^aOn the third day of the fast Esther put on her royal robes and stood ^bin the inner court of the king’s palace opposite his throne room. The king was sitting on his royal throne, facing the main entrance of the palace. 2 When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, ^ashe found favor in his sight; and ^bthe king extended to her the golden scepter which was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the top of the scepter. 3 Then the king said to her, “What is troubling you, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you, ^1aup to half of the kingdom.” 4 Esther said, “If it pleases the king, may the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”

5 Then the king said, “^aBring Haman quickly so that we may do as Esther says.” So the king and Haman came to the banquet which Esther had prepared. 6 As they drank their wine at the banquet, ^athe king said to Esther, “^bWhat is your ¹petition? It shall be granted to you. And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be done.” 7 Then Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this: 8 ^aif I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and to do as I request, may the king and Haman come to ^bthe banquet that I will prepare for them; and tomorrow I will do as the king says and express my request.”

9 Haman went away that day joyful and in good spirits. But when he saw Mordecai ^aat the king’s gate ^brefusing to stand up or show fear before him, he was filled with rage toward Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless, Haman controlled himself and went home. There he sent for his friends and his wife ^aZeresh. 11 Then Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, the large ^anumber of his sons, and every instance in which the king had ^bmagnified him and how he had promoted him over the officials and servants of the king. 12 Haman also said, “Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the banquet she had prepared; and ^atomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king. 13 Yet all of this does not satisfy me as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at ^athe king’s gate.” 14 Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “^aHave a gallows ¹fifty cubits high made, and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it; then go joyfully to the banquet with the king.” And the advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.

Now it happened ^aon the third day, that Esther put on her royal robes and stood ^bin the inner court of the king’s house in front of the king’s ¹rooms, and the king was sitting on his royal throne in the ²throne room, opposite the entrance to his house. 2 Now it happened that when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, ^ashe advanced in favor in his eyes; and ^bthe king extended to Esther the golden scepter which was in his hand. So Esther came near and ¹reached out and touched the top of the scepter. 3 Then the king said to her, “What is troubling you, Queen Esther? And what is ¹your request? ^aEven to half of the kingdom it shall be given to you.” 4 And Esther said, “If it seems good to the king, may the king and Haman come this day to the feast that I have prepared for him.”

5 Then the king said, “^aBring Haman quickly that we may do the word of Esther.” So the king and Haman came to the feast which Esther had prepared. 6 Then, ¹as they drank their wine at the feast, ^athe king said to Esther, “^bWhat is ²your petition? For it shall be given to you. And what is ³your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be done.” 7 So Esther answered and said, “¹My petition and ²my request is: 8 ^aif I have found favor in the eyes of the king, and if it seems good to the king to give heed to ¹my petition and to do ²my request, may the king and Haman come to ^bthe feast which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do according to the word of the king.”

9 Then Haman went out that day glad and merry of heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai ^ain the king’s gate and ^bthat he did not stand up or ¹tremble before him, Haman was filled with wrath against Mordecai. 10 But Haman controlled himself, went to his house, and sent for and brought his friends and his wife ^aZeresh. 11 Then Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches and the ^1anumber of his sons and every instance where the king had magnified him and how he had ^2badvanced him above the princes and servants of the king. 12 Haman also said, “Even Esther the queen let no one but me come with the king to the feast which she had prepared; and ^atomorrow also I am called to come to her with the king. 13 Yet all of this is worth nothing to me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at ^athe king’s gate.” 14 Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “^aHave a ¹gallows ²fifty cubits high made and in the morning say to the king that Mordecai should be hanged on it; then go gladly with the king to the feast.” And the word was good to Haman, so he had the gallows made.

Now it came about ^aon the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood ^bin the inner courtyard of the king’s palace in front of the king’s ¹rooms, and the king was sitting on his royal throne in the ²throne room, opposite the entrance to the palace. 2 When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the courtyard, ^ashe obtained favor in his sight; and ^bthe king extended to Esther the golden scepter which was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the top of the scepter. 3 Then the king said to her, “What is troubling you, Queen Esther? And what is your request? ^aUp to half of the kingdom it shall be given to you.” 4 Esther said, “If it pleases the king, may the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”

5 Then the king said, “^aBring Haman quickly so that we may do ¹as Esther desires.” So the king and Haman came to the banquet which Esther had prepared. 6 ¹As they drank their wine at the banquet, ^athe king said to Esther, “^bWhat is your request, for it shall be granted to you. And what is your wish? Up to half of the kingdom it shall be done.” 7 So Esther replied, “My request and my wish is: 8 ^aif I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my request and do ¹what I wish, may the king and Haman come to ^bthe banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do ²as the king says.”

9 Then Haman went out that day joyful and pleased of heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai ^aat the king’s gate and ^bthat he did not stand up or tremble before him, Haman was filled with anger against Mordecai. 10 Haman controlled himself, however, and went to his house. But he ¹sent for his friends and his wife ^aZeresh. 11 Then Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and his ^amany sons, and every occasion on which the king had honored him and how he had ^1bpromoted him above the officials and servants of the king. 12 Haman also said, “Even Esther the queen let no one except me come with the king to the banquet which she had prepared; and ^atomorrow also I am invited by her with the king. 13 Yet all of this ¹does not satisfy me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at ^athe king’s gate.” 14 Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “^aHave a wooden gallows ¹fifty cubits high made, and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it; then go joyfully with the king to the banquet.” And the ²advice pleased Haman, so he had the wooden gallows made.