Esther 4:17–5:2

¹⁷So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded ⁴him.

Esther’s Banquet

5Now it happened ^aon the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in ^bthe inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the ¹house. ²So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that ^cshe found favor in his sight, and ^dthe king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter.