Esther 5

NEW JERUSALEM	LXX
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 και εγενηθη εν τη ημερα τη τριτη ως επαυσατο προσευχομενη εξεδυσατο τα ιματια της θεραπειας και περιεβαλετο την δοξαν αυτης
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 αρας την χρυσην ραβδον επεθηκεν επι τον τραχηλον αυτης και ησπασατο αυτην και ειπεν λαλησον μοι
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 ειπεν ο βασιλευς τι θελεις εσθηρ και τι σου εστιν το αξιωμα εως του ημισους της βασιλειας μου και εσται σοι
4 'Would it please the king,' Esther replied, 'to come with Haman today to the banquet I have prepared forhim?'	4 ειπεν δε εσθηρ ημερα μου επισημος σημερον εστιν ει ουν δοκει τω βασιλει ελθατω και αυτος και αμαν εις την δοχην ην ποιησω σημερον
5 The king said, 'Tel Haman to come at once, so that Esther may have her wish.'	5 και ειπεν ο βασιλευς κατασπευσατε αμαν οπως ποιησωμεν τον λογον εσθηρ και παραγινονται αμφοτεροι εις την δοχην ην ειπεν 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 εν δε τω ποτω ειπεν ο βασιλευς προς εσθηρ τι εστιν βασιλισσα εσθηρ και εσται σοι οσα αξιοις
7 'What do I want, what is my request?' Esther replied.	7 και ειπεν το αιτημα μου και το αξιωμα μου
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 ει ευρον χαριν ενωπιον του βασιλεως ελθατω ο βασιλευς και αμαν επι την αυριον εις την δοχην ην ποιησω αυτοις και αυριον ποιησω τα αυτα
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 και εξηλθεν ο αμαν απο του βασιλεως υπερχαρης ευφραινομενος εν δε τω ιδειν αμαν μαρδοχαιον τον ιουδαιον εν τη αυλη εθυμωθη σφοδρα
10 He restrained himself, however. Returning home, he sent for his friends and Zeresh his wife	10 και εισελθων εις τα ιδια εκαλεσεν τους φιλους και ζωσαραν 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 υπεδειξεν αυτοις τον πλουτον αυτου και την δοξαν ην ο βασιλευς αυτω περιεθηκεν και ως εποιησεν αυτον πρωτευειν και ηγεισθαι της βασιλειας
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 αμαν ου κεκληκεν η βασιλισσα μετα του βασιλεως ουδενα εις την δοχην αλλ' η εμε και εις την αυριον κεκλημαι
13 But what do I care about al this when al the while I see Mordecai the Jew sitting there at theChancel ery?'	13 και ταυτα μοι ουκ αρεσκει οταν ιδω μαρδοχαιον τον ιουδαιον εν τη αυλη
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 ειπεν προς αυτον ζωσαρα η γυνη αυτου και οι φιλοι κοπητω σοι ξυλον πηχων πεντηκοντα ορθρου δε ειπον τω βασιλει και κρεμασθητω μαρδοχαιος επι του ξυλου συ δε εισελθε εις την δοχην συν τω βασιλει και ευφραινου και ηρεσεν το ρημα τω αμαν και ητοιμασθη το ξυλον