5
1 Now
on the third
day, Esther put on
her royal clothing
and stood in
the inner court
of the king’s
house, next to
the king’s house.
The king sat
on his royal
throne in the
royal house, next
to the entrance
of the house.
2 When
the king saw Esther
the queen standing
in the court, she
obtained favor in
his sight; and
the king held
out to Esther the
golden scepter
that was in
his hand. So Esther
came near and
touched the top
of the scepter.
3 Then
the king asked
her, “What would
you like,
queen Esther? What
is your request?
It shall be
given you even
to the half
of the kingdom.”
4 Esther said, “If
it seems good to
the king, let the
king and Haman come
today to the
banquet that I
have prepared for
him.”
5 Then
the king said, “Bring
Haman quickly, so
that it may
be done as Esther
has said.” So
the king and
Haman came to
the banquet
that Esther had
prepared.
6 The
king said to Esther
at the banquet
of wine, “What
is your petition?
It shall be
granted you. What
is your request?
Even to the
half of the
kingdom it shall
be performed.”
7 Then Esther
answered and said,
“My petition and
my request is this.
8 If I
have found favor
in the sight
of the king,
and if it pleases
the king to
grant my petition
and to perform
my request, let
the king and
Haman come to
the banquet that
I will prepare
for them, and
I will do
tomorrow as the
king has said.”
9 Then
Haman went out
that day joyful
and glad of
heart, but when
Haman saw Mordecai
in the king’s
gate, that
he didn’t stand up
nor move for him,
he was filled
with wrath against
Mordecai.
10 Nevertheless
Haman restrained himself, and
went home. There,
he sent and called
for his friends
and Zeresh
his wife.
11 Haman
recounted to them
the glory of
his riches, the
multitude of his
children, all the
things in which
the king had
promoted him, and
how he had
advanced him above
the princes and
servants of the
king.
12 Haman
also said, “Yes,
Esther the queen
let no man come
in with the
king to the
banquet that she
had prepared but
myself; and
tomorrow I am also
invited by her
together with the
king.
13 Yet
all this avails me
nothing, so long
as I see
Mordecai the Jew
sitting at the
king’s gate.”
14 Then
Zeresh his wife
and all his friends
said to him, “Let
a gallows be
made fifty cubits
high, and in
the morning speak
to the king
about hanging
Mordecai on it.
Then go in
merrily with the
king to the
banquet.” This
pleased Haman, so
he had the
gallows made.