Esther Speaks to the King

5 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner courtyard of the king’s ·palace [^Lhouse], ·facing [in front of; across from] the king’s ·hall [quarters; ^Lhouse]. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, ·facing the doorway [across from the entrance]. ² When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard, ·he was pleased [^Lshe obtained grace in his eyes]. He ·held out [extended] to her the gold scepter that was in his hand, so Esther ·went forward [approached; came near] and touched the ·end [tip] of it.

³ The king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What ·do you want to ask me [is your request]? I will give you as much as half of my kingdom.”

⁴ Esther answered, “My king, if it pleases ·you [^Lthe king], come today with Haman to a banquet that I have prepared for ·you [^Lhim].”

⁵ Then the king said, “·Bring [Find] Haman quickly so we may do what Esther ·asks [desires].”

So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared. ⁶ As they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, “Now, what ·are you asking for [is your petition]? I will ·give it to you [grant it]. What is ·it you want [your request]? ·I will give you [Ask for] as much as half of my kingdom and it shall be done.”

⁷ Esther answered, “This is ·what I want [my request] and ·what I ask for [my petition]. ⁸ My king, if ·you are pleased with me [^LI have found favor in the king’s sight] and if it ·pleases [seems good to] you, ·give me what I ask for [grant my petition] and do what I ·want [request]. Come with Haman tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for you. Then I will ·answer your question about what I want [do as the king says/wishes].”

Haman’s Plans Against Mordecai

⁹ Haman left the king’s ·palace [^Lhouse] that day happy and ·content [^Lgood of heart]. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and saw that Mordecai did not ·stand up [rise] or tremble ·with fear before him [in his presence], Haman ·became very angry with [was filled with rage against] Mordecai. ¹⁰ But he ·controlled his anger [restrained himself] and went home.

Then Haman called together his friends and his wife, Zeresh. ¹¹ He ·told [boasted/recounted to] them ·how wealthy he was [^Lof the glory of his riches] and how many sons he had [^Cten; 9:10]. He also told them all the ways the king had ·honored [^Lmagnified] him and how the king had ·placed him higher than [exalted him over] his ·important men [nobles] and his ·royal officers [ministers; officials]. ¹² He also said, “I’m the only person Queen Esther ·invited [^Lcaused] to come with the king to the banquet she gave. And tomorrow also the queen has asked me to be her guest with the king. ¹³ But all this does not ·really make me happy [satisfy me] ·when [as long as] I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”

¹⁴ Then Haman’s wife, Zeresh, and all his friends said, “Have a ·seventy-five-foot [^Lfifty cubits] ·platform [gallows; pole] built, and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai ·hanged [impaled] on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and be ·happy [content; joyful].” Haman ·liked [was pleased/delighted by] this suggestion, so he ordered the ·platform [gallows; pole] to be built.