Esther 5

NEW JERUSALEM	GREEK BIBLE
1 (a) On the third day, when she had finished praying, she took off her suppliant's mourning attire anddressed herself in her ful splendour. Radiant as she then appeared, she invoked God who watches over alpeople and saves them. With her, she took two ladies-in-waiting. With a delicate air she leaned on one, while theother accompanied her carrying her train. (b) Rosy with the full flush of her beauty, her face radiated joy andlove: but her heart shrank with fear. (c) Having passed through door after door, she found herself in the presenceof the king. He was sitting on his royal throne, dressed in al his robes of state, glittering with gold and preciousstones -- a formidable sight. (d) He looked up, afire with majesty and, blazing with anger, saw her. The queensank to the floor. As she fainted, the colour drained from her face and her head fel against the lady-in-waitingbeside her. (e) But God changed the king's heart, inducing a milder spirit. He sprang from his throne in alarmand took her in his arms until she recovered, comforting her with soothing words. (f) 'What is the matter, Esther?'he said. 'I am your brother. Take heart, you are not going to die; our order applies only to ordinary people. Cometo me.' (g) And raising his golden sceptre he laid it on Esther's neck, embraced her and said, 'Speak to me.'	1 Την τριτην δε ημεραν ενδυθεισα η Εσθηρ την βασιλικην στολην εσταθη εν τη εσωτερα αυλη του βασιλικου οικου, απεναντι του οικου του βασιλεως? και ο βασιλευς εκαθητο επι του βασιλικου θρονου αυτου εν τω βασιλικω οικω, απεναντι της πυλης του οικου.
2 (a) 'Sire,' she said, 'to me you looked like one of God's angels, and my heart was moved with fear ofyour majesty. For you are a figure of wonder, my lord, and your face is ful of graciousness.' (b) But as she spokeshe fel down in a faint. The king grew more agitated, and his courtiers al set about reviving her.	2 Και ως ειδεν ο βασιλευς την Εσθηρ την βασιλισσαν ισταμενην εν τη αυλη, ευρηκε χαριν ενωπιον αυτου? και εξετεινεν ο βασιλευς προς την Εσθηρ το χρυσουν σκηπτρον το εν τη χειρι αυτου? και επλησιασεν η Εσθηρ και ηγγισε το ακρον του σκηπτρου.
3 'What is the matter, Queen Esther?' the king said. 'Tel me what you want; even if it is half my kingdom, Igrant it you.'	3 Και ειπε προς αυτην ο βασιλευς, Τι θελεις, βασιλισσα Εσθηρ; και τις η αιτησις σου; και εως του ημισεος της βασιλειας θελει δοθη εις σε.
4 'Would it please the king,' Esther replied, 'to come with Haman today to the banquet I have prepared forhim?'	4 Και απεκριθη η Εσθηρ, Εαν ηναι αρεστον εις τον βασιλεα, ας ελθη ο βασιλευς και ο Αμαν την ημεραν ταυτην εις το συμποσιον, το οποιον ητοιμασα δι' αυτον.
5 The king said, 'Tel Haman to come at once, so that Esther may have her wish.'	5 Και ειπεν ο βασιλευς, Επισπευσατε τον Αμαν, δια να καμη τον λογον της Εσθηρ. Και ηλθον ο βασιλευς και ο Αμαν εις το συμποσιον, το οποιον εκαμεν η Εσθηρ.
6 So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared and, during the banquet, the kingagain said to Esther, 'Tel me your request; I grant it to you. Tell me what you want; even if it is half my kingdom,it is yours for the asking.'	6 Και ειπεν ο βασιλευς προς την Εσθηρ επι του συμποσιου του οινου, Τι το ζητημα σου; και θελει δοθη εις σε? και τις η αιτησις σου; και εως του ημισεος της βασιλειας εαν ζητησης, θελει γεινει.
7 'What do I want, what is my request?' Esther replied.	7 Τοτε αποκριθεισα η Εσθηρ ειπε, το ζητημα μου και η αιτησις μου ειναι?
8 'If I have found favour in the king's eyes, and if it is his pleasure to grant what I ask and to agree to myrequest, let the king and Haman come to the banquet I intend to give them tomorrow, and then I shall do as theking says.'	8 Εαν ευρηκα χαριν ενωπιον του βασιλεως, και εαν ηναι αρεστον εις τον βασιλεα να εκτελεση το ζητημα μου και να καμη την αιτησιν μου, ας ελθη ο βασιλευς και ο Αμαν εις το συμποσιον το οποιον θελω ετοιμασει δι' αυτους? και αυριον θελω καμει κατα τον λογον του βασιλεως.
9 Haman left full of joy and high spirits that day; but when he saw Mordecai at the Chancel ery, neitherstanding up nor stirring at his approach, he felt a gust of anger.	9 Τοτε εξηλθεν ο Αμαν την ημεραν εκεινην περιχαρης και ευθυμος την καρδιαν? αλλ' οτε ο Αμαν ειδε τον Μαροδοχαιον εν τη πυλη του βασιλεως, οτι δεν εσηκωθη ουδε εκινηθη δι' αυτον, ενεπλησθη ο Αμαν θυμου κατα του Μαροδοχαιου.
10 He restrained himself, however. Returning home, he sent for his friends and Zeresh his wife	10 Αλλ' ο Αμαν εκρατησεν εαυτον? και εισελθων εις τον οικον αυτου εστειλε και εκαλεσε τους φιλους αυτου και Ζερες την γυναικα αυτου,
11 and held forth to them about his dazzling wealth, his many children, how the king had raised him to aposition of honour and promoted him over the heads of the king's officers-of-state and ministers.	11 και διηγηθη προς αυτους ο Αμαν περι της δοξης του πλουτου αυτου και του πληθους των τεκνων αυτου, και ποσον ο βασιλευς εμεγαλυνεν αυτον, και τινι τροπω υψωσεν αυτον υπερανω των αρχοντων και των δουλων του βασιλεως.
12 'What is more,' he added, 'Queen Esther has just invited me and the king -- no one else except me -- toa banquet she was giving, and better stil she has invited me and the king again tomorrow.	12 Και ειπεν ο Αμαν, Μαλιστα η βασιλισσα Εσθηρ δεν προσεκαλεσεν εις το συμποσιον το οποιον εκαμεν, ειμη εμε, μετα του βασιλεως? και αυριον ετι ειμαι προσκεκλημενος προς αυτην μετα του βασιλεως?
13 But what do I care about al this when al the while I see Mordecai the Jew sitting there at theChancel ery?'	13 πλην παντα ταυτα δεν με ωφελουσιν, ενοσω βλεπω τον Μαροδοχαιον τον Ιουδαιον καθημενον εν τη πυλη του βασιλεως.
14 'Have a fifty-cubit gal ows run up,' said Zeresh his wife and all his friends, 'and in the morning ask theking to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then you can go with the king to the banquet, without a care in the world!'Delighted with this advice, Haman had the gallows erected.	14 Και ειπε προς αυτον Ζερες η γυνη αυτου και παντες οι φιλοι αυτου, Ας κατασκευασθη ξυλον πεντηκοντα πηχων το υψος, και το πρωι ειπε προς τον βασιλεα να κρεμασθη ο Μαροδοχαιος επ' αυτο? τοτε υπαγε περιχαρης μετα του βασιλεως εις το συμποσιον. Και το πραγμα ηρεσεν εις τον Αμαν, και προσεταξε να ετοιμασθη το ξυλον.