Esther 5 – NIV & CCBT

New International Version

Esther 5:1-14

Esther’s Request to the King

1On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. 2When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.

3Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”

4“If it pleases the king,” replied Esther, “let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.”

5“Bring Haman at once,” the king said, “so that we may do what Esther asks.”

So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared. 6As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, “Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”

7Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this: 8If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”

Haman’s Rage Against Mordecai

9Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. 10Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home.

Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, 11Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. 12“And that’s not all,” Haman added. “I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. 13But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”

14His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a pole set up, reaching to a height of fifty cubits,5:14 That is, about 75 feet or about 23 meters and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai impaled on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself.” This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up.

Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)

以斯帖記 5:1-14

以斯帖為王和哈曼設宴

1第三天,以斯帖身穿朝服進入王宮內院,面對大殿站立,王在殿裡正面朝宮門坐在寶座上。 2王見以斯帖王后站在院內,就施恩給她,向她伸出手中的金杖,以斯帖便上前摸杖頭。 3王問道:「以斯帖王后啊,你有什麼事?你有何要求?就是半壁江山,也必賜給你!」 4以斯帖回答說:「王若願意,就請王今天帶哈曼來赴我預備的宴席。」 5王說:「快召哈曼來,我們好照以斯帖的話做。」於是王帶著哈曼以斯帖預備的宴席。 6席間,王對以斯帖說:「你要什麼?我必賜給你。你有何要求?就是半壁江山,也必為你成就。」 7以斯帖回答說:「王啊,我所要、我所求的就是, 8我若得到王的恩寵,王若願意賜我所要所求的,就請王明天帶哈曼再來赴我預備的宴席,到時我一定向王稟明。」

哈曼圖謀殺末底改

9那天哈曼出來,心中歡喜快樂。但他看見末底改在宮門前既不起身,也不對他表示畏懼,心中十分惱火。 10哈曼忍怒回到家中,把朋友和妻子細利斯叫來, 11向他們誇耀自己的榮華富貴和兒孫滿堂,以及王怎樣擢升他,使他位極人臣。 12哈曼又說:「還有,以斯帖王后只請了我隨王赴她預備的宴席。她還請我明天隨王赴宴。 13但只要我看見猶太末底改坐在宮門口,這一切對我都毫無意義。」 14他妻子細利斯和他所有的朋友對他說:「你可以叫人做一個二十三米高的木架,明天早上求王將末底改吊在上面,然後你可以快樂地隨王去赴宴。」哈曼喜歡這個提議,就叫人做了木架。