Esther 2:17–23

17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and ||favour †in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 *Then the king mmade a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther’s feast; and he made a †release to the provinces, and ngave gifts, oaccording to the state of the king.

19 And when the virgins were gathered together pthe second time, then Mordecai sat qin the king’s gate. 20 rEsther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was sbrought up with him.

21 In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, ||Bigthan and tTeresh, of those which kept †the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. 22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, uwho told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai’s name. 23 And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in xthe book of the chronicles before the king.