Esth 5
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 entrance 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? for whatever thy request,
even to the half of the kingdom, it shall be given thee.'
4
And Esther said: '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 it may be done 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: 'Whatever thy petition, it shall
be granted thee; and whatever 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 glad of heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai
in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, Haman was filled with
wrath against Mordecai.
10
Nevertheless Haman refrained himself, and went home; and he sent and fetched his friends
and Zeresh his wife.
11
And Haman recounted unto them the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children,
and everything as to how 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 also am I invited by her
together 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 in the morning 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.