Esther 5

Esther 5

1Now on the third day , Esther put on her royal clothing and stood in the inner court of the king ’s house , next to the king ’s house . The king sat on his royal throne in the royal house , next to the entrance of the house .

2When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court , she obtained favour in his sight ; and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand . So Esther came near and touched the top of the sceptre .

3Then the king asked her , “What would you like , queen Esther? What is your request ? It shall be given you even to the half of the kingdom .”

4Esther said, “If it seems good to the king , let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him .”

5Then the king said , “Bring Haman quickly , so that it may be done as Esther has said .” So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared .

6The king said to Esther at the banquet of wine , “What is your petition ? It shall be granted you . What is your request ? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed .”

7Then Esther answered and said , “My petition and my request is this.

8If I have found favour in the sight of the king , and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and to perform my request , let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I will prepare for them , and I will do tomorrow as the king has said .”

9Then Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart , but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king ’s gate , that he didn’t stand up nor move for him , he was filled with wrath against Mordecai .

10Nevertheless Haman restrained himself, and went home . There, he sent and called for his friends and Zeresh his wife.

11Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches , the multitude of his children , all the things in which the king had promoted him , and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king .

12Haman also said , “Yes , Esther the queen let no man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself ; and tomorrow I am also invited by her together with the king .

13Yet all this avails me nothing , so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king ’s gate .”

14Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him , “Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high , and in the morning speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on it . Then go in merrily with the king to the banquet .” This pleased Haman , so he had the gallows made .[#5:14 A cubit is the length from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow on a man’s arm, or about 18 inches or 46 centimetres.]

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