Esther 5:1–7:10

Now it came to pass aon the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in bthe 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. 2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that cshe obtained favour in his sight: and dthe king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. 3 Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee eto the half of the kingdom. 4 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. 5 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. 6 fAnd the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, gWhat is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even eto the half of the kingdom it shall be performed. 7 Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is; 8 hIf 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.

9 Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a iglad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, kthat he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless Haman lrefrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and †called for his friends, and mZeresh his wife. 11 And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and nthe multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had opromoted him, and how he had oadvanced him above the princes and servants of the king. 12 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 pinvited unto her also with the king. 13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate. 14 Then said mZeresh 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.

6 On that night †could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring athe book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of ||Bigthana and bTeresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the †door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. 3 And the king said, What chonour and cdignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him. 4 And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into dthe outward court of the king’s house, eto speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. 5 And the king’s servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in. 6 So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man †whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself? 7 And Haman answered the king, For the man †whom the king delighteth to honour, 8 †Let the royal apparel be brought †which the king useth to wear, and fthe horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: 9 And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most gnoble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and †bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour. 10 Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: †let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. 11 Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour. 12 And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hhasted to his house mourning, and ihaving his head covered. 13 And Haman told kZeresh his wife and all his friends levery thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him. 14 And while they were yet talking with him, came the king’s chamberlains, and mhasted to bring Haman unto nthe banquet that Esther had prepared.

7 So the king and Haman came †to banquet with Esther the queen. 2 And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, aWhat is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom. 3 Then Esther the queen answered and said, bIf I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: 4 For we are csold, I and my people, †to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king’s damage. 5 Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, †that durst presume in his heart to do so? 6 And Esther said, †The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman dwas afraid ||before the king and the queen. 7 And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into ethe palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was fevil determined against him by the gking. 8 Then the king returned out of ethe palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon gthe bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also †before me in the house? As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. 9 And hHarbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the †gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, iwho had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. 10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then kwas the king’s wrath pacified.