1
Now it came to pass on[H3847] the third[H7992]day[H3117], that Esther[H635] put on[H3847] her royal[H4438] apparel, and stood[H5975] in the inner[H6442]court[H2691] of the king[H4428]'s house[H1004], over against[H5227] the king[H4428]'s house[H1004]: and the king[H4428]sat[H3427] upon his royal[H4438]throne[H3678] in the royal[H4438]house[H1004], over against[H5227] the gate[H6607] of the house[H1004].
2
And it was so, when the king[H4428]saw[H7200]Esther[H635] the queen[H4436]standing[H5975] in the court[H2691], that she obtained[H5375]favour[H2580] in his sight[H5869]: and the king[H4428] held out[H3447] to Esther[H635] the golden[H2091]sceptre[H8275] that was in his hand[H3027]. So Esther[H635] drew near[H7126], and touched[H5060] the top[H7218] of the sceptre[H8275].
3
Then said[H559] the king[H4428] unto her, What wilt thou, queen[H4436]Esther?[H635] and what is thy request?[H1246] it shall be even given[H5414] thee to the half[H2677] of the kingdom[H4438].
4
And Esther[H635]answered[H559], If it seem good[H2895] unto the king[H4428], let the king[H4428] and Haman[H2001]come[H935] this day[H3117] unto the banquet[H4960] that I have prepared[H6213] for him.
5
Then the king[H4428]said[H559], Cause Haman[H2001] to make haste[H4116], that he may do[H6213] as Esther[H635] hath said[H1697]. So the king[H4428] and Haman[H2001]came[H935] to the banquet[H4960] that Esther[H635] had prepared[H6213].
6
And the king[H4428]said[H559] unto Esther[H635] at the banquet[H4960] of wine[H3196], What is thy petition?[H7596] and it shall be granted[H5414] thee: and what is thy request?[H1246] even to the half[H2677] of the kingdom[H4438] it shall be performed[H6213].
7
Then answered[H6030]Esther[H635], and said[H559], My petition[H7596] and my request[H1246] is;
8
If I have found[H4672]favour[H2580] in the sight[H5869] of the king[H4428], and if it please[H2895] the king[H4428] to grant[H5414] my petition[H7596], and to perform[H6213] my request[H1246], let the king[H4428] and Haman[H2001]come[H935] to the banquet[H4960] that I shall prepare[H6213] for them, and I will do[H6213] to morrow[H4279] as the king[H4428] hath said[H1697].
9
Then went[H3318]Haman[H2001]forth[H3318] that day[H3117]joyful[H8056] and with a glad[H2896]heart[H3820]: but when Haman[H2001]saw[H7200]Mordecai[H4782] in the king's gate[H8179], that he[H2001] stood not up[H6965], nor moved[H2111] for him, he[H2001] was full[H4390] of indignation[H2534] against Mordecai[H4782].
10
Nevertheless Haman[H2001]refrained[H662] himself: and when he came[H935]home[H1004], he sent[H7971] and called[H935] for his friends[H157], and Zeresh[H2238] his wife[H802].
11
And Haman[H2001]told[H5608] them of the glory[H3519] of his riches[H6239], and the multitude[H7230] of his children[H1121], and all the things wherein the king[H4428] had promoted[H1431] him, and how he had advanced[H5375] him above the princes[H8269] and servants[H5650] of the king[H4428].
12Haman[H2001]said[H559] moreover, Yea, Esther[H635] the queen[H4436] did let no man come in[H935] with the king[H4428] unto the banquet[H4960] that she had prepared[H6213] but myself; and to morrow[H4279] am I invited[H7121] unto her also with the king[H4428].
13
Yet all this availeth[H7737] me nothing, so long as[H6256] I see[H7200]Mordecai[H4782] the Jew[H3064]sitting[H3427] at the king's gate[H8179].
14
Then said[H559]Zeresh[H2238] his wife[H802] and all his friends[H157] unto him, Let a gallows[H6086] be made[H6213] of fifty[H2572]cubits[H520]high[H1364], and to morrow[H1242]speak[H559] thou unto the king[H4428] that Mordecai[H4782] may be hanged[H8518] thereon: then go[H935] thou in merrily[H8056] with the king[H4428] unto the banquet[H4960]. And the thing[H1697]pleased[H3190]Haman[H2001]; and he caused[H6213] the gallows[H6086] to be made[H6213].