Estera 5

1 Trećega dana... Blistala je od vrhunske ljepote... lice joj bijaše veselo, kao rastvoreno ljubavi, a srce sapeto od straha... Kroza sva je vrata ušla pred kralja. On je sjedio na svom kraljevskom prijestolju, zaogrnut svim ukrasom veličanstva svoga.

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.

2 I podigavši zlatno žezlo, postavi ga na vrat Esteri, zagrli je i reče: "Govori mi!" a Ona mu reče: "Spazih te, gospodaru, kao anđela Božjega, pa mi se uznemiri srce od straha pred sjajem tvojim. Jer si, gospodaru, divan i lice ti je puno dražesti." b Dok je još govorila, klonu od iznemoglosti. Kralj se uznemiri, a sva ju je posluga njegova hrabrila.

When he saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she won his favor, and he held out to her the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the top of the sceptre.

3 Kralj joj reče: "Što je tebi, kraljice Estero? Što želiš? Bila to i polovica kraljevstva, dobit ćeš je!"

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.”

4 Estera odgovori: "Neka kralj, ako mu je drago, dođe s Hamanom na gozbu koju sam danas priredila."

“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.”

5 Kralj odvrati: "Obavijestite odmah Hamana da bi se izvršila Esterina želja." Kralj dakle dođe s Hamanom na gozbu koju je Estera priredila.

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.

6 Dok su pili vino, kralj kaza Esteri: "Što god zatražiš, dobit ćeš. Što god zaželiš, bila to i polovica kraljevstva, bit će ti!"

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.”

7 Estera odgovori: "Molba mi je i želja,

Esther answered,

8 ako sam našla milost u očima kraljevim i ako se kralju svidi dati mi što molim i učiniti što želim, da kralj ponovo dođe s Hamanom na gozbu koju ću sutra pripremiti za njih i tad ću postupiti po riječi kraljevoj."

“If I have won the king’s favor 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.”

9 Toga dana Haman iziđe sretan i zadovoljna srca, ali se rasrdi jako na Mordokaja kad vidje da na vratima kraljevim nije ustao ni maknuo se pred njim.

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.

10 Haman se ipak svlada. Ode kući i posla po svoje prijatelje i po ženu Zarešu.

Nevertheless Haman restrained himself and went home. He called together his friends and Zeresh his wife

11 Pripovijedao im je o sjaju svoga bogatstva, o mnoštvu svojih sinova i o svemu onome čime ga je kralj uzveličao i čime ga je uzdignuo nad sve svoje knezove i službenike.

and recounted to them the greatness of his wealth, how many children he had, and all the ways in which the king had honored him, and how he had promoted him above the officials and the royal courtiers.

12 Haman još dometnu: "I kraljica Estera nije uz kralja pozvala nikoga osim mene na gozbu koju je priredila. I sutra sam samo ja uz kralja njezin uzvanik.

“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.

13 Ali me sve to ne može učiniti sretnim dokle god gledam Židova Mordokaja kako sjedi na vratima kraljevim."

Yet all this does not satisfy me as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”

14 Reče mu Zareša, žena njegova, i svi prijatelji njegovi: "Podigni vješala visoka pedeset lakata. Sutra ujutro zatraži od kralja neka na njih objese Mordokaja. Poslije toga idi sretan s kraljem na gozbu." Savjet se Hamanu učini dobar, pa on naredi da se podignu vješala.

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.