Esther 5

NEW JERUSALEM	SMITH VAN DYKE
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 وفي اليوم الثالث لبست استير ثيابا ملكية ووقفت في دار بيت الملك الداخلية مقابل بيت الملك والملك جالس على كرسي ملكه في بيت الملك مقابل مدخل البيت
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 فلما رأى الملك استير الملكة واقفة في الدار نالت نعمة في عينيه فمدّ الملك لاستير قضيب الذهب الذي بيده فدنت استير ولمست راس القضيب.
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 فقال لها الملك ما لك يا استير الملكة وما هي طلبتك. الى نصف المملكة تعطى لك.
4 'Would it please the king,' Esther replied, 'to come with Haman today to the banquet I have prepared forhim?'	4 فقالت استير ان حسن عند الملك فليأت الملك وهامان اليوم الى الوليمة التي عملتها له.
5 The king said, 'Tel Haman to come at once, so that Esther may have her wish.'	5 فقال الملك اسرعوا بهامان ليفعل كلام استير. فأتى الملك وهامان الى الوليمة التي عملتها استير.
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 فقال الملك لاستير عند شرب الخمر ما هو سؤلك فيعطى لك وما هي طلبتك. الى نصف المملكة تقضى.
7 'What do I want, what is my request?' Esther replied.	7 فاجابت استير وقالت ان سؤلي وطلبتي
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 ان وجدت نعمة في عيني الملك واذا حسن عند الملك ان يعطى سؤلي وتقضى طلبتي ان يأتي الملك وهامان الى الوليمة التي اعملها لهما وغدا افعل حسب امر الملك
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 فخرج هامان في ذلك اليوم فرحا وطيب القلب. ولكن لما رأى هامان مردخاي في باب الملك ولم يقم ولا تحرك له امتلأ هامان غيظا على مردخاي.
10 He restrained himself, however. Returning home, he sent for his friends and Zeresh his wife	10 وتجلد هامان ودخل بيته وارسل فاستحضر احباءه وزرش زوجته
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 وعدد لهم هامان عظمة غناه وكثرة بنيه وكل ما عظّمه الملك به ورقّاه على الرؤساء وعبيد الملك.
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 وقال هامان حتى ان استير الملكة لم تدخل مع الملك الى الوليمة التي عملتها الا اياي وانا غدا ايضا مدعو اليها مع الملك.
13 But what do I care about al this when al the while I see Mordecai the Jew sitting there at theChancel ery?'	13 وكل هذا لا يساوي عندي شيئا كلما ارى مردخاي اليهودي جالسا في باب الملك.
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 فقالت له زرش زوجته وكل احبائه فليعملوا خشبة ارتفاعها خمسون ذراعا وفي الصباح قل للملك ان يصلبوا مردخاي عليها ثم ادخل مع الملك الى الوليمة فرحا. فحسن الكلام عند هامان وعمل الخشبة