Livre d'Esther 5

JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Le troisième jour, lorsqu'elle eut cessé de prier, elle quitta ses vêtements de suppliante et se revêtit detoute sa splendeur.	1 And on the third day Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's hall: now he sat upon his throne in the hall of the palace, over against the door of the house.
2 Levant son sceptre d'or il le posa sur le cou d'Esther, l'embrassa et lui dit: "Parle-moi" --	2 And when he saw Esther the queen standing, she pleased his eyes, and he held out toward her the golden sceptre, which he held in his hand: and she drew near, and kissed the top of his sceptre.
3 "Qu'y a-t-il, reine Esther? Lui dit le roi. Dis-moi ce que tu désires, et, serait-ce la moitié du royaume,c'est accordé d'avance" --	3 And the king said to her: What wilt then, queen Esther? what is thy request? if thou shouldst even ask one half of the kingdom, it shall be given to thee.
4 "Plairait-il au roi, répondit Esther, de venir aujourd'hui avec Aman au banquet que je lui ai préparé"--	4 But she answered: If it please the king. I beseech thee to come to me this day, and Aman with thee to the banquet which I have prepared.
5 "Qu'on prévienne aussitôt Aman pour combler le souhait d'Esther", dit alors le roi. Le roi et Amanvinrent ainsi au banquet préparé par Esther	5 And the king said forthwith: Call ye Aman quickly, that he may obey Esther's will. So the king and Aman came to the banquet which the queen had prepared for them.
6 et, pendant le banquet, le roi redit à Esther: "Dis-moi ce que tu demandes, c'est accordé d'avance!Dis-moi ce que tu désires, serait-ce la moitié du royaume, c'est chose faite" --	6 And the king said to her, after he had drunk wine plentifully: What dost thou desire should be given thee? and for what thing askest thou? although thou shouldst ask the half of my kingdom, thou shalt have it.
7 "Ce que je demande, ce que je désire? Répondit Esther.	7 And Esther answered: My petition and request is this:
8 Si vraiment j'ai trouvé grâce aux yeux du roi, s'il lui plaît d'exaucer ma demande et de combler mondésir, que demain encore le roi vienne avec Aman au banquet que je leur donnerai et j'y exécuterai l'ordre duroi."	8 If I have found favour in the king's sight, and if it please the king to give me what I ask, and to fulfil my petition: let the king and Aman come to the banquet which I have prepared them, and to morrow I will open my mind to the king.
9 Ce jour-là Aman sortit joyeux et le coeur en fête, mais quand, à la Porte Royale, il vit Mardochée nepoint se lever devant lui ni bouger de sa place, il fut prit de colère contre lui.	9 So Aman went out that day joyful and merry. And when he saw Mardochai sitting before the gate of the palace, and that he not only did not rise up to honour him, but did not so much as move from the place where he sat, he was exceedingly angry:
10 Néanmoins il se contint. Revenu chez lui, il convoqua ses amis et sa femme Zéresh	10 But dissembling his anger, and returning into his house, he called together to him his friends, and Zares his wife:
11 et, longuement, devant eux, parla de son éblouissante richesse, du nombre de ses enfants, de tout cedont le roi l'avait comblé pour l'élever et l'exalter au-dessus de tous ses grands officiers et serviteurs.	11 And he declared to them the greatness of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and with how great glory the king had advanced him above all his princes and servants.
12 "Ce n'est pas tout, ajouta-t-il, la reine Esther vient de m'inviter avec le roi, et moi seul, à un banquetqu'elle lui offrait, et bien plus, je suis encore invité par elle avec le roi demain.	12 And after this he said: Queen Esther also hath invited no other to the banquet with the king, but me: and with her I am also to dine to morrow with the king:
13 Mais que me fait tout cela aussi longtemps que je verrai Mardochée, le Juif, siéger à la PorteRoyale" --	13 And whereas I have all these things, I think I have nothing, so long as I see Mardochai the Jew sitting before the king's gate.
14 "Fais seulement dresser une potence de 50 coudées, lui répondirent sa femme, Zéresh, et ses amis;demain matin tu demanderas au roi qu'on y pende Mardochée! Tu pourras alors, tout joyeux, aller rejoindre le roiau banquet!" Ravi du conseil, Aman fit préparer la potence.	14 Then Zares his wife, and the rest of his friends answered him: Order a great beam to be prepared, fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak to the king, that Mardochai may be hanged upon it, and so thou shalt go full of joy with the king to the banquet. The counsel pleased him, and he commanded a high gibbet to be prepared.