Esther 5

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	EL LIBRO DEL PUEBLO DE DIOS
1 After this, king Artaxerxes exalted Haman, the son of Hammedatha, who was of Agag lineage, and he set his throne above all the rulers whom he had.	1 Al tercer día, Ester se puso sus vestiduras reales y llegó hasta el patio interior del palacio, frente a la sala del rey. El rey estaba sentado en su trono, en la sala real, frente a la puerta de entrada.
2 And all the king’s servants, who passed by the doors of the palace, bent their knees and adored Haman, for so the ruler had instructed them. Only Mordecai did not bend his knee, nor adore him.	2 Al ver a la reina Ester, que estaba de pie en el patio, el rey la miró con benevolencia y extendió hacia ella el cetro de oro que tenía en la mano. Entonces Ester se acercó y tocó la punta del cetro.
3 The king’s servants, who presided over the doors of the palace, said to him, “Why do you, more than the others, not observe the king’s command?”	3 El rey dijo a Ester: «¿Qué tienes, reina Ester? ¿Qué es lo que quieres? ¡Incluso la mitad de mi reino te será concedida!».
4 And when they were saying this frequently, and he would not listen to them, they reported it to Haman, desiring to know whether he would continue in his resolution, for he had told them that he was a Jew.	4 Ester respondió: «Si al rey le parece bien, venga hoy con Amán al banquete que he preparado en su honor».
5 Now when Haman had heard this, and had proved by a test that Mordecai did not bend his knee to him, nor adore him, he was very angry.	5 Entonces el rey ordenó: «¡Avisen inmediatamente a Amán que acepte la invitación de Ester!». El rey fue con Amán al banquete preparado por Ester
6 And he considered it pointless to lay his hands on Mordecai alone, for he had heard that he was part of the Jewish people. And so he wanted more: to destroy the entire nation of the Jews, who were in the kingdom of Artaxerxes.	6 y, en el momento de brindar, le dijo: «¿Qué es lo que pides, Ester? Lo que sea, te será concedido. ¿Qué es lo que quieres? Aunque sea la mitad de mi reino, lo tendrás».
7 In the first month, which is called Nisan, in the twelfth year of the reign of Artaxerxes, the lot was cast into an urn, which in Hebrew is called Pur, in the presence of Haman, to determine on what day and in which month the Jewish people should be destroyed. And it turned out to be the twelfth month, which is called Adar.	7 Ester respondió: «¿Sabes cuál es mi petición y mi deseo?
8 And Haman said to king Artaxerxes, “There is a people dispersed throughout all the provinces of your kingdom and separated one from another, who make use of unusual laws and ceremonies, and who, in addition, show contempt for the king’s ordinances. And you know very well that it is not expedient for your kingdom that they should become insolent through independence.	8 Si el rey me ha concedido su favor, y si a él le parece bien acceder a mi pedido y complacer mi deseo, que venga con Amán al banquete que les voy a preparar, y mañana responderé a la pregunta del rey».
9 If it pleases you, declare that they may be destroyed, and I will weigh out ten thousand talents to the keepers of your treasury.”	9 Amán había salido aquel día contento y de buen humor. Pero al ver en la puerta real a Mardoqueo, que no se levantaba ni temblaba ante él, se llenó de furor.
10 And so the king took the ring that he used, from his own hand, and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha, of Agag lineage, enemy of the Jews.	10 Sin embargo, se contuvo y se fue a su casa. Luego mandó buscar a sus amigos y a Zeres, su mujer,
11 And he said to him, “Let the silver, which you promise, be for yourself. As for the people, do with them as it pleases you.”	11 y les estuvo hablando del esplendor de sus riquezas, de sus muchos hijos y de lo que el rey había hecho para engrandecerlo, elevándolo por encima de los demás ministros y servidores de la corte.
12 And the scribes of the king were summoned, in the first month Nisan, on the thirteenth day of the same month. And it was written, as Haman had commanded, to all the king’s governors, and to the judges of the provinces, and to various peoples, so that each people could read and hear according to their various languages, in the name of king Artaxerxes. And the letters were sealed with his ring.	12 Luego Amán añadió: «Además, la reina Ester preparó un banquete y me invitó a mí solo junto con el rey. Y también mañana seré su invitado en compañía del rey.
13 These were sent by the king’s messengers to all the provinces, so as to kill and destroy all the Jews, from children all the way to the elderly, even little children and women, on one day, that is, on the thirteenth of the twelfth month, which is called Adar, and to plunder their goods, even their necessities.	13 Pero todo esto no significa nada para mí, mientras vea a ese judío Mardoqueo sentado en la puerta real».
	14 Entonces Zeres, su mujer, y todos sus amigos le dijeron: «Que hagan levantar un patíbulo de veinticinco metros, y mañana por la mañana le dirás al rey que cuelguen allí a Mardoqueo. Así irás contento al banquete con el rey». La propuesta agradó a Amán e hizo levantar el patíbulo.