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.
1以斯帖設宴款待王及哈曼第三天，以斯帖穿上朝服，站在王宮的內院，對著王殿；王在殿裡坐在王位上，對著殿門。
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.
2王見王后以斯帖站在院內，就對她施恩，向她伸出手中的金杖，以斯帖就上前摸杖頭。
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.
3王問她：“王后以斯帖啊，你有甚麼事嗎？你求甚麼？就是一半江山，也必賜給你。”
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.
4以斯帖回答：“王若是歡喜，就請王今天帶著哈曼來赴我為王預備的筵席。”
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.
5王說：“快把哈曼召來，好照著以斯帖的話去行。”於是王帶著哈曼去赴以斯帖預備的筵席。
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.
6在酒席中，王問以斯帖：“你要甚麼？我必賜給你；你求甚麼？就是一半江山，也必為你成全。”
7Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is;
7以斯帖回答說：“我所要我所求的就是：
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.
8我若是在王眼前蒙恩，王若是願意賜給我所要的，成全我所求的，就請王帶著哈曼明天再來赴我為你們預備的筵席；明天我必照著王的命令行。”
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.
9哈曼立了一木架那天哈曼心裡快樂，高高興興地出來；但是哈曼見了末底改在御門那裡不站起來，也不因哈曼的緣故而退避，哈曼心裡就對末底改充滿忿怒。
10Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.
10哈曼忍住怒氣，回家去了，就派人去請他的朋友和妻子細利斯來。
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.
11哈曼把他的富貴榮華、兒女的眾多，以及王怎樣使他尊大，怎樣抬舉他在王的眾領袖和眾臣僕之上的一切事，都數說給他們聽。
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.
12哈曼又說：“王后以斯帖除我以外，沒有邀請別人與王一同去赴她預備的筵席；明天又邀請我與王一同到她那裡去赴席。
13Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
13只是每逢我看見坐在朝門那裡的猶大人末底改的時候，這一切對我都沒有多大的意思。”
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.
14他的妻子細利斯和他所有的朋友都對他說：“叫人立一個二十二公尺高的木架，明早求王，把末底改掛在上面，然後你可以歡歡喜喜地與王一同赴筵席了。”這話使哈曼很滿意，就叫人做了木架。