The inner court
On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, facing the king's hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. And when he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther went up and touched the tip of the sceptre. And the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What do you want? Even up to half the kingdom, it'll be given you.”
On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, facing the king's hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance.
And when he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther went up and touched the tip of the sceptre.
And the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What do you want? Even up to half the kingdom, it'll be given you.”
Come to a banquet
And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the king and Haman come today to a banquet I've prepared for him.” “Bring Haman at once,” the king said, “so we can do what Esther asks.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared. And as they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, “Now what's your petition? It'll be given you. And what's your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it'll be granted.” And Esther answered, “My petition and my request is this. If I've found favour with the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition and do what I ask, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I'll prepare for them. And then I'll answer the king's question.”
And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the king and Haman come today to a banquet I've prepared for him.”
“Bring Haman at once,” the king said, “so we can do what Esther asks.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared.
And as they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, “Now what's your petition? It'll be given you. And what's your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it'll be granted.”
And Esther answered, “My petition and my request is this.
If I've found favour with the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition and do what I ask, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I'll prepare for them. And then I'll answer the king's question.”
Haman goes home happy
Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king's gate, and Mordecai neither stood up nor showed him any fear, he was filled with rage against him. But Haman held himself in and went home. Then he called his friends together, and his wife Zeresh, and he went on to them about his great wealth, and his many sons, and all the ways the king had honoured him and raised him above the other nobles and officials. “And that's not all,” said Haman. “I'm the only one Queen Esther invited to come with the king to the banquet she gave. And she's invited me along with the king again tomorrow. But none of this is worth a thing to me as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king's gate.” And his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a pole set up, fifty cubits high, and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself.” This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up.
Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king's gate, and Mordecai neither stood up nor showed him any fear, he was filled with rage against him.
But Haman held himself in and went home. Then he called his friends together, and his wife Zeresh,
and he went on to them about his great wealth, and his many sons, and all the ways the king had honoured him and raised him above the other nobles and officials.
“And that's not all,” said Haman. “I'm the only one Queen Esther invited to come with the king to the banquet she gave. And she's invited me along with the king again tomorrow.
But none of this is worth a thing to me as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king's gate.”
And his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a pole set up, fifty cubits high, and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself.” This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up.