Esther 2

DOUAI-RHEIMS	EL LIBRO DEL PUEBLO DE DIOS
1 After this, when the wrath of king Assuerus was appeased, he remembered Vasthi, and what she had done end what she had suffered:	1 Algún tiempo después, cuando al rey Asuero se le pasó el enojo, se acordó de Vasti, de lo que había hecho y de lo que se había decretado contra ella.
2 And the king's servants and his officers said: Let young women be sought for the king, virgins and beautiful,	2 Entonces, los cortesanos que estaban a su servicio dijeron: «Hay que buscar para el rey algunas jóvenes vírgenes y hermosas.
3 And let some persons be sent through all the provinces to look for beautiful maidens and virgins: and let them bring them to the city of Susan, and put them into the house of the women under the hand of Egeus the eunuch, who is the overseer and keeper of the king's women: and let them receive women's ornaments, and other things necessary for their use.	3 Que el rey designe inspectores en todas las provincias de su reino, para que ellos reúnan en el harén de la ciudadela de Susa a todas las jóvenes vírgenes y hermosas. Se las pondrá bajo la vigilancia de Hegué, el eunuco del rey encargado de las mujeres, y se las proveerá de cremas de belleza.
4 And whosoever among them all shall please the king's eyes, let her be queen instead of Vasthi. The word pleased the king: and he commanded it should be done as they had suggested.	4 Y la joven que más agrade al rey reinará en lugar de Vasti». Al rey le agradó la propuesta, y así se hizo.
5 There was a man in the city of Susan, a Jew, named Mardochai, the son of Jair, the son of Semei, the son of Cis, of the race of Jemini,	5 En la ciudadela de Susa había un judío llamado Mardoqueo, hijo de Jaír, hijo de Semei, hijo de Quis, un benjaminita
6 Who had been carried away from Jerusalem at the time that Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon carried away Jechonias king of Juda,	6 que pertenecía al grupo de los deportados que Nabucodonosor, rey de Babilonia, había llevado cautivos desde Jerusalén, con Jeconías, rey de Judá.
7 And he had brought up his brother's daughter Edissa, who by another name was called Esther: now she had lost both her parents: and was exceeding fair and beautiful. And her father and mother being dead, Mardochai adopted her for his daughter.	7 Mardoqueo había criado a Hadasá –es decir, a Ester– hija de un tío suyo, que había quedado huérfana de padre y madre. La joven era muy hermosa y atractiva, y a la muerte de sus padres, Mardoqueo la había adoptado como hija.
8 And when the king's ordinance was noised abroad, and according to his commandment many beautiful virgins were brought to Susan, and were delivered to Egeus the eunuch: Esther also among the rest of the maidens was delivered to him to be kept in the number of the women.	8 Al publicarse la orden y el edicto del rey, y una vez que fueron reunidas muchas jóvenes en la ciudadela de Susa, bajo el cuidado de Hegué, también Ester fue llevada a la casa del rey y confiada a Hegué, el encargado de las mujeres.
9 And she pleased him, and found favour in his sight. And he commanded the eunuch to hasten the women's ornaments, and to deliver to her her part, and seven of the most beautiful maidens of the king's house, and to adorn and deck out both her and her waiting maids.	9 La joven le cayó en gracia y se ganó su favor. Por eso, él le entregó de inmediato las cremas de belleza, fijó su régimen de comida y le asignó las siete doncellas más distinguidas del palacio real. Luego la trasladó con sus doncellas, al mejor departamento del harén.
10 And she would not tell him her people nor her country. For Mardochai had charged her to say nothing at all of that:	10 Ester no había manifestado de qué pueblo ni de qué familia era, porque Mardoqueo le había ordenado que no lo manifestara.
11 And he walked every day before the court of the house, in which the chosen virgins werre kept, having a care for Esther's welfare, and desiring to know what would befall her.	11 Y todos los días, este iba y venía frente al patio del harén, para saber cómo se encontraba Ester y cómo la trataban.
12 Now when every virgin's turn came to go in to the king, after all had been done for setting them off to advantage, it was the twelfth month: so that for six months they were anointed with oil of myrrh, and for other six months they used certain perfumes and sweet spices.	12 Después de haber observado durante doce meses lo establecido en el estatuto de las mujeres, a cada joven le llegaba el turno de presentarse ante el rey Asuero. Porque el tratamiento de belleza comprendía dos etapas: seis meses para ungirse con aceite de mirra, y seis meses más para embellecerse con aromas y otros cosméticos usados por las mujeres.
13 And when they were going in to the king, whatsoever they asked to adorn themselves they received: and being decked out, as it pleased them, they passed from the chamber of the women to the king's chamber.	13 Y cuando una joven se presentaba ante el rey, le daban todo lo que quería llevar consigo del harén al palacio real.
14 And she that went in at evening, came out in the morning, and from thence she was conducted to the second house, that was under the hand of Susagaz the eunuch, who had the charge over the king's concubines: neither could she return any more to the king, unless the king desired it, and had ordered her by name to come.	14 Ella iba por la tarde, y a la mañana siguiente volvía a un segundo harén, bajo la vigilancia de Saasgaz, el eunuco del rey encargado de las concubinas. Ya no se presentaba más ante el rey, a no ser que este deseara estar con ella y la llamara expresamente.
15 And as the time came orderly about, the day was at hand, when Esther, the daughter of Abihail the brother of Mardochai, whom he had adopted for his daughter, was to go in to the king. But she sought not women's ornaments, but whatsoever Egeus the eunuch the keeper of the virgins had a mind, he gave her to adorn her. For she was exceeding fair, and her incredible beauty made her appear agreeable and amiable in the eyes of all.	15 Cuando le tocó el turno a Ester, hija de Abijáil –que era tío de Mardoqueo, su padre adoptivo– ella no pidió nada fuera de lo que le indicó Hegué, el eunuco del rey encargado de las mujeres. Ester se ganaba la simpatía de todos los que la veían.
16 So she was brought to the chamber of king Assuerus the tenth month, which is called Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.	16 Así fue conducida ante el rey Asuero, al palacio real, en el décimo mes, que es el mes de Tebet, en el séptimo año de su reinado.
17 And the king loved her more than all the women, and she had favour and kindness before him above all the women, and he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vasthi.	17 El se enamoró de Ester más que de todas las otras mujeres y ella se ganó su favor más que todas las demás jóvenes. El rey puso la diadema real sobre su cabeza y la proclamó reina en lugar de Vasti.
18 And he commanded a magnificent feast to be prepared for all the princes, and for his servants, for the marriage and wedding of Esther. And he gave rest to all the provinces, and bestowed gifts according to princely magnificence.	18 Luego ofreció un gran banquete a todos sus oficiales y servidores –el banquete de Ester– y además concedió franquicias a todas las provincias y otorgó regalos con la liberalidad digna de un rey.
19 And when the virgins were sought the second time, and gathered together, Mardochai stayed at the king's gate,	19 Mientras se hacía un segundo reclutamiento de muchachas jóvenes, Mardoqueo ocupaba un puesto en la puerta real.
20 Neither had Esther as yet declared her country and people, according to his commandment. For whatsoever he commanded, Esther observed: and she did all things in the same manner as she was wont at that time when he brought her up a little one.	20 Ester, por su parte, no había manifestado de qué familia ni de qué pueblo era, de acuerdo con lo que le había ordenado Mardoqueo, porque ella seguía cumpliendo sus órdenes como cuando estaba bajo su tutela.
21 At that time, therefore, when Mardochai abode at the king's gate, Bagathan and Thares, two of the king's eunuchs, who were porters, and presided in the first entry of the palace, were angry: and they designed to rise up against the king, and to kill him.	21 En aquellos días, mientras Mardoqueo ocupaba un puesto en la puerta real, Bigtán y Teres, dos eunucos del rey que custodiaban la entrada, estaban descontentos y planeaban un atentado contra el rey Asuero.
22 And Mardochai had notice of it, and immediately he told it to queen Esther: and she to the king in Mardochai's name, who had reported the thing unto her.	22 Al enterarse del plan, Mardoqueo informó a la reina Ester, y ella, a su vez, le habló al rey por encargo de Mardoqueo.
23 It was inquired into, and found out: and they were both hanged on a gibbet. And it was put in the histories, and recorded in the chronicles before the king.	23 Una vez investigado el caso y confirmada la denuncia, los dos eunucos fueron colgados de un patíbulo, y el hecho fue consignado por escrito en el libro de las Crónicas, en presencia del rey.