1Now on the third day, Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, opposite the throne room; and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, facing the main entrance to the palace.
2And when the king saw Esther, the queen, standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the scepter.
3Then the king said to her, “What will you, queen Esther? And what is your request? It shall be even given you to the half of the kingdom”.
4And Esther said, “If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him”.
5Then the king said, “Bring Haman here quickly, that he may do as Esther has said”. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, “What is your petition? And it shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed”.
7Then answered Esther, and said, “My petition and my request is:
8If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and do as I request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will (make my petition) tomorrow as the king has said”.
9Then Haman went forth that day joyful and in good spirits. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, and that he did not stand up, nor show fear before him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.
10Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself; and when he reached home, he sent and called for his friends, and his wife, Zeresh.
11And Haman told them of 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 said moreover, “Yea, even Esther, the queen, did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and tomorrow I am invited by her along with the king.
13Yet all this avails me nothing, as 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 built fifty cubits (seventy-five feet) high, and tomorrow ask the king that Mordecai may be hanged on it; then go you in merrily with the king to the banquet”. And the idea pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made. Easy Reader Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2023 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |
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