< Esther 5 >

1 On the third day, Esther put on her regalia and stood in the inner court of the royal palace opposite the king’s house. The king was sitting on his throne in the palace, opposite the entrance.
Nnansa akyi no, Ɛster hyɛɛ nʼahemmea atade kɔɔ ahemfi no adiwo hɔ a ɛbɛn ɔhene no asa so. Na ɔhene no te nʼahengua so a nʼani kyerɛ abɔnten kwan ano.
2 When he saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she won his favour, and he held out to her the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the top of the sceptre.
Bere a ohuu Ɔhemmea Ɛster sɛ ogyina adiwo hɔ no, ogyee no fɛw so. Ɔde sikakɔkɔɔ ahempema no kyerɛɛ ne so. Enti Ɛster bɛn kosoo pema no ti.
3 Then the king said to her, ‘What is it, Queen Esther? Whatever your request is, it will be granted, even if it is the half of the kingdom.’
Na ɔhene no bisaa no se, “Ɔhemmea Ɛster, dɛn na wohwehwɛ? Wʼabisade ne dɛn? Sɛ ɛyɛ ahemman no fa koraa a, mede bɛma wo!”
4 ‘If it seems best to the king,’ Esther said, ‘let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.’
Na Ɛster buae se, “Sɛ ɛyɛ wo pɛ a, Ɔhempɔn, wo ne Haman mmra aponto a masiesie ama wo nnɛ no ase.”
5 Then the king ordered, ‘Bring Haman quickly, so that Esther’s wish may be gratified.’ So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
Ɔhene no dan ne ho, ka kyerɛɛ nʼasomfo no se, “Monka nkyerɛ Haman se, ɔmmra aponto no ase mprempren ara, sɛnea Ɛster asrɛ no.” Enti ɔhene ne Haman kɔɔ Ɛster aponto no ase.
6 While they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, ‘Whatever your petition is, it will be granted. Your request, it will be done – even if it takes half of my kingdom.’
Na bere a wogu so renom nsa no, ɔhene no ka kyerɛɛ Ɛster se, “Afei, ka nea wohwehwɛ pa ara no kyerɛ me. Wʼadesrɛde yɛ dɛn? Sɛ wubisa mʼaheman mu fa koraa a, mede bɛma wo.”
7 Esther answered,
Ɛster buae se, “Mʼadesrɛ a me koma da ho pa ara ni:
8 ‘If I have won the king’s favour and if it seems best to the king to grant my petition and to accede to my request, my petition and my request are that the king and Haman come to the banquet which I will prepare for them. Tomorrow I will answer the king’s question as he wishes.’
Sɛ ɔhempɔn ani sɔ me, na ɔpɛ sɛ ɔyɛ mʼadesrɛ ma me a, anka ɔkyena wo ne Haman mmra ɔpon a mɛto wo no ase. Na ɔkyena, mɛkyerɛ wo eyi nyinaa ase.”
9 Haman went out that day joyful and elated, but when he saw Mordecai in the king’s gate and noticed that he neither stood up nor moved for him, he was furiously angry with Mordecai.
Haman fii aponto no ase no, na nʼani agye mmoroso! Nanso ohuu Mordekai a ɔte pon no ano a wansɔre na ne ho ampopo wɔ nʼanim no, ne bo fuwii.
10 Nevertheless Haman restrained himself and went home. He called together his friends and Zeresh his wife
Nanso Haman hyɛɛ ne ho so kɔɔ fie. Afei, ɔboaboaa ne nnamfonom a ne yere Seres ka ho no ano,
11 and recounted to them the greatness of his wealth, how many children he had, and all the ways in which the king had honoured him, and how he had promoted him above the officials and the royal courtiers.
de ahonya ne mma dodow a ɔwɔ hoahoaa ne ho wɔ wɔn anim. Ɔde abasobɔde ahorow a ɔhene ama no no nso ne sɛnea wɔasi no panyin wɔ mpanyimfo nkae no so no nso tuu ne ho.
12 ‘What is more,’ Haman said, ‘Queen Esther brought no one in with the king to the banquet which she had prepared except me, and tomorrow also I am invited by her along with the king.
Haman ka kaa ho se, “Ɛnyɛ ɛno nko! Ɔhemmea Ɛster too nsa frɛɛ me ne ɔhene no ankasa kɔɔ nʼaponto ase. Na wato nsa afrɛ me sɛ, ɔpɛ sɛ me ne no ne ɔhene no didi bio ɔkyena.
13 Yet all this does not satisfy me as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.’
Nanso sɛ mihu Yudani Mordekai sɛ ɔda so te ahemfi pon ano a, me bo nnwo koraa.”
14 Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, ‘Let a gallows seventy-five feet high be erected, and in the morning speak to the king and let Mordecai be hanged on it. Then go merrily with the king to the banquet.’ The advice pleased Haman, and so he had the gallows erected.
Haman yere Seres ne ne nnamfonom no maa no adwene se, “Yɛ dua a wɔsɛn nnipa wɔ so a ne sorokɔ yɛ anammɔn aduɔson anum na anɔpa ka kyerɛ ɔhene no se, ɔnsɛn Mordekai wɔ so. Sɛ wɔyɛ no saa a, wode anigye ne ɔhene no bɛkɔ aponto no.” Saa adwenkyerɛ yi sɔɔ Haman ani yiye ma ɔhyɛɛ sɛ wonsi dua a wɔsɛn nnipa wɔ so no.

< Esther 5 >