Liber Esther

Esther, chapter 5, Vulgate and King James Version

Chapter 5 Vulgate

   1 Et factum est die tertio, induta Esther regalibus vestimentis ste tit in atrio domus regiae, quod erat interius contra basilicam regis. At ille sedebat super solium suum in consistorio palatii contra ostium domus.
   2 Et factum est, cum vidisset Esther reginam stantem, placuit oculis eius, et extendit contra eam virgam auream, quam tenebat manu; quae accedens tetigit summitatem virgae eius.
   2a Cumque regio fulgeret habitu et invocasset omnium rectorem et salvatorem Deum, assumpsit duas famulas
   2b et super unam quidem innitebatur, quasi in deliciis;
   2c altera autem sequebatur dominam defluentia in humum indumenta sustentans.
   2d Ipsa autem roseo vultu colore perfusa et gratis ac nitentibus oculis tristem celabat animum et mortis timore contractum.
   2e Ingressa igitur cuncta per ordinem ostia, stetit in aula interiore contra regem, ubi ille residebat super solium regni sui indutus vestibus regiis auroque fulgens et pretiosis lapidibus; eratque terribilis aspectu, et virga aurea in manu eius.
   2f Cumque elevasset faciem, vidit eam sicut taurus in impetu irae suae et cogitans eam perdere clamavit ambiguus: "Quis ausus est introire in aulam non vocatus?". Et regina corruit et, in pallorem colore mutato, lassa se reclinavit super caput ancillulae, quae antecedebat.
   2g Convertitque Iudaeorum Deus et universae creaturae Dominus spiritum regis in mansuetudinem, et festinus ac metuens exilivit de solio; et sustentans eam ulnis suis, donec rediret ad se, verbis pacificis ei blandiebatur:
   2h" Quid habes, Esther regina, soror mea et consors regni? Ego sum frater tuus, noli metuere.
   2i Non morieris; non enim pro te, sed pro omnibus haec lex constituta est.
   2k Accede!".
   2l Et elevans auream virgam posuit super collum eius et osculatus est eam et ait: "Loquere mihi".
   2m Quae respondit: "Vidi te, domine, quasi angelum Dei, et conturbatum est cor meum prae timore gloriae tuae;
   2n valde enim mirabilis es, domine, et facies tua plena est gratiarum".
   2o Cumque loqueretur, rursus corruit et paene exanimata est.
   2p Rex autem turbabatur, et omnes ministri eius.
   3 Dixitque ad eam rex: "Quid vis, Esther regina? Quae est petitio tua? Etiamsi dimidiam partem regni petieris, dabitur tibi".
   4 At illa respondit: "Si regi placet, obsecro, ut venias ad me hodie et Aman tecum ad convivium, quod paravi".
   5 Statimque rex: "Vocate, inquit, cito Aman, ut fiat verbum Esther". Venerunt itaque rex et Aman ad convivium, quod eis regina paraverat.
   6 Dixitque ei rex, postquam vinum biberat: "Quid petis, ut detur tibi, et pro qua re postulas? Etiamsi dimidiam partem regni mei petieris, impetrabis".
   7 Cui respondit Esther: "Petitio mea et preces:
   8 Si inveni in conspectu regis gratiam, et si regi placet, ut det mihi, quod postulo, et meam impleat petitionem, veniat rex et Aman ad convivium, quod parabo eis, et cras faciam secundum verbum regis".
   9 Egressus est itaque illo die Aman laetus et alacer corde. Cumque vidisset Mardochaeum sedentem in foribus palatii, et non solum non assurrexisse sibi, sed nec motum quidem de loco sessionis suae, indignatus est valde.
   10 Et, dissimulata ira, reversus in domum suam convocavit ad se amicos suos et Zares uxorem suam
   11 et exposuit illis magnitudinem divitiarum suarum filiorumque turbam, et quanta eum gloria super omnes principes et servos suos rex elevasset.
   12 Et post haec ait: "Regina quoque Esther nullum alium vocavit ad convivium cum rege praeter me; apud quam etiam cras cum rege pransurus sum.
   13 Et, cum omnia haec habeam, nihil me habere puto, quamdiu videro Mardochaeum Iudaeum sedentem in foribus regis".
   14 Responderuntque ei Zares uxor eius et ceteri amici: "Iube parari excelsam trabem habentem altitudinis quinquaginta cubitos et dic mane regi, ut appendatur super eam Mardochaeus; et sic ibis cum rege laetus ad convivium". Placuit ei consilium et iussit excelsam parari trabem.

Source: Bibliorum Sacrorum Editio, Sacrosanti Oecumenici Concilii Vaticani II, Ratione Habita, Iussu Pauli PP. VI Recognita, Auctoritate Ioannis Pauli PP. II Promulgata, Editio Typica Altera

King James Version

   1 Now 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 And 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 Then 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 And 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 Then 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 ¶ And 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 Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is;
   8 If 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 ¶ Then 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 Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.
   11 And 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 Haman 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 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
   14 ¶ Then 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.