Esther 5

Esther Approaches the King

5On the third day, ^yEsther dressed up in her royal clothing and stood in the inner courtyard ^zof the palace facing it. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal courtroom, facing its entrance. ²As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard, she won his approval. ^aThe king extended the gold scepter in his hand toward Esther, and she approached and touched the tip of the scepter. ^b

³“What is it, Queen Esther?” the king asked her. “Whatever you want, even to half the kingdom, will be given to you.” ^c

⁴“If it pleases the king,” Esther replied, “may the king and Haman come today to the banquet ^dI have prepared for them.”

⁵The king commanded, “Hurry, and get Haman so we can do as Esther has requested.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared.

⁶While drinking the ^ewine, ^fthe king asked Esther, “Whatever you ask will be given to you. Whatever you want, even to half the kingdom, will be done.”

⁷Esther answered, “This is my petition and my request: ⁸If the king approves of me ^gand if it pleases the king to grant my petition and perform my request, ^hmay the king and Haman come to the banquet I will prepare for them. ⁱTomorrow I will do what the king has asked.”

⁹That day Haman left full of joy and in good spirits. ^jkBut when Haman saw Mordecai at the King’s Gate, and Mordecai didn’t rise or tremble in fear at his presence, Haman was filled with rage toward Mordecai. ^l10Yet Haman controlled himself and went home. He sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh ^mto join him. ¹¹Then Haman described for them his glorious wealth and his many sons. He told them all how the king had honored him and promoted him in rank over the other officials and the royal staff. ⁿ¹²“What’s more,” Haman added, “Queen Esther invited no one but me to join the king at the banquet she had prepared. I am invited again tomorrow to join her with the king. ¹³Still, none of this satisfies me since I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the King’s Gate all the time.”

¹⁴His wife Zeresh and all his friends told him, “Have them build a gallows 75 feet ^ohigh. ^pAsk the king in the morning to hang Mordecai on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and enjoy yourself.” The advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows constructed. ^q