OET-RV ESG Chapter 5

5 On the third day, when she’d finished praying, she took off her servant’s dress and put on her glorious clothing. Being splendidly dressed and having called on God the Overseer and Preserver of all things, she took her two maids, and she leaned on one, as a delicate female, and the other followed bearing her train. She was blooming in the perfection of her beauty. Her face was cheerful and looked lovely, but her heart was filled with fear. Having passed through all the doors, she stood before the king. He was sitting on his royal throne. He’d put on all his glorious clothing, covered all over with gold and precious stones, and was very terrifying. And having raised his face resplendent with glory, he looked with intense anger. The queen fell, and changed her colour as she fainted. She bowed herself on the head of the maid who went before her. But God changed the king’s spirit to gentleness, and in intense feeling, he sprang from off his throne, and took her into his arms, until she recovered. He comforted her with peaceful words, and said to her, “What’s the matter, Ester? I’m your relative. Cheer up! You won’t die, for our command is openly declared to you: ‘Draw near.’ ”[fn]

2 And having raised the golden sceptre, he laid it on her neck, and embraced her. He said, “Speak to me.”

So she said to him, “I saw you, my lord, as an angel of God, and my heart was troubled for fear of your glory; for you, my lord, are to be wondered at, and your face is full of grace.” While she was speaking, she fainted and fell.

Then the king was troubled, and all his servants comforted her. 3 The king said, “What do you desire, Ester? What’s your request? Ask even to the half of my kingdom, and it’ll be yours.”[fn]

4 Ester said, “Today is a special day. So if it seems good to the king, let both him and Haman come to the feast which I’ll prepare this day.”

5 The king said, “Hurry and bring Haman here, that we may do as Ester said.” So they both came to the feast about which Ester had spoken. 6 At the banquet, the king said to Ester, “What’s your request, queen Ester? You’ll have all that you require.”

7 She said, “My request and my petition is: 8 if I’ve found favour in the king’s sight, let the king and Haman come again tomorrow to the feast which I’ll prepare for them, and tomorrow I’ll do as I’ve done today.”

9 So Haman went out from the king very glad and merry; but when Haman saw Mordekai the Yehudi (Jew) in the courtyard, he was greatly enraged. 10 Having gone into his own house, he called his friends, and his wife Zeresh. 11 He showed them his wealth and the glory with which the king had invested him, and how he’d promoted him to be chief ruler in the kingdom. 12 Haman said, “The queen has called no one to the feast with the king but me, and I’m invited tomorrow. 13 But these things don’t please me while I see Mordekai the Yehudi in the courtyard.

14 Then Zeresh his wife and his friends said to him, “Let a fifty cubit tall[fn] gallows be made for you. In the morning you speak to the king, and let Mordekai be hanged on the gallows; but you go in to the feast with the king, and be merry.”

The saying pleased Haman, and the gallows was prepared.