1Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on royalty and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, opposite the king’s house, while the king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal house, opposite the entrance of the house.
2And it happened, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she found favor in his eyes, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the top of the scepter.
3Then the king said to her, “What is it for you, Queen Esther? And what is your request? Up to half the kingdom, and it shall be given to you.”
4And Esther said, “If it is good to the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”
5Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, so that we may do as Esther has said.” So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6And the king said to Esther during the banquet of wine, “What is your petition? It shall be granted to you. And what is your request? Up to half the kingdom, and it shall be done.”
7Then Esther answered and said, “My petition and my request:
8if I have found favor in the eyes of the king, and if it is good to the king to grant my petition and to do my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I will prepare for them; then tomorrow I will do as the king has said.”
9And Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, and that he neither rose nor trembled before him, Haman was filled with wrath against Mordecai.
10But Haman restrained himself and came to his house; and he sent and brought his friends and Zeresh his wife.
11And Haman recounted to them the glory of his wealth and the multitude of his sons, and all how the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king.
12And Haman said, “Furthermore, Queen Esther brought no one with the king to the banquet she prepared except me; and also for tomorrow I am invited to her together with the king.
13Yet all this is worth nothing to me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting in the king’s gate.”
14Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak to the king, and let them hang Mordecai on it; then go with the king to the banquet joyful.” And the matter was good before Haman, and he had the gallows made.
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