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, over against the
king’s house: and the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, over
against the entrance of the house. 2 It was so, when the king saw Esther
the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight; and
the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So
Esther drew near, and touched the top of the scepter. 3 Then said the king
to her, What will you, queen Esther? and what is your request? it shall be
given you even to the half of the kingdom. 4 Esther said, If it seem good
to the king, let the king and Haman come this day to 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 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? and it shall be granted you: and what is your
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 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 shall prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has
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 didn’t stand up nor move for
him, he 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 Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, and
the multitude of his children, and 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 said moreover, Yes, Esther the queen did let no man
come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and
tomorrow also am I 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 said Zeresh his wife and all his friends to him, Let a
gallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak you to the king
that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go you in merrily with the king to
the banquet. The thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be
made.
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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