5:1 Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on
[her] royal [apparel], and stood in the inner court of the
king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat
upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate
of the house.
5:2 And it was so, 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.
5:3 Then said the king to her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and
what [is] thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half
of the kingdom.
5:4 And Esther answered, If [it shall seem] good to the king,
let the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have
prepared for him.
5:5 Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may
do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the
banquet that Esther had prepared.
5:6 And the king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, What
[is] thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what [is]
thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be
performed.
5:7 Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request
[is]:
5:8 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it
shall please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my
request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I
shall prepare for them, and I will do to-morrow as the king
hath said.
5:9 Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart:
but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood
not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against
Mordecai.
5:10 Nevertheless, Haman refrained himself: and when he came
home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.
5:11 And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the
multitude of his children, and all [the things] in which the
king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the
princes and servants of the king.
5:12 Haman said moreover, Yes, Esther the queen let no man come
in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but
myself; and to-morrow I am invited to her also with the king.
5:13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai
the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
5:14 Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends to him, Let a
gallows be made fifty cubits high, and to-morrow speak thou to
the king that Mordecai may be hanged upon it: then go thou in
merrily with the king to the banquet. And the thing pleased
Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.
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