites the king and Haman to a banquet, then at the banquet delays again, inviting them to a second one tomorrow. Haman leaves elated at the honor, only to see Mordecai at the gate refusing to rise. His joy curdles into rage on the walk home.
- 1
Now on the third day, Esther put on her royal clothing and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, next to the king’s house. The king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, next to the entrance of the house.
- 2
When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther came near and touched the top of the scepter.
- 3
Then the king asked her, “What would you like, queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you even to the half of the kingdom.”
- 4
Esther said, “If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”
- 5
Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, so that it may be done as Esther has said.” So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
- 6
The king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, “What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.”
- 7
Then Esther answered and said, “My petition and my request is this.
- 8
If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I will prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said.”
- 9
Then Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he didn’t stand up nor move for him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.
- 10
Nevertheless Haman restrained himself, and went home. There, he sent and called for his friends and Zeresh his wife.
- 11
Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, the multitude of his children, 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 also said, “Yes, Esther the queen let no man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and tomorrow I am also invited by her together with the king.
- 13
Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
- 14
Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on it. Then go in merrily with the king to the banquet.” This pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.
- 1
Y ACONTECIÓ que al tercer día se vistió Esther su vestido real, y púsose en el patio de adentro de la casa del rey, enfrente del aposento del rey: y estaba el rey sentado en su solio regio en el aposento real, enfrente de la puerta del aposento.
- 2
Y fué que, como vió á la reina Esther que estaba en el patio, ella obtuvo gracia en sus ojos; y el rey extendió á Esther el cetro de oro que tenía en la mano. Entonces se llegó Esther, y tocó la punta del cetro.
- 3
Y dijo el rey: ¿Qué tienes, reina Esther? ¿y cuál es tu petición? Hasta la mitad del reino, se te dará.
- 4
Y Esther dijo: Si al rey place, venga hoy el rey con Amán al banquete que le he hecho.
- 5
Y respondió el rey: Daos priesa, llamad á Amán, para hacer lo que Esther ha dicho. Vino pues el rey con Amán al banquete que Esther dispuso.
- 6
Y dijo el rey á Esther en el banquete del vino: ¿Cuál es tu petición, y te será otorgada? ¿Cuál es tu demanda? Aunque sea la mitad del reino, te será concedida.
- 7
Entonces respondió Esther, y dijo: Mi petición y mi demanda es:
- 8
Si he hallado gracia en los ojos del rey, y si place al rey otorgar mi petición y hacer mi demanda, que venga el rey con Amán al banquete que les dispondré; y mañana haré conforme á lo que el rey ha mandado.
- 9
Y salió Amán aquel día contento y alegre de corazón; pero como vió á Mardochêo á la puerta del rey, que no se levantaba ni se movía de su lugar, llenóse contra Mardochêo de ira.
- 10
Mas refrenóse Amán, y vino á su casa, y envió, é hizo venir sus amigos, y á Zeres su mujer.
- 11
Y refirióles Amán la gloria de sus riquezas, y la multitud de sus hijos, y todas las cosas con que el rey le había engrandecido y con que le había ensalzado sobre los príncipes y siervos del rey.
- 12
Y añadió Amán: También la reina Esther á ninguno hizo venir con el rey al banquete que ella dispuso, sino á mí: y aun para mañana soy convidado de ella con el rey.
- 13
Mas todo esto nada me sirve cada vez que veo al judío Mardochêo sentado á la puerta del rey.
- 14
Y díjole Zeres su mujer, y todos sus amigos: Hagan una horca alta de cincuenta codos, y mañana di al rey que cuelguen á Mardochêo en ella; y entra con el rey al banquete alegre. Y plugo la cosa en los ojos de Amán, é hizo preparar la horca.
The gallows before the reversal
Esther's double delay is deliberate patience: she withholds her request twice, building the king's curiosity while she waits for the right moment. The reader is left in suspense at exactly the point Haman thinks he has won everything.
That same evening Haman boasts of his riches, his children, and his unique invitation, yet confesses it all "avails me nothing" while Mordecai sits unbowed (v.13). On Zeresh's advice he builds a fifty-cubit gallows for Mordecai (v.14), the very structure that will hang Haman himself once the story turns.
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