Now it came to pass on the third day
, that Esther
put on
her royal
apparel , and stood
in the inner
court
of the king's
house
, over against
the king's
house
: and the king
sat
upon his royal
throne
in the royal
house
, over against
the gate
of the house
.
And it was so, when the king saw
Esther
the queen
standing
in the court
, that she obtained
favour
in his sight
: and the king
held out
to Esther
the golden
sceptre
that was in his hand
. So Esther
drew near
, and touched
the top
of the sceptre
.
Then said the king
unto her, What wilt thou, queen
Esther
? and what is thy request
? it shall be even given
thee to the half
of the kingdom
.
And Esther answered
, If it seem good
unto the king
, let the king
and Haman
come
this day
unto the banquet
that I have prepared
for him.
Then the king said
, Cause Haman
to make haste
, that he may do
as Esther
hath said
. So the king
and Haman
came
to the banquet
that Esther
had prepared
.
And the king said
unto Esther
at the banquet
of wine
, What is thy petition
? and it shall be granted
thee: and what is thy request
? even to the half
of the kingdom
it shall be performed
.
Then answered Esther
, and said
, My petition
and my request
is ;
If I have found favour
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
to morrow
as the king
hath said
.
Then went Haman
forth
that day
joyful
and with a glad
heart
: but when Haman
saw
Mordecai
in the king's
gate
, that he stood not up
, nor moved
for him, he
was full
of indignation
against Mordecai
.
Nevertheless Haman refrained
himself: and when he came
home
, he sent
and called
for his friends
, and Zeresh
his wife
.
And Haman told
them of the glory
of his riches
, and the multitude
of his children
, and all the things wherein the king
had promoted
him, and how he had advanced
him above the princes
and servants
of the king
.
Haman said
moreover, Yea, Esther
the queen
did let no man come in
with the king
unto the banquet
that she had prepared
but myself; and to morrow
am I invited
unto her also with the king
.
Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as
I see
Mordecai
the Jew
sitting
at the king's
gate
.
Then said Zeresh
his wife
and all his friends
unto him, Let a gallows
be made
of fifty
cubits
high
, and to morrow
speak
thou unto the king
that Mordecai
may be hanged
thereon: then go
thou in merrily
with the king
unto the banquet
. And the thing
pleased
Haman
; and he caused
the gallows
to be made
.