[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.
