1 Now it happened on the third day that 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 please 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.
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