1Now on the third day, when she had finished praying, she took off her garments of supplication and clothed herself in her royal splendor.
2And having become radiant, she called upon God, the overseer and savior of all, and took her two maids with her.
3And she was leaning on the one maid as though delicately reared,
4while the other followed, holding up the train of her robe.
5She herself was flushed at the height of her beauty, and her face was cheerful and very lovely, but her heart was constricted with fear.
6And having passed through all the doors, she stood before the king. And he was sitting on his royal throne, clothed in all the robes of his majesty, entirely of gold and precious stones, and he was exceedingly terrifying.
7And he lifted his face, which was ablaze with glory, and glared in the height of his anger. And the queen fell and grew pale in a faint, and she leaned her head upon the maid who went before her.
8Then God changed the king’s spirit to gentleness, and in alarm he leaped from his throne and took her in his arms until she recovered. And he comforted her with peaceful words,
9and said to her, ‘What is it, Esther? I am your brother. Take courage.’
10‘You will not die, for our decree is for our subjects.
11‘Approach.’
12And lifting the golden scepter, he placed it on her neck, and he kissed her and said, ‘Speak to me.’
13And she said to him, ‘I saw you, my lord, like an angel of God, and my heart was troubled from fear of your glory.’
14‘For you are wonderful, my lord, and your face is full of grace.’
15But while she was speaking, she fainted and fell.
16And the king was distressed, and all his court tried to comfort her.
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