1Now it came about on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace in front of the king's rooms, and the king was sitting on his royal throne in the throne room, opposite the entrance to the palace.
1第三日，以斯帖穿上朝服，進王宮的內院，對殿站立。王在殿裡坐在寶座上，對著殿門。
2When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and the king extended to Esther the golden scepter which [was] in his hand. So Esther came near and touched the top of the scepter.
2王見王后以斯帖站在院內，就施恩於她，向她伸出手中的金杖；以斯帖便向前摸杖頭。
3Then the king said to her, 'What is [troubling] you, Queen Esther? And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be given to you.'
3王對他說：「王后以斯帖啊，你要甚麼？你求甚麼，就是國的一半也必賜給你。」
4Esther said, 'If it pleases the king, may the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him.'
4以斯帖說：「王若以為美，就請王帶著哈曼今日赴我所預備的筵席。」
5Then the king said, 'Bring Haman quickly that we may do as Esther desires.' So the king and Haman came to the banquet which Esther had prepared.
5王說：「叫哈曼速速照以斯帖的話去行。」於是王帶著哈曼赴以斯帖所預備的筵席。
6As they drank their wine at the banquet, the king said to Esther, 'What is your petition, for it shall be granted to you. And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be done.'
6在酒席筵前，王又問以斯帖說：「你要甚麼，我必賜給你；你求甚麼，就是國的一半也必為你成就。」
7So Esther replied, 'My petition and my request is:
7以斯帖回答說：我有所要，我有所求。
8if I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and do what I request, may the king and Haman come to the banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king says.'
8我若在王眼前蒙恩，王若願意賜我所要的，准我所求的，就請王帶著哈曼再赴我所要預備的筵席。明日我必照王所問的說明。」
9Then Haman went out that day glad and pleased of heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate and that he did not stand up or tremble before him, Haman was filled with anger against Mordecai.
9那日哈曼心中快樂，歡歡喜喜地出來；但見末底改在朝門不站起來，連身也不動，就滿心惱怒末底改。
10Haman controlled himself, however, went to his house and sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh.
10哈曼暫且忍耐回家，叫人請他朋友和他妻子細利斯來。
11Then Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, and the number of his sons, and every [instance] where the king had magnified him and how he had promoted him above the princes and servants of the king.
11哈曼將他富厚的榮耀、眾多的兒女，和王抬舉他使他超乎首領臣僕之上，都述說給他們聽。
12Haman also said, 'Even Esther the queen let no one but me come with the king to the banquet which she had prepared; and tomorrow also I am invited by her with the king.
12哈曼又說：王后以斯帖預備筵席，除了我之外不許別人隨王赴席。明日王后又請我隨王赴席；
13'Yet all of this does not satisfy me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.'
13只是我見猶大人末底改坐在朝門，雖有這一切榮耀，也與我無益。」
14Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, 'Have a gallows fifty cubits high made and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it; then go joyfully with the king to the banquet.' And the advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.
14他的妻細利斯和他一切的朋友對他說：「不如立一個五丈高的木架，明早求王將末底改掛在其上，然後你可以歡歡喜喜地隨王赴席。」哈曼以這話為美，就叫人做了木架。