Chapter 5

Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on⁴ [her] royal [apparel], and stood⁴ in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat⁶ upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.

And it was so, when the king saw² Esther the queen standing⁶ in the court, [that] she obtained¹ favour in his sight: and the king held out⁵⁵ to Esther the golden sceptre that [was] in his hand. So Esther drew near,⁴ and touched⁴ the top of the sceptre.

Then said⁴ the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what [is] thy request? it shall be even given¹¹ thee to the half of the kingdom.

And Esther answered,⁴ If [it seem] good¹ unto the king, let the king and Haman come⁴ this day unto the banquet that I have prepared¹ for him.

Then the king said,⁴ Cause Haman to make haste,¹⁶ that he may do² as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came⁴ to the banquet that Esther had prepared.¹

And the king said⁴ unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What [is] thy petition? and it shall be granted¹¹ thee: and what [is] thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.¹¹

Then answered⁴ Esther, and said,⁴ My petition and my request [is];

If I have found¹ favour in the sight of the king, and if it please¹ the king to grant² my petition, and to perform² my request, let the king and Haman come⁴ to the banquet that I shall prepare⁴ for them, and I will do⁴ to morrow as the king hath said.

Then went Haman forth⁴ that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw² Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up,¹ nor moved¹ for him, he was full¹¹ of indignation against Mordecai.

Nevertheless Haman refrained¹⁰¹ himself: and when he came⁴ home, he sent⁴ and called⁵⁵ for his friends,⁶ and Zeresh his wife.

And Haman told¹⁷ them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all [the things] wherein the king had promoted¹⁴ him, and how he had advanced¹⁴ him above the princes and servants of the king.

Haman said⁴ moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in⁵² with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared¹ but myself; and to morrow am I invited⁷ unto her also with the king.

Yet all this availeth⁶ me nothing, so long as I see⁶ Mordecai the Jew sitting⁶ at the king's gate.

Then said⁴ Zeresh his wife and all his friends⁶ unto him, Let a gallows be made⁴ of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak³ thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged⁴ thereon: then go thou in³ merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased^{4 6440} Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.⁴