1以斯帖设宴款待王及哈曼
1Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.
2王见王后以斯帖站在院内，就对她施恩，向她伸出手中的金杖，以斯帖就上前摸杖头。
2And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.
3王问她：“王后以斯帖啊，你有什么事吗？你求什么？就是一半江山，也必赐给你。”
3Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.
4以斯帖回答：“王若是欢喜，就请王今天带着哈曼来赴我为王预备的筵席。”
4And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.
5王说：“快把哈曼召来，好照着以斯帖的话去行。”于是王带着哈曼去赴以斯帖预备的筵席。
5Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6在酒席中，王问以斯帖：“你要什么？我必赐给你；你求什么？就是一半江山，也必为你成全。”
6And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.
7以斯帖回答说：“我所要我所求的就是：
7Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is;
8我若是在王眼前蒙恩，王若是愿意赐给我所要的，成全我所求的，就请王带着哈曼明天再来赴我为你们预备的筵席；明天我必照着王的命令行。”
8If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said.
9哈曼立了一木架那天哈曼心里快乐，高高兴兴地出来；但是哈曼见了末底改在御门那里不站起来，也不因哈曼的缘故而退避，哈曼心里就对末底改充满忿怒。
9Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.
10哈曼忍住怒气，回家去了，就派人去请他的朋友和妻子细利斯来。
10Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.
11哈曼把他的富贵荣华、儿女的众多，以及王怎样使他尊大，怎样抬举他在王的众领袖和众臣仆之上的一切事，都数说给他们听。
11And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
12哈曼又说：“王后以斯帖除我以外，没有邀请别人与王一同去赴她预备的筵席；明天又邀请我与王一同到她那里去赴席。
12Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king.
13只是每逢我看见坐在朝门那里的犹大人末底改的时候，这一切对我都没有多大的意思。”
13Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
14他的妻子细利斯和他所有的朋友都对他说：“叫人立一个二十二公尺高的木架，明早求王，把末底改挂在上面，然后你可以欢欢喜喜地与王一同赴筵席了。”这话使哈曼很满意，就叫人做了木架。
14Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.