Esther Prepares a Feast

1Now it happened on the third day, that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s house in front of the king’s [†]rooms, and the king was sitting on his royal throne in the [†]throne room, opposite the entrance to his house. 2Now it happened that when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she advanced in favor in his eyes; and the king extended to Esther the golden scepter which was in his hand. So Esther came near and [†]reached out and touched the top of the scepter. 3Then the king said to her, “What is troubling you, Queen Esther? And what is [†]your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be given to you.” 4And Esther said, “If it seems good to the king, may the king and Haman come this day to the feast that I have prepared for him.”

5Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly that we may do the word of Esther.” So the king and Haman came to the feast which Esther had prepared. 6Then, [†]as they drank their wine at the feast, the king said to Esther, “What is [†]your petition? For it shall be given to you. And what is [†]your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be done.” 7So Esther answered and said, “[†]My petition and [†]my request is: 8if I have found favor in the eyes of the king, and if it seems good to the king to give heed to [†]my petition and to do [†]my request, may the king and Haman come to the feast which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do according to the word of the king.”

Haman Recounts His Glory

9Then Haman went out that day glad and merry of heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate and that he did not stand up or [†]tremble before him, Haman was filled with wrath against Mordecai. 10But Haman controlled himself, went to his house, and sent for and brought his friends and his wife Zeresh. 11Then Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches and the [†]number of his sons and every instance where the king had magnified him and how he had [†]advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. 12Haman also said, “Even Esther the queen let no one but me come with the king to the feast which she had prepared; and tomorrow also I am called to come to her with the king. 13Yet all of this is worth nothing to me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.” 14Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “Have a [†]gallows [†]fifty cubits high made and in the morning say to the king that Mordecai should be hanged on it; then go gladly with the king to the feast.” And the word was good to Haman, so he had the gallows made.